Amendments in J&K business rules aimed at making L-G more powerful than CM

Srinagar: The Union home ministry’s latest move, amending the transaction of business of the government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir Rules, 2019, is aimed at strengthening the role of the Lieutenant Governor in maintaining law and order and making him more potent towards decision-making in administrative matters.

According to amendments made by the MHA, the proposals relating to transfer of administrative secretaries and cadre posts of All India Service (AIS) officers shall be submitted to the L-G by the administrative secretary, general administration department through the Chief Secretary.

“Provided also that in respect of matters connected with posting and transfer of Administrative Secretaries and cadre posts of All India Services officers, proposal shall be submitted to the Lieutenant Governor by the administrative secretary, general administration department through the Chief Secretary,” reads the notification issued by the MHA.

It further says that the proposals requiring prior concurrence of the Finance department on the matters over which the L-G has discretionary powers shall not be concurred or rejected unless it has been placed before his/her through the Chief Secretary.

“No proposal which requires previous concurrence of the finance department with regard to ‘police’, ‘public order’, ‘All India Service’ and ‘Anti-Corruption Bureau’ to exercise the discretion of the L-G under the Act shall be concurred or rejected unless it has been placed before the L-G through the Chief Secretary,” its says

The MHA, as per amendments, said that the department of law, justice and parliamentary affairs shall submit the proposal for 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.

“Any proposal regarding grant or refusal of prosecution sanction or filing of appeal shall be placed before the Lieutenant Governor through the Chief Secretary by the department of law, justice and parliamentary Affairs,” reads the MHA’s notification.

It further says that the proposals regarding the prisons, directorate of prosecution and forensic science laboratory shall be submitted to the Lieutenant Governor by administrative secretary, home department through the Chief Secretary.

President Droupadi Murmu has given her approval to the amendments, the MHA said, adding that the amendments shall come into force on July 12, the date of the publication in the Official Gazette.