Srinagar, Mar 10: J&K State Election Commissioner Shantmanu on Monday directed officials to remain prepared for changes in the Panchayat electoral roll in Jammu and Kashmir. The exercise is expected to begin in the fourth week of this month.
Sources said that Shantmanu chaired a high-level meeting to review preparations for the revision of electoral rolls in the Union Territory.
The meeting was attended by both Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, the Commissioners of Srinagar Municipal Corporation and Jammu Municipal Corporation, as well as officials from the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department.
During the meeting, the SEC directed officials to stay prepared for the revision of Panchayat electoral rolls across the Union Territory.
Sources said, “The exercise is expected to start in the fourth week of this month with the issuance of draft electoral rolls,” adding that the process is likely to be completed by the first or second week of May with the publication of the final electoral rolls.
According to officials, electoral rolls for Urban Local Bodies will be available only after the completion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in J&K.
They further said that the electoral rolls of Assembly elections are used for municipal elections. “Since 2021, there has been no revision of electoral rolls for Assembly elections. Therefore, new Assembly electoral rolls are expected to be available only after the SIR exercise,” officials added.
As per a communication sent by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to Chief Electoral Officers of states and Union Territories, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise is expected to begin in April.
It is pertinent to mention that the tenure of the first two tiers of the Panchayati Raj system—Panchayat and Block Development Council—ended on January 9, 2024, while the tenure of the third tier—District Development Council—ended on February 24, 2026. The tenure of elected Urban Local Bodies ended in October–November 2023.
