ASHWANI LANGEH
Jammu, Apr 12: The fate of much hyped Cabinet Sub Committee, constituted to look into the recommendations of Justice Sageer led working group on Centre-state relations, continue to hang in balance after its extension expired on March 31.
 Official sources said that the Committee, headed by the Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather – who was presently on a foreign tour, has been unable to iron out its differences particularly on the recommendations of autonomy to the state of Jammu and Kashmir by the Working Group and it has made it clear that more deliberations were required to “reach out at a consensus.”
 The government has given around five extensions to the committee so far, the last one expiring on March 31. “No order has been issued by the government granting further extension to the Committee, till date”, well placed sources in the state government told Greater Kashmir.
 A member of the Committee, on the condition of anonymity, admitted that the government seems to have lost its interest over the recommendations of the Working Group. “This is a serious matter and we have been saying that it requires time to arrive at a consensus”, he said adding, “The government should have extended the time well before the dead line expired”.
 However, when contacted, Secretary to Government, Law Department G H Tantray said that in its last meeting, the Sub Committee decided to approach the government for granting sixth extension for three more months as it was yet to arrive at a consensus on the recommendations of the Justice Sageer Working Group.
 Admitting that the order for the extension of the Committee has not been issued as of now, Tantray claimed, “The extension was granted few days ago but formal order is yet to be issued by the General Administration (GAD)”.    
 The Sub-Committee had earlier also discussed the recommendations in its meetings held on January 28, 2011, June 1st, 2011, August 8, 2011, December 27, 2011, February 17, 2012, and March 27, 2012.
 The Sub Committee comprise of senior ministers from the coalition alliance - National Conference and Congress. It was constituted after Congress expressed reservations about some of the recommendations made by the Working Group.
 Minister for Tourism Nawang Rigzin Jora, Minister for PHE Taj Mohi-Ud-Din and Minister for Health Sham Lal Sharma were representing Congress in the Committee, while Minister for Finance Abdul Rahim Rather, Minister for Rural Development Ali Muhammad Sagar, Minister for Industries S S Salathia, and Minister for CAPD Qamar Ali Akhoon were from National Conference.
 Justice Sagheer led Working Group was constituted by the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, to address various dimensions of Centre-State relations. The WG presented its report to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on December 23, 2009.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 12 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 12 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 13 Apr 2012 00:00:00 IST