Mysuru District Administration Initiates Administrator Appointments for 260 Gram Panchayats
In a significant administrative move, the Mysuru district administration has commenced the process of appointing administrators to 260 gram panchayats (GPs) whose elected bodies have completed their terms. This action follows explicit orders from the state government to place such GPs under administrative control, ensuring continuity in governance and development activities.
Background and Notification
Elections to these 260 gram panchayats were last held in December 2020, marking the end of their elected bodies' tenure. The department of rural development and panchayat raj institutions issued a notification directing all districts across the state to appoint administrators to GPs without elected representatives. In response, the Mysuru administration has taken proactive steps to identify and assign officers to 216 GPs under its direct jurisdiction, with the remaining 44 likely under other administrative purviews.
Personnel and Appointment Process
Officials have compiled a comprehensive list of personnel from various government departments to serve as administrators. This includes officers from:
- Agriculture
- Horticulture
- Minor Irrigation
- Other relevant departments
Through the zilla panchayat, these officers will be appointed to GPs falling within their respective geographical areas. Each officer is expected to take charge of one or two GPs, balancing administrative responsibilities effectively. They will remain in office until new elected bodies assume charge, ensuring a seamless transition.
Roles and Responsibilities of Administrators
The appointed administrators will have critical duties to uphold the functioning of the gram panchayats. Key responsibilities include:
- Preparing the action plan for new development works for the fiscal year 2026–27.
- Drafting budget estimates to allocate resources efficiently.
- Overseeing routine administrative functions across all 260 GPs.
This ensures that development projects and public services continue without interruption during the interim period.
Official Statements and Political Reactions
Speaking to the media, zilla panchayat deputy secretary M Krishnaprasad confirmed that the district administration has collected detailed information on officers to be appointed as administrators. "This is to ensure the smooth functioning of all gram panchayats," he stated, adding that the final list will soon be announced by the deputy commissioner.
Currently, most local bodies in the Mysuru district, including the Mysuru City Corporation, taluk panchayats, and now 260 GPs, are operating without elected representatives. This has sparked political reactions from various parties.
JD(S) Mysuru city president SBM Manju criticized the Congress government, noting that while Congress claims to support a three-tier decentralised governance system, it must conduct elections at the earliest to uphold democratic principles.
In response, district Congress president BJ Vijaykumar attributed the delay in elections to procedural factors, such as delays in issuing the reservation list. He assured that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has initiated steps to hold elections for both rural and urban local bodies within the next three months.
District BJP vice-president Arunkumar Gowda also urged the government to conduct elections promptly, emphasizing the need to avoid prolonged administrative rule in these institutions to maintain democratic accountability.
Broader Implications
This development highlights the ongoing challenges in local governance in Karnataka, where administrative appointments are becoming a temporary solution in the absence of elected bodies. It underscores the importance of timely elections to ensure participatory democracy and effective grassroots governance. The situation in Mysuru serves as a microcosm of broader issues in rural administration, calling for streamlined processes to facilitate quicker electoral cycles and reduce dependency on appointed administrators.
