LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT

PANCHAYAT SAMITIS

Under section 57 of the Act, a Panchayat Samiti is provided for every block. Every Panchayat Samiti consists of the following members:-

(a) All councillors who are elected on the Zilla Parishad from the electoral divisions in the block.

(b) The co-opted councillor of the Zilla Parishad residing in the block.

(c) The Chairmen of such co-operative societies, conducting the business of purchase and sale of agricultural products in the block, as nominated by Government (to be associate members).

(d) The Chairman of a co-operative society conducting business relating to agriculture [not being a society falling under (C) above ] in the block, co-opted by the Panchayat Samiti (to be an associate member).

(e) In case of non-availability of a woman member belonging to scheduled castes or scheduled tribes, one co-opted member who is a regular resident in the block.

(f) Sarpanchas elected by members of the Village Panchayats.

Chairman.-The term of the office of the Chairman and members of the Panchayat Samiti is coterminous.

The Chairman of a Panchayat Samiti is paid an honorarium of Rs. 300 per month with the facilities of free residential accommodation. The Deputy Chairman of a Panchayat Samiti is paid an honorarium of Rs. 150 per month.

Powers and Functions.-Subject to the provisions of the Act and the rules or regulations made thereunder:-

Chairman: (1) the Chairman of a Panchayat Samiti:-

(a) convenes, presides over and conducts meetings of the Panchavat Samiti;

(b) has access to the records of the Panchayat Samiti;

(c) exercises supervision and control over the officers and servants of or under the Zilla Parishad and working in the block in matters of execution or administration and the accounts and records of the Panchayat Samiti;

(d) in relation to works and development schemes to he undertaken from block grants, exercises such powers of sanctioning acquisition of property or sale or transfer thereof as may be specified by the Government.

(2) The Chairman of a Panchayat Samiti is authorised:-

(a) to call for any information, return, statement, accounts or report from any officer or servant working under the Panchayat Samiti;

(b) to enter and inspect any immoveable property in the block occupied by the Zilla Parishad or any institution in the block under the control and management of the Zilla Parishad. or the Panchayat Samiti, or any work or development scheme in progress in the block undertaken by the Zilla Parishad or the Panchayat Samiti or under its direction.

Deputy Chairman : (1) The Deputy Chairman of a Panchayat Samiti:-

(a) in the absence of the Chairman, presides over the meeting of the Panchayat Samiti;

(b) exercises such of the powers and performs such of the duties of the Chairman of the Panchayat Samiti, as the Chairman from time to time may, subject to the rules made by the State Government in that behalf, delegates to him by an order in writing; and

(c) pending the election of the Chairman or during the absence of the Chairman, exercises the powers and performs the duties of the Chairman.

(2) The Deputy Chairman of a Panchayat Samiti is competent to enter and inspect any immoveable property in the block occupied by the Zilla Parishad or any institution in the block under the control and management of the Zilla Parishad or the Panchayat Samiti or under its direction and to send a report of such inspection to the Chairman of the Panchayat Samiti.

There are in all 13 Panchayat Samitis in the district.

The following statement gives the details about the membership of these Panchayat Samitis:-

The following table [ District Census Handbook, Buldhana, 1961.] No. 2 shows the number of villages and population covered, with percentage of area, by Panchayat Samitis

TABLE No. 2

NUMBER OF VILLAGES AND POPULATION COVERED BY PANCHAYAT SAMITIS IN THE DISTRICT

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