Jammu and Kashmir delimitation process complete as panel signs final order

The J&K delimitation process is crucial as only after the exercise is over will the union territory head for elections. The last delimitation panel took seven years to give its award in 1995.The delimitation commission of Jammu and Kashmir signs final order for the delimitation of the union territory,

Updated on May 05, 2022 02:25 PM IST

ByHT News Desk, New Delhi

The Jammu and Kashmir delimitation commission on Thursday signed the final order for the delimitation of the union territory. The panel, that was tasked to redraw the boundaries of assembly and parliamentary constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir, concluded the delimitation exercise today, paving way for the much-awaited assembly polls in the Valley.

The delimitation ‘award’ will be made public detailing the number of constituencies and their size by bringing out a gazette notification once the report is submitted to the government. The decision is crucial as only after the delimitation exercise is over will the proposed elections take place in Jammu and Kashmir, which has been without an elected government since June 2018. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised the restoration of the region’s statehood after the elections.

The panel, formed by the Centre in March 2020, is headed by former Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai, and comprises chief election commissioner Sushil Chandra and deputy election commissioner Chander Bhushan Kumar, state election commissioner (SEC) KK Sharma and chief electoral officer Hridesh Kumar as its ex-officio members. It was granted a year’s extension and then another extension of two months in February this year to complete its task, for the term that was to otherwise end on March 6.

RELATED STORIES

Amit Shah holds high-level meeting after some states faced power crisis: reportJignesh Mevani threatens to call for Gujarat Bandh on June 1Probe agency to seek info on 3 Hiz terrorists from Pak courtPunjab Congress chief Warring to cadre: Be battle-readyCBI submits status report on Bengal’s Hanskhali gang rape probe to Calcutta HCKumaraswamy slams Ajit Pawar for supporting merger of Marathi-speaking areas of Karnataka with MaharashtraAAP government failed to take preventive measures: Navjot Sidhu on Patiala clashesChandigarh Sector 41 residents seek deferral of CHB’s demolition drive

On Monday, the commission met various delegations in Jammu before leaving for Srinagar to meet the stakeholders there for the submission of its report. It met over 200 delegations and members of the civil society from Ramban, Rajouri, Poonch, Kishtwar, Kathua and Doda districts and heard them and received their representations.

Since the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in August 2019, the commission has proposed increasing the number of seats in the union territory from 83 to 90. Besides, there are 24 seats in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) which continue to remain vacant. Further, for the first time, nine seats have been proposed for scheduled tribes (STs).

The panel has also proposed six additional seats for Jammu and one for Kashmir. As of now, the Kashmir division has 46 seats and Jammu division 37.

INDIA NEWS

2:46

‘Evil strategy…’: After tunnel detection, BSF ‘foils’ plot to target Amarnath Yatra in J&K1 hour ago

3:59

Bhilwara Tense: Fresh clashes after two attacked by unknown assailants; Internet suspended1 hour ago

2:18

India, France condemn cross-border terrorism; Modi-Macron call for anti-terror fight2 hours ago

2:56

‘Art 370 removal a slap on Muslims’: Al-Qaeda video on Kashmir slams Saudi, UAE for backing India3 hours ago

5:14

PM Modi concludes 3-day Europe tour; thanks Macron for ‘warm hospitality’ in France | Highlights5 hours ago

15:18

Supriya Pathak spills the beans about her web show, dream home and film family8 hours ago

2:17

Hugs and handshakes as Macron hosts PM Modi in Paris; Focus on India-France strategic ties15 hours ago

2:01

‘Modi Modi’ chants in Paris as PM Modi gets rousing reception from Indian Community16 hours ago

2:00

PM Modi gets warm welcome in Paris; Will meet President Macron to discuss bilateral ties18 hours ago

2:04

India’s maritime security gets more teeth; Indian Coast Guard inducts ALH MK III chopper18 hours ago

As per reports, the last delimitation panel took seven years to give its award in 1995 while this commission took little over two years to complete its task despite the coronavirus pandemic, a functionary pointed out.

Source: Hindustan Times.