After the removal of President’s rule, the swearing-in ceremony of the new government in Jammu and Kashmir is to be held on October 16 at 11:30 am. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha invited National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah to form and lead the new government. “I am delighted to invite you to form and lead the Government of Jammu and Kashmir,” the invitation letter addressed to Omar Abdullah said.
Sharing a copy of the letter on social media on Monday, Omar Abdullah said, “Pleased to meet Manoj Sinha ji, Principal Secretary, LG. He has invited me on behalf of @OfficeOfLGJandK to form the next government in Jammu and Kashmir. Handed over a letter.” The National Conference-Congress alliance, which recently won the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, is set to form the government, and Omar Abdullah will take over the role of Chief Minister as the chosen leader of the alliance.
The way is clear for government formation in Jammu and Kashmir
This decision has come after President’s rule was lifted in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, paving the way for the formation of a new government in the Union Territory. The Union Home Ministry issued a gazette notification stating that the order dated October 31, 2019, relating to the Union Territory prior to the appointment of the Chief Minister under Section 54 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019, stands repealed. The notification was signed by President Draupadi Murmu.
Central rule in Jammu and Kashmir began on 31 October 2019, when the former state was carved out.Jammu and Kashmir and was divided into the union territories of Ladakh. This change occurred after the abrogation of Article 370 on 5 August 2019, which ended the special status previously given to the region. Before the reorganisation, central rule was in place since June 2017, when then chief minister Mehbooba Mufti resigned after the BJP withdrew support to the PDP-led government.
Initially imposed as Governor’s rule, central rule was converted into President’s rule for six months and later extended several times with the approval of Parliament. Article 356, under which President’s rule is imposed in states, does not apply to Union Territories. However, after Jammu and Kashmir became a union territory on 31 October 2019, the President issued a notification allowing continuation of central rule indefinitely through the Lieutenant Governor.
Provisions for the management of governance issues in Jammu and Kashmir, a union territory with a single assembly, are outlined in Section 73 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019. This section allows the President to suspend the provisions of the Act if necessary to maintain administration, on the report of the LG. Sections 239 and 239A of the Indian Constitution address the administration of Union Territories and the creation of local assemblies, while Section 54 of the Reorganization Act details the appointment and responsibilities of the Chief Minister and ministers.
