Haryana clears Bill on right to recall panchayat member

Topics Covered: Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.

Haryana clears Bill on right to recall panchayat member:

Context:

The Haryana Panchayati Raj (Second Amendment) Bill, 2020 passed in the state Assembly.

• The amendment is aimed at increasing their accountability to the voters.

The Bill:

• Provides the right to recall members of Panchayati Raj institutions to those who elected them.
• Gives women 50% reservation in these rural bodies.
• Provides 8% reservation to the “more disadvantaged” among the Backward Classes.
• Allows the recall of village sarpanches and members of the block-level panchayat samitis and district-level zila parishads if they fail to perform.

Procedure to be followed:

1. To recall a sarpanch and members of the two bodies, 50% members of a ward or gram sabha have to give in writing that they want to initiate proceedings.
2. This will be followed by a secret ballot, in which their recall will require two-third members voting against them.

The key mandatory provisions of the 73rd and 74th amendments, are:

• Regular direct elections to all local bodies.
• Setting up of state-level election commission and finance commissions.
• Mandatory reservation of seats for Dalits and Adivasis in every local body, proportionate to their share in the population.
• 33% reservation for women.
• Setting up of District Planning Committees that consolidate plans of rural and urban bodies.

InstaLinks:

Prelims Link:

1. Overview of 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments.
2. List of subjects covered in the 11th Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
3. About the State Election Commission.
4. Overview of the Haryana Panchayati Raj (Second Amendment) Bill, 2020.

Mains Link:

Discuss the provisions of the Haryana Panchayati Raj (Second Amendment) Bill, 2020.

Sources: the Hindu.