Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday strongly defended his decision to transfer 48 Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) officers, a move that drew sharp criticism from the ruling coalition.
The transfer orders, which were issued recently, sparked concern among the 46 MLAs of the National Conference-led alliance, who voiced their dissatisfaction over what they termed as the political and administrative implications of such a sweeping reshuffle.
In response to the backlash, LG Sinha clarified that all actions had been undertaken strictly in accordance with the legal provisions enshrined in the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. He emphasised that his decisions remained within the constitutional framework and legal authority granted to his office.
Sources close to the LG quoted him as saying that Parliament had passed the J&K Reorganisation Act in 2019 and that every step taken had been well within the jurisdiction defined by that Act. Reaffirming his commitment to constitutional integrity, he stated that he had never exceeded his boundaries and had always acted in accordance with the responsibilities entrusted to him.
The matter was taken up in an emergency meeting convened by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and attended by alliance partners. The two-hour-long deliberation culminated in a joint press briefing by Tanvir Sadiq, the National Conference’s Chief Spokesperson and MLA from Zadibal, and Nizam-ud-Din Bhat, Congress leader and MLA from Bandipora.
Also read: JK Congress slams LG over transfer of 48 JKAS officers
They informed the media that the meeting addressed several pressing concerns, including opposition to the recently passed Waqf Bill in Parliament. According to the leaders, the Bill was discriminatory towards Muslims and minority communities and was categorically rejected by the ruling coalition.
In addition, the alliance reiterated its demand that the Government of India acknowledge and respect the electoral mandate given by the people of Jammu and Kashmir to the NC-led government. Tanvir Sadiq declared that the coalition had unanimously passed two resolutions during the meeting—one rejecting the Waqf Bill and the other demanding recognition of the people’s mandate.
Issuing a stern message to the central government, Sadiq warned that the ruling coalition's cooperative stance should not be mistaken for weakness. He stated that their appeal was being made for the final time—not as a request, but as a resolute warning, urging the Centre not to push them into a corner.
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