Govt Likely to Table Jammu Kashmir Reorganisation Amendment in Lok Sabha Tomorrow

SRINAGAR: The Indian government is poised to introduce the much-anticipated Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Constitutional Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha on August 20, a move that may significantly reshape the region’s political landscape, according to The Tribune and The Wire. The proposal follows the annulment of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood on August 5, 2019, when Article 370 was abrogated, bifurcating the former state into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has already notified the Lok Sabha secretary-general of his intent to move the constitutional amendment during the current parliamentary session, as reported by The Wire. Shah is also seeking procedural leniency to ensure both the primary amendment and an associated constitutional amendment bill are taken up before the session concludes on 21 August.

The original abrogation of Article 370 and the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir—enforced by a Presidential order on August 5, 2019—were justified by the government as measures to accelerate integration, curb separatism, and promote development in the region, according to Business Standard.

The new amendment is expected to address long-standing demands for political reforms in Jammu and Kashmir. Details of the bill’s provisions are not yet fully public, but it is anticipated to touch on issues such as electoral representation and local governance.