Ziraat Times News Desk
Srinagar: In a significant development aimed at reviving the effective functioning of the Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK), an Extraordinary General Body Meeting held at the FCIK headquarters has dissolved the existing Election Commission and Advisory Committee.
A new Advisory Committee has been constituted, comprising elected Presidents of all industrial estate associations in the organised sector and District Presidents representing the unorganised sector across Kashmir. The newly formed Advisory Committee will work in coordination with outgoing President Shahid Kamili to ensure continuity in representation and facilitate the smooth conduct of fresh elections. Kamili will continue to represent the organisation until a new leadership is elected.
The meeting, attended by hundreds of entrepreneurs from across the Valley — including Presidents from both industrial estates and district-level associations — was convened to address the prolonged institutional deadlock and widespread dissatisfaction stemming from the stalled election process. Members expressed serious concern over the absence of a functional permanent body within the FCIK, which they said had left industrial issues unaddressed.
Several grievances were raised against the outgoing Election Commission, including alleged constitutional violations, under-representation, and misconduct. These concerns have led to multiple court interventions and the suspension of the election process. To break the impasse and restore credibility to the organisation, the members unanimously passed four key resolutions:
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Dissolution of the Advisory Committee: “The current five-member Advisory Committee was dissolved with immediate effect.”
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Dissolution of the Election Commission: “The Election Commission was also dissolved and instructed to hand over all official records and documentation to the FCIK office.”
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Formation of a New Advisory Committee: “A new Advisory Committee, comprising elected Presidents from industrial estates and unorganised sector districts, was resolved to be constituted to work alongside the outgoing President during the interim period until the new elected body takes over. The Committee may incorporate more members from various sectors.”
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Mandate for Fresh Elections: “The new Advisory Committee has been empowered to form a new Election Commission responsible for conducting fresh elections within a maximum period of two months. The election process is to be held strictly in accordance with the FCIK Constitution. To ensure transparency, the Committee may also engage external observers and request government oversight.”
