Government likely to designate officials as administrators of Panchayats
Srinagar: As the term of 4291 Panchayats and 310 BDCs ends on January 09, 2024, the administration of the Union Territory is likely to designate officials/officers as their administrators.
With no early elections in sight, the administration, as per sources, is likely to designate officers/officials as administrators of Panchayats and a notification in this regard may soon be issued.
As per Jammu & Kashmir Panchayat Raj Act-1989, the administrators so appointed shall hold office for a period of six months which may be extended by the government for a period of three months by a notification in the official gazette.
Officials said that the powers of Panchayats cannot be delegated to district Development Council (DDC) members as there is no legal provision for doing so.
“Panchayats and DDCs are two separate bodies with their powers defined in J&K’s Panchayat law,” said the officials.
Constituted on January 10, 2019, the five-year term of Panchayats in J&K will end on January 09, in accordance with the law governing their functioning.
Simultaneously, the BDCs will also complete their term on Tuesday, even as an electoral exercise for their constitution was held almost a year after the Panchayat election.
It is worthwhile to mention that elections for Panchayats were expected to be held in October – November 2023, but were delayed due to different legal and procedural issues.
In the last week of December, the administrative council headed by LG Manoj Sinha proposed amendments in Jammu & Kashmir’s Panchayati Raj Act to grant reservations to Other Backward Classes(OBCs) in these institutions.
