In the recent news, Radha Krishna Mathur and Girish Chandra Murmu have been assigned the roles of the first Lieutenant-Governors (L-G) for Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) respectively.
The Background and Why It Matters
This comes as a significant development following the Centre’s repeal of Article 370, which previously conferred special status on Jammu and Kashmir. The decision was taken under the J&K Reorganisation Act of 2019 and led to the split of the state into two Union territories (UTs). This unprecedented act marked the first time in history a state has been segregated into UTs.
Ladakh is now composed of the districts of Kargil and Leh, with the rest of the original region forming the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. As a consequence of these changes, India is now home to 9 UTs and 28 states.
Current Status
The recognition of the two new UTs, Ladakh and J&K, officially took place on October 31st, 2019. This coincided with the 144th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who was instrumental in merging over 560 princely states into the Union of India.
With this reformation, the President’s rule that was previously imposed in undivided Jammu and Kashmir in June 2018 has been annulled. Several changes followed the move, including the replacement of the flag and constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, along with the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC), with the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Table of Changes
| Changes | Before | After |
| Number of UTs | 7 | 9 |
| Number of States | 29 | 28 |
| Main Law Code | Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) | Indian Penal Code (IPC) |
| Flag and constitution of J&K | Unique to state | Ceased to exist |
Election and Administration of Union Territories
The IPC now extends to both of the new UTs. The Union Territory of J&K will have a 114-member elected Assembly along with a Chief Minister. The Union territory of Ladakh, on the other hand, will operate directly under the control of the L-G without an Assembly.
Articles 239 to 241 in Part VIII of the Constitution address the administration of union territories. According to these articles, every union territory is governed by the President, who acts through an administrator appointed by him. This administrator may hold various designations such as Lieutenant Governor, Chief Commissioner or Administrator. It should also be noted that the Parliament holds the power to make laws on any subject contained within the three lists (Union, State and Concurrent) specifically for the union territories.
Last Modified: February 6, 2024