Potential appointment of administrators looms in J-K’s Panchayats, BDCs

SRINAGAR — Panchayats and Block Development Councils (BDCs) have ceased to exist in Jammu and Kashmir from today. All the Panchayats and BDCs have completed their term and now at least for six months, these Panchayats and BDCs will be non-existent in the erstwhile state.

As per the official data, there were all but 28,000 representatives of Panchayats and BDCs.

Elections to 77 Municipalities including 40 in the Kashmir division, 37 in the Jammu region and 4291 Panchayats were supposed to be held in October-November last year but were delayed due to the grant of reservation to Other Backward Classes.

Official sources said that these elections will likely be conducted after over six months. They said that due to several processes, these elections can’t be conducted at the moment.

The government may soon appoint administrators to exercise all powers and duties of Halqa Panchayats till elections take place and if there will be further delay in the polls, then the powers can be extended by another three months.