Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 29: IkkJutt Jammu (IJ) today demanded that Chairman of the yet to be formed District Development Councils (DDCs) should be elected from amongst the Chairmen of Block Development Councils (BDCs).
While explaining the significance of a bottoms-up approach in the constitutions of PRIs at all three tiers, Ankur Sharma Chairman IkkJutt Jammu emphasized that democracy in J&K can be strengthened only if elected representatives from the first and second tier of PRIs have an effective voice, representation and control in the DDCs.
In a handout he said that creating a parallel third tier of PRIs by excising out BDCs and its Chairmen would be against the spirit of 73rd Amendment which seeks to strengthen and deepen democracy at grass roots level.
Referring Constitution of India, Sharma said that Article sub Article 3 (b) of the Article 243C mandates representation of Chairpersons of BDCs in DDCs in an effective manner.
The representation envisaged is not a mere formality but ‘effective representation’.
He further said that it was never the intent of the legislature to disqualify BDC Chairmen from contesting elections to the post of Chairman DDC.
“The Government should avoid unnecessary litigation in the matter and immediately consider the demand of people being echoed through BDC Chairmen thereby making necessary amendments in Panchayati Raj Act allowing the BDC Chairmen to contest elections for the post of Chairman DDC,” Sharma maintained.
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