NC slams L-G office for ‘undermining’ elected govt in J&K

The National Conference on Saturday raised concerns over “continued interference” by the Lieutenant-Governor’s office in the functioning of the elected government in Jammu and Kashmir, terming the situation “undemocratic and unconstitutional.”

Rattan Lal Gupta, NC’s Provincial president (Jammu), said the delay in returning Business Rules to the elected government, eight months after assuming office, shows the Centre’s failure to restore full statehood.

He added that India is a democratic country where governments are elected by the people and their mandate must be respected. The people of J&K have chosen their representatives with the hope that full statehood would be restored and the democratic machinery would function smoothly, he said.

Gupta stated that although the Home Department remains under the L-G, other departments are under the control of the elected government.

“Yet, the L-G’s office continues to meddle in day-to-day governance, creating a dual power structure that is causing institutional confusion and administrative chaos,” he said.

Gupta said, “If the Chief Minister-led government does something in the larger public interest, the L-G’s office must appreciate it, but the opposite happens. Such actions send a wrong message that the mandate of the people is being undermined and disrespected.”

He said such overreach is further alienating the public, especially in a region already grappling with administrative chaos.

“J&K is a border state. Instead of enabling the elected government to function freely and deliver governance, the L-G office is acting otherwise, he added.

“The Centre should return the Business Rules without delay and allow the elected government to function independently. The will of the people should not be held hostage to bureaucratic overreach,” he said.