The Ministry of Home Affairs has finally revoked President’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir. This allows the formation of government in the Union Territory. This move comes via a gazette notification cancelling the previous order made on October 31, 2019, imposing President’s Rule. The five-year term expires with an order issued on October 13, 2024, whereby Omar Abdullah’s government would get sworn in within the coming week.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 73 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 (34 of 2019) read with Articles 239 and 239A of the Constitution of India, the order dated the 31st October, 2019 in relation to the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir shall stand revoked immediately before the appointment of the chief minister under Section 54 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019,” the order signed by President Droupadi Murmu stated.
President’s rule was first implemented in Jammu and Kashmir on October 31, 2019, as the particular move of the abrogation of Article 370 took place on August 5, 2019. It was, in actual fact, central rule that was already prevailing since June 2017, post the resignation of then Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti after BJP withdrew its support to the PDP-led government.
Through the same Act passed by the Parliament on 5 August 2019, the erstwhile state was divided into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Article 370 of the landmark legislation abrogated this special status granted to the region.