The government gave the Lieutenant-Governor the authority to decide on important issues including law enforcement and the imposition of penalties for prosecution by amending the regulations set forth in the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019. Kashmir would not follow the same standard procedures and decision-making processes as other states under the revised regulations.
Proposals for public order and policing, for example, will go straight to the Lt-Governor through the chief secretary, rather than through ministries and then be approved by the Lt-Governor.This is the second time the government has used an executive notification to change what it refers to as J&K’s business regulations.
Source: Daily Excelsior
These regulations must be viewed in light of the intention to establish a popular government and organise Assembly elections in the union area. The Supreme Court set a deadline of September 30 for the polls, which should take place before then. The Center will devalue the elected government by granting the Lieutenant Governor additional authority over issues that often fall under the jurisdiction of the states.
It will imply that the current system will persist in a modified form and that the Lieutenant Governor, acting as a stand-in for the Union administration, will make decisions on crucial issues. The restoration of democracy has been eagerly anticipated by the people of Jammu and Kashmir. That is demonstrated by the huge turnout for the Lok Sabha election. Since assembly elections are being held after a ten-year interval, they will be very important.
Source: India Today
According to the government, the regulations have been changed to precisely outline the Assembly’s and the Lt. Governor’s duties in order to facilitate efficient administration. However, they go over and beyond to bolster the office of the Lieutenant Governor and weaken the administration. It is well known that the Lieutenant Governor and the Delhi government are often at odds and quarrelling. Kashmir shouldn’t be forced into such circumstances.
A large portion of Kashmir’s unrest stems from a lack of trust in the Union government and a democratic deficiency. The public should not be led to believe that elections and the democratic process are a sham. The administration has not provided a specific date for the restoration of statehood, which raises questions over the choice made by the government. The new regulations will aid in the creation of yet another flawed and skewed paradigm of federal-state relations.
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