Jammu and Kashmir will hold three-tier Panchayat elections on non-party basis and process for polls will be completed by May-end. This was decided at a meeting of the state cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. It was decided that the schedule for Panchayati Raj,Panchayat Samiti,Zila Parishad polls will be worked out in consultation with the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the state. The meeting decided to hold the Panchayat elections as per the existing law under the supervision of the CEO and that the process for setting up Finance Commission for Panchayats will be expedited. The Cabinet approved the proposal regarding powers to be given to the Vice Chairmen of District Planning and Development Boards. The absence of Panchayat Raj institutions in the state hampers flow of funds from the Centre for rural development and the early establishment of elected Panchayati institutions will help in speedy and proper execution of development works and their effective monitoring at ground level,an official said.
