Seven independent state commissions including State Human Rights Commission abolished in Jammu and Kashmir

Almost three months after the Article 370 was abolished which had granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, the government has abolished Jammu and Kashmir State Human Rights Commission, and six other commissions functioning in the state. The decision comes ahead of 31^st October when the states will be converted into two union territories, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

Apart from the independent state human rights commission, State Information Commission (SIC), State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (SCDRC), State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC), State Commission for Protection of Women and Child Rights (SCPWCR), State Commission for Persons with Disabilities (SCPwD), and State Accountability Commission (SAC) will cease to exist from 31^st October. After that, the jurisdiction of the respective national bodies will extend to the two union territories.

An order issued by the General administrative Department of Jammu and Kashmir said, “Consequent upon repeal of the acts related to these commissions by the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, sanction is hereby accorded to the winding up of these commissions, with effect from October 31, 2019,”

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Terms of chairpersons, presidents and members of the commissions will end on October 31^st. And the employees of the commissions will report to respective administrative departments after October 31.

The order issued by the GAD said that the vehicles belonging to the commissions will be handed over to the state motor garages department. The office buildings and other assets will have to be handed over to the director of the estates department. The order states that the records of state human commission will be transferred to the Department of Law, Justice Parliamentary Affairs.

These 7 commissions are being abolished as the laws that brought them into existence will be abolished from Jammu and Kashmir after the state is split into two union territories. The union government had announced that 108 central laws will apply in the two UTs, replacing the independent laws that Jammu & Kashmir had in the respective areas.