In a significant move, the Punjab Government has initiated preparations for panchayat elections by soliciting information from the officers of the state Rural Development and Panchayat department regarding the completion dates of the five-year terms of each panchayat. The directive aimed at facilitating the appointment of administrative officers following the completion of the stipulated terms.
The development comes in the wake of a tumultuous period where the State Government, in a controversial move, prematurely dissolved all panchayats in August 2023. However, the decision was later rescinded after facing legal challenges, with two senior officials from the Department being suspended for allegedly providing misleading information to the government regarding the premature dissolution.
As part of the government's latest orders, messages have been issued instructing the appointment of Administrative Officers — Assistant Engineers (AE), Junior Engineers (JE), Village Development Officers (VDO), Senior Citizen Promotion Officers (SCPO), and Panchayat Officers — for the management and record-keeping of the dissolved panchayats. The government aimed to appoint administrators after the completion of the five-year term ever since the first meeting of the panchayat was held.
To facilitate the distribution of responsibilities, crucial information from each panchayat is required, and officials have been instructed to submit the necessary data by January 16 (Tuesday). The deadline aligns with the Government's urgency to finalize administrative appointments promptly.
Punjab, with a total of 13,268 panchayats, has been witnessing political dynamics around the conduct of panchayat elections. The last panchayat elections were held in January 2019, and the term of the elected representatives is set to conclude in January 2024. The State Government is keen on avoiding delays and is contemplating holding the elections in January 2024 itself.
The controversy surrounding the premature dissolution of panchayats began in August 2023, when the government decided to dissolve all panchayats despite their terms expiring in January 2024. The decision prompted Shiromani Akali Dal's secretary-general Gurjeet Singh Talwandi to approach the Punjab and Haryana High Court, arguing that the Government’s action was illegal and improper.
He had argued that all gram panchayats in the State were illegitimately dissolved before completing their terms, citing the misuse of power under Section 29E of the Punjab Panchayati Raj Act, 1994.
In response to the legal challenge, the Punjab Government took a U-turn, with the Chief Secretary filing a response in the Court expressing the Government’s willingness to reconsider the decision. The reversal was met with criticism from opposition parties, highlighting the Government's inconsistency in its approach.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had taken decisive action against two senior IAS officers from the Rural Development and Panchayat Department — principal Secretary DK Tiwari, and director Gurpreet Singh Khehra — by suspending them on August 31, 2023. While they were reinstated a month later, the Government has yet to assign them new postings.
The latest directive, seeking information on the completion of terms, signifies the government’s renewed efforts to prepare for panchayat elections. The orders emphasized the need for accurate information regarding the first meeting date of each panchayat, ensuring transparency in the process.
The episode surrounding the dissolution of panchayats has been marked by administrative changes, including the suspension and subsequent reinstatement of senior IAS officers from the Rural Development and Panchayat Department. The leaked files related to the Government's orders became a point of contention, leading to criticism from the opposition.
In the letter issued by the Joint Director of the Rural Development and Panchayat Department, it has been stated that preparations are underway for conducting general elections in the state. Consequently, a list of those panchayats whose terms (since their first meeting) have completed five years is being compiled.
The letter also emphasized the importance of ensuring that officers verify and confirm the completion of five years since the first meeting of the relevant panchayats when submitting this information. Additionally, the letter instructed them to provide the specific date of the remaining meeting — indicating the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led state government's cautionary and proactive approach in preparing for upcoming rural elections.
