Punjab Government dissolves 76 Panchayat Samitis after 5-year term

Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], September 13 (ANI): The Punjab government has dissolved 76 out of 153 Panchayat Samitis across the state after they completed their five-year term.

According to sources, 13,000 Gram Panchayats have already been dissolved in Punjab. The terms of the dissolved Panchayat Samitis ended between September 10 and September 11. Following this, under Section 114-A of the Punjab Panchayati Raj Act, the state government has appointed District Development and Panchayat Officers (DDPOs) as Administrators to take over the responsibilities of the dissolved Panchayat Samitis.

The appointed DDPOs will manage the functions of these Samitis until further notice.

The order was signed by Dilraj Singh, Administrative Secretary to the Government of Punjab, Department of Rural Development and Panchayats. The decision, made through an official order issued on September 10, 2024, aligns with the Punjab Panchayati Raj Act of 1994.

The notification reads, “In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 114-A of the aforesaid Act, and all other powers enabling him in this behalf, the Governor of Punjab is pleased to dissolve the Panchayat Samitis, with effect from the date the Panchayat Samitis have completed their term of five years as given in column 4 (date of term completion) of the said Schedule, and is further pleased to appoint the persons specified in column 5 (DDPOs) of the said Schedule as Administrators to exercise all powers and duties of the Panchayat Samitis, so dissolved, during the period of their dissolution.”

The dissolution of these Panchayat Samitis is part of the state government’s efforts to maintain efficient local governance and ensure that administrative duties are carried out effectively during the transition period.

The elections for Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads likely to be held on November 25. Elections for Gram Panchayats are likely to be held on December 31 this year. The government has asked the Panchayati Raj Department to appoint administrators in the panchayats.