Centre amends J&K Reorganisation Act: How does it expand LG's powers?

The Ministry of Home Affairs on Saturday amended the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 and expanded the powers of the Lieutenant Governor. The move comes amid election buzz in the region, the first since Article 370 was abrogated in 2019.

The MHA notified the amended rules on July 12 under Section 55 of the J&K Reorganisation Act and introduced new sections to boost the roles of the LG.

LG Manoj Sinha has been holding the office since August 2020.

“The President hereby makes the following rules further to amend the Transaction of Business of the Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir Rules, 2019, namely: These rules may be called the Transaction of Business of the Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (Second Amendment) Rules, 2024; they shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette,” the notification stated.

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Here are all the powers that the LG will now have:

• With the amendment, the LG can take calls on matters like transfers and postings of IAS and IPS officers, appointment of judicial officers as well as law and order

• Under rule 42, a section 42A has been added which states, “Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs shall submit the proposal for the appointment of Advocate-General and other Law Officers to assist the Advocate-General in the court proceedings, for approval of the Lieutenant Governor through the Chief Secretary and the Chief Minister”

• Under 42B, the LG will now also be bestowed proposals regarding the grant or refusal of prosecution sanction or filing of appeal and he or she will be the final authority on issues of prisons, directorate of prosecution and forensic science laboratory as well