More Power To LG As MHA Amends Jammu Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on 12 July has amended the transaction of business rules of the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir under the Jammu Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 to give more power to the lieutenant Governor (LG) of J&K in the administrative arena.

The amendment gives the LG more power in transfers and postings of officials regarding police, public order and All India Service (AIS) which require prior concurrence of the Finance Department.

The amendment stated, “No proposal which requires previous concurrence of the Finance Department with regard to 'Police',' Public Order', 'All India Service' and 'Anti Corruption Bureau' to exercise the discretion of the Lieutenant Governor under the Act shall be concurred or rejected unless it has been placed before the Lieutenant Governor through the Chief Secretary.”

In addition, a recent amendment also said that the proposal regarding the appointment of an Advocate-general, Law Officers and proposals regarding the grant or refusal of prosecution sanction or filing of an appeal shall be placed before the L-G first.

“Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs shall submit the proposal for appointment of Advocate-General and other Law Officers to assist the Advocate-general in the court proceedings, for approval of the Lieutenant Governor through the Chief Secretary and the Chief Minister," it stated.

It added another provision which said that all matters connected with Prisons, Directorate of Prosecution and Forensic Science Laboratory are also to be submitted to the LG.

Recently, the Supreme Court directed the centre to hold the assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir before 30 September. In 2019, the centre revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370, and divided the former state into two union territories named Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.