Sending a clear signal that Jammu & Kashmir is headed for a prolonged spell of Governor’s Rule in the wake of prevailing uncertainty over Government formation, Governor NN Vohra on Thursday appointed two seasoned bureaucrats, Parvez Dewan and Khurshid Ahmed Ganai, as Advisers to the Governor.
The Advisers shall exercise the powers of Minister under the Jammu & Kashmir Government Business Rules.
Reacting to the development former Chief Minister and working president of National Conference (NC) Omar Abdullah said this was a clear indication of prolonged Central Rule followed by elections this year.
“This clearly indicates that Governor Vohra doesn’t see an early end to Central Rule in the State. Elections this year,” Omar tweeted.
Interestingly, both the alliance partners continue to indulge in posturing over the tricky issue of Government formation in the State.
Even after meeting the Governor on February 2, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti continues to wait for New Delhi’s response to her demand for initiating confidence building measures to start the process of Government formation with the BJP.
On the other hand, the BJP claims it is still awaiting PDP’s response and is committed to implementing ‘Agenda of Alliance’, drafted at the highest-level when Mufti Mohd Sayeed took oath of office in March 2015.
In a notification issued on Thursday, the Governor ordered that Parvez Dewan shall be incharge of the departments of School Education, Higher Education, Technical Education, Youth Services and Sports, Health and Medical Education, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, Transport, Public Works (R&B), Information Technology, Floriculture, Garden and Parks, Tourism and Culture.
Similarly, Khurshid Ahmed Ganai shall be Incharge of the departments of Agriculture Production, Horticulture, Animal/Sheep Husbandry, Co-operative, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Forest, Environment and Ecology, labour and Employment, PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Social Welfare and Tribal Affairs.
In addition to this State Chief Secretary BR Sharma has been entrusted with the responsibilities to look after the matters relating to the departments of General Administration; Administrative Reforms, Inspections and Training, Stationery and Printing; Elections; law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs; Home; Power Development; Science and Technology; and Industries and Commerce.
The matters relating to the departments of Planning and Development; ladakh Affairs; Finance; Housing and Urban Development; Civil Aviation; Estates; Hospitality and Protocol; Information; Revenue; and Relief and Rehabilitation will be submitted to BB Vyas, Financial Commissioner.
With a view to ensuring efficient disposal of various matters, it has been ordered that the Administrative Secretaries shall continue to exercise the powers already delegated to them vide SRO 10 of the 14th January, 2016.
The Governor has also approved the constitution of the State Administrative Council, with the Governor as its Chairman and Advisers to the Governor as members, to dispose of cases mentioned in the Second Schedule of the J&K Government Business Rules or such other matters as the Governor may direct to be placed before it.
The Chief Secretary shall function as the Secretary of the State Administrative Council. The Administrative Secretary of Planning and Development, General Administration, Finance, law or any other department may be invited as may be required from time to time.