Srinagar: The government is also planning to hold elections for vacant berths in urban local bodies in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The government on Thursday ordered that a high- level committee constituted last month to workout framework of polls for panchayats shall also conduct preparatory work for elections to the vacant municipal seats.
According to an order issued by general administration department, director, urban local bodies, Kashmir and Director urban local bodies Jammu shall also be the members of the divisional-level committees for Kashmir and Jammu division respectively.
On January 3, the government had constituted Apex -level and two divisional -level committees for conducting preparatory work for elections to the vacant Panchayat seats. Over 13000 Panchayats seats mainly in the Kashmir valley were stated to be vacant.
The Apex committee is headed by the Principal Secretary Home Department and have the Director General of Police, Principal Secretary Housing and Urban Development, Principal Secretary Transport and Additional DGP (CID) as members while Secretary Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj as member secretary.
The divisional -level committee for Jammu is headed by the divisional Commissioner Jammu and have IGP Jammu as member and Director Rural Development Jammu as the member secretary.
The divisional -level committee for Kashmir is headed by the divisional Commissioner Kashmir with IGP Kashmir as member and Director Rural Development Kashmir as the member secretary.
The Apex committee will draw roadmap and detailed schedule for conduct of elections to vacant Panchayats across the Union Territory on the basis of inputs from the Divisional Level Committees and assessment of ground level situation taking into consideration various requirements like security, logistics, personnel, equipment etc. (KNO)
