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Updated October 17th, 2019 at 13:10 IST

Government abolishes Jammu & Kashmir 36-member Legislative Council

In a significant development, the Jammu and Kashmir administration headed by Governor Satya Pal Malik abolished 36 member State Legislative Council.

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In a significant development, the Jammu and Kashmir administration headed by Governor Satya Pal Malik on Thursday abolished 36 member State Legislative Council. The abolition of the legislative council has come days ahead of Jammu and Kashmir becoming a Union Territory. On August 5, the Union Government had abolished Article 370 and 35A and bifurcated the State into two Union Territories- Union Territory of Ladakh and Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

The 36 members' legislative council was established by the Government of the then Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir, Maharaja Hari Singh, in 1934.

As per the records available, a new constitution was adopted by the constituent assembly in 1957 and the parliament of India passed the Legislative Council’s act. The two pieces of legislation created a bicameral legislature for Jammu and Kashmir. The current composition of the Legislative Council had 10 members from Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), eight from Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference had three members and the Congress one whereas 14 seats were vacant.

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In the legislative council, 11 members were elected by the members of legislative assembly from among the members of Kashmir, including at least one resident each from Leh Tehsil and Kargil Tehsil. 11 members were elected by the members of legislative assembly from among the residents of the province of Jammu, including at least one resident each from Doda and Poonch district. One member was elected from among the municipal council, town area committees, and notified area committees in both the Province of Kashmir and the Province of Jammu. 

Two members are elected by this process. Two members were elected by the members of Panchayat and other local bodies in both the province of Kashmir and the province of Jammu. Four members were selected using this process.

Eight members were nominated by Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, 3 or few members belong to socially and economically backward classes of the state. The other council members were selected on the basis of their special knowledge or practical knowledge in the area of science, literature, art, cooperative movement and social service.

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The legislative council had two regular sessions; the budget session and the monsoon session. But these sessions could have been conveyed at any time by the state government.

“The state legislative council had become a major burden on the state exchequer as it had become the place to accommodate the blue-eyed people of the politicians who were part of the ruling party. Throwing all norms to the winds the relatives of the political leaders were selected the MLCs” Manoj Kumar a political observer in Jammu said.

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Published October 17th, 2019 at 13:02 IST

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