New Delhi: The Home Ministry will be the deciding authority on the imposition of AFSPA in the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh according to rules notified by the Union Cabinet Secretariat which is in accordance with the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019.

The notification issued by cabinet secretary also renamed Department of Jammu and Kashmir in Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) as “Department of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh Affairs”.

It said the MHA department will be responsible for all matters relating to the UT of Jammu and Kashmir or UT of Ladakh, including counter terrorism within J&K and coordination with the Ministry of Defence in regards to manning and managing the Line of Control between India and Pakistan, but excluding those with which the Ministry of External Affairs is concerned.

In Ladakh, the Department of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh Affairs will be responsible for all matters enumerated in the State List and Concurrent List except all those which have been specifically assigned to any other ministry or department of the Centre.