Srinagar, Jan 27 (KNO): The Jammu and Kashmir Government has communicated to the chief executive officers of District Development Councils (DDCs) that the term of the councils will conclude on February 24, 2026.
In a letter, a copy of which is in possession of news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj has directed the CEOs to inform the respective chairpersons and members about the completion of their tenure.
“As per the opinion rendered by the Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, citing relevant provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Rules, 1996 (Sub-Rule (2) and (3) of Rule 108ZP), the term of the DDCs commences from the date of issuance of the notification constituting the Councils (February 25, 2021). Accordingly, the Councils shall cease to exist with effect from February 24, 2026,” the letter states.
The Additional District Development Commissioner of the district is the chief executive officer of the District Development Council.
KNO had exclusively reported last month that the term of the DDCs would end on February 24, 2026, based on the legal opinion provided by the Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs.
With the end of the tenure of the DDCs, all three tiers of Panchayati Raj would cease to exist in Jammu & Kashmir. The terms of the first two tiers-Panchayats and Block Development Councils (BDCs)-have already ended.
The institution of the DDC was created through an amendment carried out by the Ministry of Home Affairs in J&K’s Panchayati Raj Act-1989 by invoking the powers vested in it under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.
Each DDC comprises 14 elected members. With J&K having 20 districts, the total strength of elected DDC members is 280.
In the first-ever DDC election held in November-December 2020, the Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) won 110 seats, while the BJP emerged as the single largest party by securing 75 seats—(KNO)