SEC making arrangements for Local Bodies’ polls
*In absence of elected bodies, only 15 pc amount utilized
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 19: Recommendations submitted by three-member J&K Local Bodies Dedicated Backward Classes Commission are still under consideration of the Government even after nearly lapse of an year when the Panel submitted its report.
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The Commission was constituted to determine OBC reservation percentage in both urban and rural local bodies. Without implementation of OBC quota, elections to the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) can’t be held in Jammu and Kashmir.
In reply to a question by Leader of Opposition (LoP) Sunil Sharma in the Assembly today, Social Welfare Minister Sakina Itoo said recommendations of the Commission are currently under consideration of the Government.
Significantly, the Commission headed by Justice (Retd) Janak Raj Kotwal had submitted its report on February 27, 2025 i.e. nearly a year ago.
“Reservation to OBCs in Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies envisaged under the Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies Laws (Amendment) Act, 2024 enacted by Parliament has been granted and necessary amendments have been made in J&K Local Bodies Laws (Amendment) Act 2o24,” the Government said.
In response to Sunil Sharma’s question that whether the Cabinet has accepted recommendations of the Commission, the Government said: “the recommendations are currently under consideration”.
The J&K Local Bodies Dedicated Backward Classes Commission was established on June 11, 2023, in compliance with Supreme Court Ruling in
the K. Krishnamurthy Vs Union of India (2010) and Vikas Krishna Rao Gawli v. Maharashtra (2021) case.
Meanwhile, in written reply to PDP MLA Mir Mohammad Fayyaz’s question on conduct of Municipal and Panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the Minister Incharge Elections said the State Election Commission (SEC) is making necessary arrangements for holding Panchayat/Urban Local Bodies elections at the earliest.
This is for the second time that the Government hasn’t given any timeline for conduct of Municipal and Panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Further steps for conduct of Panchayat/ULB elections will be taken after considering the Backward Classes Commission report,” the Minister said.
The Government said term of the Panchayats and Block Development Councils (BDCs) expired on January 9, 2024 while term of the District Development Councils (DDCs) is expiring on February 24, 2026. Terms of Municipalities including two Municipal Corporations of Jammu and Srinagar also expired in November, 2023.
“The delimitation of 77 ULBs including Municipal Corporations, Councils and Committees was taken up and completed for 72 ULBs while it is under process for remaining five bodies. The reservation of Municipal Wards in ULBs shall be done by the SEC but the process of reservation can be initiated only after OBC Commission’s report is approved.
The Government admitted that the Union Government release Rs 159.13 crore to J&K for capacity building and training of field functions and elected representations of PRIs under Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) during 2022-23 and 2023-24 when the PRIs were functional. Of this amount, Rs 109.11 crore were utilized.
However, Rs 97.42 crore were approved by the Centre in 2024-25 and 2025-26 but in absence of the PRIs, only 15 percent amount was utilized.
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