The President’s rule on Jammu and Kashmir has finally been withdrawn on October 13, 2024 after six years of Central rule. Central rule was initially imposed in Jammu and Kashmir on October 31, 2019. The President’s rule in India, governed by the Article 356 of the constitution is imposed when a State’s government is not able to function according to constitutional provisions. However, the news of withdrawal comes right before the Union Territory gets its new Chief Minister after six years under the Central rule. The appointment of the CM in Jammu and Kashmir is under Section 54 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.
A gazette notification was issued by the Union Home Ministry that confirmed the revocation of the Central rule. The decision to revoke the rule was made under Section 73 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation act 2019, in conjunction with Article 239 and 239A of the Indian Constitution. The order was signed by President Droupadi Murmu which stated that the previous notification from October 31st 2019, stating the imposing of President’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir stands revoked.
New Government of Jammu and Kashmir
The new Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir is going to be Omar Abdullah who is the Vice President of the National Conference (NC). He was elected as the leader of the National Conference-Congress alliance following their victory in the latest Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections. The last Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir was Mehbooba Mufti who resigned when Bharatiya Janata Party BJP withdrew its support from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led coalition government. BJP had stated officially that it had become “untenable”for the party to continue being a part of the coalition government in Srinagar.
President rule timeline Jammu and Kashmir
President’s Rule has been imposed on Jammu and Kashmir for nine times till now.
- First was between March 1977 to July 1977
- Second was between March 1986 to November 1986
- Third from January 1990 to October 1996
- Fourth from October 2002 to November 2, 2002
- Fifth from July 2008 to July 5, 2009
- Sixth time from January 9, 2015 to March 1, 2015
- Seventh time from January 8, 2016 to April 4, 2016
- Eighth time from December 20, 2018 to October 31, 2019
- Ninth time from October 31, 2019 to October 13, 2024
However, it is important to know that the Governor’s rule was imposed on Jammu and Kashmir from June 20, 2018 to December 19, 2018. Also technically, from October 31, 2019 Jammu and Kashmir was no longer a state but a Union Territory.