Bhaderwahi Activist Appreciates PDP MLA Waheed Para’s Private Member Bill for New District in Jammu and Kashmir

Adv Mohd Majid Malik appreciated the initiative and thanked the legislator for raising the long-pending demand in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.

According to details received by The Chenab Times, Adv Malik said moving the bill for a separate district for Bhaderwah was the responsibility of elected leaders from the area, but they had failed to deliver on this front. He strongly criticised the National Conference, Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress for remaining silent spectators on the issue of district status for Bhaderwah.

The activist expressed hope that all MLAs would support the private member bill in the larger interest of the people of Bhaderwah, who have been demanding a separate district for the last 50 years.

PDP MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Para submitted the private member bill titled “The Jammu and Kashmir Territorial Administrative Reorganisation Bill, 2026” on March 24 in the Assembly Secretariat during the ongoing Budget session. The bill seeks a statutory framework for reorganising administrative divisions, districts, sub-divisions and tehsils across the Union Territory.

It proposes creation of two new divisions — Chenab Division with headquarters at Doda and Pir Panjal Division with headquarters at Rajouri — besides several new districts in both Jammu and Kashmir divisions. In the Jammu division, the bill suggests formation of new hill districts including Bhaderwah, Banihal, Thathri, Nowshera, Akhnoor, Billawar, Kotranka and Mendhar for better administrative focus and development.

Bhaderwah, a scenic hill town in Doda district of Jammu division, is known for its unique cultural identity, difficult terrain and tourism potential often referred to as Mini Kashmir. Residents have long argued that the existing administrative setup in the larger Doda district hinders effective governance, infrastructure development and public service delivery due to vast hilly geography and poor connectivity in parts of the region.

The demand for district status to Bhaderwah has been raised periodically by local leaders, civil society and residents over decades. Supporters say carving out a new district would bring governance closer to the people, improve access to services and address regional imbalances in development.

Private member bills in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly provide a platform for legislators to highlight public issues, though their passage depends on government support and legislative priorities. The bill is among dozens of private member bills listed for the session.

Adv Malik, who has been vocal on local issues, urged unity among public representatives to back the proposal when it comes up for discussion. He emphasised that the people of Bhaderwah deserved administrative empowerment after years of waiting.

The development comes amid ongoing discussions in the Union Territory on strengthening grassroots governance following its reorganisation as a Union Territory in 2019. Any decision on new districts would require careful consideration of administrative feasibility, resource allocation and political consensus.