In a significant administrative move, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has named retired senior IAS officer Shantmanu as the new State Election Commissioner for the Union Territory. The appointment, announced on Tuesday, paves the way for crucial local body elections in the region.
According to an official order from Raj Bhavan, the decision was made under the powers vested by sub-section (3) of Section 36 of the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989. Shantmanu, an IAS retiree, will serve a five-year term or until he attains the age of 70, whichever comes first. The appointment takes effect from the date he assumes charge, with terms and conditions to be notified later by the government.
Shantmanu retired on December 31, 2025, from his position as Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary) of Jammu and Kashmir. His selection fills a vacancy left by BR Sharma, a 1984-batch IAS officer who previously held the post and stepped down last year.
This timely appointment is expected to expedite the process for panchayat elections, which have been pending since the term of elected panchs and sarpanchs ended on January 9, 2024. Nearly 30,000 representatives from 4,291 panchayats had taken office on January 10, 2019, following polls held at the end of 2018. With their tenure over, panchayat bodies stand dissolved, and fund administration has been suspended.
Elections are likely to be held by the end of this year, restoring grassroots democracy in the Union Territory. Meanwhile, the District Development Councils (DDCs), another tier of the panchayati raj system, have terms ending on February 24, 2026.
The development underscores the administration’s commitment to revitalizing local governance structures in Jammu and Kashmir, ensuring smooth conduct of elections and effective service delivery at the grassroots level.