MHA issues new rules for J&K’s governance

New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has notified new rules for administration of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir that specify the functions of the Lt Governor and the Council of Ministers.
The “Transaction of business of the government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir Rules, 2019” were published in the gazette on Thursday, and have six chapters.
Notified by Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla, these rules provide that “police, public order, All India Services and anti-corruption,” will fall under the executive functions of the Lt Governor, implying that the Chief Minister or the Council of Ministers will have no say in these matters.
The rules also say that proposals or matters which affect or are likely to affect the peace and tranquility of the UT or the interest of any minority community, the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the Backward Classes “shall essentially be submitted to the Lt Governor through the Chief Secretary, under intimation to the Chief Minister, before issuing any orders”.
According to the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019, fresh elections will be held after the delimitation exercise is completed next year. (Ians)