Jammu, Oct 24: With consensus eluding the coalition partners – National Conference and Congress – on the recommendations by Prime Minister’s 5th Working Group headed by Justice Saghir Ahmed, Jammu and Kashmir government Monday granted another extension to a cabinet sub-committee constituted to examine the report. The report deals with the “prickly” issue of Centre-State relations.
Informed sources revealed to Greater Kashmir that the extension was granted to the committee following a request made by the Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather, who heads the panel. “The committee has met couple of times during the last one year but it is yet to evolve consensus over some of the sensitive recommendations made in the report”, sources, preferring not to be named, said.
The bone of contention between the members – from NC and Cong – is the observations made in the report regarding grant of more powers to the state government. It was learnt that the members of the panel from NC were supporting the observations while Congress members have shown their reservations over the issue.
 The committee constituted on October 11, 2010 was asked to examine the Saghir panel recommendations and submit a report to the government within three months. However, it has been granted more than five extensions since its inception, sources revealed.
 They said that the government on Monday granted another two months extension to the committee to examine the report. “In continuation to Government Order No. 1090-GAD of 2011 dated 16.09.2011, sanction is hereby accorded to the extension in the term of Cabinet Sub-committee constituted vide Government Order No. 1148-GAD of 2010
 dated 11.10.2010 read with Government Order No. 1391-GAD of 2010 dated 03.12.2010 for examining the recommendations made in the Report of Working Group-V and finalization of the recommendations/report by the Cabinet Subcommittee upto 31.12.2011”, the order issued by General Administration Department reads.
 The committee was constituted by the state Cabinet for examining the recommendations made in the report of Working Group–V, headed by late Justice Saghir Ahmed on  Centre-State relations in context of J&K with a view to formulating response/comments of the State Government for further consideration and approval of the Government. While Justice Saghir Ahmad submitted his recommendations to the state government in October 2011, he passed away on January 31, 2011.
 The committee comprises Finance Minister as its chairman and Minister for Rural Development and Panchayats, Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Minister for Tourism and Culture, Minister for Industries and Commerce, Minister for Health, Horticulture and Floriculture and Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution as its members.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 24 Oct 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
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