Chenabi Leaders Back Bill for New Administrative Division in Jammu and Kashmir

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and residents of the Chenab Valley have extended full support to a Private Member’s Bill seeking territorial administrative reorganisation in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

The bill, introduced in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly by PDP legislator Waheed ur Rehman Para, proposes granting divisional status to the Chenab Valley and the Pir Panjal region alongside the creation of new districts.

According to details received by The Chenab Times, Adv Sheikh Nasir addressed a press conference on Wednesday, March 25, and stated that the PDP and the people of the Chenab Valley wholeheartedly welcome and support the bill.

Adv Nasir described the proposed legislation as a geographic and administrative necessity rather than a mere political initiative. He highlighted that the Chenab Valley is a vast, hilly and underdeveloped region with poor road connectivity, making it difficult for people in remote areas to access administrative services.

The bill seeks to grant divisional status to the Chenab Valley with its headquarters at Doda, citing the town’s central location between Kishtwar and Ramban districts. It also proposes divisional status for the Pir Panjal region. Additional proposals include granting district status to Bhaderwah and creating a new hill district for Thathri.

Adv Nasir noted that the Chenab Valley has historically struggled to establish a strong cultural or administrative connection with either the Jammu or Kashmir divisions. He argued that the reorganisation would allow the region to develop its own distinct identity while bringing governance closer to the people.

Addressing concerns raised by some leaders in Jammu who view the move as divisive, Adv Nasir said such statements appear politically motivated. He questioned how the earlier creation of new districts from Doda had harmed the region, maintaining that decentralisation only improves access to administration.

The Chenab Valley, located in the Jammu division, comprises the districts of Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban. It is characterised by rugged mountainous terrain along the Chenab River and faces challenges related to connectivity and development compared to more accessible parts of the Union Territory.

The bill, formally titled The Jammu and Kashmir Territorial Administrative Reorganisation Bill, 2026, aims to provide a statutory framework for reorganising administrative divisions, districts, sub-divisions and tehsils across Jammu and Kashmir. It empowers the government to assign districts to the proposed Chenab and Pir Panjal divisions while considering factors such as geographical continuity, administrative convenience and balanced regional development.

Adv Nasir appealed to all political parties, including the ruling National Conference-Congress alliance and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, to rise above political differences and vote bank considerations. He urged them to unite in support of the bill for the genuine betterment and identity of the Chenab Valley.

The press conference comes shortly after the bill was submitted to the Assembly Secretariat. The ongoing Budget Session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly is scheduled to resume on March 27.

Supporters of the proposal argue that granting divisional status would help address long-standing issues of administrative distance and underdevelopment in the hilly regions of Jammu division. Similar demands for separate administrative arrangements have been raised periodically for areas facing geographical challenges.

No immediate reaction from the government or other major parties to Adv Nasir’s statement was available at the time of filing this report. The bill is expected to be taken up for discussion in the Assembly in due course.

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