Jammu Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has divided the assets and liabilities of the former Jammu Kashmir State between the two union territories Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh under the Reorganization Act. A notification in this regard has also been issued.
Sections 84 and 85 of the Jammu Kashmir Reorganization order that the assets and liabilities of the former Jammu Kashmir State be shared between Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh. An advisory committee was formed to distribute these assets, liabilities and rights. The report was submitted to the Union Home Ministry by the Advisory Committee headed by retired IAS officer Sanjay Mitra.
The adminsitrations of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh sought the recommendations of the advisory committee.
The Union Home Ministry consulted with the two admins and issued the necessary guidelines by issuing orders on October 28 as per the agreement.
The Lieutenant Governor of Jammu Kashmir accepted the recommendations of the Advisory Committee. According to the notification, the sharing of assets and liabilities will be deemed applicable from October 31.
Jammu Kashmir State Forest Corporation, Elakai Hick Bank, Jammu Kashmir Minerals, Jammu and Kashmir Project Construction Corporation, Jammu Kashmir Police Housing Corporation, Jammu Kashmir State Overseas Implementation, Jammu Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation, Citizen’s Cooperative Bank 32 companies and corporations will be under the control of the Jammu and Kashmir government. There will be no sharing of stake and investment or debt.
The stake and loans of 20 per cent of the assets of six companies have been transferred to the Union Territory of Ladakh. These include Jammu Kashmir State Financial Corporation, Jammu Kashmir Gramin Bank.
Jammu Kashmir Road Transport Corporation will remain under Jammu Kashmir. There will be no sharing of its stake. 19 buses running in Ladakh and 20 additional buses will be given to Ladakh.
Jammu Kashmir Bank will operate in both union territories. 51% stake in JK Bank will be with Jammu Kashmir, while 8.23% stake will be transferred to Ladakh.
One post of director in the bank will be given to Ladakh. Ladakh will also get part of the recruitment of employees in the bank. The bank will chalk out a plan for this. A joint finance corporation of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh will be formed. The Board of Technical Education will work in Ladakh for the 2020-21 level itself. Ladakh will form its Road Safety Council and Jammu Kashmir will give 2.25 crores to Ladakh for this.
The Board of Professional Examinations will also work for Ladakh. Jammu Kashmir Academy of Arts Culture and Language will be located near Jammu Kashmir. The offices of the academy will be in the states where they are.
Waqf’s property will remain with Jammu Kashmir. Haj committees will be near Jammu Kashmir. Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Science will continue to work in Jammu Kashmir only.
On 1 April 2020, the funds received for Ladakh under centrally sponsored schemes, which were with Jammu Kashmir, will be transferred to Ladakh. There will be no distribution of immovable properties of East Jammu Kashmir. The property which is there will remain there.
The third floor of JK Guest House in Chanakya Puri New Delhi will be used near Jammu Kashmir till 31 December 2021. After that it will be shifted to Ladakh.
JK House on Prithvi Raj Road in New Delhi, property on Rajaji Marg, Emporium on Baba Khadak Marg, Guest House in Amritsar and Guest House in Sector 17-A of Chandigarh will remain near Jammu Kashmir.
Properties in Chandigarh’s Sector Five-A, engineering buildings in Mumbai and Ladakh Hill Development Council’s properties in Jammu Srinagar will remain near Ladakh. Guest houses and circuit houses in Jammu Kashmir will be located under Jammu Kashmir, but will be available for Ladakh authorities. (With Inputs from Agencies)