Dehradun: In Uttarakhand, the term of Gram Panchayats in 12 districts except Haridwar district is going to end on November 27 and the term of Kshetra Panchayats is going to end on November 29. Due to the lack of election situation in the Gram and Kshetra Panchayats, the Panchayati Raj Department has also handed over the three-tier Panchayat to the administrators. Panchayati Raj Secretary Chandresh Yadav has issued orders in this regard. Whereas the term of the urban bodies was handed over to the administrators after ending in December 2023.
According to the order issued, the Governor, using the power given under subsection 6 of section 130 of the Uttarakhand Panchayati Raj Act, 2016 (Uttarakhand Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Act, 2020), the term of all the constituted Gram Panchayats of the state of Uttarakhand (except Haridwar district) is ending on November 27. In such a situation, the District Magistrate has been empowered to appoint the Assistant Development Officer (ADO) as the administrator of the Gram Panchayats for a period not exceeding 6 months from the date of taking charge or till the formation of new Gram Panchayats. Similarly, the term of the area panchayats is ending on 29 November. Due to which the concerned District Magistrate has been authorized to appoint Deputy District Magistrates (SDMs) for the area panchayats.
What does the Panchayati Raj Act say
Actually, a provision has been made in the Panchayati Raj Act that elections should be held 15 days before or after the completion of the five-year term of the Panchayats. But if due to some reason the situation for elections is not being created, then administrators can be appointed for a maximum of 6 months. The current situation in the state is that the situation for Panchayat elections is not being created. Because, the State Election Commission has also set a timetable till January for the revision of voter lists in the Panchayats. While the government has already done the reorganization, delimitation and determination of constituencies of the Gram Panchayats.
Order for the District Panchayats may come on November 30
Except Haridwar district, the tenure of the Gram Panchayats in 12 districts of the state is ending on November 27 and the tenure of the area Panchayats is ending on November 29. While the tenure of the District Panchayats will end on December 1. Due to which the Uttarakhand Panchayati Raj Secretary has issued orders regarding handing over the Gram and Area Panchayats to administrators. While the orders regarding handing over the District Panchayats to administrators can be issued on November 30.
Let us tell you that the five-year tenure of the three-tier Panchayats starts from their first meeting. Also, the elections of the three-tier Panchayats in Haridwar district are not held along with other districts. Because this process has been going on since the formation of the state.
