STATE TIMES NEWS SRINAGAR: Justice Tashi Rabstan of J&K High Court directed Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar to conduct elections of executive committee of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCI) within a period of 15 days from the date of receipt of copy of this order, to be supplied by the applicants herein, provided Sonwar area, where Amar Singh Club is situated, has not been declared as a containment zone besides keeping in view feasibility to conduct the elections in view of COVID-19 pandemic. In a petition, the applicants, amongst other prayers, sought direction to Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar to permit holding of elections of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the earliest in terms of order passed by the Court on March 23, 2021. During the course of hearing, it was submitted that this Court vide order dated march 23, 2021 formed a election committee of six persons for conducting election of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which was to be concluded by end of April, 2021. In the aforesaid order, Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar was directed to supervise elections. It was further submitted that election committee, accordingly, vide notice dated April 6, 2021 fixed April 26, 2021 as the date for election of executive committee of KCI. It was also notified that the result of the elections of the members of the executive committee would be declared on April 29, 2021 at Amar Singh Club, Srinagar. However, it is submitted that before the elections could be conducted, Sonwar area was declared as a Containment zone, as such the Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar vide communication dated April 24, 2021 informed that the elections as scheduled cannot be conducted till aforesaid zone is de-notified under norms. Justice Tashi disposed of the petition with a direction to the Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar to conduct elections of executive committee of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry within a period of 15 days from the date of receipt of copy of this order, to be supplied by the applicants herein, provided Sonwar area has not been declared as a containment zone besides keeping in view feasibility to conduct the elections in view of COVID-19 pandemic.
