Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir administration Wednesday announced to repeal seven state government commissions looking after affairs ranging from human rights to allegations against public functionaries.
The commissions had been formed under various provisions of J&K’s constitution, which will cease to exist on 31 October — when the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act 2019 comes into effect.
The Act was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 5 August when the Narendra Modi government scrapped Article 370, withdrawing the special status granted to the state.
According to the state government orders, the commissions were repealed in accordance with the J&K Reorganisation Act 2019, which bifurcates the state into two union territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
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The reorganisation plan
Three of the seven commissions specifically dealt with human rights, rights of women and children and persons with disabilities. They are the J&K State Commission for Protection of Women and Child Rights (constituted under the J&K State Commission for Protection of Women and Child Rights Act 2018), the J&K State Commission for Persons with Disabilities (constituted under the J&K Right of Persons with Disability Act 2018), and the J&K State Human Rights Commission (constituted under the J&K Protection of Human Rights Act 1997).
Another one to be repealed is the J&K State Accountability Commission that had been constituted to inquire into grievances and allegations against public functionaries under the Jammu and Kashmir State Accountability Commission Act 2002.
J&K State Electricity Regulatory Commission constituted under the J&K State Electricity Act 2010, J&K State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission constituted under the J&K Consumer Protection Act 1987 and the J&K State Information Commission constituted under the Jammu and Kashmir Right to Information Act 2009 were among other commissions wound up Wednesday.
The commissions’ chairpersons and staff will be transferred to different departments of the administration, officials said.
While the vehicles used by the accountability and human rights commissions are supposed to be handed over to the motor department, buildings used by them will be taken over by estates department. Records and documents will be handed over to the Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs.
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