Q. Which of the following are the Voluntary Provision for States under 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act?
1. Fixing tenure of five years for panchayats at all levels
2. Indirect elections to the post of chairperson at intermediate and district levels
3. Providing reservation of seats for backward classes in panchayats
4. Granting financial powers to the panchayats
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Exp) Option a is the correct answer
There are compulsory (obligatory or mandatory) and voluntary (discretionary or optional) provisions (features) found in the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act (1992) or the Part IX of the Constitution.
Statement 1 and 2 are incorrect: Fixing tenure of five years for panchayats at all levels and holding fresh elections within six months in the event of supersession of any panchayat are compulsory provisions of 73rd Amendment. Furthermore, direct elections to all seats in panchayats at the village, intermediate and district levels and indirect elections to the post of chairperson of panchayats at the intermediate and district levels, are also the compulsory provisions of the 73rd Amendment.
Statement 3 are 4 are correct: Providing reservation of seats (both members and chairpersons) for backward classes in panchayats at any level fall under the voluntary provisions. Granting financial powers to the panchayats, that is, authorizing them to levy, collect and appropriate taxes, duties, tolls and fees is a voluntary provision under the 73rd Amendment.
