28,000 Panchayat, BDC members complete term in J&K

JAMMU: Today will be the last day of nearly 28,000 representatives of Panchayats and Block Development Councils (BDCs) in office as these bodies will cease to exist after completion of their term. Fresh elections will not be held for at least another six months due to the exercises of voter revision, identification of Wards for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and fresh delimitation.

As per official sources, the Jammu and Kashmir Government will soon come out with an order appointing Administrators to exercise all powers and duties of Halqa Panchayats. The powers are likely to be given initially for six months and if elections are not held by then, the powers can be extended by another three months.

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Official sources told The New Indian that  28,000 representatives of 4291 Panchayats will complete their five-year term today. 310 Block Development Councils still have their term till October this year but their term will end today itself because of the Panchayati Raj Act under which the term of BDCs will be co-terminus with Panchayats.

There are 20 DDCs in Jammu and Kashmir-one each in 20 districts. Every DDC has 14 members each. Out of 10 DDCs in Jammu, the BJP is ruling six including Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, Reasi and Doda while the J&K National Conference is in power in three—Rajouri, Ramban and Kishtwar. An Independent female candidate heads Poonch DDC.

The DDCs were constituted in January 2021 after elections in November-December 2020. This is the first time that the DDCs, the third tier of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), were established in Jammu and Kashmir post abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35a.

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Official sources told The New Indian that the UT Government has approved an amendment for providing reservations to OBCs. The State Election Commissioner (SEC) has ordered annual voter revision for Panchayats and the final rolls are scheduled to be published on February 26. Lok Sabha elections for five seats in J&K will be held along with other parts of the country in April-May.

Official sources said once the percentage for the reservation to be granted to OBCs in Panchayats is finalized, a decision will be taken on the number of Sarpanch and Panch constituencies to be reserved followed by delimitation of the wards.

Elections to Panchayats were held after nearly four decades in Jammu and Kashmir in November-December 2018 along with Municipalities in the same year in October after 13 years. 77 Urban Local Bodies including two Municipal Corporations of Jammu and Srinagar completed their term in November-December last year.

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The State Election Commissioner has already ordered an annual revision of voter lists of Panchayats. As per an order issued by the SEC, the final rolls of Panchayats will be published on February 26.

Elections to 77 Municipalities including 40 in Kashmir division and 37 in Jammu region and 4291 Panchayats were due in October-November last year but were delayed due to the grant of reservation to OBCs.

J&K Administrative Council recently amended the Panchayat Raj Act granting reservation to OBCs in Panchayats. A similar amendment is expected to be brought in place in the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Corporations Act and J&K Municipalities Act.