SRINAGAR: In a significant shake-up aimed at ending months of organisational paralysis, the Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) has dissolved both its Election Commission and Advisory Committee, forming a new interim body to oversee fresh elections within two months. The decision, taken at an Extraordinary General Body Meeting convened at the FCIK headquarters on Sunday, follows mounting dissatisfaction among the Valley’s industrial stakeholders over alleged constitutional violations and defiance of court orders by the outgoing Election Commission.
The crisis had reached a boiling point after the Commission allegedly rejected nomination forms arbitrarily, failed to update the General Council list, and issued controversial candidate lists in disregard of multiple stay orders issued by the courts, including one from the Principal District Judge, Baramullah. These actions not only triggered legal interventions but also drew sharp criticism from industrial estate heads and district-level representatives, who accused the Commission of flouting both the FCIK Constitution and judicial authority.
The Sunday meeting, attended by hundreds of entrepreneurs from organised and unorganised sectors, saw the passage of four major resolutions in a bid to break the institutional deadlock. The first two resolutions dissolved the existing five-member Advisory Committee and the controversial Election Commission, instructing both to hand over all official documents and records to the FCIK office. A new Advisory Committee was then constituted, made up of elected Presidents from industrial estates and unorganised sector districts, to steer the transition under the supervision of outgoing President Shahid Kamili, who will remain in office until a new leadership takes charge.
“The new Advisory Committee has been empowered to form a new Election Commission within a maximum period of two months,” read one of the resolutions, adding that the elections must be held strictly by the organisation’s Constitution. The Committee may also engage external observers and seek government oversight to ensure transparency and restore faith in the electoral process.
In a display of both resolve and urgency, the meeting saw participation from a wide cross-section of the industrial community, including estate Presidents from Lassipora, Rangreth, Shalteng, Zainakote, Zakura, Vessu, Anantnag, Baramullah, and Kupwara, among others. District Presidents from Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam, Baramullah and Srinagar also attended, alongside office-bearers from affiliated organisations such as JKPICCA. The gathering commenced with opening remarks by former President Zahoor Ahmad Bhat and was followed by formal tabling of the resolutions by Shakeel Qalander, a key voice in FCIK’s institutional affairs.
The new Advisory Committee’s first order of business was to secure the FCIK office premises, fearing possible misuse of organisational resources by members of the dissolved Commission and their allegedly unconstitutional appointees. The keys to the premises were handed over to the police, a step aimed at preventing further disruption until new elections can be held.
The tensions had come to a head the previous day when the outgoing Advisory Committee had called an emergency meeting to rally industrial estate heads and stakeholder representatives. The gathering expressed grave concern over the Election Commission’s continued defiance of judicial orders, particularly its refusal to comply with stay directives and its unauthorised issuance of candidate lists. The Commission’s actions, described as arbitrary and unlawful, prompted the Advisory Committee to publicly disassociate the FCIK from any process lacking legal and ethical legitimacy.
In a statement, the new interim body reaffirmed FCIK’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and restoring democratic credibility to its operations. “No process that violates constitutional norms or undermines judicial pronouncements will be legitimised or recognised by this organisation,” it stated.
The developments come as a crucial turning point for one of Kashmir’s most influential industrial platforms, which has been struggling to maintain institutional cohesion and effective representation amid prolonged internal discord. With the constitution of the new Advisory Committee and the impending formation of a fresh Election Commission, the FCIK appears poised to reclaim its representative mandate—albeit under the shadow of legal scrutiny and a wary membership.
Whether this transition can restore full functionality and member confidence will likely depend on how swiftly and transparently the new elections are conducted, and whether the Federation can re-establish its role as a unified voice for Kashmir’s industrial sector.
