Shantmanu administered oath as SEC

Jammu, Feb 21: Retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Shantmanu was sworn in as the State Election Commissioner (SEC) for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, at a ceremony held in the Lok Bhavan on Saturday.

Shantmanu made and subscribed to the oath of office before the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, other cabinet Ministers, Speaker J&K Legislative Assembly Abdul Rahim Rather, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, DDC Jammu chairman Bharat Bhushan, Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat, Administrative Secretaries, senior officers of civil administration and the members of new SEC’s family also attended the swearing-in ceremony.

Later, Shantmanu, while speaking to the media, stated that he would work with full dedication to discharge responsibilities entrusted to him effectively. He also delineated the significance of Panchayat and Local Bodies’ polls, stating that they were vital in bolstering decentralisation of power and effective governance at grassroot level in a democratic set-up.

On February 17, 2026, the Lieutenant Governor had appointed him (Shantmanu) SEC for J&K, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (3) of section 36 of the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989.

Shantmanu will hold the position of State Election Commissioner for a period of five years or till he attains the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier.

The post of SEC had been lying vacant since April 27, 2025, after the completion of tenure by B R Sharma at the age of 65 as per the terms and conditions of service notified on October 19, 2023 in his (Sharma’s) case.

The appointment of SEC has rejuvenated the hopes of early Local Bodies’ polls as per indications in the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s address on the opening day of the current budget session of J&K legislature on February 2, 2026.

The Lieutenant Governor, while reiterating government’s commitment to further strengthening democratic institutions, in his address had asserted that the timely conduct of elections to local bodies, bolstered grievance redressal mechanisms and integration of digital governance would reinforce transparency, accountability, and participatory governance.

Following it, the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, too, in his written reply in the House on February 9, had stated that the preparations of Local Bodies’ polls were underway. However, in the same breath, he had mentioned that the post of SEC was lying vacant.

CM Omar had mentioned that the State Election Commission (SEC) was making necessary arrangements for holding panchayat and Urban Local Bodies’ elections at the earliest.

Besides, the OBC Commission report was yet to be approved and notified, therefore, further steps for conduct of polls would be taken accordingly, he had pointed out.

“The superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls and for the conduct of all elections under the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act 1989, Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Act 2000 and the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Corporation Act 2000 is vested in the State Election Commission. The Commission is making necessary arrangements for holding panchayat and Urban Local Bodies’ elections at the earliest, however, it is pertinent to mention that the position of State Election Commissioner is lying vacant at present,” CM Omar had said.

He also informed that the report submitted by the Dedicated Backward Classes (OBC) Commission was under examination by the competent authority and further steps for conduct of Panchayat and ULB elections would be taken accordingly.

Panchayats’ and BDC terms in J&K expired on January 9, 2024 while the DDC term would expire on February 24, 2026.

Srinagar Municipal Corporation term expired on November 5, 2023 and Jammu Municipal Corporation term expired on November 14, 2023. Further terms of all Municipal Councils and committees expired between October and November, 2023.

Following the appointment of SEC, it is being hoped that the process for the conduct of Panchayat and Local Bodies’ polls will also start soon after the approval of the OBC Commission report – now an imperative to set the ball rolling, on this (conduct of polls) account.