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| Centre moves to reshape J&K Assembly, UT laws amendment bill tabled in LS | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 16: In a significant legislative move with direct implications for Jammu and Kashmir, the Union Government on Wednesday introduced the Union Territory Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, in the Lok Sabha, alongside the Delimitation Bill, 2026, and the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2026 during a special three-day session of Parliament.
The proposed legislation seeks to align the legal framework governing Union Territories—particularly Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, and Puducherry—with the evolving constitutional provisions on delimitation and women’s reservation.
At the core of the bill is an effort to harmonise existing laws with the provisions of the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023, and the proposed Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026. The amendments aim to standardise rules related to the definition of “population,” delimitation of constituencies, and reservation of seats for women across Union Territories, bringing them in line with the broader national framework.
For Jammu and Kashmir, the bill proposes amendments to the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, alongside changes to the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963, and the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991.
One of the key provisions of the bill is the decoupling of the term “population” from any fixed past census. Instead, it empowers Parliament to determine which census data will be used for the purposes of reserving seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, as well as for redrawing constituencies under the delimitation process.
The legislation also lays down a minimum strength for legislative assemblies, to be finalised by the Delimitation Commission. While the Delhi Assembly will have a minimum of 70 members, the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly is proposed to have at least 114 members, marking a notable structural benchmark for the Union Territory’s future political landscape.
Importantly, the bill retains the existing provision regarding 24 Assembly seats earmarked for Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), which will continue to remain vacant until the region is brought under India’s jurisdiction. These seats will not be included in the effective strength of the Assembly for operational purposes.
The Delimitation Commission is proposed to be vested with comprehensive authority to redraw both assembly and parliamentary constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir and other Union Territories. It will also determine the total number of seats and their territorial boundaries, replacing earlier fragmented provisions with a unified mechanism.
To maintain political continuity, the bill stipulates that any changes in constituency boundaries will come into effect only after the dissolution of the existing Assembly. By-elections, if held before the implementation of new boundaries, will be conducted based on the current constituencies.
In line with Article 334A of the Constitution, the bill also extends provisions for women’s reservation to Union Territory legislatures, ensuring parity with the Lok Sabha and state assemblies in terms of timelines and implementation.
Additionally, the legislation proposes the removal of obsolete provisions and transitional arrangements that are no longer relevant, streamlining the legal architecture. It also narrows the scope of the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963, to specifically address Puducherry, as other regions have since undergone reorganisation or attained statehood.
As per the statement of objects and reasons, the bill is largely enabling in nature, aimed at facilitating the smooth rollout of constitutional amendments related to delimitation and reservation, rather than introducing any new policy framework.
The provisions of the Act will come into force on dates to be notified by the Central Government through the official gazette, with the possibility of phased implementation depending on the requirements of the delimitation exercise and related constitutional changes. |
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