Panchyati Raj Institutions

Part IX of the Constitution talks about a three-tier system of Panchayats namely:

1. Gram Panchayat at the village level

2. Panchayat Samiti at the block level

3. Zila Parishad at the district level

Village level

1.            Gram Sabha consists of all the adults residing within the jurisdiction of the Panchayat.

2.            The Panchayat is accountable for all its actions to the Gram Sabha, the general body of villagers.

3.            The Panchayat consists of the elected representatives of the people through direct election.

4.            The membership of Panchayat varies from 5 to 31.

5.            In Gram Panchayats seats are reserved for schedule castes, schedule tribes, women, etc.

6.            The Chairman is elected from among its elected members is known as ‘Sarpanch’.

7.            Gram Sabha exercises general supervision over the working of the Panchayat & lays down necessary guidelines for its working.

8.            All the persons who are qualified to be chosen to the State Legislature shall be qualified to be chosen as a member of Panchayat. The only difference is the relaxation in the age criterion. The age limit for eligibility to be the member of Panchayat is 21 years, while that in case of the state legislature is 25 years.

9.            The 73rd Amendment Act has listed 29 items which could be delegated to the village Panchayats for legislation.

10.          The 73rd Amendment Act has accorded constitutional status to the State Finance Commissions, State Election Commissions and Planning bodies at local level.

Tenure of Panchayats

1.            Every Panchayat shall continue for the five years from the date of first meeting.

2.            Panchayat can be dissolved earlier in accordance with the procedure prescribed by the state law.

3.            In case a Panchayat is dissolve earlier, then the elections must take place within six months of its dissolution.

4.            A Panchayat re-constituted after premature dissolution shall continue only for the remainder period.(NO FRESH TENURE)

Municipalities

The local self governments in the urban areas are called by a general name “municipalities”. These urban local bodies are of three kinds namely:

1. Nagar Panchayat, for a transitional area, i.e. an area which is being transformed from a rural area to an urban area.

2. Municipal Council for a smaller area

3. Municipal Corporation for a larger urban area.

Unlike Panchyati Raj institutions the urban local bodies are single tier bodies.

The members of a municipality are generally elected by the direct election. All the persons who are qualified to be chosen to the State Legislature shall be qualified to be chosen as a member of Municipality. The only difference is the relaxation in the age criterion. The age limit for eligibility to be the member of Municipality is 21 years, while that in case of the state legislature is 25 years.

Tenure of Municipalities

1.            Every Municipality shall continue for the five years from the date of first meeting.

2.            Municipality can be dissolved earlier in accordance with the procedure prescribed by the state law.

3.            In case a Municipality is dissolve earlier, then the elections must take place within six months of its dissolution.

4.            A Municipality re-constituted after premature dissolution shall continue only for the remainder period.