In Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory, there would be only 10 ministers including the Chief Minister.
As per J&K Reorganisation Act, Jammu and Kashmir UT will have a Council of Ministers of not more than 10 percent of total number of members in the Assembly.
J&K has a 90-member Assembly plus there is a provision of nomination of five members including two women, two Kashmiri Pandits, one of them a woman, and a PoJK refugee which will take the House strength to 95.
Ten percent strength of the Ministry which comes out at 9.5 means that J&K can have either 9 or 10 Ministers including the Chief Minister.
J&K Reorganisation Act states that the Chief Minister will be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, while the remaining ministers will be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor on the advice of the Chief Minister.
The Act points out that the ministers will serve at the pleasure of the Lieutenant Governor and that the Council of Ministers will be collectively responsible to the Legislative Assembly. Before assuming office, ministers will take the oath of office and secrecy, administered by the Lieutenant Governor. If a minister is not a member of the Legislative Assembly for six consecutive months, they must vacate their position.
Besides, two MLAs can be elected as the Legislative Assembly Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
NC president Farooq Abdullah told media persons that there won’t be many ministers in J&K UT.
He, however, said after the statehood is restored to J&K, there will be more ministers.