*DCs asked to submit names of EROs, AEROs
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, May 14: The preparations for holding much-awaited elections to Urban Local Bodies in Jammu and Kashmir have finally begun with Housing and Urban Development Department formally writing to the office of Chief Electoral Officer for putting in place these grass root level democratic institutions as early as possible. Moreover, the office of Chief Electoral Officer has asked all the 22 Deputy Commissioners to submit names of the officers for appointment as Electoral Registration Officers and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers for preparation of electoral rolls of the wards of municipal bodies.
The State Cabinet had on April 6 given nod to holding of Urban Local Bodies elections and this decision was conveyed to the office of Chief Electoral Officer by the Commissioner Secretary Housing and Urban Development Department vide letter No.HUD/LSG/ULBK/113/Part-III.
In this communication, the Commissioner Secretary Housing and Urban Development Department has stressed the holding of elections to the Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils and Municipal Committees as soon as possible.
Now, the office of Chief Electoral Officer has started preparations for holding much-awaited polls to Urban Local Bodies. In a Communication No.2518/CEO/Mun/2015/3961-82 dated May 13, 2015, the Deputy Chief Electoral Officer has asked all the Deputy Commissioners to send the proposals for appointment of Electoral Registration Officers and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers for Municipal Corporation, Council and Committee falling in their districts for hearing claims and objections for preparation of electoral rolls of wards of Urban Local Bodies.
“As far as possible, the existing Electoral Registration Officers, who have sufficient experience may be preferred”, reads the communication, the copy of which is available with EXCELSIOR.
In pursuance to the provisions under Section 282 of the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Act, 2000 read with Rule 7 of the J&K Municipal Election Rules, 2003 and Section 9(1) of J&K Municipal Corporation Act, 2003 read with Rule 7 of the J&K Municipal Corporation (Election) Rules, 2003, the Chief Electoral Officer may appoint any officer of the Government or a local body to be the Electoral Registration Officer/ Assistant Electoral Registration Officer for hearing claims and objections for preparation of electoral rolls.
“Soon after the preparation of electoral rolls, we will sit with the Chief Electoral Officer and finalize the schedule for holding elections”, Commissioner Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department, Bipul Pathak said when contacted.
“The Government is committed to put these duly elected Urban Local Bodies in place during the current year itself, which is also imperative to receive huge grants under 14th Finance Commission awards and empower people to decide their developmental needs at the local level”, he added.
According to the sources, the Government is exploring the possibility of holding elections after conclusion of Amarnath Yatra and prior to setting in of winter, which means these polls would be conducted in September-October this year.
The 14th Finance Commission has recommended award of Rs 4769.37 crore to the Jammu and Kashmir for the local self Government for a period of five years from 2015-16. Of the total award, an amount of Rs 1305.64 crore has been recommended for the Urban Local Bodies (Municipal Corporations, Councils and Committees). The amount would be released in two installments-first in June and second in October every year and if the Government succeeds in holding elections in September it would be able to receive second installment of current financial year.
As per the detailed summary prepared by the Housing and Urban Development Department, there are 47 Municipal Council/Committees in Kashmir division and their number in Jammu division is 37. For capital cities, there are Municipal Corporations.
The Municipal Corporation of Srinagar has 73 wards while as there are 71 wards in the Municipal Corporation of Jammu. There are three Municipal Councils each in Kashmir and Jammu divisions. In Kashmir division, the Municipal Councils are at Anantnag, Baramulla and Sopore while as in Jammu division, the Municipal Councils are at Kathua, Udhampur and Poonch.
The Municipal Councils of Anantnag, Baramulla and Sopore have 25, 21 and 21 wards respectively while as the Municipal Councils of Kathua and Udhampur have 21 wards each while as Municipal Council of Poonch has 17 wards.
It is pertinent to mention here that elections to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) were last held in the year 2005 and their five-year term expired in 2010. Thereafter, no attention was ever paid towards holding fresh elections to these grass root level democratic institutions in urban areas of the State.
Due to non-holding of elections, the State lost Central assistance worth several hundred crores of rupees as the funds for both Urban and Rural Local Bodies are conditional and unless these stipulations are fully met, the Union Government doesn’t provide funds.
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