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In a significant development, the Ministry of Home Affairs has amended the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019, boosting the powers of the Lieutenant Governor of the erstwhile state. President Droupadi Murmu has approved the amendments, exercising the powers conferred by section 55 of the Act. The amendments include inserting new rules and sections to empower the Lieutenant Governor further.
The amended rules, known as the Transaction of Business of the Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (Second Amendment) Rules, 2024, will come into force on July 12, as indicated in the official notification. These changes are seen as a strategic move in anticipation of the speculated assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
Among the key changes introduced, no proposal requiring the concurrence of the Finance Department concerning ‘Police,’ ‘Public Order,’ ‘All India Service,’ and ‘Anti Corruption Bureau’ can be approved or rejected without being presented to the Lieutenant Governor through the Chief Secretary. Additionally, the Department of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs will now submit proposals for the appointment of legal officers for court proceedings to assist the Advocate-General, seeking approval from the Lieutenant Governor through the Chief Secretary and the Chief Minister.
Any proposal related to the grant or denial of prosecution sanction or appeals will also be routed through the Chief Secretary for review by the Lieutenant Governor. The amendments also focus on matters connected with Prisons, Directorate of Prosecution, and Forensic Science Laboratory, among others, streamlining the process of decision-making and governance in the Union Territory.
Furthermore, with speculation mounting regarding the timing of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, these amendments signal a strategic shift in the governance model. The potential holding of elections post the conclusion of the Amarnath Yatra hints at a new phase in the region’s political landscape. Key stakeholders are gearing up for the elections, with the Union Home Minister recently convening a crucial meeting with BJP leaders from the region, outlining the path ahead for electoral preparations.
The recent changes have sparked discussions among major political parties, with some viewing it as an attempt to alter the power dynamics and governing structure in the Union Territory. This move sets the stage for a significant shift in the decision-making process and administrative framework, indicating a new chapter in Jammu and Kashmir’s political trajectory.
