JK News Today
Srinagar, May 5: The Omar Abdullah government has taken cognisance of LG’s objections to the transaction of business rules , and will reply point by point soon.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, is working to resolve differences with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha over the proposed Transaction of Business Rules (TBR), which define the administrative functioning and jurisdiction of the elected government.
Tanvir Sadiq, NC’s chief spokesperson and legislator, said the cabinet has formally responded to the queries raised by the Lieutenant Governor, adding that the matter is being addressed with urgency. “Very soon there will be clarity,” Sadiq assured, confirming that the cabinet, under the leadership of Omar Abdullah, met today and finalized its reply to the LG’s office.
Refuting media reports suggesting the LG rejected the TBR outright, Sadiq clarified, “The Business Rules have not been rejected, but some queries were raised, and those have been addressed.” The cabinet’s response is expected to be dispatched to Raj Bhavan within the day.
The core of the dispute centers around administrative authority, particularly over the posting and transfer of All India Services officers (IAS, IPS, IFS) and officers from the Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Services (JKAS). While the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 grants sweeping powers to the LG in these matters under Section 55, the rules framed by the elected government reportedly sought to vest that authority with the cabinet, a move the LG’s office has viewed as inconsistent with the Act.
The Transaction of Business Rules were drafted by a high-level panel that included legal experts such as senior advocate Rohinton Nariman. However, Raj Bhavan returned the file citing concerns that the provisions clashed with the Reorganisation Act, particularly in terms of bureaucratic control.
Following the LG’s objections, the government has tried to find a middle ground. A cabinet sub-committee, formed in November last year and chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, was tasked with drafting the administrative rules. The panel includes senior political leaders and top bureaucrats, including Law Secretary Achal Sethi and GAD Commissioner Sanjeev Sharma.
In the absence of these finalized business rules, the Omar Abdullah government has faced limitations in executing administrative decisions, especially those related to transfers and postings in the bureaucracy, leaving a significant gap in the functioning of the elected setup.
The matter now awaits the LG’s fresh review of the revised draft. Both sides hope the deadlock will end soon, paving the way for smoother governance under the new political dispensation in J&K.
