Bill to increase seats in JK assembly, POK introduced

Srinagar, Aug 1: A bill was today introduced in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative assembly seeking to increase the strength of the House from 111 to 134.

Similarly, the bill, introduced by the Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig, also seeks to increase the reserved seat for the people of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) from 24 to 30.

Mr Baig said this Act may be called the constitution of Jammu and Kashmir (thirty-third Amendment) Act 2006 and it shall come into force from the date of its publication in the government gazette.

However, it said that the amendment made shall not affect the present composition of, or representation in the existing Legislative Assembly untill its dissolution.

The Bill seeks to amend sections 47 and 48 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir with a view to increasing the strength of the Legislative Assembly from one hundred eleven to one hundred and thirty nine as also number of seats reserved for POK from twenty four to thirty.

The Jammu and Kashmir cabinet has recently approved to increase the seats in the assembly.

UNI