Parliament enacts Jammu and Kashmir local body laws amid non-existent legislature

This Bill amends three existing laws in Jammu and Kashmir to extend reservation benefits to the Other Backward Classes (OBC) in local body elections and to replace the Chief Electoral Officer with the State Election Commission as the authority for conducting these elections.

The Bill affects the local governance bodies in Jammu and Kashmir, specifically Panchayats, Municipalities, and Municipal Corporations. It also impacts the State Election Commission, the Lieutenant Governor, and candidates belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes.

• Extends reservation for seats in Panchayats, Municipalities, and Municipal Corporations to include the Other Backward Classes (OBC), in addition to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
• Replaces references to the 'Chief Electoral Officer' with the 'State Election Commission' across the Municipal Act and Municipal Corporation Act.
• Defines the salary, allowances, and conditions of service for the State Election Commissioner, stating these are determined by the Lieutenant Governor.
• Specifies that the State Election Commissioner can only be removed in the same manner and on the same grounds as a High Court Judge.
• Grants the State Election Commission powers to require information, give directions to government officers, delegate powers, and determine municipal boundaries.
• Updates terminology in the Panchayati Raj Act to replace 'District Planning and Development Board' with 'District Development Council' and 'District Panchayat Officer' with 'Assistant Commissioner of Panchayat'.
• Applies specific provisions regarding the State Election Commission from the Panchayati Raj Act to the Municipal Act and Municipal Corporation Act.

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