With new identity as Union Territories; Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh welcome new Governors

News Bharati    31-Oct-2019
Total Views |

Srinagar, October 31: As the state of Jammu and Kashmir aligns with the rest of India forming two new Union Territories – Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, the central government continues to rule with appointing governor for the UTs. While Radha Krishna Mathur took oath as the first Lieutenant Governor of Union Territory of Ladakh. Girish Chandra Murmu takes oath as Governor of Jammu and Kashmir.

 

The Union Territory came into existence after the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir. The office of the oath was administered by Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir High Court Geeta Mittal at a function held in Leh. The oath comes more than two months after the state of Jammu and Kashmir was divided into two Union territories, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh by the Central government after revoking some provisions of the Article 370 and bringing in a bill to split the state.

Ladakh Governor Radha Krishna Mathur is a retired 1977 batch IAS officer from Tripura cadre as the Chief Information Commissioner of India in November 2018. He has also served as the expenditure secretary at the Centre before getting appointed as Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir. Radha Krishna Mathur has been the Union Defence Secretary, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Secretary of India and has served the Tripura government at different posts such as Chief Secretary of Tripura, Principal Secretary of Agriculture, and Principal Secretary of Finance. Mathur has also served as the Development Commissioner in the Ministry of Textiles and the Chief Enforcement Officer in the Ministry of Textiles in the Central government.

While, Girish Chandra Murmu, took oath as the Governor for Jammu and Kashmir, he is a 1985 batch of Indian Administrative Services officer of Gujarat cadre. The two new Lt Governors will be replacing Satya Pal Malik, who served as the 13th and last Governor of the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

President Ram Nath Kovind issued two separate notifications on Thursday morning; the first revoking the President's rule in undivided Jammu and Kashmir and subsequently, taking over the control of the administration of the UT of Jammu and Kashmir, which will be controlled through the LG now. The two Union territories come into existence on Thursday after the central government, on August 5, decided to abrogate the special status given to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution and create the UTs on October 31.