Centre amends rules of J&K Reorganisation Act 2019
The Ministry of Home Affairs has amended the rules of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act 2019, giving Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha more authority, amid anticipation that assembly elections may be held in the Union Territory soon.
This effectively means that any elected administration in the Union Territory will have little authority over crucial issues such as internal security, transfers, prosecution, and the nomination of government lawyers, including the Attorney General.
“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 notification said.
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Proposals need approval of Lt Governor through Chief Secretary
The Department of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs will submit a proposal for the appointment of an Advocate-General and other law officers to assist the Advocate-General in court proceedings, which will be approved by the Lieutenant Governor through the Chief Secretary and Chief Minister.
According to the notification, the Department of Law will present any suggestion about the grant or refusal of prosecution sanction or the filing of an appeal to the Lt Governor through the Chief Secretary.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has amended the transaction of business of the Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir Rules 2019.
Assembly elections in J&K to be held after Amarnath Yatra: Sources
According to sources, the Assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir will take place after Amarnath Yatra, and the change in business norms is another sign of what the Union Territory might expect in terms of administration in the post-election scenario.
Major parties, including the National Conference (NC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), described the Centre’s decision as an attempt to transform an elected government into a municipal council.
