Amit Shah to move bills amending J&K reservation, reorganization laws
On the second day of the Parliament's Winter Session on Tuesday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will reportedly move two bills related to Jammu and Kashmir. The proposed bills seek to amend the J&K Reservation Act 2004 and the J&K Reorganisation Act 2019. They provide reservations in state government posts and education for certain categories and reorganization of the erstwhile state into union territories.
Why does this story matter?
On July 26, during the Parliament's Monsoon Session, the Centre introduced four bills concerning J&K in the Lok Sabha. However, they were not taken up for discussion or passage due to opposition protests over the Manipur violence. The J&K National Conference (JKNC) led by Farooq Abdullah vehemently opposed the legislation, claiming the matter of J&K's reorganization had already been challenged in the Supreme Court.
Know about J&K Reservation (Amendment) Bill 2023
The bill amends the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act 2004, which provides for reservation in jobs and admission in professional institutions SC, ST, and other backward classes. Through the proposed legislation, the government may make inclusions to or exclusions from the "weak and underprivileged classes." The bill substitutes "weak and underprivileged classes" with other backward classes as declared by the Jammu and Kashmir administration.
Proposed amendments in J&K Reorganisation Act 2019
Passed in 2019 after the abrogation of Article 370, the J&K Reorganisation Act provided for the reorganization of the erstwhile state into union territories of J&K and Ladakh. The proposed amendment bill seeks to increase the number of seats in the J&K Legislative Assembly from 83 to 90. It also proposes reserving seven seats for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and nine for Scheduled Tribes (STs).
Other important provisions in reorganization bill
The J&K Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill also seeks to nominate two members from the Kashmiri migrant community (Kashmiri Pandits) as members of the legislative assembly of the UT. Moreover, one of these members will be a woman. It also proposes to nominate one member from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) from among those who were displaced in the 1947-48, 1965, and 1971 India-Pakistan wars.
21 bills on Centre agenda for Winter Session
The government has 21 bills on its agenda for this session, including bills to replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Indian Evidence Act, and Code of Criminal Procedure. Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee is likely to deliver its report recommending the expulsion of Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra over cash-for-query charges on Tuesday. It couldn't be tabled on Monday.
Proceedings on day one
On Monday, the opening day of the Winter Session, two bills were passed. The Rajya Sabha passed the bill to repeal the Indian Post Office Act, 1898, to streamline the services of post offices across the country. Moreover, the Lok Sabha passed the Advocates (Amendment) Bill to amend the Advocates Act, 1961, in line with the Centre's policy to repeal outdated, pre-independence laws.
