NEW DELHI: President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday gave assentto legislation for bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir, and creation of two UnionTerritories - Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh - that will come into existence onOctober 31.“In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (a) of section 2 ofthe Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 (34 of 2019), the CentralGovernment hereby appoints the 31st day of October 2019, as the appointed dayfor the purposes of the said Act,” the Union Ministry of Home Affairsnotification said.

Interestingly, the country's first home minister SardarVallabhbhai Patel's birth anniversary falls on October 31st. The UnionTerritory of Jammu and Kashmir will have a Lieutenant Governor and its Assemblywill consist of 107 seats, which will increase to 114 after delimitation ofconstituencies. Twenty-four seats in the Assembly will remain vacant as theyfall under Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).The Union Territory of Ladakh willnot have a Legislative Assembly.

On Monday, the Narendra Modi-led NDA government had alsopassed a bill to scrap the special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir underArticle 370.

Three days after the far-reaching decision to abrogate thespecial status given to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 and bifurcate thestate, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a nearly 40-minute televised address tothe nation on Thursday, sought to assuage concerns of the people saying Jammuand Kashmir will not remain Union Territory for long.As Jammu and Kashmir willsee more and more development, I do not think it will remain Union Territoryfor long. Ladakh will remain a Union Territory," Modi said. According tothe legislation, the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will have alegislature like Puducherry and Ladakh will be a UT like Chandigarh, withoutlegislature.Earlier on Friday, Section 144 was withdrawn from parts of Kashmirhours after mobile and internet services were suspended and restrictions wereimposed on civilian movement.Jammu district Deputy Magistrate Sushma Chauhansaid that Section 144 (against the gathering of more than 4 people) has beenwithdrawn from Jammu Municipal limits. In an official statement, she alsoinformed that all school and colleges will open from Saturday i.e August 10.

“The order No DCJ/PS/2019/376-407 dated 05-08-2019 issuedunder Section 144 CrPC within Municipal Limits of Jammu District is herebywithdrawn. Further, all the schools, colleges and academic institutions closedmay resume their functioning from 10-08-2019 normally”, read an order fromDistrict Magistrate Sushma Chauhan.

Meanwhile, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Lawand Order, Muneer Khan said that situation is normal in the Valley.“In Jammu,the situation is normal. In Kashmir, everything is under control. All stepsnecessary to maintain law and order will be taken,” he added.Jammu and KashmirGovernor Satya Pal Malik direcetd deputy commissioners in the Kashmir Valley toreach out to locals and assess their requirements of ration and medicines,among other things. The Governor asked personnel to quickly address the needsof local residents and directed security personnel in the districts to deputeofficials for the work.

The J&K administration also eased restriction inmovement of civilians and allowed them to offer Friday prayers in localmosques. Schools and colleges were also reopened in Kathua, Udhampur and Sambadistricts on Friday.Officials said that the decision on easing of restrictionscomes after National Security Advisor Ajit Doval directed authorities to ensurethat no Kashmiris were harassed.

The Srinagar Police also offered to help those stayingoutside Jammu and Kashmir to connect with their families. “For the families,students, businessmen staying outside the valley and wishing to know thewelfare of their nears and dears can send an advanced SMS stating full detailsof families here,” it said in a tweet.However, there was no Friday congregationat the historic Jama Masjid in Srinagar as the officials clarified that peoplewill be allowed to offer prayers in mosques in their locality.The clampdown inKashmir was imposed on Monday, hours before the Centre revoked Article 370 ofthe Indian Constitution which grants special status to J&K.