March 7, 2002
‘7’
NO PLAN TO GIVE MORE POWERS TO PANCHAYATS
The Government of India have no plants at present to review the Constitution of India to facilitate transfer of more powers to the Panchayats. Article 243 G of the Constitution has empowered the State Legislature for devolution of power upon Panchayati Raj Institutions to enable them to function as institutions of self-government.
The National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution had released a Consultation Paper on ‘Review of the Working of the Provisions for Decentralization (Panchayats)’ on September 26, 2001 for generating a public debate and eliciting public response. A copy of the Consultation Paper was sent, inter-alia, to the Chief Secretaries of all State Governments and Union Territory Administrations requesting for their comments. The Commission has received response only from the Union Territory of Daman and Diu stating that the Union Territory was without Legislature and, therefore, they had no views to offer.
This information was given by the Union Minister of Law, Justice and Company Affairs, Shri Arun Jaitley in a written reply to a question from Shri Prabodh Panda in the Lok Sabha today.