Neeraj Rohmetra
Jammu, Mar 8: 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.
Official sources said that the four-member committee comprising Commissioner Secretary Rural Development Department (RDD) Farooq Ahmed Peer, Director Jammu RDD Safiq Ahmad Raina; Director Kashmir Mir Aftab Ahmad and Secretary Law Department, G H Tantray have submitted its final report to the Rural Development Minister, Ali Mohammad Sagar.
Confirming the submission of report, Rural Development Minister, Ali Mohammad Sagar said, “the Committee had submitted him the report pertaining to the 73rd amendment and it would be now placed before the Cabinet”.
“The Chief Minister is very keen for early implementation of this report. After going through the report, we would bring bill for incorporating suitable amendments in the existing Panchayati Raj Act”, he said adding, “the amendments shall also pave way for early holding of Block Development Council (BDC) polls and subsequently for holding of elections for District Development and Planning Board. This shall complete the process of formulation of three-tiers of democracy, thereby taking administration to the grass -root level”.
Mr Sagar said, “the proposed amendments will make the Act more democratic in nature besides addressing concerns of various stakeholders in the Panchayati Raj system”.
Sources stated that the Committee had held several deliberations over the amendments, which need to be introduced for strengthening of the existing Panchayati Act. “The Committee had discussed several private members’ bills, which were tabled before the Legislature and also the report submitted by two Committees constituted by Congress party on the subject”, sources said adding, “eight private members bills, related to empowerment of Panchayats and incorporation of various clauses of 73rd amendment were pending in both the Houses of the State Legislature”.
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 Castes, 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 elections for the Chairpersons 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 BDCs.
The Congress had initially been demanding implementation of 73rd amendment of the Constitution of India in the State to empower Panchayats in the State. However, the Chief Minister had refused to implements 73rd amendment of the Constitution of India but agreed to implement some amendments from it into the State Panchayati Raj Act.
The Congress had set up two Committees-one each headed by Ravinder Sharma, MLC and GA Mir, MLA (now Tourism Minister), which had submitted their reports to Prof Soz. Prof Soz had circulated the reports among National Conference members in the Coordination Committee meeting on January 14 for their opinion.
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