SHRI N. PREMJIT SINGH Vs. STATE OF MANIPUR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr. Juno Rahman, learned counsel appearing for the petitioners; heard also Mr. N. Kumarjit, learned Advocate General, assisted by Mr. P. Tamphamani, learned counsel; and Mr. H. Debendra, learned G.A. appearing for the respondents.

(2.) The present petition has been filed seeking amendment of the Manipur Panchayati Raj Act 1994 to provide for a 3-tier system of Panchayati Raj Institutions namely, Gram Panchayat at the Village level, Block Panchayat at the intermediate Level and Zila Parishad at the District Level in place of the existing 2-tier system of Gram Panchayats at the Village Level and Zila Parishad at the District Level in the State of Manipur. In other words, the petitioners are seeking for introduction of the Block Panchayat/Gram Samiti at the intermediate level as provided in other parts of the country on the ground that as Manipur has total population of more than 20 lakhs, the State is under obligation to provide these Panchayat institutions at 3(three) levels.

(3.) The institution of Panchayati Raj had been in vogue in India since time immemorial and now much importance has been given to the Panchayati system raising it to the Constitutional status by incorporating these institutions in part IX of the Constitution. Art. 40 of the Constitution of India provides that the State shall take steps to organize village panchayats and endow them with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as units of self-government. Under the Constitution, matters relating to Local Government, that is to say, the constitution and powers of municipal corporations, improvement trusts, district boards, mining settlement authorities and other local authorities for the purpose of local self-government or village administration have been included under Item No. 5 in the State List (List-II), thus empowering the State Government to make necessary laws relating to local self-government or village administration.