With the likelihood of an Assembly election in September, J&K administration has started gearing up for readying Assembly complexes at both Srinagar and Jammu for holding its sessions.
On Friday, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar before concluding his two-day visit to Union Territory said that they are committed to conduct assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir as soon as possible.
An official spokesman said a meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo was held to draw a plan for making Legislative Assembly complexes at both Srinagar and Jammu ready for holding its sessions after holding of elections in the UT.
During this meeting, the Chief Secretary impressed upon the concerned to taking immediate steps for renovation/refurbishing of these Assembly complexes at both Srinagar and Jammu in a time-bound manner.
He reiterated that the facilities like functionality of sound system, Internet connectivity, fire safety, functionality of lifts, giving facelift to the buildings and provisioning of allied amenities should also be taken in hand and completed at an earliest.
The CS asked for looking into the steps to renovate the Chambers of Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Leader of Opposition as well besides making provisions for their official vehicles and residential accommodations.
Dulloo also called upon the concerned to carry out repairing works of the MLA Hostels in both the cities. He made out that all the amenities required should be installed within the available time window till culmination of assembly election, as and when announced by the Election Commission of India.
He observed that pre-emptive steps should be initiated on part of the administration to make preparations ahead of the election so that there are no hindrances in smooth functioning of this pillar of democracy once it gets formed after conduct of elections in J&K.
The Supreme Court on December 11, 2023, while upholding the abrogation of the special status granted to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir had directed the poll panel to hold assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir by September 30. The last Assembly election in the erstwhile state was held in 2014.
