New Delhi, Oct 17 (IANS): The Jammu & Kashmir administration on Thursday abolished the Legislative Council ahead of bifurcation of the erstwhile state into two union territories on October 31.
The 116-strong staff of the council have been directed to report to the general administration department (GAD).
The order of abolition issued by administrator Farooq Ahmad Lone, stated that "consequent to the abolition of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council in terms of Section 57 of Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 - all the staff of the state legislative council shall report to the GAD by October 22."
It also stated that the Secretary of the Council shall hand over the council building along with the furniture and electronic gadgets to the director (estates).
"The Secretary, Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council shall transfer all records pertaining to the Council Secretariat including related legislative business to the Department of Law, Justice Parliamentary Affairs for record," the order issued on October 16 stated.
It was also stated that vehicles purchased for the legislative council from time to time are to be transferred to director (state motor garages).
The 36-member state council was established in 1957 after an Act passed by Parliament.
The Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 divides Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories -- Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir. The union territory of Ladakh will have Kargil and Leh districts, while the union territory of Jammu & Kashmir will comprise the remaining territories of the former state.
Further lieutenant-governors for the two union territories will replace the J&K Governor. The total number of Legislative Assembly seats will be 107 in Jammu and Kashmir and out of these 24 will remain vacant because these seats are in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) which is illegally occupied by Pakistan.
The Assembly will legislate on items in the State List, except public order and police, as is the case for other union territories.