Pb reverts to district-wise reservation of sarpanchs for gram panchayats

Taking note of the observation of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Punjab government has decided to revert to district-wise reservation of sarpanchs of gram panachayats from its current practice of block-wise reservation.

The decision was taken by the state cabinet led by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh here today, an official spokesman said.

The Cabinet approved the necessary amendment in the Punjab Reservation of Offices and Sarpanches of Gram Panchayats and Chairman and Vice Chairmen of Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads Rules, 1994, to make the rotation process of Sarpanch in conformity with section 12(4) of the Panchayati Raj Act, he said.

The move will also enable effective implementation of the government's decision of June 2017 to enhance women's reservation from 33 to 50 per cent by amending Section 12 of the Panchayati Raj Act, the spokesman said.

The High Court had, on May 29, 2008, observed that "we are unable to really interfere in the election process at this stage even though block-wise rotation is apparently not in conformity with district-wise rotation mandated vide section 12 of the Panchayati Raj Act," he said.

Approving the amendment suggested by the Rural Development and Panchayats Department, the state Cabinet gave its nod to inserting Rule 6 (A) after 6, under which the district-wise rotation of reservation for the offices of sarpanch of gram panchayats shall be made by deputy commissioner in accordance with the provision of the act and amended rules, the spokesman said.

Approving the principle of rotation, the reservation in the roaster will begin from first non-reserved panchayat in order of Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Caste Women and Women, he said.

The remaining panchayats shall be unreserved.

Clarifying the process of reservation, the official spokesman, said all offices of sarpanch of gram panchayats reserved for Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Caste women and women, respectively, in different blocks of respective districts at the time of election in 2013, shall be merged category wise and placed at the top of the roster as per seriatim of first scheduled castes, then Scheduled Castes women and then women.

All offices of sarpanches of the newly constituted gram panchayats in the district shall be placed at the end of the newly prepared roster, he said.

The roster for reservation of the offices of sarpanch of gram panchayats would be notified minimum one week before the date of presentation of nomination papers, the spokesman said.

The cabinet also approved the reduction of time limit required to seek objections to draft rules from the general public to 15 days from the earlier 30 days, he said.