Jammu/Srinagar, Feb 28: For the first time in recent past, the state government Monday was forced to withdraw the cabinet order on the appointment of secretary Legislative Council, following a protracted tussle with the Deputy Chairman of the Upper House. To avoid a possible constitutional crisis, the Government and the Deputy Chairman LC, today agreed on a ‘middle path’ to end the stalemate and posted a ‘third’ person on the coveted post. 
 An official handout today said that Muhammad Ashraf Mir has been posted as Secretary, Council Secretariat, as per “set procedure.” “The new order has been issued by the Law Department and vetted by ‘competent’ authority,” a senior Law Department official told Greater Kashmir.
 By appointing Mir as secretary LC, the government nullified its earlier order no 39/Cir/2011 dated 7/2/2011, selecting another official, Muhammad Syed Shah for the post.
 The matter was resolved minutes before the Governor’s address to the joint session of the state legislature after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Deputy Chairman LC Arvinder Singh Micky, held a close door meeting early this morning.
 The two sides reached consensus and the appointment of Additional Secretary Law, Muhammad Ashraf Mir as new Secretary was finalized.
 Meanwhile, Muhammad Ashraf Shah,who was earlier appointed by Micky as secretary LC has been placed as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Law Department, while the appointment of Muhammad Sayeed Shah as secretary LC appointed by the state cabinet has been cancelled.
 Sources said that after hectic efforts by the JKPCC president Saif-Ud-Din Soz and senior party leaders from the National Conference (NC), the brewing crisis was averted as earlier both the Government and Deputy Chairman were adamant on their choices.
 “Till this morning, the Legislative Council had two secretaries, Muhammad Ashraf Shah appointed by the Council Secretariat headed by Deputy Chairman and Muhammad Sayed Shah appointed by the state Cabinet. But the matter stands resolved now after the intervention by senior leaders”, said a source.
 “We reached at a consensus on the name of secretary and there is no issue now and LC will function smoothly”, said Micky. 
 Muhammad Sayed Shah, an officer of Legal Gazetted Service cadre and also Registrar State Information Commission, was formally appointed as the Secretary of the Legislative Council vide cabinet decision no 39/Cir/2011 dated 7/2/2011. A formal order No 486-LD (PAB) of 2011 dated 8.2.2011 to this effect was also issued by the Law Department subsequently. However, Micky on the other hand promoted an officer of the Council, Muhammad Ashraf Mir as Secretary. 
 Last week the chief minister Omar Abdullah had told media persons here that the cabinet decision would be implemented as appointment of Shah was approved by the council of ministers including those from the Congress.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 28 Feb 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 28 Feb 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 1 Mar 2011 00:00:00 IST