DDC Chairpersons above Member of Parliament in J&K’s revised warrant of precedence

Jammu and Kashmir Government on Tuesday once again issued a revised warrant of precedence and have placed newly elected District Development Council (DDC) chairpersons equivalent to Deputy Ministers in States. DDC chairpersons have been placed above Member of Parliament in warrant of precedence.

“DDC members along with Block Development Council members and president of municipal councils and municipalities will enjoy protocol like that of district magistrates, officers of rank of Brigier and equivalent, major hes of departments and district and session judges,” order issued by Hospitality and Protocol Department re.

In an order issued by Hospitality and Protocol Department, DDC chairpersons have now been placed at serial number 19A which was earlier at 26 in list and were included with Divisional Commissioners, Inspector Generals of Police, joint secretaries to union government and officers of equivalent rank besides ministrative secretaries and officers of rank of Major General or equivalent rank and triggered protests in Jammu and Kashmir leing Government to issue revised warrant of precedence.

While speaking to media on March 10, DDC member from Kulgam, Habibullah Rar h said that government was granting Minister of State (MoS) / MLA status to DDC chairpersons but it seems our status has been downgred and reason being some people in bureaucracy. protest was called off after assurance by J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.

DDC vice-chairpersons have been placed at serial number 26, equivalent to Divisional Commissioners, Joint secretaries and officers of rank of Major General in warrant of precedence.

For maiden DDC polls, Farooq Abdullah-led People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) came out to be biggest of all in Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. PAGD won 110 seats, while BJP emerged as single largest party by getting 75 seats in Union Territory.

Independent candidates have won 50, Congress 26, Apni Party 12, PDF and National Panrs Party two each and BSP one apart from People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (110 seats) and BJP (75 seats).