J&K no longer a state from today, just two Union Territories

Oct 31, 2019 14:39 IST

Nearly three months after the government revoked special status in Jammu and Kashmir, the state ceased to exist from Thursday and will be formally recognised as two Union Territories - J&K and Ladakh. The two Union Territories also come into existence on the 144th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who is credited for the merger of over 560 princely states into the Union of India. October 31, is also celebrated as National Unity Day. The Home Ministry in a notification on late Wednesday night replaced the state of Jammu and Kashmir with the "union territory of Jammu and Kashmir". It also announced omission of "permanent residents or hereditary state subjects" and application of central laws to the state. Girish Chandra, former principal secretary of PM MOdi when he was the Gujarat Chief Minister took oath as the first Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir. Former Chief Information Commissioner Radha Krishna Mathur was sworn is as the first Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh.