The state of Jammu and Kashmir has been officially bifurcated into the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh on October 31, the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
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October 31 will mark the beginning of the functioning of the two UTs at a bureaucratic level. This was the date chosen after the bifurcation was announced in Parliament on August 5.
The two union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh came into effect under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act.
While Jammu and Kashmir will have an elected Assembly and council of ministers headed by a chief minister, Ladakh will be under the Lieutenant Governor's rule.
This is the first time that a state has been reorganised into union territories. India now has 28 states and nine union territories.
Jammu and Kashmir Assembly will increasing from its current strength to 114. It will have a term of five years, instead of the state Assembly’s term of six years.
The Legislative Council of Jammu and Kashmir will stand abolished. Jammu and Kashmir was one of the seven states to have a legislative council.
Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will have five Lok Sabha MPs and four Rajya Sabha MPs. Ladakh will have one Lok Sabha MP.
The Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir and the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) have also ceased to exist now from JK and Ladakh. Indian Penal Code provisions will now be applicable.
Central probe agencies like the National Investigation Agency and the Central Bureau of Investigation will now be able to take up investigations in the state on their own.
The two union territories will have a common high court.
While Jammu and Kashmir will be have a Public Service Commission, Ladakh will come under the Union Public Service Commission’s ambit.
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