Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir — Former bureaucrat Shantmanu was sworn in on Saturday as the State Election Commissioner of Jammu and Kashmir for a five-year term, emphasizing the urgent need to hold the long-pending panchayat and urban local body elections in the Union Territory.
The oath of office was administered by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at Lok Bhavan, in a ceremony attended by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, and Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat.
Speaking to the media, Shantmanu described taking charge as a matter of “great happiness and pride.” He stressed that local body elections are vital for strengthening decentralized governance and grassroots development, noting that the long delay in conducting these polls makes them even more crucial. “I am happy to formally begin my responsibilities. I will work with full commitment to ensure effective discharge of my duties,” he said.
The tenures of municipal councils ended in October-November 2023, while panchayats and block development councils completed their five-year term on January 9, 2024. District development councils’ tenures end on February 24, leaving Jammu and Kashmir without functioning elected local bodies.
Officials said delays in holding elections were caused by multiple factors, including the delimitation exercise and reservation of wards for Other Backward Classes. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had earlier stated that the government was making arrangements to conduct these elections at the earliest, but the vacancy of the State Election Commissioner had been a major hurdle.
Under the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act and relevant Municipal Acts, the State Election Commission is responsible for preparing electoral rolls and conducting local elections. On February 17, the Lieutenant Governor appointed Shantmanu as the new State Election Commissioner for a period of five years or until he attains the age of 70, whichever is earlier.
Shantmanu, a 1991-batch AGMUT cadre IAS officer, recently retired as Additional Chief Secretary and Financial Commissioner in Jammu and Kashmir. He succeeds B.R. Sharma, who completed his tenure in April 2024.
