AC approves construction of Rs 106.69 Cr District Court Complex Anantnag

Srinagar, June 10: The Administrative Council (AC) which met here Monday under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha accorded approval to the construction of the District Court Complex at Sarnal Anantnag at an estimated cost of Rs 106.69 crore under UT Capex Budget, submission of draft JKSSB Bill 2024 to MHA, a dedicated commission for facilitating reservations to Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in Local Bodies and creation of 342 posts of different categories for High-Security Prison in Kathua district.

The project includes the construction of the main court complex, residential accommodation for Principal District and Sessions Judge, residential accommodation for Additional Session Judge, CJM and Munsiff, lawyers’ chambers and other infrastructure.

Seven courts are functioning in the District Court Anantnag and the increase in population has increased litigation cases and judicial workload.

The establishment of the court complex will generate employment opportunities among youth by way of the establishment of new business units like Photostat shops, food courts, stationery shops, commercial parking units, vendor shops, and computer and typewriter institutions.

The  AC also approved the submission of the draft Jammu and Kashmir Service Selection Board (JKSSB) Bill, 2024 to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India for placing before the Parliament of India.

The bill proposes the appointment of a chairperson from the IAS cadre, either serving or retired super-time scale and above.

The bill also proposes that there should be five members, either serving or retired, from the equivalent grade of special scale and above while the Controller and Secretary should be Special Secretary level or above.

It also suggests that the chairperson and member should hold office for 5 years or till the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier, and should not be re-appointed.

The Administrative Council also approved the establishment of a dedicated Backward Classes Commission for facilitating reservations to OBCs in Local Bodies given the enactment of the Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies Laws (Amendment) Act, 2024.

The commission would have a mandate to conduct empirical study and investigation in the context of the representation of Backward Classes in all Local Bodies before the upcoming general elections of the Local Bodies.

The recommendations regarding proportional reservation for backward classes, Local Body-wise (Urban and Rural) following the amendments made in the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Act, 2000, the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Corporation Act, 2000, and the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989, shall be submitted by the commission to the government.

The tenure of the commission should be 45 days from the date of publication of notification to this effect.

The proposal would facilitate implementing the reservation to OBCs in the forthcoming local body elections in due compliance with the orders of the Supreme Court in this regard.

The Administrative Council also approved the creation of 342 posts of different categories for High-Security Prison at the village Dhambra Mahanpur of district Kathua.

The High-Security Prison is being constructed at the cost of Rs 87.81 crore.

The prison would have a capacity of lodging 240 high-risk prisoners.

The construction of the prison, through the Police Housing Corporation, is expected to be completed by February 2025.

The jail would incarcerate criminals, help maintain public order, and prevent future crimes.

It would also help in de-crowding of jails.

Advisor to Lieutenant Governor Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar; Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo and Principal Secretary to LG, Mandeep Kumar Bhandari also attended the meeting.