Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Dec 18: Jammu and Kashmir is set to witness Presidential Rule from Wednesday, the third time since 1977.
New Delhi has recommended imposition of President's rule in Jammu and Kashmir after the expiry of the six-month Governor's rule from Wednesday.
Governor Satya Pal Malik had on November 21 dissolved the 87-member state Assembly after the PDP, supported by the Congress and their arch-rivals National Conference, had staked claim to form the government.
As the state comes under President's rule from Wednesday, it will be for the third time since 1977 when the state will be under the central rule.
Governor's rule was imposed for the first time on March 26, 1977, when the Congress withdrew support to Abdullah, the then Chief Minister. The Congress wanted to move a no-confidence motion but Abdullah recommended dissolution of the Assembly and fresh elections; then Governor L K Jha put the state under Governor's rule. This lasted for 105 days until Abdullah was reelected.
The longest spell of central rule, from 1990, came after breakdown of the state machinery led to the resignation of CM Farooq Abdullah. President's rule was repeatedly extended until October 1996. Cajoled by New Delhi with promises of restoration of autonomy to J&K, NC agreed to contest polls and Farooq Abdullah returned as Chief Minister.
The state has been under central rule eight times, and moved from Governor's rule to President's rule (after six months) on two occasions. This will be the third time. Until March 30, 1965, the state did not have a Governor or Chief Minister; it had a Sadre Riyasat (President of the State) and a Prime Minister.
In other states, the Centre invokes Article 356 to impose President's rule; in J&K, under Section 92 of the J&K Constitution, the Governor can rule for six months with a set of powers, the only requirement being the President's consent.
Following 2002 assembly poll outcome, Governer's rule led by G C Saxena was imposed in the state from October 18, 2002 to November 2, after Farooq Abdullah refused to continue as caretaker chief minister of the state as PDP and Congress took 15 days in cobbling up numbers to form the government.
The governor rule led by N N Vohra was again imposed from July 11, 2008 to January 5, 2009 following the fall of Ghulam Nabi Azad-led coalition government. Azad resigned as chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir without facing a confidence vote on the floor of the assembly. The Governor rule was also imposed in 2015, 2016, and now in 2018. However, the elected government was put in place before the six-month period of governor ended.
Six months of governor's rule is compulsory under Article 92 of the Jammu and Kashmir Constitution. All the legislature powers are vested with the governor during this period. The governor has to dissolve the Legislative Assembly after the tenure of six months is over and the state will directly come under the President's rule for following six months during which elections have to be declared in the state. In case the elections are not declared, the President's rule can be extended by another six months |
