Three-tier structure of Panchayati Raj:
(i) Panchayats at Village Level: This is the basic or grassroots level of panchayati raj. The panchayat for a village or a group of villages includes
(a) Gram Sabha, the symbol of direct democracy.
(b) Gram Panchayat. and
(c) Nyaya Panchayat.
(a) Gram Sabha: Gram Sabha consists of all adult residents within a village or group of villages. Thus, it is the only institution of direct democracy in the country. Generally, two meetings of Gram Sabha are held every year. In these meetings, the Gram Sabha as the general body of the people hear annual statement of accounts, audit or administrative report of panchayats. It also recommends new development projects to be undertaken by panchayats.
(b) Gram Panchayat:
(i) The lower tier of the panchayati raj system in the country is the village level panchayat. It is known in most of the States as Gram Panchayat: The members of a Gram Panchayat are directly elected by the people. The number of members of a Gram Panchayat is fixed on the basis of village population. Hence, it differs from panchayat to panchayat.
(ii) Election is held on the basis of a single member constituency. As already mentioned, one-third of the total number of seats are reserved for women; and some for Scheduled Castes and Tribes including one-third for women of Scheduled Castes and Tribes.
(iii) Chairpersons of Gram Panchayats are called by different names in different States as Sarpanch, Pradhan or President. There is a Vice-Chairperson also. Both are elected by members of the panchayat. Gram Panchayats generally hold their meetings once a month.
(c) Nyaya Panchayat:
(i) These are judicial panchayats and reminders of ancient village panchayats that settled local disputes. They are set up to provide speedy and inexpensive justice.
(ii) Jurisdiction of Nyaya Panchayat varies from State to State one such panchayat is set up for five or more gram panchayats. Their tenure is between 3 and 5 years, as determined by State law.
(iii) Nyaya Panchayats, generally, deal with petty civil and criminal cases and can impose fines up to Rs. 100 only.
(iv) There are no lawyers to plead the cases in Nyaya Panchayat. Parties to the disputes argue their own cases.
(ii) Panchayat Samiti:
(a) The second or middle tier of the panchayati raj is Panchayat Samiti which provides a link between Gram Panchayat and a Zila Parishad. The strength of a Panchayat Samiti also depends on the population in a samiti area. In. Panchayat Samiti, some members are directly elected. Sarpanchas of gram panchayats are ex-officio members of Panchayat Samitis.
(b) All the sarpanchas of Gram Panchayats are not members of Panchayat Samitis at the same time. The number varies from State to State and is rotated annually. It means that only Chairpersons of some Gram Panchayats in a Samiti area are members of Panchayat Samiti at a time.
(c) In some panchayats, members of Legislative Assemblies and Legislative Councils as well as members of Parliament who belong to the Samiti area are co-opted as its members. Chairpersons of Panchayat Samitis are, generally, elected from among the directly elected members.
(iii) Zila Parishad:
(i) Zila Parishad at the district level is the uppermost tier of the panchayati raj system. This institution has some directly elected members whose number differs from State to State as it is also based on population.
(ii) Chairpersons of Panchayat Samitis are ex-officio members of Zila Parishads. Members of Parliament, Legislative Assemblies and Councils belonging to the districts are also nominated members of Zila Parishads.
(iii) The Chairperson of a Zila Parishad, called Adhyaksha or President, is elected from among the directly elected members. The Vicechairperson is also elected similarly.
