LA speaker rejects Mehbooba Mufti's statement on July 13 holiday

Srinagar, July 12: The Speaker, Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Advocate Abdul Rahim Rather today categorically denied the statement made by former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on social media regarding resolution by PDP on declaration of holiday on July 13. The speaker termed the statement “misleading” and “not based on facts”.

He stated that the resolution submitted by PDP legislator Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra was admitted during the Budget Session 2025-26 held in the month of March at Jammu.

“Assembly Secretariat received total 111 Resolutions from 34 Members and out of which 87 resolutions were admitted for balloting and rest were disallowed as per rules. Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra, Member of the House also submitted four resolutions and out of which two resolutions were admitted which includes the Resolution “Declaring 13th July as official holiday to remember the sacrifices of the protestors against autocratic monarch forces”. Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra was accordingly informed through Assembly Secretariat Bulletin No.LA1353/Legn/2025 dated 14/03/2025, Speaker Adv Abdul Rahim Rather said.

As per prescribed rules relative precedence of the Private Members’ Resolutions was determined by separate Balloting in terms of Rule-28 of Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in J&K Legislative Assembly in presence of 7 Members on 25th of March 2025 and 14 Resolutions secured place in balloting which were listed in the House on 7th & 9th of April, 2025.The Resolution submitted by Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra, MLA, though admitted, did not secure place during Balloting process. So process was completed as per the Rules of procedure, Speaker said.

He further said that the post of Speaker is the epitome of impartiality and in no case it can be construed that the Resolution has been rejected out rightly by the Speaker, which is not factually correct.