Countdown to J&K bifurcation begins, Ladakh administrative HQ to be shifted to Leh

New Delhi: To oversee the transition of Ladakh to Union Territory in terms of Jammu & Kashmir Re-Organization Act, 2019 and for operationalization of Union Territory Secretariat, the J&K administration has ordered shifting of headquarters of Administrative Secretary, Ladakh Affairs Department to Leh, Ladakh, with immediate effect.

After President Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent to the Act a Gazette Notification was issued by Ministry of Law and Justice. The Bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on August 5 and passed on the same day after which it was tabled in the Lok Sabha on Aug 6.

As per this bill, J&K will be divided into two separate UTs – Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir with legislative assembly like Puducherry and Union Territory of Ladakh without Legislative Assembly.

The UTs will be headed by Lieutenant Governor (LG) who will be empowered to “act in his discretion” in matters pertaining to All India Services and Anti-Corruption Bureau.

Out of 107 Legislative Assembly seats in the Jammu and Kashmir, 24 will remain vacant as they are in the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK).

The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir will serve as the common High Court for the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

Both the UTs will come into existence on October 31, the birth anniversary of Vallabhbhai Patel which is celebrated as National Unity Day (Rashtriya Ekta Diwas).

Ahead of the bifurcation of J&K into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, the J&K administration has given state government employees an option to select either UT for their allocation.

The notice issued to the administrative secretaries, heads of departments and government employees, says that the Lt Governor would decide which UT the employees would be allocated to for service after considering the options from the employees, reported IANS.

The last date for submitting the options is October 22.

While the Narendra Modi-led BJP government has been pushing the narrative of development in J&K after the abrogation of Article 370, the mainstream political leaders in the state have termed the Centre’s decision as a betrayal.

Home Minister Amit Shah has already announced that Kashmir would join the list of most developed Indian states in the next decade. He further thanked PM Narendra Modi for the historic decision saying that all the impediments in the development of Kashmir had been removed with the abrogation of Article 370 and called it a hurdle in country's unity and integrity.