Three tiers for the first time: what the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act did

Background

The Kerala Legislature records the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 as containing provisions for the constitution of Panchayats at Village, Block and District levels thereby introducing a three tier system of Panchayats for the first time. The Act provides for the constitution of a Gramasabha, the assembly of voters, in a village or group of villages. Panchayats were given powers and responsibilities with respect to the plans for economic development and social justice and for the implementation of development schemes. The Act provides for a Finance Commission to review the financial position of the Panchayats. It also provides for the appointment of a State Election Commission for the superintendence, direction and conduct of elections to different levels of panchayats. The Kerala Municipalities Act, 1994 provides for the constitution of Town Panchayats, Municipalities and Municipal Corporation, and gave the Municipalities vast powers with regard to the preparation of plans for the overall economic and social development of these areas. Earlier laws in this field include the Kerala Panchayats Act, 1960, the Kerala Municipal Corporations Act, 1961 and the Kerala District Administration Act, 1980, which aimed at democratic decentralisation of power by the establishment of district councils.