JAMMU, OCTOBER 29: The State Election Commission today issued the revised revision schedule regarding the updation of the Panchayat electoral roll 2025.
According to a document issued by the State Election Commissioner, B R Sharma in this regard, the publication of Draft Panchayat Electoral Roll in Form PER-1 will be issued on 11.11.2024 (Monday), filing of claims and objections for additions/deletions/corrections/transposition on 11.11.2024 Monday to 09.12.2024 Monday, while special camps will be held at the Polling Booth Locations on 16.11.2024 (Saturday), 17.11.2024 (Sunday), 23.11.2024 (Saturday), 24.11.2024 (Sunday), 30.11.2024 (Saturday) and 01.12.2024 (Sunday).
The Panchayat Election Booth Officials (PEBO i.e VLW/MPWIGRS) along with Assembly BLOs shall remain available at these Polling Booth Locations with the requisite forms and panchayat roll for the guidance of the electors.
Similarly, disposal of claims and objections will be done on 23.12.2024 by the ERO while publication of final Panchayat Electoral Roll -2024 will be done on 06.01.2025.
State Election Commission has written to the district Panchayat Election Officers that it has ordered an annual revision of Panchayat electoral rolls in the UT, with Jan 1, 2025, as the qualifying date.
“I am directed to convey that the J&K State Election Commission (Election Authority) has decided to undertake an annual revision of the existing Panchayat Electoral Rolls in terms of the powers vested with the Election Authority under Section 38 of J&K Panchayati Raj Act, 1989 read with Rule 4 of J&K Panchayati Raj Rules, 1996 (SRO 690 dated 25.10.2019),” said the letter.
“All the Panchayat Election Booth Officers (PEBOs) shall remain present in their respective polling station locations with the requisite forms for the guidance of electors and for receiving claims /objections,” the letter added.
A total of 27 thousand 281 Panches (Panchayat members) and Sarpanches (village headmen) were elected in the 2018 elections. There were 12 thousand 776 vacant Sarpanch and Panch seats in J&K. Bypolls to the Panchayats were held in 2020.
Almost 30 thousand Panches and Sarpanches completed five-year terms on January 9, 2024, and with that, the disbursal of Rs. 25 lakh panchayat fund also ceased. The 2024 Panchayat poll will be held after fresh delimitation of ‘Halqas’ (Revenue Villages).
The terms of the municipal corporations in Jammu and Srinagar expired last November, making the elections long overdue. The government is prioritizing the completion of these elections to fulfill legal requirements and restore local governance.
“The 2024 Panchayat poll will be held after fresh delimitation of ‘Halqas’ (Revenue Villages),” officials added, with almost 30,000 panches and sarpanches having completed their terms earlier this year.
