SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has given his assent to six Bills passed by the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly during its Autumn Session, paving the way for their implementation across the Union Territory.
The Assembly passed the Bills during its session held from September 21 to 30. The legislation covers ease of doing business, regulatory reforms, taxation, municipal administration, cooperative societies and pensionary benefits for former legislators.
The six Bills are the Jammu and Kashmir Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill, the J&K Municipal (Amendment) Bill, the J&K Ease of Doing Business Bill, the J&K Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, the J&K State Legislature Members’ Pension (Amendment) Bill and the J&K Jan Vishwas Third (Amendment of Provisions) Bill.
Under the Ease of Doing Business legislation, enterprises will receive a three-year protection period from inspections or coercive action relating to approvals, permissions, registrations, licences and other regulatory requirements. The protection will not apply where permission for inspection or action has been obtained from the concerned Deputy Commissioner.
The legislation also provides for an in-principle approval certificate within three working days for enterprises being established in approved industrial parks through the District Empowered Committees.
The J&K Jan Vishwas Third (Amendment of Provisions) Bill seeks to rationalise penalties for minor regulatory violations by replacing imprisonment with monetary penalties in certain cases. It amends provisions under 23 Acts and repeals two obsolete Acts.
The J&K Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2026 seeks to align the Union Territory’s GST framework with amendments made to the Central GST legislation. The changes cover various provisions of the J&K GST Act and are aimed at simplifying compliance, strengthening the tax framework and reducing avoidable litigation.
The J&K Municipal (Amendment) Bill makes changes concerning municipal bodies, including their composition and responsibilities linked to electoral processes. It also seeks to clarify the respective roles of the State Election Commission and field administration in municipal elections.
Under the amendment concerning members of the J&K Legislature, the monthly pension for former legislators has been increased from Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000. The definition of family for family pension purposes has also been expanded to include widowed and divorced daughters of former legislators.
The Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill introduces changes to the legal framework governing cooperative societies in Jammu and Kashmir.
Following the Lieutenant Governor’s assent, the concerned administrative departments are expected to take further steps, including issuing rules, guidelines, notifications and administrative instructions required to operationalise the amended provisions.
