Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 20: Former minister and senior Congress leader Raman Bhalla today castigated the PDP-BJP Govt for bringing amendment in the Panchayati Raj Act in the State and claimed that it will dilute the powers of Panchayats and make way for `horse-trading’ during the elections of Sarpanchs.
The statement of senior Congress leader came after the State Governor N N Vohra gave his assent to Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2016, which was passed by the State Legislature on July 2, amidst strong opposition by National Conference and Congress which will bring about total change in the pattern of elections to the Panchayats, especially that of Sarpanchs.
Talking to the Sarpanchs and Panchs of Bhour Camp area here today Mr Bhalla said the Sarpanch is directly elected by the people of the Panchayat under the existing law. The proposed law has provided for indirect election of Sarpanch by the Panchs in the Panchayat. Bhalla accused the Coalition Govt for attempting to manipulate the elections to the Panchayat Raj bodies especially that of Sarpanchs, which is unfortunate. He said this is step in reverse direction to dilute the authority of elected Sarpanchs, which clearly establishes the intention of the present Govt to dilute the authority of grass institutions of democracy.
PCC leader said that Congress launched a struggle in this regard and ultimately the State Panchayat Raj laws were amended by previous NC-Congress Govt to incorporate the provisions of 73rd amendment which was passed in the State Legislature and it received the assent of the Governor and published in Govt Ggazette on March 14, 2014. Now, the elections to the Panchayats had to be held as per amended law, which is as per 73rd amendment, which provided for 33% reservation to women and SC/STs right from Panch level, Sarpanch level, Block level and District Boards. The amended law also provided for independent Election Commission for holding Panchayat elections. But the Govt has not appointed an independent Election Commission and Finance Commission as per the existing law.
Former minister further said that the Govt also plans to change the representation of Blocks in the District Boards. As per existing law, the elected head of Block Council would be member of District Board and all members of DDB would elect Chairperson of the DDB, from amongst themselves. Now, the Govt wants to dilute this and proposes to merge more than one Blocks to have a single member from the merged Blocks treating it as one BDC unit.
Bhalla opposed the amendments to the Bill, saying that it “will bring drastic changes in the Panchayati Raj system, which will go against the spirit of the 73rd Amendment of the Indian Constitution.”
“The indirect election of Sarpanchs instead of being elected by the people will only encourage money and muscle power, besides giving birth to several malpractices,” Bhalla added.
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