India, Sept. 21 -- The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Monday departed from its long-standing practice by taking up government business immediately after Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather read obituary references for three former legislators.

The Speaker paid tribute to former Members of the Legislative Assembly Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, Dharam Paul and Ghulam Hassan Khan at the opening of the autumn session. The House subsequently proceeded with the listed business instead of being adjourned for the day, as had traditionally been the practice.

During the obituary references, Rather read out the names and tributes to the deceased lawmakers, while no other member participated by delivering individual remarks. Members later observed a two-...