DDC chairpersons to be elected after members take oath, one-third of seats reserved for women

Srinagar: The chairpersons of District Development Councils (DDCs) in Jammu & Kashmir union territory will be elected immediately after the members elected during the ongoing elections are administered oath.

The amendments made by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in The Jammu & Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989, define the procedure for the election of chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of DDCs.

“After the declaration of the results, the Deputy Commissioner shall, as soon as possible but not later than one week of such declaration, call under his presidentship a meeting of elected members of the District Development Council for the purpose of oath or affirmation of allegiance,” read the amendments.

According to the law, the chairperson and vice-chairperson of a DDC will be elected from among the elected members of the Council.

“Immediately after oath or affirmation of allegiance is administered or made, the elected members of a District Development Council shall, in the prescribed manner, elect from amongst themselves one of its members to be the chairperson and another to be the vice-chairperson of the District Development Council,” reads the law.

Under the law, if the office of the chairperson or vice-chairperson is vacated or falls vacant during the tenure on account of death, resignation or no-confidence motion, a fresh election shall be held within three months from the date of occurrence of the vacancy.

According to the amendments, one-third of the total number of seats for the office of the chairperson of DDCs in Jammu & Kashmir shall be reserved for women.

It further states that the seats reserved for women shall be allotted by rotation in such manner as may be prescribed. (KNO)