Adil Lateef
Srinagar, July 2: Despite protests and walkout by Opposition National Conference and Congress, Legislative Council today passed an amendment to Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989, which allows election of Sarpanches by Panches instead of being elected directly.
The Opposition legislators said the amendment would pave way for horse trading and termed it a step to “discredit” the Panchayati Raj Institutes (PRIs) in the State. The State Government defended the amendment, saying it was the procedure at highest level of governance at the State and Union Governments.
Speaking in opposition of the amendment, Congress Member Legislative Council (MLC), Ghulam Nabi Monga, who was elected to Upper House on Panchayat quota, said the amendment is a step towards disempowering the Panchayats and “murder of democracy at the grassroot level.
“This will make way for horse trading and also dilute power of Panchayats. The direct elections hold Sarpanches accountable to people,” said Monga.
Hitting out at Government, Monga said the powers of Panchayati Raj Institutions have been diluted and this amendment will further weaken them. Amid strong opposition to the amendment, the members of National Conference and Congress stormed into the well of the House amid sloganeering against the Government. The Opposition members asked Council Chairman Haji Anayat Ali to give them time to speak on this amendment.
As the pandemonium persisted, the House Chairman allowed the members to speak and subsequently they returned to their respective seats. Dr Shehnaz Ganai and Ali Mohammad Dar, who have been elected to Upper House from Panchayat quota, strongly opposed the amendment, saying it will “further disempower Panchayats in the State”.
Though ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) members preferred not to speak over the controversial amendment, the PDP’s Surinder Chowdary and Yasir Reshi favoured the amendment. The amendment also allows to have a single Block Development Council (BDC) for more than one block on the basis of population, number of Panchayat Halqas and geography of the area.
Amid noisy scenes, Minister for Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Abdul Haq Khan while defending the amendment said that a system was in place till 1996 and it never failed. “There is a procedure in the country and our State where Ministers in State and Central Governments remain MLAs and MPs also. This system has been successful,” he said, adding that the election of Sarpanches by electorate has created a problem in the field as it has been found that in large number of cases there is a rift between Panches and Sarpanches.
“Sarpanches get elected directly and there is lack of confidence from the Panches on them and vice-versa, which hampers the process of implementation of various schemes on the ground level and accordingly it has been felt to amend the provision of the Act,” said the Minister and trashed the Opposition apprehensions of horse trading.
After Minister’s statement, the Upper House passed the Bill even as National Conference and Congress MLCs created uproar and shouted slogans. All the members of the Opposition later staged a walkout in protest.
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