SEC to review Panchayat roll revision, ULB delimitation today

Srinagar, Mar 2: The State Election Commissioner Shantmanu has convened a high-level meeting on Tuesday to review the revision of the Panchayat Electoral Roll–2026 and assess the status of delimitation of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.

The SEC, Shantmanu, will chair the meeting tomorrow via videoconferencing at 2:30 PM.

The meeting, as per the news agency KNO, is expected to be attended in person by the Secretary, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj; the Deputy Commissioner, Jammu; the Director, Rural Development Department, Jammu; and the Director, Panchayati Raj, J&K.

All Deputy Commissioners of the other 19 districts, along with concerned officials, have been directed to participate through video link, according to the meeting notice.

The meeting is being held at a time when all three tiers of Panchayati Raj institutions and Urban Local Bodies in Jammu & Kashmir remain non‑existent due to the inordinate delay in conducting elections.

While the chances of holding Panchayat polls in 2026 appear bleak, there is a possibility that Urban Local Body elections could take place this year.

During the ongoing budget session, the J&K Government revealed that the delimitation process is incomplete in five out of 77 ULBs across the Union Territory.

“Delimitation has been completed for 72 ULBs and is under process for the remaining five,” the government stated.

The Government also disclosed that the report submitted by the Dedicated Backward Classes Commission is under consideration of the Competent Authority, and further steps for conducting ULB elections will be taken accordingly. The report aims to grant reservation for OBCs in both ULBs and Panchayats.

It is worth mentioning that the term of the first two tiers of the Panchayati Raj system-Panchayats and Block Development Councils-ended on January 9, 2024, while the tenure of the third tier-District Development Councils-concluded on February 24, 2026. The tenure of elected Urban Local Bodies came to an end in October-November 2023.