Jammu-Kashmir: LG Sinha Invites National Conference-Led Govt To Take Oath On Oct 16

Jammu and Kashmir government's oath-taking ceremony is set to take place on October 16 as LG Manoj Sinha extended an invite to National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah.

The oath-taking ceremony for the new government in Jammu and Kashmir is scheduled for 11:30 am on 16th October, following the withdrawal of President's rule. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha extended an invitation to National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah to form and lead the new government. The invitation letter, addressed to Omar Abdullah, read, "I am pleased to invite you to form and lead the Government of Jammu and Kashmir."

Omar Abdullah on Monday shared a copy of this letter on social media, stating, "Was pleased to receive the Principal Secretary to LG Manoj Sinha ji. He handed over a letter from the @OfficeOfLGJandK inviting me to form the next government in J&K."

The National Conference-Congress alliance, which secured a victory in the recent Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, is set to form the government, with Omar Abdullah taking the role of Chief Minister as the alliance's chosen leader.

President's Rule Revoked In Jammu And Kashmir To Pave Way For Govt Formation

This comes after the President's rule in Jammu and Kashmir was withdrawn on Sunday, paving the way for the formation of a new government in the union territory. The Union Home Ministry issued a gazette notification, stating that the order dated 31st October 2019 concerning the union territory would be revoked before the appointment of the chief minister under Section 54 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. The notification was signed by President Droupadi Murmu.

Central rule in Jammu and Kashmir began on 31st October 2019, following the bifurcation of the former state into the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. This transition followed the abrogation of Article 370 on 5th August 2019, which ended the special status previously accorded to the region. Before the reorganisation, central rule had been in place since June 2017, after then-Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti resigned following the BJP's withdrawal of support to the PDP-led government.

Initially imposed as Governor's rule, central rule transitioned to President's rule for six months and was later extended multiple times with Parliament's approval. Article 356, under which President's rule is imposed in states, does not apply to union territories. However, after Jammu and Kashmir became a union territory on 31st October 2019, the President issued a notification allowing central rule to continue indefinitely through the Lieutenant Governor.

The provisions for managing governance issues in Jammu and Kashmir, a union territory with a legislature, are outlined in Section 73 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. This section allows the President, upon a report from the LG, to suspend provisions of the Act if necessary for maintaining administration. Sections 239 and 239A of the Constitution of India address the administration of union territories and the creation of local legislatures, while Section 54 of the Reorganisation Act details the appointment and responsibilities of the chief minister and ministers.