JAMMU | JULY 07, 2026 : The Jammu and Kashmir Government is expected to take a decision shortly on the long-pending Other Backward Classes (OBC) Commission Report, a crucial step that could pave the way for the long-awaited Local Body elections across the Union Territory.
The report, submitted nearly 17 months ago, remains under government consideration. Its implementation is considered essential before elections to Panchayats, Block Development Councils (BDCs), District Development Councils (DDCs), and Municipal Bodies can be conducted, as reservation for OBCs must be finalized before the electoral process begins.
According to official sources, the report may soon be placed before the UT Cabinet for deliberation. If approved, it would remove a major hurdle in the conduct of local body elections, which have been pending for an extended period.
The OBC Commission, headed by Justice (Retd.) Janak Raj Kotwal, submitted its report to the government in February 2025, recommending the percentage of reservation to be provided to OBCs in local body elections. However, the recommendations have remained pending since then.
Earlier, State Election Commissioner Shantmanu had written to the government, stressing that implementation of OBC reservation is a legal prerequisite before elections can be held to all three tiers of the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), including Panchayats, BDCs, DDCs, as well as Municipal Bodies.
Sources indicate that while discussions on the report are likely to take place soon, the government is expected to take a final call on conducting the elections only after the conclusion of the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra, which is scheduled to end on August 28, 2026.
Political parties across the spectrum, including the National Conference (NC), Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and several regional organisations, have repeatedly demanded early elections to restore grassroots democratic institutions in Jammu and Kashmir.
The State Election Commission has already held multiple review meetings with officials to assess preparedness for the polls, indicating that administrative groundwork is underway.
At present, reservations are available for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and women in local bodies. The proposed implementation of the OBC Commission’s recommendations would extend reservation benefits to Other Backward Classes in accordance with constitutional provisions.
Jammu and Kashmir has been without elected local bodies for varying periods. Municipal Bodies completed their tenure in October-November 2023, while Panchayats and Block Development Councils ceased to exist on January 9, 2024. The tenure of the District Development Councils (DDCs) ended on February 24, 2026, leaving all three tiers of Panchayati Raj Institutions without elected representatives.
Despite growing political pressure and administrative preparedness, the government has not yet issued any official announcement regarding the implementation of the OBC Commission report or the schedule for local body elections. During the recent Budget Session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislature, the government also refrained from providing any specific timeline for the polls.
A decision on the OBC Commission report is now being closely watched, as it is expected to play a decisive role in restoring elected grassroots governance across the Union Territory.
