Uttar Pradesh government has appointed outgoing village pradhans as administrators of gram panchayats until new bodies are formed, or for a maximum period of six months. The term of the state’s gram panchayats ends today.

The outgoing pradhans themselves will handle the routine administration of the panchayats.

On Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s instructions, all district magistrates have been authorised to designate outgoing pradhans as administrators in gram panchayats. Accordingly, these outgoing pradhans will begin functioning as administrators from tomorrow.

The administrators will be permitted to carry out only routine and day-to-day functions and will not be allowed to take any policy decisions.

The government also clarified that if, in an emergency or special circumstance, a policy decision is required, the proposal must be submitted to the district magistrate through the District Panchayat Raj Officer and can be taken only after the DM’s approval.

It is noted that a gram panchayat’s term is five years. After the term ends, and until new panchayats are constituted, the state government has the authority to appoint administrators.