Panchayati Raj

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Introduction
The Panchayats were in existence from 1960s. But they received constitutional status by the 73rd
constitutional amendment act of 1992. It was created by respective state legislature acts so as to
function democracy from grass root level, so its the prime necessity of democracy to develop rural
areas.

Some facts
Rajasthan was the first state to establish Panchayti Raj. It was inaugurated by the Prime
Minister on October 2, 1959 in Nagaur district.
Second state to establish Panchayati Raj was Andhra Pradesh. (1959).
Panchayat System
At village level
The panchayat at district level
The panchayat between village and district level whos population is more than 20 lakhs.
Evolution of Panchayat Raj

Sr.
No.

Committee

Year of
formation

Recommendation

1.

Balwant Rai
Mehta Committee

January 1957

Recommended the establishment of the scheme of

democratic decentralization which ultimately came to
known as Panchayati Raj.

2.

Ashok
Mehta Committee

December 1977

Two tier system of Panchayati Raj instead of three

tier system of Panchayati Raj.It should consist of zila
parishad at the district level & mandal panchayat
consisting of a group of villages with total population of
15,000 to 20,000.

3.

GVK
Rao Committee

1985

Came out with the finding that developmental

process was gradually bureaucratized and divorced
form the Panchayati Raj.

4.

LM
1986
Singhvi Committee

Panchayats should be given constitutional status.

Structure
All the members of panchayat are elected by peoples directly.
Chairpersons of the panchayats at the intermediate and district levels shall be elected indirectly
by and from amongst the elected members therof.
Chairperson of a panchayat at the village level shall be elected in such a manner as the state
legislature determines.
Reservation
1. FOR WOMEN
1/3rd seats are reserved for women including the number of seats reserved for women belonging to ST
and STs.
2. FOR SC AND STs
The reservation for SC and NTs is according to the popullaton in that area.

Note: Also, a state has been given power to reserve seats in any panchayat or offices of chairperson in
the panchayat at any level for backward classes.

POWER OF STATE LAGISLATURE

The state can provide reservation for the office of chairperson in panchayat or the village and other
level in fervor of backward class.

QUALIFICATION OF MEMBER
Person must have completed 21 years of his age ( Note: for state legislature its 25 years)

ELECTIONS OF PANCHYATS
Article 243k deals with the free and fair elections of Panchayats
Elections of panchayats are carried out by state election commission. The state election
commissioner is appointed by governor of the concerned state.
Duration of Panchayats

Panchayat at each level (i.e. district, intermediate & village level) has a duration of five years.
(fresh elections for the offices should be held before expiry of the duration of five years)
It can be dissolved before expiry of its term. (fresh elections in such a case should be held
before the expiry of six months from the date of its dissolution.
Powers and Functions of Panchayats
All the powers & functions of panchayats are made by respective state governments.

Power of Panchayats in relations to finance

The state legislature (may) gives power to the panchayts to collect, levy the appropriate tax duties.
Finance Commission
Governor constitutes a finance commission (after every 5 years), to review the financial position of the
panachayats.

Committee gives the following recommendation to the governor.

Tax distribution between state and the panchayats.
Check the duties, taxes, tolls and fees which are assigned to the panchayats.
Determine the grant in aids to the panchayats.
Determine the things needed to improve the finance of the panchayats.
Eleventh Schedule
There are 29 functional items placed within the purview of panchayats:
1. Public distribution system.
2. Social welfare, including welfare of the handicapped, and mentally retarded.
3. Family welfare.
4. Market and fairs
5. Libraries
6. Technical training and vocational education
7. Poverty elevation program
8. Rural electrification, including distribuation of electricity.
9. Fuel and fodder
10. Rural housing
11. Small scale industries, including food producing industries.
12. Social forestry and farm forestry.
13. Animal husbandry, dairying, and poultry.
14. Land improvement, implementation of land reforms, land consolidation and soil conservation.
15. Maintenances of community assets
16. Welfare of the weaker sections, and in particular, of the scheduled castes and the scheduled tribes.
17. Women and child development.
18. Health and sanitation including hospitals, primary health centers and dispensaries.
19. Cultural activities
20. Adult and non formal education
21. Education including primary and secondary schools
22. Non convention energy sources.
23. Roads, culverts, bridges, ferries, waterways, and other ways of communication
24. Drinking water
25. Khadi, village and cottage industries

26. Minor forests products

27. Fisheries
28. Minor irrigation , water management, and watershade development. Agriculture including
agricultural extension.

COURTS INTERFARANCES
Under the article 329, courts have no jurisdiction to find the validity of law, relating to the
allotment of seats, delimitation of constituencies, etc.
Court cant question those matters related to election in panchayats.
73rd Amendment Act of 1992
This amendment act gave constitutional status to panchayat raj institutions.
Previously, creation of panchayats & its elections depended on the will of state government.
Now, this amendment act had put an obligation on the state government about creation & the
related elections.
Changes brought to the constitution:
1. Added Part IX to constitution.
2. Added eleventh schedule to constitution which has 29 functional items of the panchayats.
This amendment act gave effect to article 40 of the constitution which is actually in the directive
principles. It states that state shall take steps to organize village panchayats and endow them
with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as units of
selfgovernment.
It has divided the provisions into two types:

1. compulsory (these provisions are compulsory in nature & each state has to make rules so as
to give effect to these provisions). They are:
a. Constitute a state finance commission every five years.
b. Fixing tenure of five years for panchayats
c. Reservation of seats for SCs & STs in panchayats at the three levels.
d. Indirect elections to the post of chairperson of panchayats at the intermediate and district levels.
e. Establishment of panchayats at the village, intermediate and district levels.
f. Organisation of Gram sabha in a village or group of villages.
g. Direct elections to all seats in panchayats.
h. 21 years to be the minimum age for contesting elections to panchayats.
i. Reservation of one-third seats for women
j. Establishment of a state election commission for conducting elections to the panchayats.

2. voluntary (These provisions are not compulsory in nature & each state according to its
conditions on will can make or forbid to make rules to give effect to these provisions). They
are:
a. Granting financial powers to the panchayts
b. Granting powers and authority to the panchayts to enable them to function as institutions of selfgovernment
c. Giving representation to members of the Parliament (both the Houses) and the state legislature (both
the houses) in the panchayats at different levels falling within their constituencies.

d. Devolution of powers and responsibilities upon panchayats to prepare plans for economic
development and social justice.
e. Providing reservation of seats for backward classes in the state at any level.

GRAM SABHA
Gram sabha is a basic foundation of panchayats.
Members of gram sabha include all the people in the area registered in the voter list.
Functions of gram sabha differ from state to state i.e. the functions of the gram sabha are
decided by the concerned state legislature.
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