City
Epaper

Centre will have more room to control Valley, say experts

By IANS | Updated: August 5, 2019 15:35 IST

As the Union government scrapped Article 370 of the Constitution giving special status to Jammu and Kashmir and split the state into Union Territories, some legal experts said the move will give more room to the Centre to control the Valley.

Open in App

Describing how Union Territories with an Assembly function, the experts said two Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir will get the benefit of a partial state such as Delhi and operate somewhat differently from Ladakh, a proposed Union Territory without legislature.

Union territories are federal territories governed directly by the Union government through its representatives.

Welcoming the decision, senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi said now the Centre can govern the Valley directly through Lieutenant Governor as the administrator.

"The Centre will have stronger control over Kashmir valley now. Parliament can make laws with all subject matters concerning the Valley," said Dwivedi.

India has seven Union Territories Delhi, Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Chandigarh. Among these, Delhi and Puducherry have elected assemblies while the rest do not have a legislature.

Fomer judget S.N. Dhingra said that Union Teritories with an elected legislative assembly and an executive council of ministers have partially state-like functions.

He said the elected Assembly will have a similar kind of functioning like Delhi and Puducherry, which have their elected members and the Chief Minister, as these have been granted powers of partial statehood, but there is certain restriction on some issues.

"In some issues, elected representatives required to take approval of the Lieutenant Governor," he said.

In the case of Delhi, issues related to land, police and public order fall under the domain of the Lt. Governor, a Central representative.

In a Union Territory with an Assembly, the elected representatives have got some power to govern the land whereas Union Territory with Assembly, the Centre controls the land through its representative.

However, a Union Territory with an Assembly will require approval from the Centre in certain issues as it happens in Delhi.

Senior Advocate Dwivedi said a Union Territory without a legislature will be similar to other Union Territories including Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

These Union Territories are governed by an administrator appointed by the President under Article 239 of the Constitution.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: uniondelhiUnion TerritoriesRakesh Dwivedi
Open in App

Related Stories

NationalBomb Threat in Delhi: Two CRPF Schools and Three Courts Receive Jaish-e-Mohammad Email

NationalAgra-Lucknow Expressway Accident: Three Killed, 26 Injured As Bus From Delhi Overturns Near Araoul

NationalMcDonald's, KFC May Soon Open At Major Stations Like Mumbai, Delhi, and Ahmedabad

NationalDelhi Red Fort Car Blast: Amir Rashid Ali Placed Under 10-Day NIA Custody by Court

EntertainmentShehnaaz Gill Reacts to Delhi Red Fort Car Blast: “Praying for Peace and Strength to Everyone Affected”

National Realted Stories

NationalBody of Kashmiri labourer killed in Delhi terror blast brought home in J&K village

NationalFocus on 'effectively utilising' Chabahar port as Afghan minister begins India visit

NationalBihar govt formation: Nitish elected JD(U) legislative party leader, BJP picks Samrat Choudhury and Vijay Sinha

NationalAfter deportation from US, NIA arrests Anmol Bishnoi

NationalStampede case: CID prepares to file chargesheet against RCB, DNA