HYDERABAD: The seven-member civilian body of the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB), elected barely four months ago, has been abolished. This is after the Centre on Monday issued three Gazette notifications bringing the new Cantonments Act 2006 into vogue.

With the existing civilian body of Cantonment Board, elected in August after nine years, being elected under the old Cantonment Act of 1924, the new notifications mean that the August polls and their results will not be valid with effect from Monday. Fresh elections will be held after due notification.

According to Defence sources, the three notifications (numbers 15E, 16E and 17E) pertained to bringing into effect the new Act, varying the existing boards and to constitute boards under the new Act. This affects all the 62 Cantonments in the country. Varying of existing boards, in the context of the SCB will mean that only the president of the SCB, Sub Area Commander Brigadier D.S.C. Varma in this case, and Cantonment Executive Officer V. Premchand in the case of SCB, will comprise the Board till a new Board with civilian members as well is elected under the new Act.

Revision of wards

Elections to the SCB, according to the sources, can be held only after implementing other changes as per the new Act, which will include revision of the number of wards from the existing seven to eight. While notifications for these are expected in two weeks, the implementation process could take at least five months. "The elections, if other procedures move fast, can be held in June," a Defence official said. The three Gazette notifications are expected to reach the Secunderabad Cantonment shortly.

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