JAMMU, DECEMBER 23: The State Election Commission today issued the Revised Revision Schedule regarding the updation of Panchayat Electoral Roll-2025.
According to the revised dates issued by the State Election Commissioner, B R Sharma in this regard, punching of forms for filing of claims and objections will be done on 26.12.2024 (Thursday), disposal of claims and objections will be done on 06.01.2025 (Monday) by the ERO while publication of final Panchayat Electoral Roll 2025 will be done on 20.01.2025 (Monday).
Pertinently, the Commission had received requests from various districts for extending the date for punching of claims and objections due to the receipt of a large number of forms (claims and objections) on fag end and their punching was still pending, read the communication.
The SEC recently directed a special revision of the electoral roll given the panchayat polls.
Deputy commissioners in all 20 districts of Jammu and Kashmir have started the revision process after the SEC issued the official notification last week, officials said.
District panchayat election officers (DPEOs) have instructed officials to carry out the roll updates with key stages that include adding new eligible voters, updating the existing voter information, and removing ineligible entries.
Officials have been directed to ensure accuracy and efficiency during the verification process and conduct outreach efforts to inform the citizens of their right to participate in the democratic process.
The administration has emphasized engaging with local communities to ensure that eligible residents, especially newly eligible voters, are registered and able to exercise their voting rights. Any discrepancies or grievances arising during this process are to be promptly addressed.
The revision, which uses January 1, 2025, as the qualifying date, aims at creating an accurate and up-to-date electoral roll to support a transparent and fair democratic process at the grassroots level, the officials said.
Notably, these elections fall under the jurisdiction of the Jammu and Kashmir State Election Commission, not the Election Commission of India, the officials said.
The last panchayat polls in Jammu and Kashmir were held in 2018 after a gap of several years. The term of the Panchayati Raj institutions expired on January 9 this year.
This will also be the first panchayat election since the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution in 2019, with around 35,000 panchayat representatives elected, including approximately 4,490 sarpanches, across the Union Territory.
However, clarity on the exact timing of the next municipal and panchayat polls is awaited as the Centre has prioritized conducting a delimitation exercise.