Jammu: In a significant development, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has amended the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019, enhancing certain powers of the Lieutenant Governor of the erstwhile state. President Droupadi Murmu approved these amendments under the provisions of the Act, as noted in an MHA notification.

Effective from July 12, the new rules amend the Transaction of Business of the Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir Rules, 2019. These changes come ahead of the speculated assembly elections in the region.

Key amendments include a new sub-rule (2A) that requires proposals needing the Finance Department's concurrence on matters like 'Police', 'Public Order', 'All India Service', and 'Anti Corruption Bureau' to be placed before the Lieutenant Governor through the Chief Secretary. Rule 42A mandates the Department of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs to submit proposals for appointing the Advocate-General and other law officers for the Lieutenant Governor's approval via the Chief Secretary and Chief Minister.

Rule 42B requires that proposals related to prosecution sanctions or appeals be placed before the Lieutenant Governor by the Department of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs through the Chief Secretary. Additionally, matters concerning Prisons, the Directorate of Prosecution, and the Forensic Science Laboratory must be submitted to the Lieutenant Governor through the Chief Secretary, as stipulated in rule 43.

These amendments reflect the evolving governance framework in Jammu and Kashmir, aligning with the region's administrative needs. The principal rules were initially published on August 27, 2020, and were previously amended on February 28, 2024. /BI/