Srinagar: The government has approved the establishment of a dedicated Backward Classes Commission for facilitating reservations to OBCs in Local Bodies in view of enactment of the Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies Laws (Amendment) Act, 2024, and official press release informed Monday.
It said the decision in this regard was taken by the Administrative Council which met here under the chairmanship of LG Manoj Sinha, with Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Advisor to the LG; Atal Dulloo, Chief Secretary; and Mandeep Kumar Bhandari, Principal Secretary to LG in attendance.
The Commission shall have the mandate to conduct empirical study and investigation in the context of the representation of Backward Classes in all Local Bodies before the upcoming general elections of the Local Bodies.
The recommendations regarding proportional reservation for backward classes, Local Body-wise (Urban & Rural) in accordance with the amendments made in the Jammu & Kashmir Municipal Act, 2000, the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Corporation Act, 2000 and the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989 shall be submitted by the Commission to Government.
The tenure of the Commission shall be forty-five days from the date of publication of notification to this effect. The proposal would facilitate implementing the reservation to OBCs in the forthcoming local body elections in due compliance with the orders of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in this regard.