Nearly four and a half months after the formation of the Omar Abdullah-led Government, the Cabinet has given its approval to the Business Rules for Jammu and Kashmir. These rules will now be sent to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for final approval.
The amendments, which were formulated by a high-level government committee, were approved during a Cabinet meeting held at Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s residence at 8 PM. The meeting, lasting about an hour, marked a significant step in streamlining governance under the new political dispensation in the Union Territory.
Background and Necessity for Amendments
Omar Abdullah took oath as the Chief Minister on October 16, 2024, alongside five Cabinet Ministers. Since then, the administration had been awaiting an update to the Business Rules to define the powers and responsibilities of key officials.
The changes were necessitated after Jammu and Kashmir transitioned from a State to a Union Territory on August 5, 2019. This is the first time a political government has been formed in J&K after the Assembly elections held in September-October 2024.
Key Features of the New Business Rules
The newly approved Business Rules clearly define the powers of the Chief Minister, the Cabinet, Ministers, and Administrative Secretaries. The powers of the Lieutenant Governor remain unchanged, as he continues to oversee law and order, public order, and All India Services.
A senior government official stated, “These amendments will now be sent to the Lieutenant Governor, who has the authority to notify them.”
Legal Framework and Governance Structure
As per the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019, the Lieutenant Governor is empowered to frame rules based on the advice of the Council of Ministers. This includes the allocation of responsibilities to Ministers and procedures for resolving any differences between the LG and the Cabinet.
Following the reorganization of Jammu & Kashmir, the Union Home Ministry had initially notified the Business Rules for the Union Territory on August 27, 2020. The rules were issued under Section 55 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019, in conjunction with the Proclamation dated October 31, 2019.
With the Cabinet’s approval, the final notification of the amended Business Rules now rests with the Lieutenant Governor, paving the way for a more structured and efficient governance system in Jammu and Kashmir.
