3-tier Panchayati Raj system ceases to exist in J&K as DDCs’ term ends

Jammu, Feb 24: The five-year term of District Development Councils (DDCs) came to an end on Tuesday, and with that, the three-tier Panchayati Raj system also ceased to exist in J&K.

The other two tiers, i.e., Panchayats and Block Development Councils (BDCs), had already completed their terms two years ago.

DDCs formed the last tier of the Panchayati Raj system in J&K, in place till their five-year term concluded on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, as notified by the J&K government.

Panchayats’ and BDC terms in J&K expired on January 9, 2024.

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

In ending January this year, the J&K government had notified that the Councils (DDCs) would cease to exist with effect from February 24, 2026 and had also communicated to the Additional District Development Commissioners, in their capacity as the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of the DDCs to inform (DDC) chairpersons and the members of their tenure completion.

The institution of DDCs – as the third tier of Panchayati Raj, was for the first time introduced in J&K in 2020 when the maiden elections were conducted. Each DDC had 14 members.

This could be facilitated through an amendment in the J&K Panchayati Raj Act, 1989, by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), invoking its powers under the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019.

J&K Minister for Agriculture, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Javed Day, has already clarified that the functions of the DDCs will not be delegated to the officers as administrators, as no such provision exists in the law.

In the maiden DDC elections, the Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration had bagged 110 seats, while BJP emerged victorious on 75 seats. In case of chairpersons’ elections in DDCs of 20 J&K districts, NC and BJP each captured six posts, independents three, J&K Apni Party two while PDP, Peoples Conference and CPI-M won one each.

The appointment of retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Shantmanu as the State Election Commissioner (SEC) for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir on February 21, 2026 rejuvenated the hopes for early conduct of Panchayat, Local Bodies’ polls, though already delayed by two years.

However, a state of confusion persisted about the status of DDCs vis-à-vis its fresh elections, following the expiry of their terms.

Reason being, the elected MLAs view this institution (DDCs) as an “interfering mechanism” vis-à-vis their powers.

The Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, in his address on the opening day of the current budget session of J&K legislature on February 2, 2026, while reiterating government’s commitment to further strengthening democratic institutions, had emphasised the timely conduct of elections to local bodies.

He 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.

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,” 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.