Odisha Govt Issues Guidelines For Reservation Of Seats For Panchayat Polls

Bhubaneswar: Ahead of the panchayat elections, the Odisha government has finalised the modalities for reservation of seats and offices of the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) to be filled by direct election.

In a letter to the district collectors, Principal Secretary, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Ashok Kumar Meena has asked them to adopt the following principles for the reservation of seats.

— In non-scheduled areas, the total reservation of seats in favour of SC, ST and BCC will be kept within 50% of the total seats and the reservation for BCC, which may vary, will be within 27%.

— Out of the total seats, upto 27% will be reserved for the Backward Class of Citizens (BCCs) category and whenever necessary, the quantum of reservation for BCC will be reduced to such extent as required to limit the total reservation of seats in favour of SC, ST and BCC taken together within 50 per cent.

— Reservation in the scheduled areas will be in proportion to the population of the communities in that panchayat provided that the reservation for the ST will not be less than one-half of the total numbers of seats.

— Population percentage of SC and ST people in the respective gram panchayat (GP)/ Block/District according to the 2011 census would be the determining factor for computation of the number of seats/offices to be reserved for SC or ST.

— While determining the reservation status of various seats/offices of the PRIs for the general election to the PRIs in 2022, the principle of rotation in descending order will be followed taking into account the reservation status of the last PRI elections held in 2002, 2007, 2012 and 2017.

— After reservation of seats for SC, ST and BCC categories, reservation for women will be made by arranging the ward/GPs/constituencies in Odia alphabetical order, in the manner as provided in the Panchayat Laws so that the total reservation for women will not be less than one-half of the total seats/offices.

— While starting the process of reservation, the sequencing of seats for the SC, ST, BCC and women has to be adhered according to law.

— Not less than one-half of the seats of each category will be reserved for women till the required quota is filled up.

Reservation of seats for ward members in non-scheduled areas

— Proportionate percentage of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe population in a village will be the basis for determining the number of seats to be reserved for SC and ST in a Gram Panchayat.

— If in any village, the ST and SC population is not sufficient for reservation for any seat for SC or ST, one seat for SC or one seat for ST, as the case may be, will be reserved.

— Seats will be reserved in favour of the BCCs in every Gram Panchayat (GP) not exceeding 27% subject to the limit of 50% of the total number of seats reserved for ST, SC and BCC taken together.

— Not less than one-half of the total number of seats of each category will be reserved for women till the required quota is filled up.

Reservation of seats for ward members in scheduled areas

— The reservation of seats for STs in the scheduled areas of every GP will be in proportion to the population of the ST communities provided that it will not be less than one-half of the total number of seats of a village to be filled by direct election.

— Seats will be reserved in every GP according to the proportionate percentage of the population in that village.

— Not less than one-half of the total number of seats will be reserved for women in each category till the required quota is filled up.

Reservation of office of Sarpanches in non-scheduled areas

— Proportionate percentage of SC and ST population in a block will be taken into consideration for determining the number of offices in the block to be reserved for SC and ST candidates for the offices of Sarpanch.

— Seats of Sarpanch will be reserved in favour of the BCCs in every GP not exceeding 27% subject to the limit of 50% of the total number of seats reserved for SCs, STs and BCCs taken together.

— Not less than one-half of the total number of seats of each category will be reserved for women till the required quota is filled up.

Reservation of office of Sarpanches in scheduled areas

— All offices of the Sarpanches will be reserved for the STs.

— Not less than one-half of the total number of seats of each category will be reserved for women till the required quota is filled up.

Seats for members of Panchayat Samiti in non-scheduled areas

— Population percentage of ST and SC in a block will be taken into consideration for determining the number of seats to be reserved in a block for ST and SC candidates for Panchayat Samiti members. Where the population of SC and ST is not sufficient for reservation, one seat for SC or one seat for ST will be reserved.

— Seats shall be reserved for BCCs to an extent not exceeding 27%, subject to the limit of 50% of the total number of seats reserved for the SCs, STs and BCCs taken together.

— Not less than one-half of the total number of seats of each category will be reserved for women till the required quota is filled up.

Seats for members of Panchayat Samiti in scheduled areas

— The reservation of seats for STs in the scheduled areas in every Panchayat Samiti will be in proportion to the population of the ST communities in that block provided that it will not be less than one-half of the total number of seats in that Panchayat Samiti to be filled up by direct election.

— Seats will be reserved in every Samiti for SCs according to their percentage of the population in the block.

— Not less than one-half of the total number of seats of each category will be reserved for women till the required quota is filled up.

Reservation of offices of Chairman of Panchayat Samiti in non-scheduled areas

— Population percentage of SC and ST in a district will be taken into consideration for determining the number of offices of Chairman of Panchayat Samitis to be reserved for SC and ST candidates.

— Seats will be reserved in favour of BCCs to such extent not exceeding 27% subject to the limit of 50% of the total number of seats reserved for SCs, STs and BCCs taken together.

— Not less than one-half of the total number of seats of each category will be reserved for women till the required quota is filled up.

Reservation of offices of Chairman of Panchayat Samiti in non-scheduled areas

—All offices of the Chairman of Panchayat Samiti will be reserved for the STs.

— Not less than one-half of the total number of seats of each category will be reserved for women till the required quota is filled up.

Reservation of seats for Zilla Parishad members in non-scheduled areas

— Population percentage of SC and ST in the Zilla Parishad (ZP) area will be taken into consideration for determining the number of seats to be reserved for the SCs and STs.

— Seats will be reserved in favour of BCCs to such extent not exceeding 27% subject to a limit of 50% of the total number of seats reserved for SCs, STs and BCCs taken together.

— Not less than one-half of the total number of seats of each category will be reserved for women till the required quota is filled up.

Reservation of seats for Zilla Parishad members in scheduled areas

— The reservation of seats for STs in the scheduled areas in every ZP will be in proportion to the population of the ST communities in that district provided that it will not be less than one-half of the total number of seats to be filled up by direct election of the Parishad.

— Seats will be reserved in every Parishad for the SC candidate as per their percentage of the population in the district.

— Not less than one-half of the seat in each category will be reserved for women till the required quota is filled up.