SRINAGAR: The Union Government will introduce a bill in the Lok Sabha on Monday to amend The Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act-2019 to integrate the Jammu Kashmir Union Territory with its “One Nation, One Election” initiative.
According to the business scheduled in the Lok Sabha on Monday, Union Law Minister Arjun Meghwal will introduce The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill-2024 to make changes to the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963, the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.
While the amendments to the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963, and the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991, aim to synchronise assembly elections in Puducherry and Delhi with Lok Sabha polls, the amendments to the JK Reorganisation Act-2019 will align J&K’s electoral cycle with that of the Lok Sabha.
According to the amendments proposed in the JK Reorganisation Act-2019, the term of the Legislative Assembly shall end with the expiry of the full term of the Lok Sabha.
The bill proposes that simultaneous elections would come into effect on an “appointed date” to be notified by the President on the first sitting of the Lok Sabha after a general election.
Since the first sitting of the Lok Sabha elected in 2024 has already taken place, the earliest the appointed date for simultaneous elections can be notified is the first sitting of the House elected in the 2029 elections. This means that simultaneous polls could be held by 2034, when the full term of that House ends.
It is now clear that the bill would not affect the existing five-year term of the JK Assembly.
According to the bill, if the JK Assembly is dissolved before completing its full five-year term, mid-term elections would be held only for the remainder of the five years. (KNO)
