What is duration of Panchayats?
Q. Election to constitute a Panchayat should be completed before -- Published on 10 Mar 17a. Expiration of 6 months from date of its dissolution
b. Expiration of 3 months from date of its dissolution
c. Expiration of 1 year from date of its dissolution
d. Expiration of 2 months from date of its dissolution
ANSWER: Expiration of 6 months from date of its dissolution
Duration of Panchayat -
- Article 243 E - Every Panchayat, unless sooner dissolved, shall continue for five years from the date appointed for its first meeting and no longer.
An election to constitute a Panchayat shall be completed -
1. before the expiry of its duration;
2. before the expiration of a period of six months from the date of its dissolution.
- If the remainder of the period for which the dissolved Panchayat would have continued is less than six months, it shall not be necessary to hold any election under this clause for constituting the Panchayat for such period.
Disqualifications -
Article 243 F - A person shall be disqualified for being chosen as and for being a member of Panchayat -
1. if he is so disqualified under any law for the time being in force for the purpose of elections to the legislature of the state concerned; or
2. if he is so disqualified under any law made by the state legislature.
- But, if a person has attained 21 years of age, the person shall not be disqualified on the ground that he is less than 25 years of age.
- Questions of disqualifications shall be referred to such authority as the state legislature determines.
State Election Commission -
- Article 243 K - State election commission will be vested with the superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls and the conduct of all elections to the Panchayats.
- It consists of a State Election Commissioner.
- He is to be appointed by the Governor and his conditions of service and tenure of office shall also be determined by the Governor.
- He shall not be removed from the office except in the manner and on the grounds prescribed for the removal of a judge of the State High Court.
- His conditions of service shall not be varied to his disadvantage after his appointment.
- The state legislature may make provision with respect to all matters relating to elections to the Panchayats.
Powers and Functions -
- Article 243 G - The state legislature may endow the Panchayats with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as institutions of self-government.
Such a scheme/law may contain provisions for the devolution of powers and responsibilities upon Panchayats at the appropriate level, subject to specified conditions with respect to -
1. the preparation of plans for economic development and social justice;
2. the implementation of schemes for economic development and social justice as may be entrusted to them, including those in relation to the 29 matters listed in the Eleventh Schedule.
