Early Times Report
jammu, Nov 8: In contravention to the Union Government's efforts to promote representation of woman in every sector, the Election Commission of Jammu and Kashmir has so far forgotten to reserve seats for the women for the post of chairperson of Municipal bodies.
Sources informed Early Times that the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Act clearly states that there must be 33 percent reservation to woman at every step at Councillor level, Chairperson level and heads of Block Development Council and District Development Council.
According to Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Act 2000, section 12 titled, "Reservation of offices of Chairperson", the sub-section-1, reads: "The Government may, by general or special order reserve such number of offices of chairperson, for persons belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes in the Municipal committee/Municipal Council as the case may be not exceeding the proportion to the total number of offices to be filled by direct election in the municipalities as urban population of the persons belonging to these classes in the state bears to the total population and may further reserve one-third (33 %) of the total seats reserved under this sub-section for women belonging to these classes."
Sources said that as per Section 27 of Panchayti Raj Act 1989, amended in 2014, a provision was inserted according to 73rd amendment, according to which, at each level of Panchayati Raj institutions, one third of total number of seats at each level, Panch, Sarpanch, Chairperson of Block Development Council and Chairperson of District Development Board would be reserved for women including SC/ST women. The Municipality Act as well as Panchayati Raj Act, both advocated for the 33 percent reservation of woman at each level but so far no such notification has been issued for the reservation of woman for the post of Chairperson of Municipal Councils, Committees etc.
"The urban women have been ignored by the Election Commission so far by not issuing any notification in this regard", sources said, adding that even in the reservation of SC/ST/OBCs for the post of Chairperson, it is clearly mentioned that out of the reserved posts, 33 % post must be reserved for woman but EC has not been providing overall reservation to woman. |
