SAC approves amendments in PRA for time Panchayat polls in JK

The State Administrative Council (SAC) today approved amendments to the Panchayati Raj Act, 1989 to the extent that the ensuing elections are held under the superintendence, direction and control of Chief Electoral Officer, Jammu and Kashmir in bid pave way for the timely conduct of elections to the Panchayatsin the state
"To pave way for the timely conduct of elections to the Panchayats in the State, the State Administrative Council (SAC) which met here today under the chairmanship of Governor, N N Vohra approved the amendments to the Panchayati Raj Act, 1989 to the extent that the ensuing elections are held under the superintendence, direction and control of Chief Electoral Officer, J&K", an Official Spokesman said.

The last elections to the Panchayats in the state were held in the Year 2011 and the same were constituted and notified in the month of July 2011.
The five year term of present Panchayats in the State is expiring in July 2016, he said.
As per the Panchayati Raj Act, 1989, the elections to the Panchayats are to be conducted by State Election Commission to be constituted under the Panchayati Raj Act.
However, the State Election Commission has not been constituted till date and the amendment was necessitated as such, he added.