President Smt. Droupadi Murmu has nominated Gulam Ali, a Gurjar Muslim from Jammu and Kashmir, to Rajya Sabha.
- Mr Ali has been nominated to the Upper House on the recommendation of the Central government.
- This is perhaps for the first time a Gurjar Muslim from the region has been sent to the Rajya Sabha as a nominated member. Ghulam Ali is a resident of Bathindi in Jammu.
- On August 5, 2019, Article 370, which gave special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, was abrogated by the Union Government.
- The State was further divided into two Union Territories – Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
- Earlier, Jammu and Kashmir was the only state in the country with a separate constitution as per the provisions mentioned in Article 370, a ‘temporary provision’ that grants special autonomous status to the State.
Constitutional provisions for nominated members
- According to the Article 80 (1)(a) of the Constitution of India, 12 members of the Council of States to be nominated by the President.
- Article 80 (3) says that the members to be nominated by the President shall consist of persons having special knowledge or practical experience in respect of such matters as the following, namely: Literature, science, art and social service.
- Nominated members of Rajya Sabha enjoy all the powers and privileges to which the elected MPs are entitled.
- They can take part in the proceedings of the House in the normal manner.
- Nominated members are not allowed to vote in the election of the President.
- They do have the right to vote in the election of the Vice-President, however.
- A nominated member can join a political party within six months of taking his/ her seat in the House.
