J&K legislative council abolished, staff to report to GAD by Oct 22

J&K REORGANISATION ACT WILL COME INTO EFFECT FROM OCTOBER 31

JAMMU/ SRINAGAR: With the revocation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir and its bifurcation into two Union territories of Ladakh and J&K, its legislative council, also called the House of Elders, became a thing of the past, with the general administration department (GAD) abolishing the upper House on Wednesday.

The government has now asked the entire staff to report to the GAD by October 22 for further orders.

“Consequent to the abolition of the Jammu and Kashmir legislative council in terms of Section 57 of Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, it is hereby ordered that all the staff of Jammu and Kashmir legislative council shall report to the general administration department by October 22,” the order said.

The administration ordered that the vehicles purchased for the legislative council from time to time will be transferred to director state motor garages.

Also, the secretary, Jammu and Kashmir legislative council shall handover building of the legislative council along with furniture and electronic gadgets to the director estates.

Further, the secretary shall transfer all records pertaining to the council secretariat, including related legislative business to the department of law, justice and parliamentary affairs for record, the order said.

The special status of Jammu and Kashmir under article 370 was revoked on August 5 in parliament when the state was put under a security and communication blockade.

The central government also split the state into two union territories – Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, under Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, which will come into effect from October 31. Legislative council chairman Haji Anayat Ali said, “I will be the last chairman till October 31 when J&K will officially turn into two UTs”.

After the reorganisation, there will be only be legislative assembly of the Union territory of J&K, the number of members to be chosen by direct elections will be 107.

Instead of a cabinet, there will be council of ministers with not more than 10% of the total members in the legislative assembly.