SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 29: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Tuesday withdrew two Bills seeking increase in salaries and allowances of Ministers, Ministers of State and Members of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislature, following objections raised by members of the principal opposition BJP in the Legislative Assembly.
Responding to the objections, the Chief Minister said there was no dissenting note in the House Committee that had recommended the proposed increase in salaries and allowances.
He also said that while BJP members were seeking salaries and allowances, they were simultaneously attempting to politicise the issue by referring to the problems faced by daily wagers.
“I was never in favour of it. Ask my MLAs. If a single member opposes, it will never pass. I withdraw the Bill,” the Chief Minister said.
The House subsequently voted in favour of withdrawal of the legislation by majority.
The Bills withdrawn by the Chief Minister, in his capacity as Minister Incharge Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, were:
“A Bill to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Ministers’ and Ministers of State Salaries Act, 1956” (L.A. Bill No. 13 of 2026).
“A Bill to amend the Salaries and Allowances of Members of the Jammu and Kashmir State Legislature Act, 1960, and for matters connected or incidental thereto.” (L.A. Bill No. 14 of 2026).
Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly passed five Bills moved by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, covering key areas including municipal governance, Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Living, taxation, legislative members’ pension, and rationalisation and decriminalisation of offences.
The Bills were introduced by the Chief Minister on September 24 and September 28, 2026, after being circulated among the members on the respective dates, and were taken up for consideration and passage during the ongoing Autumn Session of the Assembly.
The Bills moved by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah include the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal (Amendment) Bill, 2026 (L.A. Bill No. 10 of 2026), moved in his capacity as Minister Incharge, Housing and Urban Development.
As Minister Incharge, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, the Chief Minister moved the Jammu and Kashmir Ease of Doing Business Bill, 2026 (L.A. Bill No. 11 of 2026). The Bill seeks to consolidate and amend the law to replace permission-based control with rule-based governance and enable citizens and enterprises to plan, invest and work with confidence. It also seeks to foster Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Living in the Union Territory in a manner that generates employment, attracts investment and sustains long-term economic growth.
In his capacity as Minister Incharge, Finance, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah moved the Jammu and Kashmir Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2026 (L.A. Bill No. 12 of 2026), seeking amendments to the Jammu and Kashmir Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017.
The Chief Minister also moved the Jammu and Kashmir State Legislature Members’ Pension (Amendment) Bill, 2026 (L.A. Bill No. 15 of 2026), as Minister Incharge, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. The Bill seeks to amend the Jammu and Kashmir State Legislature Members’ Pension Act, 1984, along with matters connected or incidental thereto. Another legislation moved by the Chief Minister was the Jammu and Kashmir Decriminalisation and Rationalisation of Offences Bill, 2026 (L.A. Bill No. 16 of 2026). The Bill seeks to amend certain enactments for decriminalising and rationalising offences to promote Ease of Living and Ease of Doing Business, besides repealing certain enactments and addressing matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
