Himachal Dissolves Panchayati Raj Bodies Ahead of Term End
The Himachal Pradesh government has dissolved Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) across the state as the tenure of all elected representatives comes to an end on January 31, 2026.
The move applies to the entire state except the Gram Panchayats (GPs) and Panchayat Samitis in Keylong subdivision of Lahaul-Spiti district, Pangi subdivision of Chamba district, and four Gram Panchayats in Kullu district.
According to an official notification, elections to the PRIs could not be conducted due to the ongoing application of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 in Himachal Pradesh.
Following the dissolution, the Secretary (PRIs) to the Himachal Pradesh Government, exercising the powers vested in the office, has constituted temporary committees to carry out the functions of the three-tier Panchayati Raj system. These committees will remain in place until fresh elections are held.
- Gram Panchayat Committees will be led by the Block Development Officer (BDO), with the Panchayat Secretary serving as the Member Secretary.
- Panchayat Samiti Committees will include the Chief Executive Officer of the Samiti, Social Education Officer, Block Planning Officer, and a Panchayat Inspector or Sub-Inspector, who will act as Member Secretary or be officially nominated by the BDO.
- Zila Parishad Committees will be headed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Zila Parishad, along with other designated district-level officials, to ensure continuity of governance at the district level.
These interim arrangements are intended to keep local governance functioning smoothly until the democratic process can be resumed.
