Examiner Bureau | Srinagar:
The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Tuesday passed the Jammu and Kashmir Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2026 (L.A. Bill No. 9 of 2026) after detailed discussion and deliberations by members of the House.
The Bill was moved by Cooperative Minister Javid Ahmad Dar and seeks to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Cooperative Societies Act, 1989, repeal the Jammu and Kashmir Self-Reliant Cooperative Act, 1999, and establish a transitional framework for self-reliant cooperative societies under the principal Act.
The legislation was discussed at length, with several members raising suggestions, observations and concerns on various provisions of the proposed amendments.
Those who participated in the debate included Nizam-ud-din Bhat, Pawan Gupta, Balwant Singh Mankotia, Arjun Singh Raju and Rajiv Jasrotia.
Responding to the issues raised during the discussion, Dar apprised the House of the objectives and rationale behind the proposed amendments and reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening the cooperative sector through a transparent, effective and robust legislative framework.
The Minister said the Bill would help streamline the cooperative legislative framework in Jammu and Kashmir and strengthen cooperative institutions for more effective functioning and delivery of services to their members.
He said the proposed framework was aimed at bringing greater coherence to the cooperative sector while ensuring a smooth transition of self-reliant cooperative societies into the ambit of the Jammu and Kashmir Cooperative Societies Act, 1989.
Following the debate and consideration of members’ suggestions, the Jammu and Kashmir Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2026 was passed by the Legislative Assembly through a voice vote.
