JAMMU: Nearly four and half months after formation of Omar Abdullah Government, the Cabinet today approved Business Rules for Jammu and Kashmir which now will be sent to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for his nod.
The rules had been finalised by a high level committee of the Government.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the Cabinet met at Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s residence at 8 pm for about an hour and gave its nod to amendments in the Business Rules for Jammu and Kashmir which were awaited for last over four and half months.
Omar took oath as the Chief Minister on October 16, 2024 along with five Cabinet Ministers.
“Amendments in the Business Rules were necessitated as Jammu and Kashmir had switched over from the State to Union Territory on August 5, 2019 and this was for the first time that political Government was formed after Assembly elections in September-October last year,” the sources said.
The new Business Rules have defined powers of the Chief Minister, the Cabinet, Ministers and Administrative Secretaries.
Powers of the Lieutenant Governor have already been defined as he holds charge of the law and order, public order and All India Services.
“The amendments in Business Rules would now be sent to the Lieutenant Governor who has the authority to notify them,” the sources said.
They added that powers of the Chief Minister, Council of Ministers and the Administrative Secretaries have been clearly defined with amendments in the Business Rules.
Under Jammu & Kashmir Reorganization Act-2019, the Lieutenant Governor shall make rules on the advice of the Council of Ministers for the allocation of business to the Ministers; and for the more convenient transaction of business with the Ministers including the procedure to be adopted in case of a difference of opinion between the Lieutenant Governor and the Council of Ministers or a Minister.
After reorganization of Jammu & Kashmir, the Union Home Ministry notified the business rule for J&K UT on August 27, 2020. The Business Rules were issued by MHA in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 55 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019, read with the Proclamation, dated 31st October, 2019 issued under section 73 of the said Act.
