Consider the following statements regarding the Panchayati Raj system in India:
The Balwantrai Mehta Committee recommended a two-tier Panchayati Raj system.
The first state to implement Panchayati Raj was Rajasthan in 1959.
Nyaya Panchayats are judicial bodies set up to handle petty civil and criminal cases.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
AOnly 1 and 2
BOnly 2 and 3
COnly 3
DAll of the above
Answer:
B. Only 2 and 3
Read Explanation:
Panchayati Raj System in India:
Evolution and Constitutional Status
The Panchayati Raj system is a vital component of rural local self-governance in India, aiming to decentralize power and empower local communities.
It gained constitutional recognition through the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992. This landmark amendment came into force on April 24, 1993.
The Act introduced a new Part IX to the Constitution, titled "The Panchayats" (comprising Articles 243 to 243-O), and added the Eleventh Schedule.
The Eleventh Schedule enumerates 29 functional items that fall under the purview of Panchayats, enabling them to prepare plans for economic development and social justice.
Balwantrai Mehta Committee (1957)
The Balwantrai Mehta Committee was constituted by the Government of India in 1957 to review the functioning of the Community Development Programme (1952) and the National Extension Service (1953).
Its primary recommendation was the establishment of "democratic decentralisation," which became the foundation of the Panchayati Raj system.
Correction for Statement 1: The committee unequivocally recommended a three-tier Panchayati Raj system, not a two-tier one. These tiers were:
Gram Panchayat at the village level.
Panchayat Samiti at the block level.
Zila Parishad at the district level.
The committee advocated for these bodies to be organically linked, equipped with sufficient powers, and granted adequate resources.
The recommendations of the Balwantrai Mehta Committee were accepted by the National Development Council in January 1958, paving the way for the system's implementation.
Implementation of Panchayati Raj (Statement 2)
First State: Rajasthan holds the distinction of being the first state in India to implement the Panchayati Raj system.
The system was formally inaugurated by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on October 2, 1959 (Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary) in Nagaur district, Rajasthan.
Soon after, Andhra Pradesh became the second state to adopt the Panchayati Raj system, also in 1959.
Nyaya Panchayats (Statement 3)
Nyaya Panchayats are specialized local judicial bodies established to provide accessible, speedy, and cost-effective justice at the village level.
Their primary role is to adjudicate petty civil and criminal cases, thereby reducing the burden on higher courts and making justice more proximate to rural populations.
The specific powers, jurisdiction, and composition of Nyaya Panchayats vary across different states, as local self-government falls under the State List of the Indian Constitution.
While not explicitly mandated in a uniform structure by the 73rd Amendment, the Act encourages states to empower Panchayats to function as institutions of self-government, which can include the establishment of judicial bodies like Nyaya Panchayats.
Other Important Committees on Panchayati Raj
Ashok Mehta Committee (1977): Recommended a two-tier system (Zila Parishad at the district level and Mandal Panchayat for a group of villages) and suggested that political parties should participate in Panchayat elections.
G.V.K. Rao Committee (1985): Identified Panchayati Raj institutions as "grass without roots" due to excessive bureaucratisation and emphasized the need to make the 'Zila Parishad' the primary body for planning and development.
L.M. Singhvi Committee (1986): Strongly advocated for the constitutional recognition of Panchayati Raj institutions, which ultimately led to the 73rd Constitutional Amendment. It also suggested establishing Nyaya Panchayats for clusters of villages.