Early Times Report
Jammu, Sept 8: Four days after the issuance of notification for the reservation of wards for women, Scheduled Castes (SCs), and Scheduled Tribes (ST), there is strong resentment among some leaders of BJP as most of the wards of prominent faces in the Jammu Municipal Corporation have been reserved.
While ward number 16 of Prem Nagar New Plot, presently being represented by the sitting Mayor of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) has been served for women, ward number 56, being represented by sitting Deputy Mayor Baldev Singh Billowaria is served for Scheduled Caste women.
Ward of another prominent face of the party in JMC Sanjay Baru 41 is reserved for SC.
Four days ago Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) J&K has notified wards to be reserved for women, Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the municipal bodies of the Union Territory (UT).
In relation to the notification proposing the reservation of wards in Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), he has also invited objections or suggestions and has given five days for the purpose.
“Any objections or suggestions should reach the Chief Electoral Officer, J&K, Nirvachan Bhawan Rail Head Complex, Jammu, or Darul Intikhab, M A Road, Srinagar, within 5 days from the issuance of this notice, i.e., September 9, 2023, after which no objections or suggestions shall be entertained,” read the notice issued J&K CEO Pandurang K Pole.
Wards are to be reserved for women, SCs and STs in the municipal bodies of the UT in accordance with Section 10 A of the Jammu & Kashmir Municipal Corporation Act, 2000, and Section 11-A of the Jammu & Kashmir Municipal Act, 2000.
The wards to be notified as reserved wards for SCs, STs, women (Open category), women (SC category) and women (ST category) have been worked out on the basis of population data.
As per the notice, in the Jammu Municipal Corporation, out of its 75 wards, 25 wards are reserved for women, 10 are reserved for SC category and two are reserved for ST category.
Ten wards reserved for SC category include ward number 19, 29, 41, 45, 56, 57, 59, 65, 67 and 74. Out of these wards reserved for SC category, three wards viz., 29, 56 and 65 have been reserved for SC women.
Two wards reserved for ST category include 60 and 63, out of which one ward i.e., ward number 63 has been reserved for women under ST category.
21 wards reserved for women under open category include ward number 2, 5, 8, 12, 16, 18, 23, 26, 32, 36, 39, 40, 43, 46, 49, 52, 55, 61, 66, 72 and 73.
In the notice, CEO has also spelt out six principles adopted in determining the total number of reserved wards for each municipal body - category-wise, as well as identification of specific wards to be reserved for various categories in each municipal body. |
