The central government has increased the administrative powers of the Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Jammu and Kashmir. Like Delhi, now the state government in Jammu and Kashmir will not be able to transfer-postings of officers without the approval of the Lieutenant Governor.
Assembly elections are going to be held in Jammu and Kashmir by September this year. In such a situation, the decision of the Center to increase the powers of the Lieutenant Governor is considered important. No matter who forms the government in the state, the LG will have the power to take important decisions.
The Home Ministry has notified the amended rules under Section 55 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019, in which new sections giving more power to the LG have been added. After this amendment, the Lieutenant Governor will now have more powers in matters related to police, law and order, All India Service (AIS). Two points added in the amended rules…
42A: Any proposal for which prior consent of the Finance Department is required under the Act in respect of ‘Police’, ‘Public Order’, ‘All India Services’ and ‘Anti Corruption Bureau’ (ACB) will not be approved or rejected unless it is placed before the Lieutenant Governor through the Chief Secretary.
42B: Any proposal regarding granting or rejecting prosecution sanction or filing an appeal will be placed before the Lieutenant Governor by the Law Department through the Chief Secretary.
Omar Abdullah said – will have to beg LG for everything
On this decision of the Center, National Conference leader and former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah said – another indication that elections in Jammu and Kashmir are near. That is why a firm commitment to set a deadline for restoring full, undivided statehood to Jammu and Kashmir is a prerequisite for these elections. The people of J&K deserve better than a powerless, rubber stamp CM who has to beg the LG even to get his peon appointed.