The Kashmir Pulse

NEW DELHI — The Parliament on Tuesday passed a bill to provide reservations to Other Backward Classes in local bodies in Jammu and Kashmir. The government said that the Union territory has undergone important changes since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.

Replying to the debate on the Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies Law (Amendment) Bill 2024, Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai highlighted that the people of the Union Territory have started witnessing development done by the Narendra Modi government.

At present, there is no provision for reservation of seats for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in panchayats and municipalities in Jammu and Kashmir.

The bill seeks to provide reservation to OBCs in panchayats and municipalities in Jammu and Kashmir and bring consistency in the local body laws of the Union territory with the provisions of the Constitution.

"With this, justice will be ensured to the citizens of Other Backward Classes of Jammu and Kashmir for the first time after 75 years of independence," according to the statement of objects and reasons of the bill.

Rai, during the discussion on the bill in Lok Sabha, said that he did not refer to the Opposition’s demand for the government to declare a time frame for holding elections in Jammu and Kashmir and the restoration of statehood.

Rai said the opposition members, participating in the debate, were resorting to a drama of supporting the bill granting reservation to OBCs in panchayats and municipalities in Jammu and Kashmir and were raising other issues.

JAMMU — The State Election Commissioner (SEC), Braj Raj Sharma, chaired a crucial meeting of senior officers to assess the revised schedule for the Panchayat Electoral Roll 2024 in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

In attendance were Secretary RDD Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Secretary SEC Susheel Kumar, Joint Director Information (HQ) Vevaik Puri, Joint Director RDD Avleen Kour, and Assistant Commissioner Relief (Migrant) Riyaz Ahmad, with Deputy Commissioners participating via video conference.

During the meeting, the SEC delved into the district-wise progress of updating the Panchayat Electoral Roll 2024, addressing issues and difficulties faced in the process. The SEC announced an extension of the period for filing claims, objections, additions, deletions, corrections, and transpositions to February 12, 2024. Special camps at polling booth locations are scheduled for February 10th and 11th to facilitate the process.

Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) are mandated to resolve claims and objections by February 23, 2024, with the final publication of the Panchayats Electoral Roll 2024 set for March 3, 2024.

SEC urged officials to mobilize resources to expedite the roll update, emphasizing the crucial role of Panchayat Election Booth Officials (PEBOs), including Village Level Workers (VLWs), Multi-Purpose Workers (MPWs), and Gram Rozgar Sevak (GRS), along with Assembly Booth Level Officers, in guiding electors through the process.

In a related communiqué from the State Election Commission (SEC), the deadline for filing claims, objections, and other revisions for the Panchayat Electoral Roll has been officially extended until February 12, 2024.

An additional special camp at polling booth locations is scheduled for February 10th and 11th. The Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) is expected to dispose of claims and objections by February 23, 2024, with the final publication of the Electoral Roll 2024 slated for March 4, 2024, instead of the initially planned February 26, 2024.

SRINAGAR — Jammu and Kashmir Government on Wednesday appointed Block Development Officers (BDOs) as Administrators of Panchayat Halqas for six months.

An order issued in this connection states, "The term of Halqa Panchayat(s) has expired on 09.01.2024 and the government is satisfied that the Halqa Panchayat(s) cannot be constituted immediately."

"Now therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 9 of Jammu & Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989, the Government hereby appoints Block Development Officers (BDOs) as Administrator(s), for running the affairs of the Panchayat Halqas under their jurisdiction for a period of six months w.e.f. 10.01.2024 or till further orders, whichever is earlier," it added.

It is pertinent to mention here that the term of 28,000 Panchayat members in Jammu and Kashmir ended on January 9.

SRINAGAR — Panchayats and Block Development Councils (BDCs) have ceased to exist in Jammu and Kashmir from today. All the Panchayats and BDCs have completed their term and now at least for six months, these Panchayats and BDCs will be non-existent in the erstwhile state.

As per the official data, there were all but 28,000 representatives of Panchayats and BDCs.

Elections to 77 Municipalities including 40 in the Kashmir division, 37 in the Jammu region and 4291 Panchayats were supposed to be held in October-November last year but were delayed due to the grant of reservation to Other Backward Classes.

Official sources said that these elections will likely be conducted after over six months. They said that due to several processes, these elections can’t be conducted at the moment.

The government may soon appoint administrators to exercise all powers and duties of Halqa Panchayats till elections take place and if there will be further delay in the polls, then the powers can be extended by another three months.