Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 10: Governor NN Vohra today directed Chief Secretary BR Sharma not to effect any reshuffle in the administration and maintain status quo as he feels that the Governor Rule was an “interim arrangement” and popular Government will be in place once again very shortly.
Official sources told the Excelsior that Vohra called the Chief Secretary to the Raj Bhawan this afternoon and passed him certain directions on working of the Government including that the administration should continue to work as it was working before the death of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and there should be no changes in the administration.
Sources said the Governor feels that his Rule was for very “short duration” and an “interim arrangement” to avert the Constitutional crisis as PDP president Mehbooba Mufti wanted to take some time for oath in view of mourning and shock she suffered in the death of her father.
While imposing Governor’s Rule almost at the same time last year when PDP-BJP took time to form the new Government in the State, the Governor had assumed all functions of the Government of the State (Jammu and Kashmir) and all powers vested in or exercisable by anybody or authority (other than the powers vested in or exercisable by the High Court) in the State. He had ordered suspension of several provisions of the State Constitution including Sections 35 to 41 (both inclusive) and Section 43 that related to allocation of business among the Ministers.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 92 of the State Constitution and of all other powers enabling me in that behalf and with concurrence of the President of India, I hereby proclaim that I assumed to myself all the functions and all powers vested in or exercisable by anybody or authority other than the powers vested in or exercisable by the High Court in the State,” the Governor had said in the proclamation, which was issued after imposition of Governor Rule in the State by the Raj Bhavan last year.
However, yesterday while imposing Governor’s Rule in the State, the Governor hasn’t assumed these powers. He had also appointed his Principal Secretary as Coordinator between Raj Bhawan and Civil Secretariat last time but this time, there has been no such order.
During January 2015 Rule, which had lasted till March 1 when Mufti Sayeed had taken oath as the Chief Minister, the Governor had effected major reshuffle in civil and police administration but this time, he has asked the Chief Secretary not to order any transfers and maintain status quo in the administration.
Sources said the Governor was reportedly of the view that it would be very short spell of his Rule and popular Government will be formed in the State very soon.
Meanwhile, Vohra will be holding high level review of security scenario and other functions of the State Government tomorrow when he would visit the Civil Secretariat for the first time after imposition of the Governor’s Rule in the State yesterday.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the Governor has called two high level meetings at the Civil Secretariat tomorrow-first with the Administrative Secretaries of all Departments to review working of the Government including finances of the State and second on law and order situation with Chief Secretary BR Sharma, Principal Secretary, Home Department RK Goyal and Director General of Police (DGP) K Rajendra Kumar.
Sources said the Governor would review law and order situation in Jammu and Kashmir in separate meeting with the Chief Secretary, the Home Secretary and the DGP including the situation prevailing on the borders in the wake of January 2 Pathankot attack.
“Internal security situation as well as the situation prevailing on the borders including Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) was expected to come up for high level review during the meeting,” sources said, adding the Governor would like to acquaint himself with Security Grid prevalent on the borders and the hinterland especially in the wake of January 26 celebrations and Pathankot attack.
In next couple of days, the Governor could hold another high level review meeting with top brass of Army, BSF and other para-military forces on the border situation.
Sources said in the first meeting in which Vohra has called all Administrative Secretaries would be utilized by the Governor for overall working of all Departments of the Government especially that of Finance and Planning and Development Departments as current financial year was about to lapse in just about two and half months.
“The expenditure incurred in nine and half months of current financial year, state of finances with flow of funds from the Centre and funds available for developmental works in the State would be reviewed in the meeting in addition to other issues,” they added.
In normal course also when Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was the Chief Minister, the Governor used to meet top security and civil officers, political leaders and other persons to obtain first hand information on the situation prevailing in the State.
With Republic Day celebrations only few days away, a review of the arrangements for all districts and other places could be held in the next few days if the elected Government was not formed by then.
The Governor’s Rule was imposed yesterday in the State with back dated effect from January 8 in the wake of death of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. The Governor’s Rule, which was imposed for seventh time in the State, will continue till the new Government is sworn-in, sources said.
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