As the key post is lying vacant since April this year, the Jammu & Kashmir government has commenced the appointment process for the State Election Commissioner (SEC), who is tasked with overseeing Panchayat and Urban Local Bodies in the Union Territory.
The post of SEC has been vacant since April 27, 2025, when the then incumbent B.R. Sharma completed his tenure upon reaching the statutory retirement age of 65.According to the Jammu & Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989, the SEC is appointed for a term of five years or until the age of 65, whichever comes earlier.
As for the new SEC, now the Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj has taken up the matter with the Chief Minister’s Office.The Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj is said to have started engaging with the Chief Minister’s Office to initiate this process.
According to the Jammu & Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act of 1989, the SEC is appointed by the Lieutenant Governor based on recommendations from a committee led by the Chief Minister. This committee also includes a senior minister chosen by the Chief Minister, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, the Minister responsible for Panchayats, and the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly.
Jammu & Kashmir currently lacks both Panchayats and Block Development Councils—the first two tiers of the Panchayati Raj system—as well as Urban Local Bodies.The term of the elected District Development Councils (DDCs) will end on February 24, 2026, as their five-year tenure began on February 25, 2021, when they were constituted by the Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj.
Sources say even though the names have to be shortlisted by the Chief Minister's office, it is solely the prerogative of LG Manoj Sinha to give the final nod, the post being vital in the sensitive Union Territory for several reasons.
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