PDP asks ruling NC to clear stand on Bill proposing Chenab Valley, Pir Panjal as new divisions in J&K

Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday (March 26, 2026) said a private member’s Bill submitted to the J&K Assembly on creating new divisions of the Chenab Valley and the Pir Panjal was approved by J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for consideration.  

PDP spokesperson Mohit Bhan said the Omar Abdullah government should “clarify its position on the Bill”, which proposed administrative reorganisation including the creation of new divisions and districts across the Union Territory.

“The Bill, which has received approval from the Lieutenant Governor for consideration, seeks to address long-standing regional disparities by decentralising governance and ensuring that administrative mechanisms reach the most remote and underserved areas of Jammu and Kashmir,” said the PDP.

Titled The Jammu and Kashmir Territorial Administrative Reorganisation Bill, 2026, the PDP seeks new administrative divisions, including a Chenab Division with headquarters at Doda and a Pir Panjal Division with headquarters at Rajouri, in addition to the existing Jammu and Kashmir divisions.

“With the Lieutenant Governor granting approval, the onus is now on the government to decide whether it stands with the people of far-flung regions of both Kashmir and Jammu or chooses to act as a roadblock to their empowerment,” Mr. Bhan said.

He said the elected government should take “a clear and transparent stand”.

“This is a defining moment for the government. The Bill represents a serious attempt to bring governance closer to the people and correct decades of administrative imbalance. The proposed reorganisation is not merely an administrative adjustment but a crucial step towards inclusive governance, ensuring that people in remote districts and border belts are not left behind,” said Mr. Bhan.

He said the silence of the ruling dispensation, led by the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference, “raises serious concerns and underscores the need for accountability”.

Meanwhile, NC spokesman Imran Nabi Dar termed the Bill as “mockery of the august House”. “As always, the PDP MLAs are trying to mislead people of J&K in the name of Private Member Bills’. You need 46 MLAs to pass a Bill not 3 or 4 MLAs,” Mr. Dar said.

He said the Bill falls at Serial No 58 and “won’t come up before 2028, let alone pass”. 

“Unfortunately, the PDP’s drama-obsessed MLAs have turned the House into a social-media stage. They never have, never will contribute any good to the people of J&K,” Mr. Dar added.

The J&K Assembly, which will meet on March 26 in Jammu, has earmarked March 30 and April 1 for private members’ bills.