Assembly polls 2024: J&K to have only 10 ministers including Chief Minister in new govt

Chief Minister to be appointed by LG; Other 9 Ministers to be inducted on CM’s advice

Jammu: The first government in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 will be limited to just 10 ministers, including the Chief Minister, as mandated by the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.
“There shall be a Council of Ministers consisting of not more than ten percent of the total number of members in the Legislative Assembly, with the Chief Minister at the head, to aid and advise the Lieutenant Governor in the exercise of his functions, except where discretion or judicial/quasi-judicial functions are required.” the act reads.
With the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly having 90 contestable seats, the Act limits the government to a maximum of 10 ministers, including the Chief Minister. Interestingly, during the PDP-BJP coalition government prior to its collapse, there were 13 Cabinet Ministers and 8 Ministers of State.
Furthermore, the Act states that the Chief Minister will be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, while the remaining ministers will be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor on the advice of the Chief Minister.
The Chief Minister is required to communicate all decisions of the Council of Ministers to the Lieutenant Governor, especially on matters related to the administration of the Union Territory and legislative proposals. The Lieutenant Governor retains the authority to request information related to these affairs.
Additionally, the Act outlines that the ministers will serve at the pleasure of the Lieutenant Governor and that the Council of Ministers will be collectively responsible to the Legislative Assembly. Before assuming office, ministers will take the oath of office and secrecy, administered by the Lieutenant Governor. If a minister is not a member of the Legislative Assembly for six consecutive months, they must vacate their position.
Prior to bifurcation, the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir had 87 contestable seats in its Legislative Assembly, with 46 allocated to the Kashmir Valley, 37 to Jammu, and 6 to Ladakh. Following the bifurcation, Ladakh became a separate Union Territory, reducing the number of seats in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Delimitation Commission, formed in March 2020 and chaired by retired Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, increased the number of seats for the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly to 90 contestable seats—43 in Jammu and 47 in Kashmir. The 24 seats designated for the areas under Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) will remain vacant until those areas are reclaimed. The final report, which came into effect on May 20, 2022, added 6 seats to Jammu and 1 to Kashmir.
The region has been under a combination of Governor's and President's rule since June 2018, following the collapse of the coalition government between the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This political shift occurred after the BJP withdrew support from Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's government, leading to the dissolution of the Assembly in November 2018.
The ongoing Legislative Assembly elections, scheduled in three phases from September 18 to October 1, 2024. The results will be declared on October 8, 2024.

Updated On 9/12/2024 1:10:37 AM