The Union home ministry’s latest move, amending the transaction of business of the government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir Rules, 2019, is aimed at strengthening the role of the Lieutenant Governor in maintaining law and order and making him more potent towards decision-making in administrative matters. According to amendments made by the MHA, the proposals relating to transfer of administrative secretaries and cadre posts of All India Service (AIS) officers shall be submitted to the L-G by the administrative secretary, general administration department through the Chief Secretary. “Provided also that in respect of matters connected with posting and transfer of Administrative Secretaries and cadre posts of All India Services officers, proposal shall be submitted to the Lieutenant Governor by the administrative secretary, general administration department through the Chief Secretary,” reads the notification issued by the MHA.
It further says that the proposals requiring prior concurrence of the Finance department on the matters over which the L-G has discretionary powers shall not be concurred or rejected unless it has been placed before his/her through the Chief Secretary. “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 L-G under the Act shall be concurred or rejected unless it has been placed.