Jammu, Mar 8: While the ‘controversial’ Permanent Resident (Disqualification) Bill returned to the state legislature, the Legislative Council on Monday witnessed noisy scenes and protest by Peoples Democratic Party after government rejected the two Bills seeking amendment in the Alienation of Land Act, 1995 and Transfer of Property Act.
 Member Legislative Council PDP Murtaza Khan tabled a Private Member Bill to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Alienation of Land Act, 1995 seeking amendment in the Act on the pretext that the existing law was diluting the basic character of special status available with the state.
 “The government has turned a deaf ear towards the increasing number of outsiders who were setting in various parts of the state by getting land leased in their favour for 99 years,” Khan said while tabling the Bill.
 He said that principal Act does not restrict leasing of a land to non-state subject and number of people, including businessmen were managing land in their favour by the lacuna in the law.
 Terming the existing as one of the way to dilute the special status of the state, Khan said that Article 370 was brought by the National Conference and it has an obligation to preserve it. “It is you who is diluting the special status of the state,” Khan said after revenue minister Raman Bhalla objected to the Bill.
 “We have a land mafia being headed by some influential people and politicians active in the state,” he said adding, “The minister was deliberately objecting to the bill for his own interests”.
 His remarks created uproar in the House and treasury benches started yelling at him. Shouting slogans against the government, the MLC moved towards the Well of the House and gave a tough time to the marshals.
 Members from the treasury benches including ministers were seen opposing the uproar created by the member in the House and both sides exchanged several heated arguments amid din and commotion, the bill finally failed as government objected. 
 Khan later moved another private member Bill to provide for “disqualification from being Permanent Resident of the State on Marriage of a female permanent resident with a non-permanent resident and on termination of marriage of a non-resident husband”.
 The bill was, however, introduced as government preferred not to oppose it. “The bill will now come for discussion during the next session”.
 A similar bill, Jammu and Kashmir Permanent Residents (Disqualification) Bill, was earlier passed by the state legislative assembly but failed to sail through the Upper House when the Congress opposed it after criticism.
 The bill had threatened the existence of then ruling coalition of Congress-Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) when it was first introduced in 2004. The National Conference - then in opposition - had supported the legislation while Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party, had opposed it.
 Meanwhile, number of bills were tabled in the Upper House on Monday. These include a Bill to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Juvenile Justice Act, 1997 (L.C. Private Members’ Bill No. 05 of 2010) moved by Ajay Kumar Sadhotra, a Bill to provide for restraining the T. V. Channels, other electronic media from telecasting/ printing any advertisement of any commercial house, including private educational Institutions showing the Governor, Chief Minister or any Minister inaugurating such institution or attending any function of such educational institution or business establishment, school or college (L.C. Private Members’ Bill No. 03 of 2010) moved by Naresh Kumar Gupta, , a Bill to provide for effective protection of women from domestic violence and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto (L.C. Private Members’ Bill No. 07 of 2010 ) moved by Ajay Kumar Sadhotra and a Bill to amend the Transfer of Property Act, 1977 (1920 A. D) (L.C. Private Members’ Bill No. 02 of 2010 ) moved by Syed Asgar Ali and Ajay Kumar Sadhotra
 While other 4 Bills were withdrawn by the Members, two Bills of Syed Asgar Ali regarding (L.C. Private Members’ Bill No. 04 of 2010) and (L.C. Private Members’ Bill No. 02 of 2010) were allowed in the House un-opposed.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 8 Mar 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 8 Mar 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 9 Mar 2010 00:00:00 IST