Governor set to recommend extension of President’s rule

Amit Khajuria

Tribune News Service

Jammu, June 3

Governor Satya Pal Malik is all set to recommend the Centre to extend the President’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir as the Assembly elections cannot be held before the expiry of the current term, which ends on July 3.

Highly placed sources said the Governor would be sending a draft to the Centre recommending the second spell of President’s rule from July 3 onwards.

On his recommendation, the Centre had imposed the President’s rule on December 19 last year, but the Parliament gave its approval on January 3. The duration of the President’s rule is counted since the day it is approved by Parliament.

Malik had recently stated that the state government was “prepared for the Assembly elections, but the call has to be taken by the Election Commission”.

The state Legislative Assembly was dissolved on November 21 last year when the two rivals claiming to form the government were communicated to the Raj Bhawan. Sensing that this could lead to horse-trading, the Governor dissolved the Assembly.

Earlier, the Assembly was kept under suspended animation on the day of the imposition of the Governor’s rule in the state on June 20 last year, a day after the Mehbooba Mufti government resigned after her coalition partner BJP withdrew support a day earlier.

Since the Assembly elections are not possible before July 3 and the Election Commission has not taken any call on the issue, seeking the extension of the President’s rule in J&K is the only option before the Governor.

He may send the letter recommending the extension of the President’s rule any day now, sources said.

Timeline 

• June 20, 2018: Governor’s rule imposed in the state a day after the Mehbooba Mufti government resigned after coalition partner BJP withdrew support a day earlier
• November 21, 2018: The Assembly dissolved  
• December 19, 2018: The Centre imposes President’s rule
• January 3, 2019: Parliament approves President’s rule