Govt sets into motion process of J&K’s transition to two UTs
Panels set up to work out modalities, distribution of staff, finances
SAHIL RASGOTRA. Updated: 8/20/2019 11:05:12 AM

JAMMU: Seventy-three days ahead of division of Jammu and Kashmir into two parts, the Governor’s administration on Monday commenced the transition from a State to union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and union territory of Ladakh, when it set up three high-level panels.
These panels are tasked with devising the modalities for functioning of proposed UT of Jammu and Kashmir; working out the distribution of staff among the two UTs; and realization and distribution of funds and other financial matters.
The constitution of these committees comes days after the Centre decided to bifurcate the Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories which will come into existence on October 31.
The first panel, which would be headed by K K Sharma, Advisor to Governor Satya Pal Malik, would devise the modalities for functioning of proposed UT of Jammu and Kashmir.
The committee has been entrusted with the task of work out the steps to be taken for transition from State to proposed UT of J&K by various departments and also the conduct of Government business in the UT.
The high-level panel will have 11 other members including three second-top bureaucrats in State---Financial Commissioner, Finance Department, Financial Commissioner, Health & Medical Department, and Financial Commissioner with Governor.
The other members would include Principal Secretaries of Home Department and Planning, Development & Monitoring Department; Commissioners/Secretaries of Public Works(R&B) Department and Ladakh Affairs Department; and Secretaries of General Administration Department, Higher Education Department, Revenue Department, and Department of Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs.
The UT of Jammu and Kashmir will have a Lieutenant Governor and the maximum strength of its assembly will be 107, which will be enhanced to 114 after a delimitation exercise. Twenty-four seats of the Assembly will continue to remain vacant as they fall under Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
After October 31, the Centre will be in direct control of law and order and police in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir through the Lieutenant Governor (L-G), while matters related to land, that is to say rights in or over it, land tenures, transfer and alienation of agricultural land, land improvement and agricultural loans will be under the domain of the elected government here.
The second high-level panel constituted today would work out the staff related issues in proposed UTs of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
While current officers of All India Services like the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and the Indian Police Service (IPS) continue to function on the existing cadre of J&K, they would be allotted among two UTs where they would function within in accordance with the rules framed by the Central Government.
However, all the other employees of J&K government would be given be allotted between two UTs, after consideration of option received by seeking option from the employees.
The second panel—which would be headed by Principal Secretary to the Government, Home Department-- would suggest measures to be taken for providing staff to the proposed UT of Ladakh.
Comprising of Commissioner/Secretary Ladakh Affairs Department, Secretaries of General Administration Department, Culture Department, Department of Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs, and a representative of the Finance Department as its members, this panel would also work out any other issues relating to staff of proposed UT of Jammu & Kashmir.
Both these Committees would be serviced by the General Administration Department.
The third panel constituted today would deal with the Financial matters related to the proposed UTs of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
While Financial Commissioner, Finance Department will chair this panel, its members would include Principal Secretary of Home Department, Commissioner/Secretary, Power Development Department, and Secretaries of General Administration Department, and Department of Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs.
The panel has been tasked with the realization and distribution of funds and other related issues concerning the proposed UTs of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh under both Revenue and Capex components.
This Committee would be serviced by the Finance Department.

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