J&K govt sets ball rolling for panchayat polls

The Jammu and Kashmir government has set the ball rolling for panchayat polls in the state by approving promulgation of an ordinance that empowers the Chief Electoral Officer to hold elections.
The Cabinet in its meeting chaired by Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti yesterday accorded sanction to the promulgation of the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Ordinance to amend the state Panchayati Raj Act, 1989, an official spokesman said.
The elections to the Halqa Panchayats were held in 2011 and its 5-year tenure expired in July 2016.
For conducting fresh elections of the Halqa Panchayats, the process has been initiated; hence the need had arisen for promulgation of an Ordinance, as it related to elections to panchayats and delimitation of Halqa Panchayats, the spokesman said.

"For the purpose of holding general election under this Act in the year 2017, the superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of the electoral rolls and conduct of, all election in accordance with this Act shall vest in the Chief Electoral Officer", he said.
Under this act, the power to determine and delimit Halqa Panchayats in accordance with this Act shall vest in the Chief Electoral Officer, he added.