Discuss the nature of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly after the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019. Briefly describe the powers and functions of the Assembly of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Nature of the Assembly

The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 abolished the former State and created two Union Territories — J&K, with a legislature, and Ladakh, without one. The J&K Assembly is therefore not a full State legislature but a Union Territory Assembly on the pattern of Puducherry, drawing on the framework of Article 239A.

Composition and term

• The Assembly has 90 elected seats following the 2022 delimitation, with seats also reserved (kept vacant) for areas under Pakistani occupation, and provision for the Lieutenant Governor to nominate members.
• Its normal term is five years; elections in 2024 produced the first elected government since 2018.

Powers and functions

• It can legislate on matters in the State and Concurrent Lists as applicable to the UT, except 'Public Order' and 'Police', which remain with the Union through the Lieutenant Governor.
• It exercises normal legislative functions — passing laws, budgets and money bills (the latter needing the LG's recommendation) and holding the Council of Ministers accountable.
• The Lieutenant Governor retains significant powers, and on reserved subjects and matters of discretion the elected government's authority is circumscribed compared with a full State.

Conclusion

The Assembly restores representative, accountable government to J&K, but within a Union Territory structure where the Union, acting through the LG, retains control over security and public order.