Kashmiri Pandit IAS, Jammu Officer Face Motion of Privilege Over Statehood Resolution

At the center of a contentious debate over the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir'It was statehood lies a pair of high-ranking bureaucrats: Atal Dulloo and Achal Sethi. Both officers, native to the region, have been instrumental in shaping the state's future.

Dulloo, a 1989-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, assumed the role of Chief Secretary of J&K on December 1, 2023. His tenure is set to conclude next month, with speculation surrounding potential extension by the central government.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), even in J&K, appears to be favoring his continued service due to his extensive experience prior to 2019, when the state was reorganized.

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Sethi, who was re-designated as Commissioner-Secretary, Law Department, earlier this year, features a distinguished background. A practising lawyer in the J&K High Court.

He played a key role in the constitutional exercise surrounding the abrogation of Article 370 and the subsequent downgrading of J&K State into two separate Union Territories in 2019.

Achal Sethi hails from a prominent family. His father, Krishan Dev Sethi, was a well-known Communist leader and a member of J&K's Constituent Assembly from 1951-57. Krishan Dev Sethi was the last surviving member of the Constituent Assembly, which convened on October 31, 1951.

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This Assembly established the terms of the constitutional relationship between J&K and the Centre. Ratifying J&K's accession to India and framing the state's constitution, initiating major land reforms, and designing state symbols.

The introduction of a resolution by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for the restoration of J&K's statehood has sparked intense debate. Both Dulloo and Sethi, as natives of the region, have been at the forefront of this controversy. Their involvement has raised questions about the role of the central government in J&K's future.

The fate of J&K's statehood remains uncertain. As the debate continues, it is essential to consider the perspectives of all stakeholders involved. The central government, the BJP, and the people of J&K must engage in a nuanced discussion to determine the most suitable path forward.