Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Mar 31: Ahead of ensuing Municipal elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), J&K, Shantmanu today formally notified Wards for reserved categories in both the Municipal Corporations, all Municipal Committees as well as Municipal Councils across the State.
The wards have been reserved for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Women (Open Category), Women (Scheduled Caste) and Women (Scheduled Tribe) in the Municipal bodies.
In the case of SC/ST, the seats have been reserved in proportion to their respective total population in the Municipal area while one third of the Wards have been reserved for Women.
The CEO, who is the Competent Authority for notifying the Wards for reservation categories, had invited objections and suggestions from various stakeholders in February, 2016. After proper scrutiny of all such objections, claims and taking into consideration the necessary criteria, reserved wards have been notified.
As many as 123 objections and suggestions were received by the office of the CEO and all the claims were duly examined by the Competent Authority in consultation with the concerned Deputy Commissioners and appropriately disposed-off.
In Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), which has total 71 Wards, 24 Wards have been reserved for Women. These include Ward number 1, 4, 7, 11, 15, 18, 20, 23, 26, 29, 33, 37, 43, 46, 49, 52, 55, 58, 61, 65 and 68 ( for Women in open category) and Ward number 13, 34, 40 (for SC Women)
Total eight wards have been reserved for SC. In addition to Ward number 13, 34 and 40 (Women SC), Ward number 12, 32, 47, 51 and 57 have been reserved for SC in open category.
Similarly, in Srinagar Municipal Corporation, which has 73 Wards in total, Ward number 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31, 34, 37, 40, 43, 46, 49, 52, 55, 58, 61, 64, 67 and 70 have been reserved for women but all in open category. No ward is reserved there for SC/ST.
In Udhampur Municipal Council (total 21 wards), seven Wards have been reserved for women and three for SC. Ward number 1, 2, 3, 6, 11 and 15 have been reserved for women in open category while Ward number 20 is reserved for women SC. Ward number 17 and 21 have been reserved for SC in open category.
In Kathua Municipal Council (total 21 Wards), seven Wards have been reserved for women and five for SC. Ward number 1, 4, 11, 15 and 19 have been reserved for Women in open category, Ward number 6 and 16 for Women in SC category and Ward number 10, 14, 17 for SC in open category.
In Poonch Municipal Council (total 17 Wards), Ward number 1, 3, 5, 9, 14 and 15 have been reserved for Women in open category while Ward number 12 has been reserved for ST (open category). No Ward is reserved for SC category there.
Similarly, in Baramulla Municipal Council and Sopore Municipal Council, their respective Ward number 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16 and 19 have been reserved for women in open category while in Anantnag Municipal Council, Ward number 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19 and 22 have been reserved for Women in open category. No ward is reserved for SC or ST in these three Municipal Councils of Kashmir.
In Leh Municipal Committee (13 Wards), all Wards, except Ward number 1 and 10, have been reserved for ST. While Ward number 2, 5, 8 and 12 have been reserved for Women ST.
All 13 Wards of the Kargil Municipal Committee have been reserved for ST while Ward number 1, 4, 7 and 10 have been reserved for Women ST.
Among other Municipal Committees, Wards reserved for Women in open category, are; 1,4,7, 10 (Kishtwar); 1,4, 7, 10, 13 and 17 (Doda); 1,4,7 and 10 (Bhaderwah); Ward number 1 and 4 of Thathri, Ramban, Banihal and Chenani Municipal Committees and Ward number 1 and 5 of Batote Municipal Committee.
In Ramnagar Municipal Committee, Ward number 2, 5 and 11 have been reserved for Women in open category; Ward number 7, 9, 10 for SC in open category and Ward number 13 for SC in women category.
In Reasi Municipal Committee, Ward number 1, 5, 8 and 11 have been reserved for women in open category while Ward number 2 has been reserved for SC in open category.
Katra Municipal Committee’s Ward number 1, 4 and 10 have been’ reserved for Women in open category; Ward number 11 for SC in open category and Ward number 13 for SC in women category.
Similarly, the wards kept reserved in Hiranagar Municipal Committee are 6, 9, 12 ( Women in open category), 2, 13 ( SC open), 1 (SC women); Nagri Parole Municipal Committee – 1, 7 (Women in open category), 2, 5, 12, 13 ( SC open), 3, 4 ( Women SC); Lakhanpur MC- 1, 5 ( Women in open), 2 ( ST open); Billawar MC- 1, 5, 8 (Women open), 3 ( SC open) and 11 (Women SC); Samba MC- 2, 7 ( Women open), 6, 11, 13 ( SC open) and 1, 5 (Women SC); Basohli MC- 1, 4, 7 ( Women open), 11, 12 ( SC open) and 8 ( Women SC); Ramgarh MC- 1, 13 ( Women open), 3, 5, 7, 8, 12 ( SC open), 6, 9 ( Women SC); Vijaypur MC- 1, 5, 8 ( Women open), 4, 9, 12 (SC open) and 13 (Women SC); Bari Brahmana MC- 2, 4 ( Women open), 1, 8, 11, 13 ( SC open) and 7, 9 ( Women SC); Bishnah MC- 5, 11 ( Women open), 8, 12, 13 ( SC open) and 1, 2 ( Women SC); Arnia MC- 4, 9 ( Women open), 2, 3 ,5 ( SC open) and 1, 12 ( Women SC ); R S Pura MC- 1, 7, 12 (Women open), 5, 9, 13 ( SC open) and 4 ( Women SC); Gho Manhasan MC- 2, 7 ( SC open), 5 ( Women SC) and 1 ( Women open); Akhnoor MC- 2, 5, 8, 11 ( Women open), 13 ( SC open); Jourian MC- 1 ( Women open), 7 ( SC open) and 6 ( Women SC); Khour MC- 2, 5, 9 ( Women open), 6, 12 ( SC open) and 1 ( Women SC); Rajouri MC- 1, 4, 8, 9, 14 ( Women open), 5 ( SC open), 15 ( ST open), 17 ( Women ST); Nowshera MC- 1, 5, 8, 13 (Women open), 11 ( SC open); Thanamandi MC- 1, 5, 8, 11 ( Women open), 4 ( ST open); Sunderbani MC- 1, 4, 7, 11 ( Women open), Kalakote MC- 1, 4 ( Women open), 7 ( ST open); Surankote MC- 1, 10 13 (Women open), 5, 7 ( ST open), 6 ( Women ST).
In Kashmir Valley, no Municipal Committee has reserved Wards for SC and ST, except Uri, where Ward number 9 has been reserved for Women ST, Ward number 13 for ST open and Ward number 1, 4, 7 for Women open.
In other Municipal Committees, one third of total Wards have been reserved for Women in open category.
Meanwhile, according to an official spokesman, in the direction of preparatory measures for holding the Municipal elections in the State, the Deputy Commissioners have reported that all the polling stations falling under the jurisdiction of the Municipal bodies stand physically verified and there are total 2420 Polling Stations and 1403 Polling locations identified.
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