Latest news with #JammuandKashmirPanchayatiRajAct
Hindustan Times
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
J&K election commission headless for over a month
All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC), a prominent registered body working for strengthening grassroots level democracy in J&K on Monday strongly condemned the silence adopted by political parties, the lieutenant governor and the legislators over the headless Jammu and Kashmir election commission. AJKPC president Anil Sharma during interaction with media on Monday. (HT Photo) AJKPC president Anil Sharma criticised the elected representatives of all political parties, saying that their silence shows they are not serious about panchayati raj institutions. 'If they really cared about grassroots democracy and the rights of people at the village level, at least one leader would have raised this issue with the government, the LG, or even in the media,' he said during a press conference here. He pointed out that not a single political party or public figure has shown concern or demanded appointment of a new poll chief even after it has been a month since the term of former J&K chief secretary ended. Sharma alleged that MLAs across party lines are not interested in holding panchayat or urban local body elections. 'On other issues, even those not connected to J&K or of national importance, they make loud statements. But when it comes to something as crucial as local elections, they choose to remain quiet,' he added. He reminded that under the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, only the state election commission has the legal authority to conduct panchayat and urban local bodies polls. 'These elections have already been overdue for more than 18 months now, and still the government is taking no action to address it,' he said. Sharma also appealed to the bureaucrats working closely with the Raj Bhavan to uphold the Constitution and values of democracy. 'Officers are there to serve the people and uphold public interest, not to follow the will of one individual. Individuals come and go, but institutions are permanent. It is their duty to protect these institutions,' he said. He added that AJKPC is planning to launch a full campaign across Jammu and Kashmir to demand early panchayat elections after the completion of the Amarnath Yatra and Independence Day celebrations. The AJKPC has already sent a detailed letter to the lieutenant governor and the CM, requesting that the post of state election commissioner be filled without any further delay.
Indian Express
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Srinagar businessman alleges DDC member asked for Rs 5 lakh bribe after school inspection
The Anti-Corruption Bureau in Jammu and Kashmir said Tuesday it had arrested an elected member of the District Development Council (DDC) for allegedly demanding a Rs 5 lakh bribe from a Srinagar-based businessman who also runs a boarding school in Harwan. In a statement, the ACB identified the accused as Mohammad Shaban Chopan, a member of the Srinagar District Development Council. An alleged tout working for him has also been arrested. A blank cheque signed by the complainant and Rs 50,000 given by him in cash were recovered from the arrested DDC member, the ACB said. The complainant has claimed that he has been running a boarding school with a swimming pool and a guest house in Check Dara, Srinagar's Harwan, for some time. He said that an official inspection was conducted at his site, and he discovered Chopan, a resident of Dara, had arranged it. Later, Chopan, through Ghulam Mohammad Khathana, allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 5 lakh and asked the complainant to pay Rs 50,000 as the first instalment along with a blank cheque, the ACB said. The complainant was allegedly told he should pay the remaining amount after getting the required clearances. Acting on the complaint, the ACB said it conducted a discreet verification through a designated officer, which confirmed the allegations. Subsequently, a trap team was constituted, and a successful trap was laid, the ACB said. The ACB said that during the operation, the accused and his tout were caught allegedly demanding and accepting Rs 50,000 and a blank signed cheque from the complainant, adding that they were immediately apprehended. The District Development Councils were envisioned as a third tier of governance in Jammu and Kashmir following the abrogation of Article 370. A legislation to this effect was brought in by the Ministry of Home Affairs on October 16, 2020, through an amendment to the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989.
