LUCKNOW: With the tenure of gram panchayats across Uttar Pradesh (UP) ending on Tuesday, the state government has issued an order allowing outgoing 57,694 gram pradhans to continue in administrative roles until fresh panchayat bodies are constituted.The Panchayati Raj Department clarified that the five-year term of gram panchayats elected after the 2021 elections will formally conclude on May 26, in line with provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act, 1947. To avoid any administrative vacuum at the village level, the government has decided to appoint the existing gram pradhans as administrators from May 27 (Wednesday) onward.The order has been signed by principal secretary Anil Kumar and circulated to all divisional commissioners, district magistrates (DMs), panchayati raj officials and the State Election Commission for compliance across the state.As per the order, these administrators will manage day-to-day or routine functioning of gram panchayats until the newly elected bodies hold their first meeting following the 2026 elections. The arrangement will remain in place for a maximum period of six months, whichever is earlier.Importantly, the order puts restrictions on the decision-making powers of these administrators. They will not be allowed to take any policy decisions during their tenure. However, in exceptional or urgent circumstances, proposals involving policy matters can be routed through the district panchayat raj officer and placed before the DM for approval.The state government has authorized DM in all districts to oversee and implement these appointments. Officials say the move ensures continuity in governance and essential services at the village level during the transition phase between the end of the current panchayat term and the formation of new panchayats.
