Commission making arrangements for holding local bodies polls at earliest: Govt

Jammu, Feb 9: The Jammu & Kashmir Government on Thursday said the State Election Commission is making necessary arrangements to hold Panchayat and Urban Local Bodies (ULB) elections in the Union Territory at the earliest.
In a written reply to a question raised by MLA Central Shalteng Tariq Hamid Karra, the Minister in charge of the Election Department stated that the Commission is making necessary arrangements for conducting Panchayat and ULB elections at the earliest.
“The superintendence, direction, and control of the preparation of electoral rolls and the conduct of all elections under the Jammu & Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989, the Jammu & Kashmir Municipal Act, 2000, and the Jammu & Kashmir Municipal Corporation Act, 2000 is vested in the State Election Commission,” the Minister said.
The Minister, however, added that the position of the State Election Commissioner is currently vacant.
“The report submitted by the Dedicated Backward Classes Commission is under examination by the Competent Authority, and further steps for the conduct of Panchayat and ULB elections will be taken accordingly,” the Minister said.
He further stated that the delimitation of 77 Urban Local Bodies – Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils, and Municipal Committees – has been undertaken in pursuance of instructions issued by the Housing & Urban Development Department vide D.O. letter No. PS/HUDD/2023/53 dated 16-12-2023.
“Delimitation has been completed for 72 ULBs and is underway for the remaining 5,” the Minister added.
He also said that Panchayat Halqas were delimited prior to the conduct of the General Panchayat Elections in 2018 by the Election Authority. (KNO)