Disquiet in J&K as new rules add to LG powers

The Opposition on Saturday denounced the Centre’s move to widen the scope of Jammu and Kashmir lieutenant governor’s powers on key administrative and legal matters — ranging from police and public order to postings and prosecution sanction — saying that the step will render the chief minister “powerless” and “disempower” the region’s people. “No proposal which requires previous concurrence of the Finance Department with regard to Police, Public Order, All India Service and Anti Corruption Bureau to exercise the discretion of the Lieutenant Governor under the Act shall be concurred or rejected unless it has been placed before the Lieutenant Governor through the Chief Secretary’,” the inserted sub-rule said. “Any proposal regarding grant or refusal of prosecution sanction or filing of an appeal shall be placed before the Lieutenant Governor through the Chief Secretary by the Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs,” the inserted rule 42B said. Former J&K chief minister and National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah said the move indicated that elections were “around the corner”, adding that “a firm commitment laying out the timeline” for restoration of J&K’s statehood was a prerequisite for the polls.