Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 19: The stage is set for the much-awaited incorporation of several provisions of the 73rd Amendment in the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act as the Ministry of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj has completed necessary exercise in this regard and would place a formal memorandum before the State Cabinet during its next meeting.
Reliable sources told EXCELSIOR that during the Cabinet meeting held here this morning, the Minister for Rural Development, Ali Mohammad Sagar submitted a note to the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah regarding incorporation of those provisions of the 73rd Amendment on which consensus has already been reached between the two coalition partners.
After going through the note, Chief Minister directed the Panchayati Raj Minister to move a formal memorandum for introduction in the Cabinet as was desired during the previous meeting so that all the Cabinet Ministers could study the same before having discussion in the Cabinet and then its approval, sources informed.
When contacted, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj said, “we have completed the entire exercise and are going to place memorandum before the Cabinet during its next meeting”, adding “the memorandum would be strictly based on the consensus reached between the National Conference and Congress after series of meetings and discussion in the Coordination Committee meeting”.
Following the Cabinet approval, the provisions of the 73rd Amendment would be incorporated in the Panchayati Raj Act of the State for implementation.
As reported earlier, there is complete unanimity among the coalition partners over the incorporation of 73rd Amendment provisions pertaining to granting constitutional guarantee to Panchayats on completion of five years term followed by elections after every five years, financial and administrative powers including control over development and 14 identified departments, setting up of separate Finance Commission and Election Commission for the Panchayats, reservation in second and third tier of Panchayats for SC/STs and women i.e. BDCs and District Development and Planning Boards (DDPB), security to Panchayat members and providing emoluments to Panchayat members and to BDC and DDPB.
The Cabinet also extended the period of submission of report by the Cabinet Sub-Committee (CSC) on creation of new administrative units by 11 days—till December 31, 2013. However, there are still apprehensions that the Committee would be able to accomplish the task of working out modalities for the implementation of Mushtaq Ganaie Committee report and the fresh demands/suggestions received from July 24, 2013 onwards when the Cabinet Sub-Committee was framed.
The Cabinet also accorded sanction to the establishment of Government Polytechnic Institute for Pulwama District in the Campus of Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipora.
It also approved creation of two posts of Senior Private Secretaries in the Pay Scale of Rs 15600-39100 with Grade Pay of Rs 6600 by corresponding reduction of the equal number of posts of Private Secretaries of Heads of Departments in the Pay Scale of Rs 9300-34800 with Grade Pay of Rs 4800 and re-designation of existing five posts of Principal Private Secretaries as Senior Private Secretaries.
The Cabinet further approved creation of four posts of Principal Private Secretaries in the Pay Scale of Rs. 15600-39100 with Grade Pay of Rs. 7600 by corresponding reduction of equal number of posts of Private Secretaries of the Heads of the Department in the Pay Scale of Rs. 9300-34800 with Grade Pay of Rs. 4800, to be filled up by promotion from amongst the Senior Private Secretaries having at least four years of qualifying service.
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