- The Parliament has passed the Jammu and Kashmir (Reorganisation) Bill,2019.The bill bifurcates the State into two separate union territories of Jammu and Kashmir(with legislature) and Ladakh (without legislature).
- However,the idea of dividing Jammu and Kashmir into two or more parts traces its origin to the Dixon Plan of 1950.
- Owen Dixon was an Australian jurist chosen by the United Nations to mediate between India and Pakistan on the J&K issue.In his report of September 1950,he has suggested a package which did not find acceptance from India.
- The Plan had assigned Ladakh to India and northern areas and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir to Pakistan besides splitting Jammu between the two.It had proposed a plebiscite in Kashmir valley.
- Further,B.R. Ambedkar after quitting as Law Minister from the government had suggested the formation of three zones namely (a)the area held by Pakistan (b)the Valley and (c)Jammu-Ladakh.He had also favoured a plebiscite only in the Valley.
- In 1983,former President R.Venkataraman had also floated the concept of trifurcating J&K with Ladakh as a Union Territory,Jammu as a State and the Valley as a separate entity.
