Jammu: Government has appointed Block Development Officers (BDOs) as Administrator(s) for running affairs of Panchayat Halqas under their jurisdiction for a period of six months beginning January 10, 2024 till further order, an official notification informed.
According to a notification issued here today in this regard, the government has made these appointments on expiry of the term of Halqa Panchayat(s) on January 09, 2024 and on being satisfied that the Halqa Panchayat (s) cannot be constituted immediately.
“Now therefore in exercise of powers conferred by section 9 of Jammu & Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989, the Government hereby appoints Block Development Officers (BDOs) as administrator(s) for running the affairs of the Panchayat Halqa(s) under their jurisdiction for a period of six months w.e.f 10.01.2024 or till further orders, whichever is earlier,” the notification reads.
Kashmir Images had already reported that with no early elections to these bodies, the government was contemplating appointment of officers as administrator(s).
The government had already made similar arrangements about urban local bodies after their five-year term came to end in October- November last year. It had empowered deputy commissioners and additional district development commissioners as administrator(s) of municipal bodies.
The elections for Urban Local Bodies and Panchayats were expected in October- November last year, but couldn’t take place due to a host of reasons.
The local bodies polls in J&K are unlikely to be held before the 2024 parliament polls which would take place in April –May.
