The Mehbooba Mufti government has replied to the queries raised by Governor NN Vohra regarding the nomination of Chief Minister’s younger brother Tassaduq Mufti’s nomination to the Legislative Council. It has asserted that there was no bar in nominating Tassaduq as he was a creative artist of international fame.
Official sources told Kashmir Post that a redraft recommending the nomination of Tassaduq had been sent to the Governor.
Regarding the case of the previous nominations of 2015 pending in a court, the government submitted that these were two “separate issues.” The petitioner had challenged the authority of the government and the Governor to recommend and make nominations, and that was being dealt separately in the court of law, it said. And, as far as nomination of Tassaduq was concerned, the draft said it had been endorsed by the Cabinet and was in accordance with the rules.
It has also been submitted by the government that before the Cabinet recommended the nomination of Tassaduq against a vacant seat, he had resigned from the post of the chairman of the Chief Minister’s Grievances Cell. Therefore, he doesn’t fall in the category of a government servant at this point of time.
The sources said the Governor after studying the grounds made by the state government might nominate Tassaduq to the Legislative Council.
This may happen in next couple of days. Subsequently, Tassaduq will be inducted into the ministry any time after Christmas.
A slot in the ministry has been created for Tassaduq as his uncle and minister Farooq Ahmad Andrabi resigned from the ministry on Wednesday. He was holding multiple portfolios.
The possibility of Tassaduq’s nomination has arisen following the resignation of one of the nominated MLCs Vikramaditya Singh last month.
‘He is creative artist’
The government has asserted that there was no bar in nominating Tassaduq as he was a creative artist of international fame
The nomination of Tassaduq was endorsed by the Cabinet and was in accordance with the rules
Regarding the case of the previous nominations of 2015 pending in a court, the government submitted that these were two “separate issues”
Tassaduq Mufti can be MLC, PDP-led govt sticks to stand
