In this article you will learn about the 73rd Amendment Act 1992.
Revamping of Panchayati Raj : 73rd Amendment Act 1992
For eliminating the defects noticed in the working of Panchayati Raj as well as for giving a wider representative base and more powers to the Panchayati Raj institutions, the Parliament enacted the 73rd Amendment Act, 1992. The purpose for this was to revamp the Panchayati Raj in such a way as should ensure its regular, active and efficient working in the rural areas and enable it to help the process of rapid socio-economic development of rural India. The new Act maintained the three tier structure of Panchayati Raj but at the same time amended their compositions, functions and power. This act added a new chapter into the Constitution called Part IX : The Panchayat.
Salient Features of 73rd Amendment Act
The main features of the 73rd Amendment Act have been :
- Strengthening of Gram Sabha as the foundation level institution of Panchayati Raj.
- To maintain and streamline the organisation and functions of the three tier of Panchayati Raj i.e. Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti and Zilla Parishad.
- The states whose populations were less than 20 lakh were exempted from organising the intermediate level i.e. Panchayat Samiti.
- Direct election of members of Panchayats, Panchayat Samities and Zilla Parishads and their heads (Sarpanches). However chairpersons of Panchayat Samities and Zilla Parishads were to be elected indirectly.
- Reservation of seats in Panchayati Raj institutions for SCs, STs, women and women belonging to the SCs and STs (1/3rd seats were reserved for women).
- 1/3rd (Now one-half) offices of Sarpanches of Panchayats and heads of Panchayat Samities and Zila Parishads of a state were reserved for women.
- The Panchayati Raj institutions were to enjoy a fixed tenure of five years. In case of every dissolution, the new institution was to enjoy the remaining tenure of the previous institution.
- Responsibility for conducting elections of Panchayati Raj institutions of a state was to be with the state election commission.
- Panchayats were given more functions, additional finances and definite sources of revenue.
Each state was to constitution a finance commission after every five years. It was to review the financial position of Panchayats and make recommendations regarding the distribution of revenue between the state and the Panchayats.
This article on 73rd Amendment Act 1992 is contributed by Dipshikha Anand. If you like LawStudyPoint.com do follow us on our Twitter handle.