India inducts two union territories marking Sardar Vallabhai Patel’s 144th birth anniversary
JAMMU&KASHMIR, Oct 31: India has officially bifurcated the state of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh into two union territories.
India’s first Home Minister and the political architect’s 144th birth anniversary was the chosen date for the formalization of bifurcation of the states.
GC Murmu and RK Mathur were sworn as Lieutenant Governors (Lt.-Gov.,) of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh respectively. This brings the tally of union territories to 9 with 28 other states in the Indian Union.
(GC Murmu takes oath of office as first Lt.-Gov., of UT Jammu and Kashmir)
The two union territories came into effect under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act which was endorsed with a confident majority in the Indian parliament earlier in the year.
(RK Mathur takes oath of office as first Lt.-Gov., of UT Ladakh)
This finally brings an end to the Ranbir Penal Code which will be replaced by the Indian penal code which will be applied to the union territories.
Positive unifying changes have been implemented which will come into effect today, which include implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission’s recommendations for government salaries and benefits, removal of dual citizenship, renaming of the radio stations to All India Radio, and the establishment of the common Public Service Commission.
The revocation of the Constitutional provision on 5 August stripped the state of Jammu and Kashmir of its special status. It was followed by a clampdown in the Valley, with mobile and internet services not functioning and markets, schools, and other establishments were shut down. The decision was taken 72 years after the then ruler of the princely state Maharaja Hari Singh executed the Instrument of Accession on 26 October 1947, making it part of the Union of India.
(Inputs from First Post, Photo Credit ANI,)
CORRIGENDUM: The previous map has been replaced by a new map which shows the two union territories as released by the Survey General of India on 2nd November 2019