How "steel frame" changes in Jammu & Kashmir after abrogation of Article 370

An official said on Friday that IAS, IPS and other central service officers continue to serve under Jammu & Kashmir cadre while new recruits of these services will be allocated in the AGMUT cadre.

Srinagar: Following the abrogation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcation of erstwhile state into two Union Territories (UTs), IAS, IPS and other central service officers continue to serve under J&K cadre while new recruits of these services will be allocated in the Arunachal Goa Mizoram and Union Territories (AGMUT) cadre, officials said on Friday.

"As per the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act 2019, the provincial service officers will continue serving in their current positions till a new order is issued by the Lt Governors for the two new UTs of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. And in future, the All India Service officers to be posted to Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir or Union Territory of Ladakh, as the case may be, shall be borne on the Arunachal, Goa, Mizoram Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre, and necessary modifications in corresponding cadre allocations rules may be made accordingly, by the central government," a senior officer in J&K administration told ETV Bharat on the condition of anonymity.

He says,"According to the act the cadres of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFoS) for the existing state of Jammu and Kashmir, on and from the appointed day (October 31), shall continue to function on the existing cadres. The Lt Governor will decide on the provisional strength, composition and allocation of officers in the newly formed UTs. No notification in this regard has been issued."

Speaking about the provisions for "other services", he says "every person who immediately before the appointed day is serving on substantive basis in connection with the affairs of the existing state of Jammu and Kashmir shall, on and from that day provisionally continue to serve in connection with the affairs of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Union territory of Ladakh, by general or special order of the Lieutenant Governor of Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir."

CHANGE OF QUOTA FOR JAMMU AND KASHMIR OFFICERS
However, With Jammu & Kashmir coming under the AGMUT cadre, a lower share of local officers is likely to enter the All India Services, the official said.

"Jammu & Kashmir's aspirants comprised 50 per cent of the local bureaucracy until Article 370 was revoked last year. But now with no special status the number will drop to 33 per cent in the union territory, as it is for the rest of the country," he said, adding, "Because of the special privileges under Article 370, J&K was an exception and the rule was not applicable here...But now the pan-India rule is being applied in J&K. And its good as this will lead to better integration of the region with the rest of the country."

He also claimed that "the recommendations for the same were also made to the J&K state government before its statehood was revoked but wasn't implemented due to lack of consensus between BJP and PDP during the brief alliance."

HOW WILL THIS IMPACT GOVERNANCE?
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts recruitments across the country for all India Services including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), the Indian Police Service (IPS) and the Indian Forest Service (IFS), the official said, adding, "After selection, UPSC allows state cadre to the successful candidates. Also, the state's own public service commission recruits their own local officers. In the past, Jammu and Kashmir's locally recruited officers were known as Kashmir Administrative Service (KAS), Kashmir Police Service (KPS) but now DANICS will be applicable."

Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service (DANICS) is union territory equivalent for state-based civil services.

He further said, "The same central service rule will apply to the local civil officers. Current officers will continue to work as KAS, KPS while the new will be appointed under DANICS. We are waiting for further notifications in this regard."

Talking about the challenges under the new set up, he said, "the move could pose challenges for governance at local levels in the state. KAS officers who are promoted to the IAS have a very nuanced understanding of governance. Bringing outsiders will be a big challenge as Kashmir is not like any other region in the country. Its geography and politics are different. It is a place where natives are likely to trust local officers more than the officers coming from outside."

On August 5, last year, the central government abrogated the special status given to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 and bifurcation of the state into two UTs Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.