Parra’s Private Member Bill Seeks Jammu Kashmir’s Reorganisation, Proposes Two New Divisions and 16 Districts | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: A private member bill proposing a sweeping administrative restructuring of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has been introduced in the Legislative Assembly by Pulwama MLA Waheed Ur Rehman Para.

Titled The Jammu and Kashmir Territorial Administrative Reorganisation Bill, 2026, the proposed legislation seeks to establish a statutory framework for the creation and rationalisation of administrative units across the Union Territory, including divisions, districts, sub-divisions and tehsils.

According to the notice submitted to the Assembly Secretariat, the bill aims to address administrative inefficiencies arising from difficult terrain, large geographical spread and regional imbalances.

The bill proposes the creation of two new administrative divisions—Chenab Division with headquarters at Doda, and Pir Panjal Division with headquarters at Rajouri. These would be in addition to the existing Jammu and Kashmir divisions.

The government would be empowered to assign districts to these divisions based on geographical, socio-cultural and administrative considerations.

The legislation outlines the creation of 16 new districts across the Union Territory.

In the Kashmir division, the proposed districts include Tral–Awantipora, Ashmuqam–Pahalgam, Beerwah, Sopore, Handwara, Gurez, Tangdhar–Karnah and Norabad.

In the Jammu division, eight “Hill Districts” have been proposed: Nowshera, Bhadarwah, Banihal, Thatri, Akhnoor, Billawar, Kotranka and Mendhar. These districts are intended to receive focused administrative planning due to their terrain.

The bill also empowers the government to create, alter or abolish subdivisions and tehsils, with due consideration to population, accessibility and public convenience.

It mandates consultation with District Development Councils and calls for inviting public objections and suggestions before any reorganisation is notified. All such notifications would be required to be placed before the Legislative Assembly.

The accompanying financial memorandum states that the bill does not involve immediate expenditure from the Consolidated Fund. Any financial implications arising from future notifications would be met through existing or subsequent budgetary provisions.

The statement of objects and reasons accompanying the bill notes that administrative restructuring in Jammu and Kashmir has largely been carried out through executive decisions in the past. The proposed legislation seeks to replace this with a “transparent, consultative and legislative mechanism” aimed at decentralised governance and equitable regional development.

The bill is expected to be taken up during the ongoing session of the Legislative Assembly.