Overview
- Lawmaker after lawmaker rose in protest Wednesday after finding the officers’ gallery, the seating reserved for senior departmental officials, largely empty during Question Hour.
- Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather recorded the complaint and asked Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to ensure top officers attend when their departments face questions.
- National Conference MLA Nazir Ahmad Gurezi said earlier chiefs like the Chief Secretary and commissioner secretaries routinely sat in the gallery, calling the current no-shows disrespectful to the House.
- BJP MLA Sham Lal Sharma cited rules that require the concerned administrative secretary to be present and urged deferring any department’s business if its officers are missing.
- Members also alleged selective withdrawal of security for some party offices and MLAs, with the Deputy Chief Minister and the Speaker seeking intervention from the Lieutenant Governor who oversees police protection, and no official remedy or explanation reported by late Wednesday.