Jammu, Jan 12: Accusing the R&B Minister, G M Saroori of ‘breach of Privileges and contempt of legislature,’ the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party has filed a contempt petition against him before the speaker Legislative Assembly, seeking initiation of proceedings against the Minister.
 The MLAs Harsh Dev Singh, Balwant Singh Mankotia and Yash Paul Kundal have submitted in the petition that the Minister not only ‘ridiculed’ the institution of legislature during public meetings held in Udhampur and Ramnagar areas by using ‘abusive and derogatory’ language against legislators, but also ‘defied’ the directives issued by the Speaker with regard to the MLAs powers, protocol and role in developmental works. They said the ‘highly reprobate conduct’ of the Minister called for initiation of contempt proceedings against him besides his disqualification as a member of legislature.
 They said the minister during inaugural function of certain roads in District Udhampur on December 13, 2009 allegedly passed derogatory remarks against the institution of legislature. Using contemptuous and scornful language against legislators he questioned their relevance in the political system as well as in development and sought to downplay the authority of legislature as a whole.
 Passing such generalized comments against legislature during the inaugural function of one of the NABARD sponsored roads at Ritti on December 13, 2009 the Minister remarked that “MLAs are nobody and non-entities and have no role in the developmental process and in the system.” He gave the impression of the legislators being mere ‘parasites’ on the system quite oblivious of the legislators role, powers, privileges and functions assigned to them under the system.
 The MLAs submitted in the petition that the privileges of the members of legislature have not only been acknowledged by the state constitution but orders, circulars and notifications have been issued from time to time spelling out the privileges of the legislators besides emphasizing their importance in formulation and participation in all developmental plans and other activities in their respective areas.
 The NPP MLAs pointed out that the said minister not only addressed the legislature ‘scornfully and derisively’ but also issued instructions to the R&B Department officers ‘not to write’ the name of MLA Samba Yash Paul Kundal on the inauguration plate at the time of inauguration of “Papad” bridge which has been constructed in his constituency.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 12 Jan 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:00:00 IST