Jammu, February 17: The Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, has appointed former senior IAS officer Shantmanu as the State Election Commissioner for the Union Territory. This announcement was made by officials on Tuesday.
According to an order issued by the Lok Bhawan, the appointment was made using the powers conferred by subsection (3) of section 36 of the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989. Shantmanu, who is a retired IAS officer, will serve as the State Election Commissioner for a term of five years or until he reaches the age of 70, whichever comes first.
The order from the Lieutenant Governor stated that Shantmanu’s appointment will take effect from the date he assumes office. The terms and conditions of his appointment will be notified by the government at a later date.
Shantmanu retired from his position as the Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary) of Jammu and Kashmir on December 31, 2025. Previously, B.R. Sharma, an IAS officer from the 1984 batch, served as the State Election Commissioner but stepped down last year.
With Shantmanu’s appointment, the path has been cleared for conducting Panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir. The term of the elected Panchs and Sarpanchs in the Union Territory ended on January 9, 2024, making it likely that these elections will take place by the end of this year.
Following the elections held at the end of 2018, approximately 30,000 elected representatives from 4,291 Panchayats assumed office on January 10, 2019. With their term ending, the Panchayat bodies have been dissolved, and the administration of Panchayat funds has been suspended.
Additionally, the term of another level of the Panchayati Raj system, the District Development Councils (DDCs), is set to conclude on February 24, 2026.
My name is Himanshu Tiwari. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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