Srinagar, Jan 13: A high-level selection committee headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is likely to meet later this month to finalise recommendation for the appointment of the State Election Commissioner.
Sources said that the selection committee, also comprising Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma, Legislative Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, senior cabinet minister Sakina Itoo, and Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Javid Ahmad Dar, is expected to meet anytime after January 20 to finalise its recommendation.
Under sub-section (3) of Section 36 of the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989, the State Election Commissioner (SEC) is appointed by the Lieutenant Governor on the recommendation of the Chief Minister-led selection panel.
In the absence of an elected government, whenever Jammu & Kashmir is under President’s Rule as per Section 73 of the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganization Act, the State Election Commissioner is appointed directly by the Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory.
In October last year, the J&K Assembly passed a bill to enhance the maximum age limit for holding the office of the State Election Commissioner from 65 years to 70.
The appointment of the SEC would set the ball rolling for holding local body elections in Jammu & Kashmir, which is currently without them. While the term of urban local bodies ended in November 2023, the elected Panchayats ceased to exist from January 9, 2024.The tenure of District Development Councils is set to end in February. (KNO)
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