‘Can officers act as government?’ Congress seeks discussion on CS, Law Secretary letters in J&K Assembly

Two separate official communiques by J&K Chief Secretary (CS) Atal Dulloo and Law Secretary (LS) Achal Sethi opposing J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s Statehood resolution evoked criticism from ruling National Conference (NC) and its ally Congress in the J&K Assembly on Tuesday (September 29, 2026).  

Speaking in the assembly, Congress legislator Nizamuddin Bhat said the letters should be made part of the records and put to the discussion in the House. Mr. Bhat’s demand came a day after J&K CM Abdullah informed the House that two letters from CS Dulloo and Mr. Sethi were dashed off to the Speaker not to take up the Statehood resolution, brought on September 25 by him, for being “a sub judice” matter.  

Mr. Bhat told the House that these letters have “challenged the prestige, dignity and powers of the assembly”. “Can officers act as a government without consulting the government? There is a council of ministers, Chief Minister, who is mandated by people and came through a process completed by the Election Commission of India (ECI). This has challenged the authority of the Speaker as well as the House. Why should we demand anything if this House means nothing,” said Mr. Bhat.

He said the powers of the government in the Union Territory (UT) may be limited but not the powers of the house. “Is the J&K assembly a panchayat with the governor’s office as its board. The house is governed by the same rule as that of a State. It’s a wrong perception that the legislature of a UT has less power. Neither the Constitution nor the J&K Reorganisation Act says it. We are being told that we have no privilege,” said Mr. Bhat.

The Congress legislator said J&K legislators and ministers were responsible and accountable to people who gave them mandate. “However, it is unfortunate that they are being tied down (by bureaucracy),” said Mr. Bhat.

NC legislator Tanvir Sadiq, reacting to the letters of the CS and Mr. Sethi, said, “Can you imagine a State where senior bureaucrats write to the Assembly Speaker seeking to stop a resolution moved by the elected Chief Minister, without even the knowledge of the concerned minister? This isn’t about one government or one party. It is about who is ultimately accountable to the people. That is precisely why J&K needs its statehood back.”

Meanwhile, BJP legislators staged a walkout from the Assembly over the Statehood resolution, which called upon the Government of India to urgently and immediately restore Statehood, passed by the Assembly on Monday (September 28). 

BJP leader and Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma termed the resolution “unconstitutional” and accused the Speaker of “acting in a partisan manner”. The BJP legislators demanded removal of the Speaker, before staging a walkout. 

Reacting to the BJP’s remarks, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather said, “I know my authority and powers. I have already told you yesterday about the procedure and don’t teach me,” the Speaker told Mr. Sharma. “Hooliganism will not work here,” he added.