Has Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor’s Powers Increased? Manoj Sinha’s Opinion

Manoj Sinha expressed hope for a higher voter turnout in the upcoming assembly election. In response to criticisms from the opposition, he emphasized that any increase in the powers of a Governor or Lieutenant Governor would need approval from parliament, and noted that such a bill had not been presented in parliament.

He highlighted that the State Reorganisation Act and the scrapping of Article 370 had received approval from the Supreme Court. Additionally, he mentioned amendments made by the Union home ministry to the J&K Reorganisation Act, granting the Lieutenant Governor increased powers over key administrative and legal matters.

Addressing concerns from the opposition about the Chief Minister’s authority, he assured that the new government’s goals, such as peace, prosperity, development, transparency, and employment generation, would receive full support from the Lieutenant Governor and his office, minimizing the potential for conflict. Mr Sinha referenced Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s plan for Jammu and Kashmir, which prioritizes delimitation, followed by the assembly election and eventual restoration of statehood.

He expressed optimism for a higher voter turnout in the upcoming election compared to past parliamentary elections, indicating strong democratic roots in the region. Regarding concerns about the participation of Jamaat-e-Islami in the election, Mr Sinha emphasized adherence to the country’s laws and constitution, suggesting that discussions in parliament and input from the Election Commission could address such concerns.