Panchayati Raj in Jammu and Kashmir: An Uneven Journey from Yesterday to Today

Farooq Ahmad Bakloo

Himalayan Politics Journal, Vol # 1, Issue # 2
Panchayati Raj in Jammu and Kashmir: An Uneven Journey from Yesterday to Today

Panchayati Raj in Jammu and Kashmir: An Uneven Journey from Yesterday to Today

Farooq Ahmad Bakloo/
June 24, 2025

Keywords

Panchayat Raj, Kashmir Valley, Empowerment of Grassroots Democracy, Lack of Political Will

Abstract

The evolution of Panchayati Raj in Jammu and Kashmir has been fraught with inconsistencies, political manoeuvring, and structural inadequacies, making its trajectory more of an imposed transition than a genuine grassroots empowerment. Before August 2019, the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act of 1989 kept local governance weak, with PRIS functioning as nominal bodies devoid of real financial and administrative authority. The extension of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment post-Article 370 revocation was projected as a milestone for decentralisation, yet its implementation raises critical questions. While the introduction of Block Development Council (BDC) elections in 2019 and District Development Council (DDC) elections in 2020 increased formal political participation, deeper democratic engagement remains elusive due to persistent bureaucratic dominance, security threats, and the reluctance of state institutions to delegate complete power. Jammu and Kashmir's conflict-ridden history has bred scepticism toward these reforms, with many viewing them as top-down impositions rather than organic democratic advancements. In addition, the selective devolution of powers, financial dependencies, and political instability continue to undermine the credibility of PRIS. The increased participation of women, though notable, remains overshadowed by socio-political challenges, tokenistic representation, and security risks. This paper critically examines whether these reforms signify a meaningful shift toward genuine grassroots democracy or merely serve as a façade for central control under the guise of decentralisation.

How to cite

Bakloo, F. A. (2025). Panchayati Raj in Jammu and Kashmir: An Uneven Journey from Yesterday to Today. Himalayan Politics Journal, 1(2). https://politics.thrip.org/website/journal/article/68838d3254ca6/page

Retrieved from https://politics.thrip.org/website/journal/article/68838d3254ca6/page

More citation formats

ACM SIG Proceedings

[1]Bakloo, F.A. 2025. Panchayati Raj in Jammu and Kashmir: An Uneven Journey from Yesterday to Today. Himalayan Politics Journal. 1, 2 (July 2025).

ACS Nano

(1)Bakloo, F. A. Panchayati Raj in Jammu and Kashmir: An Uneven Journey from Yesterday to Today. Himalayan Politics Journal 2025, 1 (2).

ABNT

BAKLOO, Farooq Ahmad. Panchayati Raj in Jammu and Kashmir: An Uneven Journey from Yesterday to Today. Himalayan Politics Journal, v. 1, n. 2, 25 July2025.

Chicago (author-date)

Harvard (Cite Them Right)

Bakloo, F.A. (2025) “Panchayati Raj in Jammu and Kashmir: An Uneven Journey from Yesterday to Today”, Himalayan Politics Journal, 1(2). Available at: https://politics.thrip.org/website/journal/article/68838d3254ca6/page (Accessed: 6 May 2026).

IEEE

[1]F. A. Bakloo, “Panchayati Raj in Jammu and Kashmir: An Uneven Journey from Yesterday to Today”, Himalayan Politics Journal, vol. 1, no. 2, July 2025, Accessed: May 06, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://politics.thrip.org/website/journal/article/68838d3254ca6/page

MLA

Bakloo, Farooq Ahmad. “Panchayati Raj in Jammu and Kashmir: An Uneven Journey from Yesterday to Today”. Himalayan Politics Journal, vol. 1, nos. 2, July 2025, https://politics.thrip.org/website/journal/article/68838d3254ca6/page.

Turabian (full note bibliography)

Bakloo, Farooq Ahmad. “Panchayati Raj in Jammu and Kashmir: An Uneven Journey from Yesterday to Today”. Himalayan Politics Journal 1, no. 2 (July 25, 2025). Accessed May 6, 2026. https://politics.thrip.org/website/journal/article/68838d3254ca6/page.

Vancouver

1.Bakloo FA. Panchayati Raj in Jammu and Kashmir: An Uneven Journey from Yesterday to Today. Himalayan Politics Journal [Internet]. 2025 July 25 [cited 2026 May 6];1(2). Available from: https://politics.thrip.org/website/journal/article/68838d3254ca6/page

AMA

1.Bakloo FA. Panchayati Raj in Jammu and Kashmir: An Uneven Journey from Yesterday to Today. Himalayan Politics Journal. 2025;1(2). Accessed May 6, 2026. https://politics.thrip.org/website/journal/article/68838d3254ca6/page

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