Local Self Government — Panchayati Raj

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, granted constitutional status to PRIs and added Part IX and Schedule 11 to the Constitution.

The primary objective of Panchayati Raj is 'Democratic Decentralization', which aims to involve people in the decision-making process at the grassroots level.

Article 40 (DPSP) directs the State to take steps to organize village panchayats and endow them with such powers and authority as may be necessary.

The Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (1957) recommended a three-tier structure: Gram Panchayat (village), Panchayat Samiti (block), and Zila Parishad (district).

According to the 73rd Amendment Act, the minimum age required to contest elections for Panchayati Raj Institutions is 21 years.

The L.M. Singhvi Committee (1986) recommended giving constitutional status to PRIs and treating them as institutions of self-government.

Rajasthan was the first state to establish the Panchayati Raj system. It was inaugurated by Jawaharlal Nehru in Nagaur district on October 2, 1959.

The Eleventh Schedule, added by the 73rd Amendment, contains 29 functional items over which the Panchayats have jurisdiction.

Article 243-D provides for the reservation of seats for SCs and STs in every Panchayat in proportion to their population.

Under Article 243-K, the State Election Commissioner is appointed by the Governor of the respective state.

The Gram Sabha consists of all registered voters in the village area and functions as the primary body to supervise and guide the Gram Panchayat.

The G.V.K. Rao Committee (1985) emphasized that the district should be the basic unit of planning and recommended the abolition of the BDO post.

The 73rd Amendment Act stipulates that every Panchayat shall continue for a period of 5 years unless dissolved earlier.

The Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, known as PESA, was enacted in 1996 to extend the provisions of Part IX to scheduled areas.

The Zila Parishad is headed by an elected official known as the President or Adhyaksha.

Article 243-I mandates the Governor of a state to constitute a Finance Commission every five years to review the financial position of Panchayats.

Nagar Panchayat is part of the Urban Local Government (Municipalities), whereas the other three are part of the rural Panchayati Raj system.

The Santhanam Committee was appointed to study the issues related to the financial resources of the Panchayati Raj Institutions.

Nagaland (along with Meghalaya and Mizoram) is exempted from the provisions of the 73rd Amendment due to specific tribal/traditional customs.

The Ashok Mehta Committee (1977) recommended a two-tier system consisting of Zila Parishad and Mandal Panchayat.

Article 243-D (3) mandates that not less than one-third of the total number of seats to be filled by direct election in every Panchayat shall be reserved for women.

The G.V.K. Rao Committee concluded that the developmental process was gradually bureaucratized and divorced from the Panchayati Raj, hence suggesting the district as the basic unit for planning.

Article 243-F specifies the grounds for disqualification of a person for being chosen as a member of a Panchayat.

The L.M. Singhvi Committee was the first to recommend constitutional recognition for Panchayati Raj Institutions.

The Balwant Rai Mehta Committee suggested the establishment of Nyaya Panchayats to settle minor disputes in rural areas.

Article 243-H empowers the State Legislature to authorize a Panchayat to levy, collect, and appropriate taxes, duties, tolls, and fees.

The P.K. Thungon Committee (1988) recommended the constitutional status for PRIs and suggested that the Zila Parishad should be the principal body.

The PESA Act (Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas) extended the provisions of Part IX of the Constitution to the Fifth Schedule areas, ensuring local governance for tribal communities.

Article 243-K provides for a State Election Commission, consisting of a State Election Commissioner, to superintend, direct, and control elections to Panchayats.

According to Article 243-E, an election to constitute a Panchayat must be completed before the expiration of a period of six months from the date of its dissolution.

Under Article 243-J, the State Legislature may make provisions with respect to the maintenance of accounts by the Panchayats and the auditing of such accounts.

The Eleventh Schedule, added by the 73rd Amendment, contains 29 functional items over which Panchayats have jurisdiction.

The BDO (Block Development Officer) is the chief executive officer for the Panchayat Samiti and acts as the interface between the government and the PRIs.

Article 243-I requires the Governor to constitute a Finance Commission every five years to review the financial position of the Panchayats.

In the three-tier system, the Gram Panchayat is at the village level, Panchayat Samiti at the block level, and Zila Parishad at the district level.

Article 243-A states that the Gram Sabha may exercise such powers and perform such functions at the village level as the Legislature of a State may provide.

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act was passed by Parliament in December 1992 and came into force on April 24, 1993.

The Ashok Mehta Committee was one of the early proponents suggesting a fixed tenure of four to five years for the PRIs.

The Panchayat Samiti is the intermediate tier that connects the Gram Panchayat (village level) and the Zila Parishad (district level).

The L.M. Singhvi Committee (1986) emphasized that the village as a unit should be the basic level of local self-government.

The Panchayat Samiti is the intermediate tier of the Panchayati Raj system, functioning at the Block level.

Article 243G authorizes the State Legislature to devolve powers, authority, and responsibilities to Panchayats regarding the 29 subjects listed in the 11th Schedule.

As per Article 243A, a Gram Sabha is a body consisting of persons registered in the electoral rolls relating to a village comprised within the area of the Panchayat.

The Ashok Mehta Committee (1977) recommended that political parties should participate at all levels in the elections to the Panchayati Raj Institutions.

Article 243K mandates the constitution of a State Election Commission, consisting of a State Election Commissioner appointed by the Governor, to conduct elections for the Panchayats.

Article 243ZD mandates the creation of a District Planning Committee to consolidate the plans prepared by Panchayats and Municipalities in the district and prepare a draft development plan.

The G.V.K. Rao Committee suggested that the district should be the basic unit for policy planning and administration, shifting focus from the block level.

Article 243H empowers the Legislature of a State to authorize a Panchayat to levy, collect, and appropriate certain taxes, duties, tolls, and fees.

Article 243J states that the Legislature of a State may, by law, make provisions with respect to the maintenance of accounts by the Panchayats and the auditing of such accounts.