STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Governor N. N Vohra has given his assent to the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
The amendment envisages election of Sarpanchs by Panchs instead of a direct election.
The amendment to Panchayati Raj Act was passed by the Legislative Assembly amid protests and walkout by the Opposition parties, on July 2 this year, a week ahead of the unrest that gripped the Valley.
The government moved a Bill to amend Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989 in the Upper House, which was opposed by the Congress and the National Conference legislators who termed the amendment as a step to “discredit and dis-empower” the Panchayati Raj Institutions in the State.
However, the state government defended the amendment, saying it was the procedure at highest level of governance at the state and central government.
A Raj Bhavan spokesperson informed that it was imperative to hold early elections to the Panchayats, keeping in view, the crucial importance of establishing the three-tier framework of Panchayati Raj institutions in the State for securing effective participation of the people in the decision making process.
Pertinent to mention that the State which lost potential allocations and grants in the past years would lose resource support of Rs. 3,096 crore during the 14th Finance Commission Award period in the event of non-conduct of Panchayat elections.
It may be recalled that the Governor, in recent meetings with the Chief Minister, has been pressing for very early conduct of elections to both the urban and rural self-governing bodies. The Panchayat elections are now envisaged to be held by March 2017.
Considering the time frame of the forthcoming elections, the Governor has also consented to the issue of the J and K Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Ordinance 2016 to empower the State Chief Electoral Officer to conduct the Panchayat elections.
