4 hrs ago
J&K Panchayat Polls Delayed Over Pending OBC Reservation
Jammu and Kashmir currently has no elected local councils.
The old village councils and other rural bodies finished their terms, but new elections have not been held.
One major reason is that the government must decide how many seats should be reserved for Other Backward Classes.
A commission studied this question and sent its report to the government.
The report still has to be considered by the Cabinet.
After that, the government must redraw some constituencies and set the reservation arrangements.
The election authorities say they are ready, but they need advance notice to organize voting.
Officials say elections should ideally happen before the harsh winter.
City and town elections face another delay because voter lists for assembly areas have not yet been updated.
Jammu and Kashmir’s elected Panchayats and Block Development Councils completed their terms on January 9, 2024.
The government has not yet decided how to implement Other Backward Classes reservation in Panchayat institutions.
An OBC Commission led by former high court judge Janak Raj Kotwal submitted its report in February last year.
The State Election Commission says preparations are complete but needs one-and-a-half to two months’ notice to conduct the polls.
Municipal elections also remain pending because legislative assembly electoral rolls must first be updated through a Special Intensive Revision.
- Who
- The Jammu and Kashmir government, the State Election Commission, and the OBC Commission are involved; Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Rural Development Minister Javid Ahmed Dar have said elections will be held at an appropriate time.
- What
- Panchayat elections have been delayed because the government has not yet decided on OBC reservation and related constituency arrangements.
- Where
- The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
- When
- The Panchayats and Block Development Councils completed their terms on January 9, 2024; the OBC Commission submitted its report in February last year.
- Why
- The government must first consider the OBC Commission’s report, then complete delimitation and reservation of Panchayat constituencies before rural local-body elections can be held.
Election Commission’s Readiness
Government’s Pending Process
Timing of elections
Election Commission’s Readiness
The State Election Commission says the required preparations are complete and that it can hold Panchayat elections if the government provides sufficient advance notice.
Government’s Pending Process
The government has not committed to a date and says the OBC reservation report must first go before the Cabinet.
OBC reservation
Election Commission’s Readiness
The election authorities say elections cannot proceed without reservation for OBCs in proportion to their population in each Panchayat.
Government’s Pending Process
The government says it has received the commission’s report and will decide on it before carrying out delimitation and reservation.
Need for urgency
Election Commission’s Readiness
Officials say the polls would need to be scheduled before harsh winter and that notice should be given by September for elections later in the year.
Government’s Pending Process
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Minister Javid Ahmed Dar have only said elections will be held at an appropriate time.
Key facts
- Panchayat term ended
- January 9, 2024
- OBC Commission report
- Submitted in February last year
- Commission chair
- Former high court judge Janak Raj Kotwal
- Election preparation time
- At least one-and-a-half to two months
- Preferred election window
- Before the harsh winter months
- Municipal election obstacle
- Legislative assembly electoral rolls have not yet been updated
- Government position
- Elections will be held at an appropriate time
Quotes
State Election Commission official
Official of Jammu and Kashmir’s State Election Commission
“We have received the OBC Commission’s report regarding the reservation. The report will be placed before the Cabinet for consideration and thereafter, there will be delimitation and reservation of panchayat constituencies, paving the way for elections to rural local bodies.”
indianexpress.com
“Without OBC reservation, which, according to the Panchayati Raj Act, has to be in proportion to the population in every Panchayat, we cannot hold elections to the rural local bodies”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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