Appointments of advisors legal: J&K govt

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government has said the appointments of politicians as advisors and vice-chairpersons to various boards were legal and within the constitutional limit.

"The advisors and Vice-Chairmen of various boards were appointed by the state government within the parameters of constitution and law of the State and are as such absolutely legal being in accordance with the constitution of the state," Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar said in a statement issued by the government.

Sagar said the J&K government was examining the notice issued by the State Accountability Commission (SAC) on these appointments.

"We are examining the SAC notice and will reply to it in accordance with the rules. The appointments are legal and in accordance with the constitution of the state," Sagar said.

The SAC had on Friday asked the government to explain as to how it had accorded ministerial status to political advisors of the chief minister and vice-chairpersons of various boards.

The minister said there were no corruption charges against any of the advisors or vice-chairpersons for them to resign.

"The appointments are constitutional and legal, so there arises no question of their stepping down," he added.

The minister said that it was not for the first time that the advisors and Vice Chairmen of various boards have been appointed as this practice has been in vogue during various regimes and administrative setups in the State in the past.

"We respect the State Accountability Commission and the State Government shall definitely clarify the state's stand as per the law," Sagar said.

The minister said Jammu and Kashmir is not the only state to have appointed advisors with ministerial status as similar appointments have been made in other states and at the Centre as well.

"All these are legal and constitutional niceties shall be pleaded accordingly and law shall take its own course," he said.

Criticising the political statement issued by PDP President Mehbooba Mufti, Sagar said, "her statement is loaded with negative political overtures. She should in fact on the contrary appreciate the transparency of the system and independence of the constitutional institutions."

The minister said Mehbooba has forgotten that various such appointments were made during the regime headed by PDP between 2002 to 2005.