Govt Introduces Four Key Bills in J&K Legislative Assembly

Srinagar, Oct 30: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Thursday introduced four significant bills in the Legislative Assembly, covering tenancy regulation, Panchayati Raj reforms, workers’ welfare, and cooperative society management.

The Jammu and Kashmir Tenancy Bill, 2025 (L.A. Bill No. 4 of 2025) aims to establish a Rent Authority in the Union Territory to regulate the renting of premises. The bill seeks to balance the rights of landlords and tenants and ensure speedy resolution of tenancy-related disputes.

The Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2025 (L.A. Bill No. 5 of 2025) was moved by Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Javid Ahmad Dar. It proposes to enhance the age limit of the State Election Commissioner from 65 to 70 years, bringing Jammu and Kashmir in line with states like Uttar Pradesh. The bill also aims to further strengthen the Panchayati Raj system established under the 1989 Act.

The Jammu and Kashmir Shops and Establishments (Licensing, Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Bill, 2025 (L.A. Bill No. 6 of 2025), introduced by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, seeks to liberalize working hours for commercial establishments. It proposes lifting restrictions on women working during night hours, removing the bar on shop timings, and introducing several welfare provisions for workers.

The Jammu and Kashmir Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2025 (L.A. Bill No. 7 of 2025), introduced by Minister for Cooperatives Javid Dar, empowers the Special Tribunal constituted under the J&K Special Tribunal Act, 1988, to also function as a Cooperative Appellate Tribunal. The move is expected to streamline dispute resolution and enhance efficiency in the cooperative sector.

The introduction of these bills marks a major legislative step towards administrative modernization and economic reform in the Union Territory.