📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Prime Minister's Office
Politics
CAG Highlights Power Gaps in Sikkim Panchayats Ahead of State Elections
✍️ India Today NE
🗓 24 Aug 2026, 01:33 PM
👁 1
The Comptroller and Auditor General has flagged that Sikkim’s panchayats still lack full statutory powers, raising concerns as the state gears up for upcoming local polls.
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has issued a report indicating that the rural local bodies in Sikkim have not yet been granted the full range of powers envisaged under the Panchayati Raj Act. The observation comes at a critical juncture, with the state preparing to hold its next round of panchayat elections.
According to the CAG audit, key functions such as autonomous financial management, independent decision‑making on development projects, and the authority to levy certain local taxes remain either partially delegated or entirely withheld from Sikkim’s panchayats. This shortfall hampers the institutions' ability to address grassroots needs effectively.
State officials have acknowledged the gaps but have not provided a definitive timeline for transferring the pending powers. The delay has drawn criticism from civil‑society groups, who argue that fully empowered panchayats are essential for transparent and accountable local governance, especially before voters head to the polls.
Experts suggest that closing these gaps before the elections would not only strengthen democratic participation but also ensure that newly elected representatives can immediately exercise their mandates without procedural bottlenecks.
According to the CAG audit, key functions such as autonomous financial management, independent decision‑making on development projects, and the authority to levy certain local taxes remain either partially delegated or entirely withheld from Sikkim’s panchayats. This shortfall hampers the institutions' ability to address grassroots needs effectively.
State officials have acknowledged the gaps but have not provided a definitive timeline for transferring the pending powers. The delay has drawn criticism from civil‑society groups, who argue that fully empowered panchayats are essential for transparent and accountable local governance, especially before voters head to the polls.
Experts suggest that closing these gaps before the elections would not only strengthen democratic participation but also ensure that newly elected representatives can immediately exercise their mandates without procedural bottlenecks.