RAM SWAROOP KASWA Vs. STATE OF RAJASTHAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Delimitation and reorganization of Panchayati Raj Institutions constitute a vital component of grassroots democratic governance, having a direct bearing on representation, administrative convenience and effective implementation of local self-government envisaged under Part IX of the Constitution of India. The process, by its very nature, involves evaluation of multiple factors such as population, geographical contiguity, accessibility and availability of infrastructure, and thus assumes considerable significance in ensuring balanced and functional decentralization.

(2.) The petitioners, being aggrieved of the aforesaid exercise of delimitation and reorganization undertaken by the State Government, have preferred the present batch of writ petitions seeking quashing and setting aside the notifications dtd. 20/21/11/2025, 28/12/2025 and 31/12/2025, issued by the State Government under the provisions of the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, whereby various Panchayati Raj Institutions, including Gram Panchayats and Panchayat Samitis, have been created, altered, reconstituted, substituted, or their names and headquarters modified, to the extent such actions are alleged to have been undertaken without following the statutory procedure, without inviting or considering objections, in deviation from the notified proposals, in violation of applicable guidelines, or in disregard of subsisting judicial orders.

(3.) Briefly stated, the facts giving rise to the present batch of writ petitions are that the State Government initiated an exercise for reorganization and delimitation of Panchayati Raj Institutions pursuant to policy/guidelines issued in the year 2025, whereunder the District Collectors were required to prepare proposals, invite objections from the public and submit recommendations for consideration at the State level. In furtherance thereof, proposals were published, objections were invited and considered, and thereafter notifications dtd. 20/21/11/2025 came to be issued constituting, altering or reconstituting various Gram Panchayats and Panchayat Samitis.