Kashmir transfers' row: CM Omar to review move with coalition partners today

Srinagar, Apr 3: Amid rising tension over jurisdiction in Jammu and Kashmir’s governance, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has called for a crucial meeting of the National Conference (NC) legislative party and its coalition partners in Srinagar on Friday.

The meeting comes in the wake of a contentious order by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who recently approved the transfer of 48 Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) officers. The move has reignited the debate around the pending business rules meant to delineate administrative powers between the elected government and the LG’s office.

The Congress party on Thursday sharply criticised the LG’s decision, suggesting it undermines the elected government’s authority. “The CM has called for a joint legislative party meeting of coalition partners in Srinagar at 11 am on Friday. The issue of transfers is likely to be discussed although the agenda for the meeting has not been conveyed so far. It would have been advisable for the LG to wait a while as the business rules are pending approval. The LG should have been more patient,” said Congress national general secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir.

The transfers, which include 14 Additional Deputy Commissioners (ADCs) and 26 Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs), were approved by the General Administration Department (GAD) on Tuesday. They come at a time when the NC-led government is awaiting a nod from the Union Home Ministry on the business rules it submitted about a month ago. These rules are expected to bring clarity to governance responsibilities in the Union Territory.

Mir, who also leads the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) in the J&K Assembly, said the action taken by the LG was both untimely and inappropriate. “Taking such a step was not advisable,” he said.

He explained that under existing arrangements, the Chief Minister is responsible for the transfer of local JKAS officers, while the LG oversees the postings of senior IAS officers. “The previous rules stipulated that local JKAS officers will be handled by the CM while senior officers (IAS) will be transferred by the LG,” Mir noted.

Criticising the timing of the LG’s decision, Mir said it could create confusion and send negative signals about the administration’s coherence. “It has sent the wrong message that everything is not well (within the administration). The LG knew it well that the proposal for business rules was under consideration, yet he took this step,” he said.