Jammu, February 21 Former bureaucrat Shantmanu, who was sworn in as the State Election Commissioner of Jammu and Kashmir for a five-year term on Saturday, emphasized the importance of holding the long-pending panchayat and urban local body elections in the Union Territory.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha administered the oath of office to the retired IAS officer at a ceremony held at Lok Bhavan here.
The oath-taking ceremony was attended by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his cabinet colleagues, including Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary and Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather. Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo and Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat were also present.
Speaking to