05-09-2023 : In a significant development aimed at advancing the electoral process for Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) elections in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) J&K PK Pole has unveiled a draft reservation proposal. This proposal, released today, pertains to the allocation of reserved seats for various segments of the population within 77 Municipal bodies across the region. Notably, the proposal advocates a commendable 33 percent reservation for women, alongside provisions for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).
Under this proposal, specific wards have been set aside for SC and ST women, further underscoring the commitment to ensuring equitable representation. With the impending Municipal polls scheduled for October-November this year, this strategic move is poised to bring about a significant shift in political representation within ULBs.
The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir comprises a total of 77 Urban Local Bodies, distributed across 40 in Kashmir and 37 in Jammu. This includes two Corporations, namely Jammu and Srinagar, as well as 19 Councils (one in each district headquarters except for Jammu and Srinagar, which have two each and one in Sopore). Within the broader administrative context, the region encompasses 20 districts, with an equal split between Jammu and Kashmir divisions.
In line with procedural norms, the draft reservation notification issued by the CEO has invited objections and suggestions from stakeholders within the next seven days. Following the meticulous review of these submissions, the CEO’s office will proceed to finalize the allocation of reserved Wards.
The proposed reservation model, as outlined in the draft, features a noteworthy allocation of 25 wards reserved for women in the Srinagar Municipal Corporation. In parallel, the Jammu Municipal Corporation has designated 25 wards for women, 10 for Scheduled Castes, and two for Scheduled Tribes. However, it’s important to note that in the 40 ULBs in the Kashmir division, no wards have been reserved for SCs or SC women, primarily due to their limited population presence in the Valley. Moreover, the 39 Municipalities in Kashmir similarly do not allocate wards for STs or ST women, except for the Municipal Committee Uri, where two wards have been set aside for STs, one of them designated for ST women.
Across the entirety of Jammu and Kashmir’s 77 ULBs, there are a total of 1,119 wards. Of these, a significant 358 wards, approximately 33 percent, have been earmarked for women.
Population data has served as the foundational criterion for determining ward reservations for various demographic segments, encompassing Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Women (open category), Women (Scheduled Caste category), and Women (Scheduled Tribe Category). This approach adheres to the provisions laid out in the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Corporation Act, which has undergone amendments over time. According to these provisions, the number of wards reserved for SCs and STs in each Municipal body must correlate with the total population of these communities within the respective Municipal area.
To achieve this objective, the population data for SCs and STs in the Municipal area has been meticulously furnished by Deputy Commissioners. The allocation of specific wards reserved for Women (Open Category), Women (SC Category), and Women (ST Category) has been determined through a systematic three-point roster system for each category individually. This roster system accounts for Open Seats, Seats Reserved for Women, and Open Seats.
Further, the three-point roster system has been applied to each Municipal body for wards within each category of Open, Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes. These wards are listed in ascending numeric order for each category. In cases where the roster leads to a ward that had already been reserved in the 2005 or 2019 elections under the same category, the immediate next ward in the sequence has been designated for reservation at that particular roster point.
The proposal for ward reservations extends its reach to numerous other Municipalities across the region. For instance, Kishtwar is set to reserve four seats for women, while Doda, with a total of 17 seats, will earmark six for women and one for Scheduled Castes (SC).
This systematic approach to ward reservations is mirrored in other regions as well. Ramban has allocated two seats for women, Udhampur features seven for women and three for SC, while Reasi has set aside four seats for women and Kathua seven.
In Poonch, six seats are designated for women and one for Scheduled Tribes (ST), whereas Rajouri will witness the reservation of six seats for women, one for SC, and two for STs.
Delving further into the specifics, the Municipal Council of Kupwara will reserve four seats for women, while Bandipora will have six seats allocated for the same purpose. Both Baramulla and Sopore will feature seven seats each reserved for women in their respective Municipal Councils. Similarly, the Municipal Council of Ganderbal will allocate six seats for women, with Budgam featuring four such reserved seats.
Lastly, the Municipal Council of Pulwama is set to reserve four seats for women, Shopian six, Kulgam four, and Anantnag will designate eight seats exclusively for female representation.