Srinagar: The delay in deciding on the no-confidence motion – submitted by councillors of the INDIA bloc in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil – against the incumbent chief executive councillor (CEC) has put a spotlight on the Union Territory administration, with councillors as well as the local MP accusing it of weakening the ‘last remnants’ of democracy in the region.The letter of no-confidence submitted on May 14 to the Deputy Commissioner, Kargil, who is also chief executive officer of the Hill Council, carries the signatures of 16 councillors to oust the incumbent CEC, Mohd Jaffar Akhoon.“We, the undersigned elected councillors of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil, constituting not less than one-third of the total elected members of the Council and being competent under the provisions of Section 27 of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Kargil Act, 1997, do hereby submit this formal requisition for convening a special meeting of the Council for the removal of the incumbent chairman/chief executive councillor,” reads the no-confidence motion submitted by the councillors.The no-confidence resolution was submitted after the CEC refused to step down on completion of his two-and-a-half-year tenure, in open defiance of the power-sharing arrangement between National Congress (NC) and Congress.As part of the agreement, the chair of CEC was to rotate between the two allies, with NC taking charge for the first two-and-a-half years followed by the Congress for the same tenure.Councillors, MP angry over delay in floor testThe councillors of the INDIA bloc are fuming over the administration’s indecision on the no-confidence motion.“We also met the LG of Ladakh and the Chief Secretary to request the floor test. They assured us repeatedly that they would take a decision soon, but the administration has not given a date yet for holding the floor test. It seems like a deliberate delay on their part,” Nasir Hussain Munshi, District President of Congress and councillor from Choskore, told The Wire over the phone.He said the Hill Council is the only remaining elected representative body in the Union Territory after the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir.“The way they are dismantling democratic institutions in the rest of the country, we have apprehensions that they may not spare a small district like ours,” he said, alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party is backing the incumbent chairman.Feroze Khan, NC councillor from Silmoo segment, said the administration has no option but to conduct the floor test. “Going by the rules, the floor test should have been conducted by now,” he said.Member of Parliament, Ladakh, Haji Haneefa Jan termed the move as an attempt to “weaken and undermine the last surviving democratic institution” in the region.“There is no other elected body in place in the entire Ladakh except the Kargil Hill Council. It is unfortunate that they are not conducting the floor test despite repeated requests from councillors,” he said.Law and power equationsAs per the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Act, 1997, a meeting for the floor test is to be conducted at the request of not less than one-third of the total members of the council, and the chairman must vacate office if the no-confidence resolution is supported by a majority of members.“The Chairman may be removed from office by a resolution carried by a majority of the total number of members at a special meeting of the Council called for the purpose upon a requisition made in writing by not less than one-third of such members of the Council,” reads sub-section (2) of Section 27 of the Act.The support of 10 councillors is the minimum requirement for convening the special meeting (floor test). The CEC loses power if the no-confidence motion is supported by 16 councillors during the floor test.Going by NC and Congress claims, the incumbent CEC is left with the support of eight rebel councillors – seven from NC and one from Congress. The BJP also has six councillors in the House – two elected and four nominated.When contacted, CEC Akhoon claimed that he enjoys the support of the majority in the House. “I still have support of 16-17 councillors. There are fake signatures of some councillors in the letter,” he said, adding that BJP councillors have extended unconditional support to him.When asked to name the councillors whose signatures have been faked by the NC and Congress, Akhnoon said, “I cannot tell you their names.”On being asked why the meeting for the floor test is not being convened by the administration – as the INDIA bloc still has the requisite number councillors, even if his claim regarding the support of 16-17 councillors is taken as correct – Akhoon said the law is silent on the timeline for convening the meeting. “It is not necessary that the floor test is conducted immediately after the motion is submitted,” he said.When contacted, Deputy Commissioner, Kargil, Rakesh Kumar confirmed that he had received the no-confidence motion and was proceeding on it as per procedure.