Delimitation of Panchayat Halqa after completion of census exercise: Dar

Jammu, Feb 18: Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj departments, Javid Ahmad Dar on Wednesday informed the House that the government of Jammu and Kashmir had frozen the boundaries of all administrative units across the Union Territory until completion of the Census 2021.

Replying to a question raised by legislator Abdul Majeed Bhat (Larmi) in the House, the Minister stated that the government vide S O 53 of 2025 dated February 27, 2025, issued by the Planning and Monitoring Department, ordered freezing of boundaries of districts, tehsils, municipalities, towns, revenue villages and other administrative units across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir with effect from July 1, 2025 till the completion of Census 2021.

The Minister further informed that as per Section 2 (J) of the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989, delimitation of Panchayat Halqas was based strictly on population figures.

“Any exercise regarding delimitation or rationalization of Panchayat Halqas can only be undertaken after the completion of Census 2021,” he added.

He reiterated that the government was committed towards fairness and distribution of resources based on justice and equity.

The Minister said that the government was serious about development of Panchayat Halqas and their rationalization with Community Development (CD) blocks on the basis of proximity, geographical considerations and access of the public to government institutions and services.