24 seats kept vacant in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly due to Pakistani occupation

It establishes a Legislative Assembly for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and defines the administrative and legislative structures for both new territories.

Who it concerns: The existing State of Jammu and Kashmir, the newly formed Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, the Lieutenant Governor, the Legislative Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir, sitting members of Parliament and the State Legislature, and citizens residing in these territories.

What the bill does

• Formation of Union Territory of Ladakh comprising Kargil and Leh districts.
• Formation of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir comprising the remaining territories of the existing State.
• The Governor of the existing State becomes the common Lieutenant Governor for both Union Territories for a period determined by the President.
• Amendment to the First Schedule of the Constitution to delete the State entry and insert entries for the two Union Territories.
• Allocation of 4 seats in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
• Allocation of 5 seats in the House of the People (Lok Sabha) to Jammu and Kashmir and 1 seat to Ladakh.
• Establishment of a Legislative Assembly for Jammu and Kashmir with 107 total seats, of which 24 shall remain vacant until the area under occupation of Pakistan ceases to be so occupied.
• Reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Legislative Assembly based on population ratios.
• Power of the Lieutenant Governor to nominate two members to the Legislative Assembly for women's representation if deemed inadequate.
• Qualification for Legislative Assembly membership includes being a citizen of India, at least 25 years old, and subscribing to an oath.
• The Legislative Assembly has a duration of five years, extendable during a Proclamation of Emergency.

Also in the document

• The Bill amends the First and Fourth Schedules of the Constitution of India.
• The Bill amends the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and the Delimitation of Parliamentary Constituencies Order, 1976.
• Provisions of Article 239A of the Constitution, applicable to Puducherry, are extended to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
• 24 seats in the Legislative Assembly are explicitly kept vacant due to the area under occupation of Pakistan.