Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Nov 19: Two high level Groups set up by the Congress to study provisions of 73rd amendment of the Constitution of India, which could be incorporated in the State Panchayati Raj Act, was at the last leg of finalizing its recommendations, which would be debated in a Core Group of the Government followed by the National Conference-Congress Co-ordination Committee before being adopted.
Two Groups, which were likely to submit their report within a week time, were also studying various models of Panchayati Raj Act including those of Karnataka, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, where the Panchayats enjoyed immense powers.
Reliable sources told the Excelsior that the two Panels headed by GA Mir, former Minister and sitting MLA and Ravinder Sharma, MLC (for Kashmir and Jammu regions respectively) were reportedly veering around the opinion that there should be no provisions of nomination at any level of Panchayats including the third tier of District and Development Boards (DDB), where the present Act proposed nomination of the chairpersons.
“This could be another area of confrontation between the two coalition partners’’, sources said.
The Panels have also opposed any nominations in the Block Development Councils (BDCs), the elections for which were deferred last month following reservations expressed by various political parties and organisations on denial of reservations to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and women.
Though the two Committees were yet to give a final touch to their recommendations, they were planning to propose 33 per cent reservation to women in the BDC elections. Reservations to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes was being proposed on the basis of population figures of the two communities taking into account the latest census figures.
They have decided to propose full Constitutional guarantee to Panchayats including time bound elections for all three tiers after every five years starting with Sarpanchs and Panchs and followed by BDCs and District Development and Planning Boards. Though Panchayat elections in the State were completed in September last year, elections to BDCs haven’t been held so far despite more than a year. Only after the elections process of BDCs was completed that the elections could be held to District Development and Planning Boards.
Worthwhile to mention here that present State Panchayati Raj Act had the provisions of BDC chairpersons contesting for the post of vice chairpersons of District Development and Planning Board while the Government would nominate a Minister as chairperson to the Board. This provision was being opposed by the two Panels, which wanted direct election to the Board chairpersons from amongst the BDC chairpersons, sources said, adding that the Panels were of the view that there should absolutely be no nominations at any level of Panchayats.
The Panels would also oppose nominations of six members in the each BDC including two each from SC/ST community and women. They were of the view that reservations to SCs, STs and women would serve the purpose leaving no scope of nominations.
Complete empowerment of Panchayats like giving powers to them for supervision of works of various Departments and emoluments to the Panchayat members were also being recommended by the two high level Committees, sources said, noting that the Panels were studying the models of Karnataka, Maharashtra and Rajasthan on powers of the Panchayats. There were many States, which have given more powers to the Panchayats than 73rd amendments.
“The best model would be incorporated in the report’’, sources said.
It may be reported here that differences between the coalition partners—National Conference and Congress had surfaced over 73rd amendment after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had refused to implement the Central Act on the ground that the State had its own Panchayati Raj Act, which can be amended to incorporate major provisions of the amendments, which were beneficial for the Panchayats as well as the State.
The Congress had agreed to the proposal leading to deferment of the BDC elections as there was no provision of reservations to SCs/STs and women under the State Act. The elections now would be held after adding the provision of reservations.
Sources said reports of the Panels would be discussed by the Congress and a Core Group of the Alliance partners followed by the Co-ordination Committee. After the consensus, the major provisions of 73rd amendment to be incorporated in the State Act would be placed before the Cabinet. The approved provisions would need the Legislature nod for carrying out amendments in the Act.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel