Lucknow, July 20 -- The Uttar Pradesh government on Sunday authorised district magistrates to appoint outgoing kshetra panchayat chairpersons as administrators for routine functioning until the newly constituted bodies hold their first meeting after elections or for a maximum period of six months, whichever is earlier. According to an order issued by principal secretary, panchayati raj, Anil Kumar here, the tenure of the existing kshetra panchayats ends on July 19, 2026. The five-year tenure of elected bodies began after the 2021 general panchayat elections. The government had earlier made similar arrangements for village panchayats and zila panchayats after their elected bodies' terms expired on May 26 and July 11, respectively. The administrators will only perform routine functions and will not make policy decisions. Proposals involving policy matters in urgent or special circumstances will have to be placed before the district magistrate for approval. A writ petition challenging the appointment of administrators for village panchayats is active in the Allahabad high court....