Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has made significant amendments to the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, enhancing the powers vested in the Lieutenant Governor (LG) of the Union Territory.
The amendments, approved by President Droupadi Murmu under section 55 of the Act, aim to streamline the governance structure in Jammu and Kashmir. According to the notification issued by the MHA, the amendments specifically modify the Transaction of Business of the Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir Rules, 2019.
Termed as the Transaction of Business of the Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (Second Amendment) Rules, 2024, these amendments come into effect from July 12, as published in the Official Gazette. The timing of these changes aligns with anticipated assembly elections in the region.
Key amendments include sub-rule (2A), which mandates that proposals requiring the Finance Department’s concurrence for matters related to ‘Police’, ‘Public Order’, ‘All India Service’, and ‘Anti Corruption Bureau’ must be placed before the LG through the Chief Secretary for approval or rejection.
Additionally, new rules such as 42A and 42B have been inserted, focusing on the appointment of Law Officers and matters concerning prosecution sanctions, respectively. These amendments underscore the LG’s enhanced role in decision-making processes crucial to the governance of Jammu and Kashmir.
The amendments further detail procedures for matters connected with Prisons, Directorate of Prosecution, and Forensic Science Laboratory, emphasizing the role of the Administrative Secretary, Home Department, and General Administration Department in submitting proposals to the LG via the Chief Secretary.
The original rules, first published on August 27, 2020, and subsequently amended on February 28, 2024, have been updated to reflect these latest changes aimed at bolstering administrative efficiency and governance in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
