Jammu and Kashmir gears up for local elections with the appointment of ex-IAS officer Shantmanu as State Election Commissioner by Lt Governor Manoj Sinha. Issued Tuesday, the order from Lok Bhawan activates legal powers under the Panchayati Raj Act to appoint the key official.
Shantmanu, retiring last December from a top finance role, commits to five years or until 70. Terms kick in from his joining date, pending formal service notifications. This follows BR Sharma’s exit from the role he pioneered post-reorganization.
Critical timing: Panchayat polls loom after 30,000 elected reps’ terms lapsed in January 2024. Elected via 2018 voting across 4,291 bodies, their departure dissolved institutions and froze funds, demanding prompt renewal.
Expected by late this year, elections will empower villages anew. DDCs, with terms to 2026, extend this renewal phase.
Shantmanu’s bureaucratic pedigree guarantees robust oversight, from voter lists to poll logistics. In a region balancing security and development, his role fortifies the foundation of participatory governance.
This development highlights the administration’s resolve to uphold constitutional mandates for three-tier panchayats, fostering accountability and progress from the ground up.