Delimitation Of Panchayat Halqas After Completion Of Census Exercise: Javid Dar | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Minister Javid Ahmad Dar informed the House that the delimitation of Panchayat Halqas in Jammu and Kashmir will be undertaken only after completion of the Census 2021, as the exercise is strictly based on population data.

Replying to a query raised by Legislator Abdul Majeed Bhat (Larmi), the Minister said the government has frozen the boundaries of all administrative units across the Union Territory until the census process is completed. He stated that, under S.O. 53 of 2025 issued by the Planning and Monitoring Department, the boundaries of districts, tehsils, municipalities, towns, revenue villages and other administrative units have been frozen with effect from July 1, 2025.

He explained that, under the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989, delimitation or rationalisation of Panchayat Halqas can be carried out only after updated population figures become available. The government, he added, aims to ensure equitable resource distribution and administrative fairness while aligning Panchayat Halqas with Community Development Blocks based on geographical proximity and public access to services.

Separately, the Minister informed the House that around 1,200 gazetted and non-gazetted vacancies in the Agriculture Production Department have been referred to the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission and the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board for recruitment.

He further said 17 Veterinary Centres and 21 Sheep Extension Centres are operational in Gulabgarh constituency, with two functioning through internal arrangements to maintain services. There is presently no proposal to establish new centres, as such decisions depend on livestock population, terrain, distance from existing facilities and technical feasibility.

The Minister added that the department conducts summer veterinary camps at highland pastures, including Dudhwan, Kousarnag, Thatbal, Chandrani and Nikan, to support migratory livestock breeders. He assured the House that staffing arrangements are made during migration seasons and that genuine concerns raised by legislators will be addressed.