Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 26: The decision of the Jammu and Kashmir State Election Commission (SEC) to undertake a fresh revision of Panchayat electoral rolls has revived hopes of holding long-pending Panchayat elections ahead of this year’s annual Amarnath Yatra.
Earlier, there was a widespread perception that elections to Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) would be delayed due to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
However, the latest move by the SEC hinted a shift in approach, suggesting that Panchayat elections could be conducted even before the completion of the broader revision process.
Officials indicated that the elections, whenever announced, are likely to be held on the basis of updated voter lists prepared through the current revision exercise.
Notably, all three tiers of Panchayati Raj Institutions in Jammu and Kashmir are presently without elected representatives. The five-year tenure of Panchayats and Block Development Councils ended on January 9, 2024, while the term of District Development Councils concluded on February 24, 2026.
In an official announcement issued on Thursday, the SEC declared the annual revision of Panchayat electoral rolls, fixing April 1, 2026, as the qualifying date.
As per Sub-Rule 4 of Rule 4 of the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Rules, 1996, the electoral roll will be prepared in accordance with the provisions of the J&K Panchayati Raj Act, 1989, and the procedure laid down by the Election Authority.
According to a communiqué from the SEC, the revision exercise will be based on the last updated integrated electoral roll, which will serve as the foundation for preparing the new rolls.
The Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) will publish the latest integrated electoral rolls for each Halqa Panchayat on March 27, 2026, along with a notice in Form PER-1.
The draft Panchayat Electoral Roll-2026 will then be opened for public scrutiny and revision from March 27 to April 29, 2026. During this period, eligible voters can submit claims and objections related to inclusion, deletion, correction, or transposition of entries.
To ensure wider participation and ease of access, special camps will be organized at polling booth locations on April 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, and 26. Panchayat Election Booth Officials (PEBOs) and Assembly Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will be present at these camps with the necessary forms and draft rolls to assist voters.
Electors seeking assistance can also approach the District Panchayat Election Officer (DPEO), Electoral Registration Officer (ERO), Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO), or the designated booth officials. Relevant details are available at the offices of the concerned authorities as well as on the official SEC website.
The SEC has set May 8, 2026, as the deadline for disposal of claims and objections, while the final Panchayat electoral roll is scheduled to be published on May 15, 2026.
The development is being seen as a significant step towards restoring grassroots democratic institutions in the Union Territory, raising expectations that elections to Panchayats may be conducted in the near future. |
