Srinagar, 30 September (H.S.): PDP MLA Waheed Para on Wednesday submitted a privilege motion in the assembly against the Jammu and Kashmir chief secretary and law secretary for their role and conduct in questioning the statehood resolution brought by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

I hereby give notice of my intention to move a Motion of Privilege against the chief secretary and law secretary, J-K, in view of the concerns placed on record by the Hon'ble chief minister regarding the role and conduct of the two senior officers in questioning the contents and language of a resolution of this House, Para said in the motion submitted to the Speaker.

The resolution was passed by the assembly on Monday.

However, during the debate on the resolution, the chief minister cited severe bureaucratic overreach and pointed out that the Assembly Speaker had received an opinion from the chief secretary and the law secretary over the resolution.

The Speaker has received an opinion from the Law Department over the resolution. As law minister I have no information, law secretary has sent an opinion to you (speaker). Chief secretary has also sent you an opinion on the resolution. But, I am not aware. This can only happen in a UT, not a state, Abdullah said.

In his motion, Para said the power of an elected Legislature to initiate, deliberate upon, amend and adopt resolutions is a core parliamentary function.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar