Centre Amends Rules to Empower Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor

The Ministry of Home Affairs has amended the rules of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. These amendments grant more power to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. Speculation about the possibility of assembly polls in the Union Territory is growing.

This means any elected government in the Union Territory will have limited powers in critical matters. These include internal security, transfers, prosecution, and the appointment of government lawyers, including the Attorney-General. According to the notification, “No proposal which requires previous concurrence of the Finance Department with regard to police, public order, AIS, and ACB to exercise the discretion of the Lt Governor under the Act shall be concurred or rejected unless it has been placed before the Lt Governor through the Chief Secretary.”

The Department of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs will now submit proposals for the appointment of an Advocate-General. Other law officers assisting the Advocate-General in court proceedings will also need the approval of the Lt Governor through the Chief Secretary and the Chief Minister.

Proposals regarding the grant or refusal of prosecution sanctions or filing of appeals will also be placed before the Lt Governor. This will be done through the Chief Secretary by the Department of Law, according to the notification.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has amended the transaction of business of the Government of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir Rules 2019. On July 5, sources told India Today that the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls would be held after the Amarnath Yatra, which concludes on August 19. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a key BJP meeting and asked leaders from the region to prepare for the election, sources said.

Sources privy to the development confirm that the Assembly election will be held in Jammu and Kashmir soon. The change in business rules is another indication of what’s in store for the Union Territory regarding the governance model in a post-election scenario.

Major parties like the National Conference (NC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) termed the Centre’s action as an attempt to turn an elected government into a municipal council.

Aakhir Tak Editor-in-Chief

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