Secunderabad Cantonment Board Receives One-Year Extension from Union Government
The Union Ministry of Defence has granted a one-year extension to the Secunderabad Cantonment Board's tenure. This decision forms part of a broader extension approved for 56 cantonment boards across India.
Extension Details and Timeline
An official notification issued by a joint secretary in the ministry confirms the extension. The existing boards' tenure, previously extended for one year, was set to expire on February 10, 2026.
The fresh extension will take effect from February 11, 2026. It will remain valid until February 11, 2027. Alternatively, it will end earlier if the boards reconstitute under Section 12 of the Cantonments Act, 2006.
Impact on Secunderabad Cantonment
In Secunderabad Cantonment, this extension means the current arrangement of nominated members continues for another year. Authorities show no immediate move towards holding elections to reconstitute the board.
Similar extensions apply to several other major cantonments. These include:
- Delhi Cantonment
- Pune Cantonment
- Lucknow Cantonment
- Barrackpore Cantonment
Resident Associations Express Dissatisfaction
The Confederation of Cantonment Residents Welfare Association, Secunderabad (CCRWAS) reacted with dissatisfaction. They state repeated extensions of nominated boards have deprived residents of an elected local body for over a decade.
The association claims the absence of elections weakens accountability. It leaves residents uncertain about grievance redressal mechanisms for civic issues.
Satish Gupta of CCRWAS explains cantonment boards handle essential civic services. These include sanitation, water supply, roads, street lighting, and public health in defence-controlled urban areas.
Residents' groups argue public participation in governance remains limited without elected representatives.
Calls for Merger with City Administration
The Cantonment Vikas Manch voices concern over prolonged delays in merging civil areas with the city administration. The group seeks integration into the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC).
They question continued uncertainty surrounding the merger process despite earlier assurances.
Ravinder Kumar of Vikas Manch says Secunderabad Cantonment residents long argue restrictive, colonial-era regulations constrain modern urban development.
Civil society groups maintain the proposed transition aligns with removing colonial legacies. They want cantonment residents governed by democratically elected municipal institutions.
However, the transition process remains stalled despite several completed procedural steps. This leads to continued hardship for residents.
Government's Stance and Broader Implications
The Ministry of Defence maintains the extensions are purely administrative. They aim to ensure governance continuity until cantonment boards reconstitute according to the law.
Nevertheless, in Secunderabad Cantonment, the latest extension highlights delayed elections and democratic representation issues once again.
