Jammu and Kashmir defers police bill to seek public opinion

JAMMU - After a deluge of protests on social networking websites against the proposed Jammu and Kashmir Police Reforms Bill that was to be tabled in the budget session, the state government has deferred the move, an official said Saturday.

The bill will not be presented in the coming budget session of the state legislative assembly beginning Feb 28, government sources told IANS.

“However, under the instructions of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, it has been decided that the bill would be put on the website of the home department to invite public opinion,” an official told IANS.

Abdullah is also the state home minister.

According to sources, the police bill has wide ramifications for the population of the state, therefore, it has been decided to invite public comments before it is tabled in the legislature. The bill reportedly seeks to dilute the accountability of the police.

A draft of the bill would be put on the website and also published in newspapers within a week’s time, the sources said.

It may be recalled that there were adverse comments and calls for using Facebook, Twitter and other means to launch a campaign against the proposed bill. IANS was the first one to report it Friday.