The Rural Development Department and Panchayati Raj (RDD&PR) of Jammu and Kashmir disowned an order taking round on social media reshaping eligibility Criteria for Sarpanch and Panchs.
A viral social media post purported that the J&K government had issued a notification under the “J&K Panchayati Raj Act, 1989, Section 6, 2022,” outlining new requirements for Sarpanch candidates. Allegations included that candidates must be permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir, at least 25 years old, and possess a minimum educational qualification of a 12th-grade pass, among other criteria.
However, the RDD&PR has firmly stated that these claims are entirely fabricated. The department emphasized that no new notification has been issued and affirmed that the existing eligibility criteria remain unchanged as stipulated in the J&K Panchayati Raj Act of 1989.
Furthermore, the department clarified that any legitimate changes or amendments to this Act would be communicated through official channels, rather than unverified social media platforms. In light of this misinformation, the RDD has urged residents and social media users to exercise caution and refrain from spreading unverified news concerning local governance or election processes.
Officials have reiterated their commitment to transparent communication and have encouraged the public to rely on official announcements for accurate information regarding governance in the Union Territory.
