The Kashmir Dialogues
SRINAGAR, Sept 20 – The elections for the Executive Committee of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), originally scheduled for September 22, have been postponed. The decision follows a directive from the District Magistrate of Srinagar, who has ordered a special committee to scrutinize and verify the chamber’s membership list.
The deferment was prompted by multiple complaints and representations received by the District Magistrate’s office, which raised doubts about the “health and purity” of the electoral rolls. The complaints alleged that discrepancies in the voter list could compromise the fairness and transparency of the polls.
In an official communication, the District Magistrate’s office stated that it is crucial to ensure that “no eligible member should be deprived of the right to vote and no ineligible member should be allowed to cast a ballot.”
To address the issue, a three-member committee has been formed, chaired by the Additional Deputy Commissioner (I) Srinagar, with the Superintendent of Police (Headquarters) and the State Taxes Officer as members. The committee is tasked with submitting a detailed report on the validity of the electoral rolls, and the polls will remain deferred until the concerns are fully addressed.
KCCI Secretary General Faiz Ahmad Bakshi confirmed the postponement in a notification to members, stating that further instructions would be provided once the administration’s verification process is complete.
The deferment has created uncertainty within the local business community. While some business leaders welcomed the move as a step towards ensuring transparency, others expressed concern that a prolonged delay could hinder the chamber’s ability to effectively represent the interests of the business community in a challenging economic climate.
M S Nazki
Sheikh Sameer
