Srinagar: Justice Tashi Rabstan of J&K High Court on Tuesday directed Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar to conduct elections of the executive committee of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry within a period of 15 days from the date of receipt of copy of this order, to be supplied by the applicants herein, provided the Sonwar area where Amar Singh Club is situated has not been declared as a containment zone as also keeping in view the feasibility to conduct the elections in view of Covid-19 pandemic.
Through the medium of this application, the applicants, amongst other prayers, are seeking a direction to the Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar to permit the holding of elections of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the earliest in terms of the order passed by this Court on 23.03.2021.
During the course of hearing it is submitted that this Court vide order dated 23.03.2021 formed a election committee of six persons for conducting election of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which was to be concluded by the end of April, 2021. In the said order Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar was directed to supervise the elections.
It is submitted that the election committee, accordingly, vide notice dated 06.04.2021 fixed 26.04.2021 as the date for election of executive committee of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry. It was also notified that the result of the elections of the members of the executive committee would be declared on 29.04.2021 at Amar Singh Club, Srinagar. However, it is submitted that before the elections could be conducted, the Sonwar area where Amar Singh Club is situated came to be declared as a Containment zone, as such the Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar vide communication dated 24.04.2021 informed that the elections as scheduled cannot be conducted till the said zone is de-notified under the norms.
At this stage Mr. Qayoom submits that at present the Sonwar area where Amar Singh Club is situated has not been declared as a Containment zone. He prays that the applicants would be satisfied if this application is disposed of with a direction to the Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar to conduct the elections of the executive committee of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the earliest in terms of the order dated 23.03.2021 passed by this Court.
Justice Tashi disposed of the petition with a direction to the Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar to conduct the elections of executive committee of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry within a period of 15 days from the date of receipt of copy of this order, to be supplied by the applicants herein, provided the Sonwar area where Amar Singh Club is situated has not been declared as a containment zone as also keeping in view the feasibility to conduct the elections in view of Covid-19 pandemic.
