Unit II
The Kerala Panchayat Raj Act,1994
The structure of Panchayat Raj institutions at various levels – their composition –standing
committees – Election Process- office bearers- meeting of the various bodies.
Powers and functions of the various Panchayat Institutions – Financial Powers – Finance
Commission – Tax Collection – Welfare Activities.
governmental and judicial control over Panchayat Raj Institutions-
1. Discuss the composition of Panchayat Raj institutions under the Kerala Panchayat
Raj Act, 1994.
COMPOSITION OF PANCHAYAT RAJ INSTITUTIONS UNDER THE KERALA
PANCHAYAT RAJ ACT, 1994.
Chapter III of the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 deals with the constitution of panchayat
raj institutions at various levels. Section 7 to 9 deals with the composition of panchayat raj
institutions at various levels.
1. Composition of Village Panchayat.
Under section 7 of The Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 Every Village Panchayat shall
consist of elected members equal to the number of seats notified. All the seats in a
Village Panchayat shall be filled by persons chosen by direct election.
In every Village Panchayat, seats shall be reserved for the Scheduled Castes and
Scheduled Tribes. 50 % of the total number of seats in a Village Panchayat shall be
reserved by the Government for women and such seats shall be allotted by the State
Election Commission. The members of the Scheduled Castes or Tribes or the women
may stand for election to the non- reserved seats in a Village Panchayat.
A Village Panchayat shall have a President and a Vice President elected by the members
of the village Panchayat from among themselves.
2. Composition of Block Panchayat.
Under section 8 of The Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, 1994, every block Panchayat shall
consist of elected members and the presidents of the Village Panchayats in the territorial
area of the Block Panchayat. All the seats in a Block Panchayat shall be filled by persons
chosen by direct election. In every Block Panchayat, stipulated seats shall be reserved for
the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes. 50% of the total number of seats
reserved shall be reserved by the Government for women belonging to the Scheduled
Castes or the Scheduled Tribes.
The number of seats reserved shall be determined by the Government and such seats shall
be allotted by the State Election Commission or the authorized Officer by rotation to
different constituencies in that block panchayat area.
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50% of the total number of seats in a block panchayat shall be reserved by the
Government for women and such seats shall be allotted by the State Election
Commission or the authorized Officer.
The members of the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes or the women may stand
for election to the non- reserved seats in a block panchayat.
A Block Panchayat shall have a President and a Vice President elected by the elected
members of the Block Panchayat from among themselves.
3. Composition of the District Panchayat.
Under section 9 of The Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, 1994, every district panchayat shall
consist of elected members equal to the number of seats notified and the presidents of the
block panchayats in the district.
All the seats in a district panchayat notified shall be filled by persons chosen by direct
election. In every District panchayat, stipulated seats shall be reserved for Scheduled
Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and women. The members of the Scheduled Castes or the
Scheduled Tribes or the women may stand for election to the non- reserved seats in a
district panchayat.
A District Panchayat shall have a President and a Vice-President elected by the elected
members of the District Panchayat from among themselves.
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