• Recent controversy on positions of— J&K Prime Minister and Sadr-e-Riyasat (President of the state) have brought the spotlight on their historical relevance.

J&K Prime Minister

• J&K had its own Prime Minister and Sadr-e-Riyasat until 1965, when the J&K Constitution was amended  though Sixth Constitution of J&K Amendment Act, 1965 which replaced the two positions with Chief Minister and Governor respectively.
• The first Prime Minister of J&K, appointed by Dogra ruler Maharaja Hari Singh, was Sir Albion Banerjee (1927-29). The state had nine more Prime Ministers before Independence. The first after Independence was Mehr Chand Mahajan (October 1947-March 1948). He was replaced with Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, who until then had been Head of the Administration.
• When Abdullah was arrested under Jawaharlal Nehru’s orders on August 9, 1953, Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad was appointed Prime Minister of J&K. The next two J&K Prime Ministers were Khwaja Shamsuddin (1963-64) and Congress leader Ghulam Mohammad Sadiq (until March 30, 1965).
• It was during Sadiq’s tenure that the Centre replaced the two posts. In fact, Sadiq became the first Chief Minister of J&K, serving until December 1971.

Sadr-e-Riyasat

• The J&K Constituent Assembly was constituted in September 1951 and dispersed on January 25, 1957. The J&K Constitution was adopted on November 17, 1956 but came into effect only on January 26, 1957.
• On June 10, 1952, the “Basic Principles Committee” appointed by the J&K Constituent Assembly recommended that “the institution of hereditary rulership shall be terminated” and “the office of the head of the State shall be elective”. Two days later, the Constituent Assembly unanimously adopted the report. The Constituent Assembly resolved that the head of state, named Sadr-e-Riyasat, would be elected by the Legislative Assembly for a term of five years and recognised by the President of India.
• The Centre did not agree initially because it “impinged upon the provisions of Article 370” where the Maharaja, acting on the advice of the council of ministers, was recognised as the head of state. After negotiations, the matter was resolved on July 24, 1952, when New Delhi agreed to allow J&K to recognise an elected Sadr-e-Riyasat instead of an appointed Governor. Only a permanent resident of J&K could become Sadr-e-Riyasat. Once elected by the Legislative Assembly, the Sadr-e-Riyasat had to be recognised and then appointed by the President of India.
• On the recommendation of the J&K Constituent Assembly, the President issued a Constitution Order on November 17, 1952 under Article 370 saying that the state government means the elected Sadr-e-Riyasat, acting on the aid and advice of council of ministers. The one compromise that the J&K leadership made was to elect Maharaja Hari Singh’s son and regent since 1949, Karan Singh, as the first Sadr-e-Riyasat.
• Karan Singh has been the only Sadr-e-Riyasat, serving from November 17, 1952, until the post was abolished and replaced with the centrally nominated Governor on March 30, 1965. In fact, Karan Singh became the first Governor too.