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Himachal Dissolves Elected Panchayats, Appoints Administrative Panels

The Himachal Pradesh government has dissolved all elected Panchayati Raj Institutions following the expiry of their tenure. Administrative committees have been constituted to manage Gram Panchayats, Panchayat Samitis, and Zila Parishads until elections can be held. The move, mandated by the state's Panchayati Raj Act, was necessitated as elections could not be conducted due to the application of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. The new committees will be chaired by government officers like Block Development Officers and Chief Executive Officers.

Key Points: Himachal Pradesh Dissolves Panchayati Raj Bodies, Forms Committees

  • Elected Panchayati Raj bodies dissolved statewide
  • Administrative committees appointed to run local bodies
  • Disaster Management Act cited for election delay
  • BDOs and CEOs to chair new committees
2 min read

Elected Panchayati Raj bodies in Himachal dissolved; government appoints administrative committees

Himachal Pradesh dissolves all elected Panchayati Raj bodies, appoints administrative committees to manage local governance until new elections.

"The tenure of existing elected representatives of PRIs in Himachal Pradesh expired on January 31, 2026. - Department of Panchayati Raj"

Shimla, January 31

The Himachal Pradesh government has dissolved elected Panchayati Raj Institutions across the state following the expiry of their tenure and has constituted administrative committees to run Gram Panchayats, Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads until elections are held.

According to a notification issued by the Department of Panchayati Raj on Saturday the tenure of existing elected representatives of PRIs in Himachal Pradesh expired on January 31, 2026. However, elections to reconstitute these bodies could not be conducted due to the application of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. The dissolution applies to the entire state, except Gram Panchayats and Panchayat Samitis in the sub-division Keylong of Lahaul-Spiti district, the sub-division Pangi of Chamba district, and four Gram Panchayats of Kullu district.

As per the notification, the PRIs are deemed dissolved under Sections 120 and 128 of the Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj Act, 1994.

In exercise of powers under Section 140(3)(b) of the Act, the Governor of Himachal Pradesh has constituted committees to exercise the powers and perform the functions of the dissolved bodies. For Gram Panchayats, the Block Development Officer will function as Chairperson, while the Panchayat Secretary will act as Member Secretary. For Panchayat Samitis, the Chief Executive Officer will be the Chairperson, with the Social Education and Block Planning Officer or a nominated official as member, and the Panchayat Inspector or Sub Inspector as Member Secretary. For Zila Parishads, the Chief Executive Officer will serve as Chairperson, with the District Development Officer as Member and the District Panchayat Officer as Member Secretary.

The notification also clarified that for payments related to Central Finance Commission grants, the Member Secretary will act as the maker and the Chairperson as the checker for the respective Panchayats.

The order has been issued by the Secretary (Panchayati Raj) to the Government of Himachal Pradesh and circulated to all administrative secretaries, heads of departments, deputy commissioners, district development officers, district panchayat officers and block development officers across the state.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priyanka N
Practical step given the circumstances. Conducting elections across Himachal's difficult terrain during ongoing challenges mentioned in the article is not easy. Administrative committees with clear roles can ensure development work doesn't stop. Hope elections are held soon though.
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Aman W
Interesting that some areas in Lahaul-Spiti, Chamba, and Kullu are exempt. Must be due to their unique tribal or geographical status. The government needs to be transparent about why elections couldn't be held and provide a clear timeline for the polls.
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Sarah B
As someone who has worked with rural communities, the real test will be how these administrative committees engage with villagers. A BDO or CEO sitting in an office is no substitute for a locally elected representative who understands the *paani ki samasya* (water problem) or road issues.
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Vikram M
The financial controls mentioned are crucial. Having the Member Secretary as 'maker' and Chairperson as 'checker' for funds is a good accountability measure. Prevents misuse of central grants when there's no elected body. Hope this system works efficiently on the ground.
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Nisha Z
Respectfully, this feels like a step back for women's representation. Many panchayats have women sarpanches. Now power goes back to government officers, who are often male. We need to ensure the election process prioritizes getting grassroots leadership back, especially for women.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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