Chandigarh: The Punjab Cabinet on Monday approved an amendment to the service rules of the Election Department to strengthen the state’s election machinery ahead of the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections.
The decision is expected to remove long-pending administrative bottlenecks, facilitate the smooth conduct of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and help fill key vacant posts required for election-related work.
The approval was granted during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The Cabinet also cleared the Annual Administrative Report of the Water Resources Department for the financial year 2025-26.
Experience Requirement Relaxed for Promotions
According to an official statement from the Chief Minister’s Office, the Cabinet has approved a reduction in the minimum experience required for promotion from the post of Election Kanungo to Election Tehsildar. The required service period has been lowered from 15 years to 12 years.
The amendment was considered necessary as seven posts of Election Tehsildar are currently lying vacant in the department. With voter list revision work underway and Assembly elections approaching, officials said there is an urgent need to strengthen the election administration.
Under the existing rules, no serving Election Kanungo currently meets the 15-year experience criterion required for promotion. By reducing the eligibility requirement to 12 years, the government aims to create a pool of eligible candidates and expedite promotions to fill the vacant positions.
Officials said the move would ensure adequate staffing and improve the efficiency of election-related operations across the state.
Water Resources Department Report Approved
In another key decision, the Cabinet approved the Annual Administrative Report of the Water Resources Department for 2025-26. The report documents the department’s administrative activities, achievements and performance during the financial year.
The approval will facilitate the formal review and record-keeping of the department’s work and developmental initiatives undertaken during the period.
