Srinagar, April 9:The Jammu and Kashmir Government has confirmed that preparations are actively underway to conduct long-awaited Panchayat and Urban Local Bodies (ULB) elections across the Union Territory, signaling a significant step toward strengthening grassroots democracy in the region. The announcement was made in response to a question raised by MLA Surjeet Singh Salathia during the ongoing session of the J&K Legislative Assembly.
In a written reply, the government stated that the responsibility for overseeing, directing, and managing these local elections lies with the State Election Commission (SEC), which is already making necessary arrangements to hold the polls at the earliest possible date.
“The superintendence, direction, and control of Panchayat and Municipal Elections is vested in the State Election Commission, which is currently working to ensure the smooth and timely conduct of both Panchayat and ULB elections,” the government stated, without committing to a specific election date.
The reply further cited Rule 7 of the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Rules, 1996, which mandates that the government, in consultation with the Election Authority, shall announce election dates for Panchayat Halqas through an official Gazette notification. This process will formally call upon the Halqas to elect their Sarpanches and Panches.
On the matter of urban municipal elections, the government referred to Rule 3 of the J&K Municipal Corporation and Municipal (Elections) Rules, 2003, clarifying that the State Election Commission will commence preparing or revising electoral rolls for Municipal Corporations, Councils, and Committees once the government issues formal directions.
Although a fixed timeline has not yet been announced, the government reiterated its commitment to restoring full democratic functioning at the village and town levels, emphasizing that the electoral process will be conducted as per legal and constitutional mandates.
The conduct of these elections is widely seen as a key development in strengthening local governance in Jammu and Kashmir, enabling citizen participation and decentralization of power in the post-reorganization landscape of the Union Territory.
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