Assembly elections are to be held in the sensitive state of Jammu and Kashmir by September, in such a situation the central government has given more powers and authority to the Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Jammu and Kashmir like the LG of Delhi.
For this, the Union Home Ministry has notified the rules amending Section 55 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019. Like Delhi, no posting and transfer of officers can be done without the approval of the LG of Jammu and Kashmir. The Jammu and Kashmir LG will now have more powers on matters related to police, law and order and All India Services (AIS). According to a report, the government has amended only the rules related to business.
Whoever forms the government in Jammu, the LG will remain the supreme ruler
Assembly elections are to be held in Jammu and Kashmir by September this year, so as per the amendment in the law, now no matter who is in power in the state, the LG will have the right to take important decisions. The government has amended the law and issued a notification on 12 July.
Which rules were changed?
Section 42A: Bars all proposals relating to police, public law and order, All India Services and Anti-Corruption Bureau (CAB) unless submitted to LG by the state chief secretary and approved by LG. Currently, such matters require finance department approval for implementation.
Section 42B: Any proposal to proceed or not to proceed under any Chapter or to grant permission to prefer or not to prefer an appeal shall be presented to the LG by the Chief Secretary and shall be implemented only after the approval of the LG.
We will have to plead before LG: Omar
Criticising the government's decision, Omar Abdullah said that now one will have to plead before the LG even for the appointment of a peon.