When Chief Minister of Union Territory (UT) of Jammu &Kashmir will be outside the UT, his protocol would be equivalent to that of additional secretary of Government of India and even lower than mayor of that territorial jurisdiction.

The warrant of precedence issued by the J & K government on Tuesday, Chief Minister of Union Territories (UTs) figure at serial number 25 of the protocol list when they will be outside the jurisdiction of their UTs.

The others having same protocol include Additional Secretaries to the Government of India, Additional Solicitor General of India,Advocate Generals of States, Chairman, Public Service Commission, Chairman,Tariff Commission and others. Outside the UT, J&K CM will have lower protocol than mayors will have within their respective territorial jurisdictions. The mayors are placed at number 19-A of the protocol list.

As per the warrant of precedence, Lieutenant Governor of Union Territories are placed at serial number 11 in the warrant of precedenceas compared to Governor of States who are placed at serial number 4 of the list. Outside their UTs and States, LGs and Governors are respectively placedat serial number 25 and 8 in the protocol list.

As per the order of precedence, Chief Ministers of UT sfigure at serial number 15 of protocol list when they will be within their respective UTs. On the other hand, Chief Ministers of States figure at serial number seven of the protocol list when they will be within their respective states. The warrant of precedence was issued by Jammu and Kashmir government nearly 47 days after bifurcation of J&K into two UTs.

“In super session of all previous orders issued on the subject, it is ordered that the Warrant of Precedence/ Order of precedence shall be observed at all Ceremonial functions of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir,” reads the order issued by Principal Secretary, Hospitality and Protocol Rohit Kansal. The order of precedence is the protocol list (hierarchy of important positions) in which the functionaries, dignitaries and official sare listed according to their rank and office.