Akshay Azad
Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 30: The clearance of the names of three candidates to be nominated to Legislative Council by Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) is reportedly in violation of the Section 50 (6) of Jammu and Kashmir constitution, as none of nominated candidate is abiding the criteria mentioned in the constitution.
The Sec 50(6) of J&K constitution reads, "Eight members shall be nominated by the Governor, not more than three of whom shall be persons belonging to any of the socially or economically backward classes in the State. And the others shall be persons having special knowledge or practical experience in respect of matters such as literature, science, art, co-operative movement and social service". The BJP's high command has reportedly cleared three names including two times MLA, Ashok Khajuria, BJP vice president Ramesh Arora and RSS ideologue Surinder Ambardar, out of the penal of names submitted by the state leadership.
Sources informed Early Times that if same candidates are nominated as Members of Legislative Council (MLC), it would be the violation of J&K's constitution, as most of members didn't fulfill the criterion laid down in the constitution of state. "In which category the nomination is given to these members none of them belongs to any socially or economically backward classes besides it is also ambiguous, whether these members have special knowledge or practical experience in respect of matters such as literature, science, art cooperative movement and social service ", sources questioned.
They further said that it had also been reported that one more candidate would be nominated by BJP and it was beyond imagination, whether the constitution would be adhered to, while giving representation to fourth member.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is reportedly yet to forward four names of candidates to be nominated in Legislative Council to Governor NN Vohra, but it is also unclear, that whether PDP would abide by constitution of state.
The panel of eight members, four each from coalition partners is likely to be forwarded for Governor's nod, in coming days.
A senior politician preferring anonymity, while appealing to Governor NN Vohra said that if the panel of Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) members could be returned by Governor, why not the names forwarded by coalition partners could be rejected, as all were in violation of J&K's constitution. "Governor is here for protection of J&K's constitution and he should not act as a rubber stamp", the politician said. |
