J&K HC orders holding of no-confidence motion; Budgam District Development Council Chairperson removed

J&K High Court orders no-confidence motion against Budgam DDC Chairperson after 13-month delay, highlighting democratic accountability.

The J&K High Court on Monday (April 7, 2025) directed officials to hold a no-confidence motion against the Chairperson of the District Development Council (DDC), Budgam, after 13 months of delay.

The Chairperson, Nazir Khan, was removed from the position as no DDC member voted for him.   

“These are democratic institutions, if people have lost faith in you, we cannot revive it,” the court observed while passing the orders.

In the order, Justice Mohammad Yousuf Wani directed officials to “to immediately address the second No-Confidence Motion, strictly as per the provisions of the Act and the Rules framed thereunder and submit a compliance report to the Court positively by the next date of hearing”.

According to the petition filed by advocates Zamir Abdullah and Zahir Abdullah, Mr. Khan took over as DDC Chairperson in 2020, after the DDC elections. However, the 13 elected DDC members unanimously moved a no-confidence motion on February 19, 2024. 

“Mr. Khan’s conduct and attitude was viewed by all the members as being detrimental to his office for the reasons of gross misconduct and neglect of duty thus unbecoming of a Chairperson,” the petitioners told the court.

According to the petition, the court had, on March 27, 2024 directed the Deputy Commissioner, Budgam, to conclude the no-confidence motion. The petitioners said the official “chose to persist in his intention to defy the Court order by not proceeding on the Motion”.