Srinagar: Assembly elections can be held in Jammu and Kashmir anytime, which will give the state a new government, amid this situation a big decision has been taken by the central government. According to which, from now on, the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir has also been given the same powers as the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. From now on, the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir will be able to take most of the decisions including the transfer of IAS, IPS officers. After the state status is restored, if the state government is formed in the future, then the government will not be able to take any major decision without the approval of the Lieutenant Governor. That is, the powers of the Lieutenant Governor will be more than the state government.
When Article 370 was repealed and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019 came into force, the central government reorganized Jammu and Kashmir. The central government has amended this law to give more powers to the Lieutenant Governor, which has also been approved by President Draupadi Murmu. The new rules have also been implemented from July 12. According to the new rules, any proposal requiring the approval of the Finance Department in matters of police, public administration, All India Services, Anti-Corruption Bureau will be submitted to the Lieutenant Governor through the Chief Secretary. That is, his approval will be necessary. Along with this, the Lieutenant Governor has also been given the right to appoint the Advocate General. Permission to file an appeal will also have to be taken from the Lieutenant Governor. According to these amendments made by the Home Ministry, the government will also have to send proposals related to the transfer of administrative secretaries and All India Service (IAS) cadre officers to the Lieutenant Governor for approval. The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi also has similar powers, due to which there has been a dispute going on for a long time between the AAP government of Delhi and the Lieutenant Governor.
Local parties of Jammu and Kashmir have started protesting against this decision of the central government. Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and Vice President of National Conference Omar Abdullah protested and said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir deserve more than a powerless rubber stamp Chief Minister, after this decision of the Center, the state government should appeal to the Lieutenant Governor even for the transfer of a common employee. Iltija Mufti, daughter of PDP President and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, said that this decision of the Center is weakening the powers of the state. At the same time, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that in future, it will take a long time for Jammu and Kashmir to get the status of a full state.