J&K Names Shantmanu State Election Commissioner, Paving Way for Panchayat Polls

Overview

• Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha invoked Section 36(3) of the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act to appoint Shantmanu as State Election Commissioner.
• The appointment becomes operative when he takes charge, and the government will notify detailed terms and conditions subsequently.
• Shantmanu will serve a five-year term or until he reaches the age of 70, whichever comes first.
• The move is described as enabling overdue Panchayat elections after about 30,000 representatives across 4,291 panchayats saw terms end on January 9, 2024, which halted panchayat fund administration.
• The succession follows former SEC B.R. Sharma leaving office last year, as District Development Councils approach the end of their terms on February 24, 2026.