Cabinet gives nod to 3 bills
Srinagar, Oct 15: The Jammu and Kashmir cabinet has given its nod for introducing three bills in the upcoming session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly (LA).
Official sources said that the cabinet gave its nod for amendment in the J&K Panchayati Raj Act, 1989, Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, besides the enactment of J&K Shops and Business Establishment Bill, 2025.
“As per the existing policy, the upper age limit of the State Election Commissioner (SEC) is 65, but the bill proposes to enhance it to the age of 70 years. For this, there is a need to amend the Panchayati Raj Act 1989,” he said.
The source said that the cabinet also gave its nod to the utilisation of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) for the upgradation of Houses damaged due to any natural calamity like floods and cloudbursts.
“Earlier, funds to construct houses were provided under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), and there was no provision to use CDF for such purposes. But now MLAs can provide financial assistance out of CDF for the upgradation of houses,” he said.
The source said the move was aimed at providing relief to the people in south Kashmir and Jammu whose houses were damaged in recent floods.
“Earlier, there were strict rules to start the work within 90 days under CDF. This has been eased out as well,” he said.
The cabinet has also given its nod for the Jammu and Kashmir Shops and Business Establishment Act-2025.
“It will safeguard the rights of the salesmen and other labour class who are hired and later fired abruptly,” he said.
The official source said that the cabinet also gave its nod for the removal of the qualification bar for availing the benefits of the marriage assistance scheme by womenfolk.
“Now, there will be no qualification bar for women to avail the benefits of the scheme,” he said.
Earlier, the benefits of the State Marriage Assistance scheme were available only to those women who were middle-class.
The official source said that the cabinet also gave its green signal for the implementation of the Vehicle Scrap Policy in Jammu and Kashmir.
Vehicle scrap policy is an initiative of the Government of India to phase out old, polluting vehicles by mandating fitness tests and encouraging owners to voluntarily scrap them for incentives like cash for scrap and discounts on new vehicles.
Official sources said that the cabinet also gave its go-ahead signal to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Engineering (Gazetted) Services Recruitment Rules 1978 to pave the way for the promotion of engineers in Roads and Buildings (PWD), Jal Shakti, and Power Development Department (PDD).
“As per the existing rules, we are not able to promote SE to the post of chief engineers in PWD, PDD, and Jal Shakti departments because, as per the eligibility criteria, the person must have around 20 years of service. But to ease out promotions, the rules will be amended so that posts of chief engineers are filled in these departments,” he said. “The decision will be reviewed after five years.”
The official source said that the cabinet also gave its green signal to the administrative approval for a sewerage scheme at Gulmarg worth Rs 45.80 crore.
