The History of Municipal Administration in the Jammu and Kashmir State goes back to the second half of the Nineteenth Century, when the Kashmir Valley gained the attention of the Western world for its natural beauty and the abject poverty of its people. As a matter of fact, Srinagar City became a star attraction for reasons of its location, physical setting and the waterways. The living conditions of the inhabitants of Srinagar City were not as good as those in other states of India, and there was a need to create a body of laws and rules on Municipal Administration in the State and to introduce local self-government. The history of the S.M.C dates back to 1886, when the Monarchy established a department to look after the civic affairs of Srinagar City and Jammu City as Municipal Committees under J&K Municipal Act No. 16 of 1886.
The Srinagar Municipal Committee functioned as a State Department with all its members nominated (05 official and 11 unofficial) by the Government, and its functions included all civil construction projects, Health and Hygiene management, water works and firefighting within the limits.
In 1901, the city had a population of 1.23 lakhs and spread over an area of 20.80 square kilometres. Until 1911, the municipal limits consisted of about 2 miles along the banks of the river Jhelum, which were later extended to more than 3 miles. In 1913, a new Act introduced the elected element in the constitution of the local bodies of Srinagar and Jammu.
The first president of the Municipal Committee was Mr Anand Kaul Baamzi. The population growth of the City recorded at 1.18 lakhs in 1891, 1.22 lakhs in 1901, 1.24 lakhs in 1911, 1.39 lakhs in 1921, by 1923, the municipal limits extended again to include Zoonimar, BatamalooBagh-i-Nand Singh, Sonawar, Bonamsar, Rathapora. In 1922, the civic works of SMC included the construction/repair of Roads, the construction and repair of bunds, the improvement of drains in different parts of the city, and the construction of metal Roads. The SMC, during this period, constructed Hari Singh High Street partly at government expense and partly at its own expense. SMC also constructed footpaths on Roads in civil lines, widened Roads, and built gardens for Baladari. At the instance of the SMC, the Government constructed a sewer from SariaBalla to Chattabal known as “Green’s Sewer” passing through old Gandhi Park. SMC also, for the first time, introduced street lighting powered by electricity, replacing kerosene lamps.
By 1941, the city extended further to include Soura in the north, Chattabal Veer in the west, Sonawar Bagh in the east, and Rambagh in the south. The population of the city was recorded at 1.73 lakhs in 1931 and 2.07 lakhs in 1941, and the Committee consisted of 18 members, 2/3 elected and 1/3 nominated. By 1941, SMC staff consisted of a paid President, a Secretary, a Revenue Officer, a Health Officer, and a Municipal Engineer, assisted by a large staff of executive employees comprising supervising and subordinate services of conservancy, Health and Engineering. Besides Ministerial Staff connected with the maintenance of records, compilation of accounts and other clerical work.
In the post-independence era, constitutional recognition was given to the process of developing and democratising the local self-government institutions in J&K; State under Article 16 of the J&K; State Constitution. In the year 1956, the Srinagar Municipal Committee was converted into the Srinagar Municipal Council and governed under the J&K Municipal Act, 2008. The Jammu and Kashmir pioneered the concept of structural reforms in the Municipal Sector and constituted the First Finance Commission in 1987, much before the enactment of the Constitution of India (74th Amendment) Act, 1992, it has considerably and woefully lagged behind in implementing these reforms. As a result, the Municipality in the State continues to function without elected bodies and remains unchanged. The 74th Amendment Act to the Constitution of India opened new vistas to the widening domain and functions of the local self-Government institutions.
The J&K legislature passed a legislation known as the J&K Municipal Corporation Act-2000, incorporating all the functions and duties enshrined in the 74th Amendment Act. In February 2003, the Srinagar Municipality was upgraded to the Srinagar Municipal Corporation vide Government SRO No. 46 dated 18th February 2003, and the post of Administrator, Municipality, was redesignated as Commissioner, SMC. In February 2005, the State Government conducted municipal elections as per the delimitation under SRO 291 for 68 electoral wards, and the newly elected body was formed. These elections, as usual, were conducted on a party basis. The first Mayor and Deputy Mayor, along with Councillors, took the oath of office at S.K.I.C.C. on 2/3/2005 at a large gala gathering attended by the Chief Minister, Cabinet Ministers, Members of the Legislature, and senior government officers.