Jammu, Dec 30: With fourth extension of the cabinet sub-committee to study Justice Saghir Committee report expiring today, committee has sought another extension from the General Administration Department (GAD).
 Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather told Greater Kashmir that they have already sent an application to the GAD, for getting more time to discuss the recommendations of  the report, which deals with the crucial Centre-State relations.
 About the time limit, Rather said, “The GAD department will decide about it and we are waiting for their decision.”
 Last meeting of the cabinet sub-committee was to be held on December 24, but was postponed as the Congress members did not attend it in view of the death of senior Congress leader Yashpal Khajuria.
 Pertinently, the sub-committee was constituted for examining the recommendations made in the report of Prime Minister’s 5th Working Group, headed by late Justice Saghir Ahmed on Centre-State relations in context of JK with a view to formulate response, comments of the Government for further consideration before its recommendations are implemented.
 The Working Group has deliberated on matters relating to the special status of JK within the Indian Union, methods of strengthening democracy, secularism and the rule of law. Report had suggested decentralization of powers to strengthen democracy in the state and had favoured examination of the question of autonomy in the light of various formulas.
 Justice Saghir Ahmad had submitted his recommendations to the state government in October 2011, while the report was presented to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on December 23, 2009 and the state cabinet formed committee on October 2010.
 The sub-committee was supposed to submit its report within three months but one year has passed and discussion on many issues is still pending.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 30 Dec 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 30 Dec 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 31 Dec 2011 00:00:00 IST