Doubts over elections as OBC Comm report not yet implemented
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Feb 24: Term of all 20 District Development Councils (DDCs), the third-tier of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) created for the first time in Jammu and Kashmir in 2020, came to an end today. With this, all three tiers of the PRIs have ceased to exist as Panchayats/Municipalities and Block Development Councils (BDCs) have already completed their terms.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
There seems to be no immediate possibility of elections to the Local Bodies as report of the OBC Commission recommending percentage of reservation to the OBCs is pending before the Government for past one year.
“The capital expenditure of around Rs 2000 crore was incurred through the DDCs and it is yet to be seen whether it would be directly spent by the Rural Development Department as the Government has already announced that powers of the DDCs are not being given to any one,” official sources told the Excelsior.
The doubts also persist on whether the Central Government grants specifically meant for the PRIs will continue to flow to Jammu and Kashmir in the absence of all three PRIs.
Jammu and Kashmir had total of 20 DDCs, equal to the number of districts. Both Jammu and Kashmir divisions had 10 DDCs each. Every DDC had 14 members each and one each of them was elected as the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.
Total strength of elected DDC members was 280.
In Jammu region, the BJP was in power in six DDCs and the National Conference in three. An Independent was the Chairperson of Poonch DDC. The BJP ruled Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, Reasi and Doda districts while the NC headed the DDCs in Rajouri, Kishtwar and Ramban.
The Panchayats, Municipalities and Block Development Councils ceased to exist over two years before while the DDCs completed their five-year term today. With this, all three institutions of the Panchayati Raj created with much fanfare in Jammu and Kashmir have ceased to exist.
Term of the Municipalities ended on October-November 2023 while Panchayats and Block Development Councils completed their tenure on January 9, 2024.
The State Election Commissioner (SEC) responsible for conducting elections to the DDCs, Municipalities, Panchayats and BDCs, remained defunct for past over 10 months. However, retired IAS officer Shantmanu was appointed as the new SEC and he took oath only few days back.
After the Central Government granted reservation to OBCs, a Commission headed by Justice (Retd) Janak Raj Kotwal was set up to determine percentage of reservation for the OBCs in Panchayats, Municipalities, BDCs and DDCs. The Commission submitted its report on February 27, 2025 but no decision has so far been taken by the Government on its recommendations.
“An early election to the Local bodies has been ruled out as once the percentage for OBCs in the PRIs is announced, this will lead to rotation of reserved seats,” the officials said.
For the first time, the DDCs were announced for Jammu and Kashmir in 2020 and first election to them was held in November-December 2020. The DDCs were constituted in January-February 2021 and all of them completed their term today.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
