J&K Budget Session 2026: Nine Private Member Bills Introduced in Legislative Assembly; Six Withdrawn After Govt Assurances
JAMMU, March 30, 2026: The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly witnessed significant legislative activity today during the 2026 Budget Session as nine Private Member Bills were introduced, touching upon diverse issues from environmental conservation to educational reforms.
Out of the nine bills presented, six were ultimately withdrawn by the sponsoring legislators following specific assurances from the Government that existing legal and regulatory frameworks are already addressing the raised concerns.
However, two high-profile bills were rejected by the House through voice voting after the members pressed for their formal introduction despite government pushback.
Among the bills introduced and subsequently withdrawn were proposals by Qaysar Jamshaid Lone to amend the Cooperative Societies Act, 1989, and Mir Saifullah, who sought mandatory reservations for BPL and Antyodaya Anna Yojana families in private professional colleges.
Other withdrawn measures included Nizam-ud-Din Bhat’s bill for equitable employment opportunities in Civil Services, Altaf Ahmad Wani’s proposal to grant landowners more freedom regarding walnut tree management, and Dr. Bashir Ahmad Shah Veeri’s bill aimed at the ecological restoration of River Jhelum.
Additionally, MLA Mubarik Gul introduced a bill regarding salaries and benefits for the Chief Whip of the majority party, which was also withdrawn following floor discussions.
In contrast, the House saw a more contentious debate over two specific proposals that failed to gain traction. A bill moved by Waheed Ur Rehman Para for the establishment of a residential and technical university using surplus funds from the Kashmir Creative Educational Foundation was rejected via voice vote.
Similarly, Balwant Singh Mankotia’s bill, which sought the protection of temples and the retrieval of illegally occupied land across the Union Territory, was also voted down after the member insisted on its introduction.
In a separate development, MLA Pawan Kumar Gupta successfully introduced a bill focused on providing compassionate appointments to the next of kin of deceased government employees, security personnel, and civilians affected by militancy or enemy action, rounding out a day of intense parliamentary deliberations.