The Cabinet in its meeting chaired by Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti today accorded sanction to the promulgation of the Ordinance to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989.The elections to the Halqa Panchayats were held in the year 2011 and the tenure of 05 years has expired in July, 2016. For conducting fresh elections of the Halqa Panchayats, the process has been initiated; hence the need had arisen for promulgation of an Ordinance, so far as it related to elections to Panchayats and delimitation of Halqa Panchayats.For the purpose of holding general election under this Act in the year 2017, the superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of the electoral rolls and conduct of, all election in accordance with this Act shall vest in the Chief Electoral Officer. The power to determine and delimit Halqa Panchayats in accordance with this Act shall vest in the Chief Electoral Officer.