The J&K government has decided to accord minister of state (MoS) status to mayors of municipal corporations of
Srinagar and Jammu. Junaid Azim Mattu and
Chander Mohan Gupta are the current mayors of Srinagar and
Jammu, respectively. The order, issued by additional secretary Subash
Chhibber, reads: “Sanction is hereby accorded to the grant of status equivalent to minister of state (MoS) to the mayors of SMC (Srinagar Municipal Corporation) and JMC (Jammu Municipal Corporation) within their territorial jurisdiction.” With this, both Mattu and Gupta will enjoy expanded power and be able to take executive decisions.