||Black and White Digital News||

||Parvinder Singh April 04,2025 ||

Srinagar : In an unprecedented standoff between Jammu and Kashmir’s elected government and Raj Bhawan, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has vehemently opposed the transfer of 48 Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) officers, terming it an “illegal encroachment” on his authority. The move, ordered on April 1 by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, has ignited a political storm, drawing sharp criticism from the Congress as well.

Highly placed sources confirm that CM Omar Abdullah has formally written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, challenging the validity of the transfers. In his letter, Abdullah asserts that the order lacks the approval of the “competent authority”—his office—thus violating the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019, which mandates that such decisions require the Council of Ministers’ sanction.

“This is a clear breach of jurisdiction,” a close aide to the Chief Minister stated. “The Lieutenant Governor has overstepped his mandate by bypassing the elected government in matters that fall under its domain.”

Congress Joins the Chorus of Opposition:

The opposition Congress has thrown its weight behind Omar Abdullah, further escalating the matter. GA Mir, leader of the Congress Legislative Party (CLP), lambasted the LG’s move, arguing that the decision should have awaited the formal approval of the new business rules currently pending with the Centre.

“Taking such a step was not advisable,” Mir said on Thursday. “The transfer of JKAS officers falls under the Chief Minister’s purview according to existing business rules. The LG’s decision, knowing fully well that the new rules are still awaiting approval in New Delhi, sends a wrong message about the governance in Jammu and Kashmir.”

Mir also pointed out that as per previous regulations, the authority to transfer middle and lower-rung officers rested with the Chief Minister, while only senior IAS officers were under the LG’s jurisdiction. “This decision undermines the spirit of democratic governance and raises serious questions about the role of the elected government in decision-making,” he added.

A Repeated Pattern of Interference?

This is not the first time that a mass transfer has triggered a confrontation between Raj Bhawan and the elected government. In November 2024, despite Omar Abdullah’s directive to halt the transfer of 20 officials, the orders were implemented regardless. The current wave of transfers, occurring mere months into J&K’s first elected government post-Article 370 abrogation, signals an alarming trend of bureaucratic overreach, critics say.

Amid the intensifying row, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has convened a high-stakes meeting of the National Conference legislative party and its allies in Srinagar on Friday, April 4. Sources indicate that the discussion will focus on countering the LG administration’s unilateral decisions and strategizing a firm response.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha is reportedly in New Delhi, fueling speculation that he is seeking the Centre’s backing amid the controversy. Political analysts suggest that this power tussle could set the stage for a broader constitutional debate over the distribution of authority between the elected government and the LG in Jammu and Kashmir.

As tensions mount, the spotlight remains on how the Centre will respond to this escalating face-off. Will the Union government reaffirm the Chief Minister’s authority, or will it side with the LG, setting a new precedent for governance in the post-Article 370 era? The coming days will be crucial in determining the future of Jammu and Kashmir’s administrative and political landscape.

Tariq Hameed Karra

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