Jammu, Mar 7: Apparently succumbing to the pressure of the united opposition, Speaker Legislative Assembly Muhammad Akbar Lone Monday announced constitution of a House Committee (HC) to probe what it called ‘brazen irregularities’ in allocation of funds and in health department since 2002.
 Speaker today held a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) - attended by Leader of the opposition Mehbooba Mufti, Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand and Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Sagar, BJP’s Chaman Lal Gupta and PP’s Harshdev Singh - decided to look into the allegations by the members that some constituencies have got lion’s share in allocation for infrastructure development while others were ignored.
 As the House met for the Question Hour, Speaker announced the establishment of the House Committee for which, he said, the formal notice would be issued soon. 
 “Despite my request that House should give time to Minister concerned to explain himself, opposition took a united stand. So I announce the constitution of the house committee”, Speaker said.
 “We are sitting here since 9 am and it was our collective decision to constitute the committee so that all the allegations could be probed for the knowledge of the people”, he said.
 In between this, Minister for Health Sham Lal Sharma rose from his seat and said that most of the posts created in the health sector and institutions in various districts since 2002 should also be probed, which was accepted by the chair.
 However members also demanded that house committee should be constituted to look into the irregularities in the education and planning section, for which the Speaker said that he will look into the issue at later stages.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 7 Mar 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 7 Mar 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 8 Mar 2011 00:00:00 IST