Local government in Tamilnadu
- The Tamilnadu State Election Commission established under the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments gives a brief account of the status of local government in the state of Tamilnadu.
- As stated by the Tamilnadu State Election Commission, under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act (Rural Local Bodies) the government of Tamilnadu as a constitutional obligation has taken.
Powers
- Formation of Gram Sabha in every village with powers of general supervision over the elected village Panchayat and the power to grant approval to the annual plans of the Panchayats;
- Formation of three-tier Panchayats i.e., District Panchayats, Panchayat Unions and Village Panchayats made obligatory;
- Reservation of seats for weaker sections of society like SCs, STs and Women;
- Powers to impose taxes and provision for grants, assignments etc., from government funds through constitution of a State Finance Commission.
- Under the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, devolution of more functions and taxing powers;
- Revenue sharing with state governments;
- Regular conduct of elections; reservation of seats for SCs and STs and for women;
- Uniform composition of the urban bodies throughout the country was provided.
The Tamilnadu Panchayats Act
- Following the 73rd constitutional amendment, the Tamilnadu Panchayats Act was passed in 1994, which replaced the earlier Tamilnadu Panchayats Act, 1958.
- The Tamilnadu Panchayats Act, 1994 was amended in 1996.
- The Act of 1996 provided as far as Panchayats are concerned: to plan for their developmental needs, constitution of District Planning Committee;
- Constitution of State Election Commission and constitution of State Finance Commission.
- In the first elections under the 1994 Act, 1,17,000 representatives were elected for the three different tiers of local government across Tamilnadu.
Urban Local Governments
- As far as urban local bodies are concerned, the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, paved the way for setting up urban local bodies in various states.