Centre to amend law to integrate J&K with ‘one nation, one election’ initiative

Srinagar, Dec 14: The Union Government will introduce a bill in the Lok Sabha on Monday to amend “The Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act-2019” for integration of Jammu & Kashmir Union Territory with its “ one nation, one election” initiative.
According to business scheduled in Lok Sabha on Monday, Union Law Minister Arjun Meghwal would introduce The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill-2024 to make changes in the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963, the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.
While the amendments in the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963 and the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991 have been proposed for respectively for synchorinsation of assembly polls of Puducherry and Delhi with Lok Sabha polls, the amendments in J&K Reorganisation Act- 2019 will align J&K’s electoral cycle with Lok Sabha polls.
According to the amendments proposed in J&K Reorganization Act-2019, the term of the Legislative Assembly shall come to an end on the expiry of the full term of Lok Sabha.
According to the bill, simultaneous elections would come into effect on an “appointed date” to be notified by the President on the first sitting of the Lok Sabha after a general election.
Since the first sitting of the Lok Sabha elected in 2024 has already taken place, the earliest the appointed date for simultaneous elections can be notified is the first sitting of the House elected in the 2029 elections. This means that simultaneous polls could be held by 2034, when the full term of that House ends.
It becomes clear now that the bill would not affect the existing five-year term of J&K Assembly.
According to the bill, in case the J & K Assembly gets dissolved before completing its five-year full term, the midterm election would be held only for the remainder of five years. (KNO)