Neeraj Rohmetra
Jammu, Apr 1: With barely four days left for the conclusion of the ongoing Budget Session of the Legislative Assembly and non-inclusion of the issue of amending of State Panchayati Raj Act in tomorrow’s Cabinet agenda, there seems to be no signs for early incorporation of the provisions of the 73rd Amendments in the State Act.
Reliable sources told EXCELSIOR the agenda for tomorrow’s meeting, which has been circulated among the Cabinet Ministers didn’t make any reference to the much sought after amendments aimed at further empowerment of the State Panchayati Raj Act. “This would be last Cabinet meeting before the conclusion of the current Budget Session, which could have paved way for introduction of the required amendments while session was on. But, there is little likelihood of that happening despite assurances from State Government for early introduction of these amendments”, sources added.
As reported exclusively by EXCELSIOR, the High Powered Committee, which had been constituted by the State Coalition Government to give recommendations for incorporating suitable provisions of 73rd Amendment of Constitutional of India into the Panchayati Raj Act of the State Constitution, has submitted its report.
Concerned over the delay in implementation of the 73rd Amendments, the Congress leaders are expected to vociferously take-up the issue in the meeting of the Coordination Committee of coalition partners, which is to take place on April 6. “The meeting , which shall be first after the submission of the Report of the High Powered Committee to the State Government, will take place at 5 pm at Guest House”, sources affirmed.
Headed by the JKPCC president Saif-ud-Din Soz, the committee comprised Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather, Rural Development Minister Ali Muhammad Sagar and Minister for CA&PD and Transport Choudhary Ramzan from National Conference and Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand and former Deputy CM Pandit Mangat Ram Sharma from Congress.
Corroborating that the Report of the Committee would figure in the meeting, senior leader of Congress and National Conference (NC) said, “the issue of introduction of 73rd Amendments of Indian Constitution into the existing Panchayati Raj Act is on the agenda”.
“Besides, both the Coalition partners would also be discussing the possibility for early holding of elections to 143 chairpersons of Block Development Council (BDC), which had been put on hold due to reservations expressed by Congress party”, sources remarked.
Senior Congress leaders on condition of anonymity said, “the ball is now in the Court of National Conference as the entire groundwork for introduction of the amendments had been done. It is for the State Government now to initiate steps for early implementation of the report”.
“The next session of Legislature is likely to take place in summer capital in October as per the convention and therefore, if the Government is serious about the amendments before that, it shall need to issue an ordinance”, opined political observers adding, “however, there is little likelihood of that happening as no effort was made in this direction even after the cancellation of BDC in October last year”.
The issue of incorporation of 73rd Amendments in the State had become a major bone of contention between the coalition partners – Congress and National Conference. Since Congress was adamant on incorporation of amendments particularly those pertaining to reservation of Schedule Casts, Schedule Tribes and women before the holding of elections to 143 chairpersons of BDC, the State Government was compelled to issue an ordinance for the cancellation of polls. The ordinance was promulgated by the Governor on October 16 last year to cancel the notification regarding general elections for the chairman of BDC under J&K Panchayati Raj Act, 1989.
JKPCC (I) president Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz had constituted two Committees-one headed by Ravinder Sharma and another by present Tourism Minister GA Mir to conduct detailed study of 73rd Amendment of the Constitution and recommend important points, which could be incorporated into the State Panchayati Raj Act before holding elections to the Block Development Councils (BDCs).
After the submission of reports by the Congress Committee, the State Government constituted a High Powered Committee, which had been constituted to give recommendations for incorporating suitable provisions of 73rd Amendment of Constitutional of India into the Panchayati Raj Act of the State Constitution. The Committee had submitted its final report to the Rural Development Minister, Ali Mohammad Sagar on 7th March.
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