J-K extends tenure of Panchayat administrators amid delay in polls

SRINAGAR — Amid the delay in holding Panchayat polls in J&K, the administration of the Union Territory has extended the tenure of administrators appointed earlier this year for running affairs of Panchayats, saying that it is satisfied that they cannot be constituted immediately.

As per the news agency KNO, the Department of Panchayat Raj and Rural Development has extended the tenure of administrators of Panchayats for a further period of three months with effect from July 10, 2024 or till the constitution of Panchayats, whichever is earlier.

On January 10, the J&K Government had appointed block development officers (BDOs) as administrators of Panchayat Halqas under their jurisdiction for a period of six months, which is permissible under the J&K’s Panchayati Raj Act 1989. The appointments were made as the five-year term of Panchayats had come to an end on January 9, 2024.

Under the law, the government is empowered to appoint an administrator, who is a government employee, if it is satisfied that a Halqa Panchayat cannot be constituted by reason of any difficulty in holding the election.

The government has extended their tenure for three more months due to a delay in holding Panchayat polls, which were expected to be held in October-November last year but were put off at the eleventh hour.

The elections for local bodies were held last time in 2018 after J&K came under Central rule following the withdrawal of support by the BJP to the Mehbooba Mufti-led government.