In a significant development, the Jammu and Kashmir administration headed by Governor Satya Pal Malik on Thursday abolished 36 member State Legislative Council. The abolition of the legislative council has come days ahead of Jammu and Kashmir becoming a Union Territory. On August 5,the Union Government had abolished Article 370 and 35A and bifurcated the State into two Union Territories- Union Territory of Ladakh and Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

As per the records available, a new constitution was adopted by the constituent assembly in 1957 and the parliament of India passed the Legislative Council’s act. The two pieces of legislation created a bicameral legislature for Jammu and Kashmir. The current composition of the Legislative Council had 10 members from Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), eight from Jammu andKashmir People's Democratic Party, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference hadthree members and the Congress one whereas 14 seats were vacant.