Assembly staff protest GAD deputation order; Waheed Para seeks withdrawal

Srinagar: Employees of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Thursday staged a protest inside the Assembly premises against a General Administration Department (GAD) order deputing Deputy Secretary Bilal Ahmad Mir to the Assembly Secretariat.

Raising slogans, the protesting employees alleged that the deputation order was contrary to established rules and administrative procedures governing the Assembly Secretariat. They urged the authorities to immediately review and withdraw the order.

The employees said they would continue to press for their demands until the decision is reviewed.

Meanwhile, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Waheed Para criticised the move, saying the J&K Assembly is “perhaps the last institution directly accountable to the people” and has the mandate to make laws and hold the government to account.

Para alleged that, for the first time, the GAD had appointed an officer from outside the Assembly cadre to the Assembly Secretariat, breaking an established precedent and blurring institutional boundaries.

“This is not a routine posting. It undermines the Assembly’s autonomy, dignity and authority. That this is happening under an elected government makes it even more disturbing,” Para said.

He urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to withdraw the order.