Bharatiya Janata Party Jammu & Kashmir President and Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, Sat Sharma, CA, raised a crucial issue concerning the urgent conduct of Cantonment Board elections across the country during the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha.
While addressing the Chairperson, Rajya Sabha, C.P. Radhakrishnan, Sat Sharma sought the attention of the Government towards the prolonged delay in holding these elections, which has severely impacted democratic representation and developmental works in cantonment areas.
Sat Sharma highlighted that the tenure of most Cantonment Boards has already expired and that under the Cantonments Act, 2020, elections are mandated to be conducted in a time-bound manner. However, he pointed out that since 2021, Cantonment Board elections have not been held in almost the entire country, resulting in a serious democratic deficit.
He emphasized that the absence of elected boards has deprived residents of cantonment areas of their rightful representation. In the current arrangement, the entire functioning of the Cantonment Board has been confined to only three individuals, the Brigadier of the Army, the IDES Chief Executive Officer of Colonel rank, and a nominated civilian member. Sat Sharma stated that in reality, the decision-making authority rests primarily with the two officers, while the civilian nominee remains largely ineffective, thereby diluting the democratic voice of common residents.
Sat Sharma further asserted that due to the lack of elected representatives, developmental and civic works across cantonment wards have suffered, as public aspirations and local needs are not adequately reflected in governance. He stressed that democratic participation is the cornerstone of transparent and accountable administration, and its absence undermines public trust.
Calling for corrective measures, Sat Sharma strongly advocated for necessary amendments to the Cantonments Act, 2020, to strengthen democratic functioning, enhance transparency, and ensure clean governance within Cantonment Boards. He stated that restoring elections would eliminate any scope for criticism against the government and reinforce faith in democratic institutions.
Sat Sharma urged the Government to take immediate and decisive steps to conduct Cantonment Board elections at the earliest, thereby empowering elected public representatives to undertake welfare and development works in accordance with the aspirations of the people, and strengthening India’s democratic framework.
