JAMMU: As members of the ruling NC-led coalition including Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary joined the demand for a discussion on the Waqf Amendment Act, Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather on Tuesday said he had decided to disallow it in line with the rules and will not change his ruling.
Asked about the no-confidence motion moved by three opposition legislators led by Peoples Conference leader Sajad Gani Lone, Rather told reporters they are welcome to bring it before the House, which will decide. “What is the problem? They have this right and the House will decide its fate. If the House has no confidence, then I have no right to be there,” the Speaker said. He advised the protesting members of the ruling National Conference-led alliance and opposition PDP and Peoples Conference besides some independents to allow the smooth functioning of the House in the larger interest of the public.
On Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary and other ministers joining the protesting members in pressing for a discussion on the Act, he said it did not matter to him who was raising the demand.
“Whether it is the government, minister, opposition members or somebody else, I have to weigh the statement as per the rules to take a call. If the rules do not allow it, it hardly matters to me who is making the statement. I have made a decision after going through the rules and I will not change my decision,” Rather said.
The Speaker said some members on Tuesday said that the Supreme Court is yet to serve the notices in the Waqf issue and hence the House can discuss the issue and pass a resolution.
However, he said Rule 58 (ix) clearly states that the Assembly has no domain over legislation passed in Parliament. “The law can be revoked only by Parliament or the judiciary.”