Jammu, Feb 9: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said that the State Election Commission (SEC) was making necessary arrangements for holding panchayat and Urban Local Bodiesí elections at the earliest.
In the same breath, he, however, informed that the post of State Election Commissioner was lying vacant at present. Besides, the OBC Commission report was yet to be approved and notified, therefore, further steps for conduct of polls would be taken accordingly, he pointed out.
The Chief Ministerís response came in a written reply to the question of Congress MLA Tariq Hameed Karra, in the Legislative Assembly.
ìThe superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls and for the conduct of all elections under the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act 1989, Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Act 2000 and the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Corporation Act 2000 is vested in the State Election Commission. The Commission is making necessary arrangements for holding panchayat and Urban Local Bodiesí elections at the earliest, however, it is pertinent to mention that the position of State Election Commissioner is lying vacant at present,î CM Omar said.
He also informed that the report submitted by the Dedicated Backward Classes (OBC) Commission was under examination by the competent authority and further steps for conduct of Panchayat and ULB elections would be taken accordingly.
Giving details of the preparatory steps taken by the Commission, CM Omar mentioned that Panchayatsí and BDC term expired on January 9, 2024 while the DDC term would expire on February 24, 2026.
Srinagar Municipal Corporation term expired on November 5, 2023 and Jammu Municipal Corporation term expired on November 14, 2023. Further terms of all Municipal Councils and committees expired between October and November, 2023.
CM Omar shared with the House that as prescribed under Panchayati Raj Act, 1989, Panchayat Halqas were delimitated before the conduct of general Panchayat election 2018 by the Election authority on the basis of population figures of census 2011.
ìSince new census has not been conducted after the 2011 census, there is no proposal of fresh delimitation of Panchayat Halqas at present. The delimitation of 77 ULBs has been taken up in pursuance to the instructions issued by the Housing and Urban Development Department. While the delimitation has been completed for 72 ULBs, it is under process for the remaining 5 ULBs,î he informed.
Regarding reservation of wards, the Chief Minister stated, ìThe process of reservation or rotation of the Sarpanch or Panch wards and municipal wards can be initiated only after the OBC Commission report is approved and notified by the competent authority.
