Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday administered the oath of office to Shantmanu as the new State Election Commissioner of Jammu and Kashmir at a ceremony held at Lok Bhavan. The oath-taking ceremony was attended by senior officials and other dignitaries.
Shantmanu formally assumed charge as the State Election Commissioner following the administration of the oath. The ceremony was also attended by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, Legislative Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, Council of Ministers, the Chief Secretary, and the Director General of Police.
On February 17, 2026, LG Sinha announced that retired IAS officer Shantmanu (1991-batch, AGMUT cadre) had been appointed as the new State Election Commissioner (SEC) of the Union Territory. He succeeds B R Sharma, who completed his tenure.
According to the appointment terms, Shantmanu will hold the position for a period of five years or until he attains the age of 70, whichever is earlier. The appointment assumes significance as Jammu and Kashmir is likely to hold panchayat and local body elections in the coming months.
Having served as Additional Chief Secretary and Financial Commissioner, Shantmanu has held various key administrative positions in J&K, including that of Chief Electoral Officer.
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