Mubashir Aalam Wani
Srinagar, Nov 28: The Union Home Ministry is all set to issue new rules clarifying the roles and powers of the Chief Minister, Cabinet, Ministers, and Administrative Secretaries in Jammu and Kashmir, a region restructured as a Union Territory in 2019.
The process of finalizing these rules, based on consultations with stakeholders and constitutional guidelines, is nearly complete, and the announcement is likely to be made this weekend.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration has also constituted a committee to oversee the process. “The new rules will be finalized in the coming days and are expected to be announced shortly,” the senior official said.
Jammu and Kashmir were reorganized into two Union Territories—Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh—on October 31, 2019, following the passage of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act on August 5, 2019. Since then, the Lieutenant Governor (LG) has exclusively handled government affairs, with well-defined powers over the Home Department and All India Services.
However, the reinstatement of the assembly in October 2024 has introduced the need to define the roles of elected representatives and officials within the new governance framework.
Currently, the assembly operates under the rules of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir legislature, and the Chief Minister’s powers remain ambiguous. The upcoming rules aim to delineate the responsibilities of the Chief Minister, Cabinet, heads of departments (HODs), and district development commissioners (DDCs). They will also establish protocols for transfers, project approvals, recruitment policies, and creation of new posts.
The lack of clarity has raised concerns over potential conflicts between the legislature and executive and between the Raj Bhavan and the Chief Minister’s Office. At present, the Lieutenant Governor retains the final authority on policy matters, which could lead to friction in governance.
The new rules are designed to enhance transparency and coordination among different branches of governance, fostering smoother and more efficient administration. A senior official involved in the process, speaking anonymously, confirmed that the draft is in its final stages. The framework has been prepared with inputs from the Union Home Ministry, Jammu and Kashmir General Administration Department, and the Law and Parliamentary Affairs Department, alongside consultations with various stakeholders.
