Himachal government committees to take charge of 55 panchayats

Tribune News Service
Shimla, June 16

The government-appointed committees will take charge of 55 tribal panchayats in Chamba, Kullu and Lahaul and Spiti districts from the outgoing representatives after June 24. The five-year term of the incumbent representatives will end on June 24, but there are no elected persons to take their place.

Pandemic fallout

Due to the pandemic, the elections to these panchayats could not be held. As a result, the government will appoint committees to temporarily fill the void.

Due to the pandemic, the due elections to these panchayats could not be held. As a result, the government will appoint committees to temporarily fill the void. “We will have to make an alternative arrangement, as the term of these panchayat representatives is coming to an end. We will appoint committees to ensure development works continue in all these panchayats,” said Panchayati Raj Minister Virender Kanwar. “The day the tenure of the incumbent office-bearers ends, the government will notify the formation of committees,” he said.

The minister, however, did not reveal who would be in these committees. “I can’t say anything about it at present but the committees will most probably have three members each,” he said. He added that it was for the state Election Commission to decide the appropriate time to hold the elections to these panchayats. Incidentally, it’s the first time when the panchayat elections could not be held in the state. “Since 1995 elections to panchayati raj institutions are mandatory after every five years. It will be the first time that government-appointed committees will take charge of the panchayats,” said Kewal Sharma, Joint Director, Panchayati Raj Department.

He added that these committees could function for a maximum of six months. “Elections will have to be conducted within six months after these committees are appointed,” he added.

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