SRINAGAR: As Covid-19 cases continue to be on the rise, Srinagar district administration, headed by Dr. Aijaz Assad, has ordered the deferment of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) elections until further orders.
According to the Deputy Commissioner’s order, elections to the KCCI Executive Committee cannot be held at the Amar Singh Club in Sonwar as the said region has been declared a containment zone.
“Public movement in and outside the said locality has been restricted except that of essential services and therefore elections as scheduled cannot be conducted till the said zone is de-notified under the norms”, it says.
“Hon’ble High Court has also directed that while conducting elections all the SOPs issued by the government from time to time with regard to the COVID-19 Pandemic shall adhere,” the order states.
“It is pertinent to mention that Sonwar area where Amar Singh Club is situated has been declared as a Containment zone vide Notification No.81 of 04/2021, dated 23/04/2021 issued by District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Srinagar and public movement in and outside the said locality has been restricted except that of essential services. Therefore, elections, as scheduled, cannot be conducted till the said zone is de-notified under the norms,” the order reads.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCC&I) said that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, elections for the Executive Committee have been postponed until further notice.
“We would like to inform you that the polling to the Executive Committee for the year 2020-2021 which was scheduled to be held on Monday, April 26 at Amar Singh Club, Srinagar has been deferred by the orders of the District Development Commissioner, Srinagar due to Covid-19 pandemic till further orders,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson further stated that they would notify members as soon as they receive some contact from the DC office about the polling. “The members, who have paid their subscription fee till April 24 are eligible to cast their vote whenever polling will be conducted,” he added. (GNS)
