J&K assembly adjourned after speaker rules out discussion on Waqf bill

Jammu, Apr 7: Tumultuous scenes unfolded in the J&K Legislative Assembly on Monday over the Waqf Amendment Bill, forcing the House to be adjourned for 15 minutes after Speaker A.R. Rather disallowed an adjournment motion moved by nine members on the issue.

This marked the first adjournment during the ongoing budget session, which resumed on Monday after a 12-day recess.

Chaos erupted as soon as the House convened for the day’s proceedings. NC, Congress, PDP members, and Independents—along with the movers of the adjournment motion—rose to demand a discussion on the Waqf Bill, calling for the suspension of Question Hour. BJP members stood up to counter them.

However, Speaker Rather cited Rules 56 and 58 to reject the adjournment motions. He clarified that under sub-rule 7 of Rule 58, issues that are sub judice cannot be discussed in the House.

PDP’s Waheed Para argued that the matter had been discussed in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. In response, Speaker Rather said that when it was discussed in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, it was not sub judice, and therefore, the motions remained disallowed.

Following this, NC, Congress, PDP, and Independent members stormed the Well of the House, chanting slogans such as "Waqf Bill Namanzoor."

As the uproar continued, the Speaker adjourned the House.

When the House reassembled 15 minutes later, similar scenes prevailed.