‘Have submitted requisite information to commission’
Ibni Maqbool
Srinagar, Aug 17: J&K’s Chief Electoral Officer Hirdesh Kumar on Monday said that his office has submitted requisite information to Delimitation Commission constituted by the Central Government to fix boundaries for 90 Assembly segments in the J&K UT.
Talking to Precious Kashmir, Kumar— who is also part of the three-member delimitation panel— said the details which have been submitted include population data, administrative units and maps of constituencies.
“The process of delimitation is well-defined,” he said, adding that the commission will undertake preliminary exercise for delimitation of constituencies.
He said the preliminary exercise will be notified for general public. “Then discussions will be held with people and their representatives,” he said, adding that the commission holds such meetings whenever there is such requirement.
Going by the order issued by Union Law Ministry, the delimitation commission headed by Justice (retd) Ranjana Desai still has time till March 5, 2021.
“The appointment of Justice (Retd) Ranjana Prakash Desai shall be for a period of one year from the date of the publication of this notification in the Official Gazette or till further orders, whichever is earlier,” reads the notification issued by the Ministry on March 6, 2020.
Under the J&K Re-Organisation Act, the Commission is mandated to fix boundaries for 90 Assembly and five parliamentary segments of Jammu & Kashmir Union Territory.
It has also been empowered to reserve seats for Schedule Castes and Schedule Tribes from 90 LA seat of J&K UT.
It is worthwhile to mention here that Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech from ramparts of Red Fort had announced that elections in J&K will be held after delimitation exercise is over.
“Delimitation process is underway in Jammu and Kashmir. Once it is completed, an election will be held in the Union Territory. Jammu and Kashmir will have its own chief minister and ministers. We are committed to this,” he had said.
