• The Kerala Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 was promulgated on May 2, 2020.  It amends the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, 1994.  The Act establishes a three-tier Panchayat Raj system in the State of Kerala.  The Ordinance amends the limits on the total number of seats to be filled by direct elections in a panchayat.  
     
  • Strength of Panchayats:  The Act provides for the state government to notify the total number of seats in panchayats to be filled by direct elections, subject to certain limits.  The  Ordinance reduces the limits prescribed under the Act, as specified in Table 1.

Table 1: Limits on number of directly elected seats in Panchayats

Type of Panchayat

1994 Act

2020 Ordinance

Village Panchayat

Minimum 14, Maximum 24

Minimum 13, Maximum 23

Block Panchayat

Minimum 14, Maximum 24

Minimum 13, Maximum 23

District Panchayat

Minimum 17, Maximum 33

Minimum 16, Maximum 32


 

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