NC for HC judge-led panel for delimitation of J-K panchayats

Opposed to the ongoing delimitation of panchayats in Jammu and Kashmir, National Conference today sought setting up of an empowered Delimitation Commission led by a retired high court judge for reorganising the panchayats and their wards in a time bound manner.
"The current process being carried out by lower rung officials of the rural development is just a farce and mockery of democracy. We reject it," NC provincial president Devender Singh Rana told reporters here.
He said the government should hold panchayat elections as per schedule but the "hush-hush manner" in delimiting these units would be strongly resisted.
He blamed the PDP-BJP combine for "trampling" the spirit of three-tier democracy by "weakening" the grassroots level decision-making institutions "as per a sinister political strategy".

Not only the panchayats and wards are being redrawn as per political expediencies of the ruling alliance but the ultimate decision has been left to lower level functionaries of the rural development department, Rana claimed, adding the move has evoked immense resentment in rural areas.
He alleged that the composition of wards was being "manipulated" to suit the political interests of the coalition partners and said such an exercise will defeat the purpose of empowering village communities, who hold key to rural development and emancipation.
He expressed surprise over seven-day time frame allocated for completing the so-called delimitation process, saying this will really be a Herculean task for the agency charged with this responsibility, especially as most of the areas remain land-locked due to weather vagaries.

He sought immediate rescinding of the government circular issued in this regard and reiterated the establishment of Delimitation Commission that could undertake the exercise in a fair, transparent and rational manner in true democratic spirit.