The two Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh came into existence on October 31 after the central government on August 5 decided to abrogate the special status given to undivided Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370.

The Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh will be headed by lieutenant governors G.C.  Murmu and R.K. Mathur, respectively.

The total number of states in the country will now be 28, while the total Union Territories will go up to nine.

President’s rule ends

President’s rule imposed in undivided Jammu and Kashmir was also revoked following the bifurcation of the state into two Union Territories.

“In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (2) of Article 356 of the Constitution, I, Ram Nath Kovind, President of India, hereby revoke the proclamation issued by me under the said article on the 19th December, 2018 in relation to the state of Jammu & Kashmir,” the official notification said.

Central rule was first imposed in Jammu and Kashmir in June 2018, after the resignation of the then chief minister Mehbooba Mufti when the BJP withdrew support to the state government led by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

The first central rule as “governor’s rule” continued for six months. After the six-month period, President’s rule was imposed for the next six months, which was subsequently extended with the approval of Parliament.

Article 356 of the Constitution, under which President’s rule is imposed in a state, is not applicable to Union territories.

What will happen now?

The Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir and the Ranbir Penal Code will cease to exist from October 31, when the nation celebrates National Unity Day to mark the birth anniversary of the country’s first home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who is credited for the merger of over 560 states into the Union of India.

The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will have a legislature like Puducherry while Ladakh will be a Union Territory without legislature like Chandigarh and both the Union Territories will be headed by two separate lieutenant governors, as per the Act.

The Centre will be in direct control of the police and the law and order in Jammu and  Kashmir, while the land will be under the elected government there.

The Union Territory of Ladakh will be under the direct control of the central government, which will administer the high-altitude region through the lieutenant governor.

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