On October 31, 2019, the birth anniversary of Vallabhbhai Patel, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh came into existence as UTs. The date is significant as Patel’s birthday is celebrated as National Unity Day (Rashtriya Ekta Diwas).
The historic decision to bifurcate J&K was announced by Home Minister Amit Shah in the Parliament on August 6.
In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the Administration has carried-out remarkable initiatives during the last one year following the abrogation of the special status of Article 370 and 35-A of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcating it into two Union Territories.
In the past, the Central packages released for the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir were not properly utilized for the developmental projects in Jammu and Kashmir. But, ever since the state was bifurcated, the Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir have witnessed a drastic change with the notable achievements on the developmental front.
The development of all sorts including major infrastructural projects is visible on ground, to the satisfaction of the people of both the Union Territories.
In Jammu and Kashmir, all the 37 Central laws in the concurrent list are now applicable for the residents of the Union Territories.
These laws came into effect from 31st October last year following the approval of the Union Cabinet in an effort to ensure the administrative effectiveness in an efficient manner.
In yet another significant development, the draft J&K Real Estate (Regulation & Development) Rules, 2020 under the Real Estate Act, 2016 was accorded the sanction by the Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu recently in an Administrative Council meeting held in Srinagar.
The Law is aimed to establish Real Estate Regulatory Authority for regulation and promotion of the Real Estate sector to ensure sale of plots, apartments or buildings in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Abrogation of Article 370 has been a core agenda of the BJP and the Sangh Parivar since the days of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee who had expressed his displeasure at J&K’s special status saying: “Ek desh mein do Vidhan, do Pradhan aur do Nishan nahi chal sakte (There cannot be two Constitutions, two Prime Ministers and two flags in one nation).”