The Center will introduce the bill in Lok Sabha on Monday.
New Delhi:
The Center will next week introduce a bill to amend the 'Jammu & Kashmir Reorganization Act 2019' in Lok Sabha to integrate the Union Territory with its 'One Nation, One Election' initiative, a senior government official told NDTV.
“The existing Union Territory Assembly will complete its full term and in case of premature dissolution of the assembly, by-elections will be held for the remaining period of five years only. The Center should bring a bill to this effect,” a senior government official said. official said.
The official said this will enable the Center to amend the law to integrate Jammu and Kashmir into the initiative.
As per the business scheduled in Lok Sabha on Monday, Union Law Minister Arjun Meghwal would introduce 'The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill-2024' to bring amendments in the 'Government of Union Territories Act, 1963', the 'Government of National Capital'. Territory of Delhi Act', 1991 and the 'Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019'.
“While the amendments in the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963 and the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991 have been proposed for synchronization of the Puducherry and Delhi assembly elections with the Lok Sabha polls respectively, the amendments in the J&K Reorganization Act – 2019 will bring the election cycle of Jamm and Kashmir in line with the Lok Sabha polls,” he further explained.
As per the amendments proposed in the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act 2019, the term of the Legislative Assembly will expire on the expiry of the entire term of Lok Sabha.
The bill states that simultaneous elections would come into effect on a “specified date” to be notified by the President during the first session of the Lok Sabha after the general elections.
“Since the first session of the Lok Sabha elected in 2024 has already taken place, the earliest date appointed for simultaneous elections which can only be notified is the first session of the House elected in the 2029 elections. This means that simultaneous elections can be held. by 2034, when the entire term of that House expires,” an official told NDTV, explaining the bill.