Consider the following statements about the Gram Sabha: Every Gram Sabha meeting must be presided over by the village Panchayat president or their deputy. The quorum for the Gram Sabha meeting is fixed at 10% of registered voters. Gram Sabha meetings must be held at least twice a year. Which of the statements are correct?

Consider the following statements about the Gram Sabha:

Every Gram Sabha meeting must be presided over by the village Panchayat president or their deputy.
The quorum for the Gram Sabha meeting is fixed at 10% of registered voters.
Gram Sabha meetings must be held at least twice a year.
Which of the statements are correct?

A1 and 2 only

B2 and 3 only

C1 and 3 only

DAll of the above

Answer:

The Gram Sabha is the primary deliberative body of the Panchayati Raj System, often referred to as the 'Parliament of the Village'. It comprises all persons whose names are included in the electoral rolls for the Panchayat at the village level.
It is the only permanent body in the Panchayati Raj system and acts as the foundation of grassroots democracy and local self-governance in India, as envisaged by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992.
The powers and functions of the Gram Sabha are not directly laid down in the Constitution but are delegated to the State Legislatures to define through their respective Panchayati Raj Acts (Article 243A).

This statement is correct. As per the provisions of various State Panchayati Raj Acts, which are enacted in consonance with the 73rd Constitutional Amendment, the meetings of the Gram Sabha are presided over by the Sarpanch or Gram Panchayat President.
In the absence of the Sarpanch/President, the Up-Sarpanch or Deputy President is mandated to preside over the meeting. This ensures the orderly conduct of the meeting and the legitimate execution of its agenda.
The presiding officer's role is crucial for maintaining discipline, facilitating discussions, and ensuring that decisions are made according to rules and procedures.

This statement is also correct. For a Gram Sabha meeting to be valid and its decisions to be legally binding, a minimum number of members must be present. This minimum attendance is known as the quorum.
While the 73rd Constitutional Amendment does not explicitly mention the quorum, most State Panchayati Raj Acts mandate the quorum for Gram Sabha meetings to be one-tenth (1/10th) of the total number of registered voters (members) of the Gram Sabha.
The purpose of having a quorum is to ensure sufficient public participation and to legitimize the decisions taken during the meeting, preventing a small minority from making decisions that affect the entire village.

This statement is generally considered incorrect in the context of a universal, constitutionally mandated minimum.
The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act does not specify the frequency of Gram Sabha meetings; it empowers the State Legislatures to make laws regarding its powers, functions, and procedures (Article 243A).
Consequently, the frequency of Gram Sabha meetings varies across different states. While many states mandate a minimum of two to four meetings annually (e.g., on specific national days like January 26th, May 1st, August 15th, and October 2nd), there isn't a uniform, constitutionally fixed minimum of

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