No More A State: On The Birth Anniversary Of Patel, Jammu And Kashmir, Ladakh Officially Become Union Territories

Nearly three months after it was stripped of its special status, Jammu and Kashmir have officially ceased to be an Indian state.?

Late on Wednesday, the government issued a notification to converted the region into two union territories and to revoke the President’s rule imposed in undivided Jammu and Kashmir.?

AFP

The UTs of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh will be headed by lieutenant governors G C Murmu and R K Mathur, respectively. They will take oath on Thursday.

The swearing-in ceremony will be first held in Leh where Mathur would be administered the oath of office followed by that of Murmu in Srinagar. Both Murmu and Mathur will be sworn-in by Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Gita Mittal.

With this, the total number of states in the country will now be 28, while the total UTs will go up to nine.

BCCL

The UT of Jammu and Kashmir will have a legislature like Puducherry while Ladakh will be a UT without legislature like Chandigarh and both the UTs will be headed by two separate lieutenant governors (LG), as per the Act.

The Centre will be in direct control of the police and the law and order in Jammu and Kashmir from Thursday when it becomes a UT, while the land will be under the elected government there.

REUTERS

The UT of Ladakh will be under the direct control of the central government which will administer the high-altitude region through the LG.

Incidentally, the two new UTs are coming into existence on the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the first Home Minister of India who is credited with the merger of over 560 states with the Indian Union. The day is also celebrated as 'National Unity Day'.

AFP

Jammu and Kashmir which used to enjoy a special status in the country, including its own constitution and flag were stripped of its privileges on August 5 when the government announced the abrogation of Article 370.?

The region has been under a strict security lockdown ever since with heightened security and restrictions on communication.

Mobile and telephonic communication have been partly restored in the region gradually, but internet services are still shut.