Part IX & IXA - Panchayats & Municipalities • Article

Article 243D Simplified: Reservation of seats

Article 243D provides mandatory reservations in Panchayats. Seats must be reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in proportion to their population. Crucially, it mandates that not less than one-third of all seats and chairperson offices must be reserved for women, distributed by rotation.

Official Text

(1) Seats shall be reserved for— (a) the Scheduled Castes; and (b) the Scheduled Tribes, in every Panchayat and the number of seats so reserved shall bear, as nearly as may be, the same proportion to the total number of seats to be filled by direct election in that Panchayat as the population of the Scheduled Castes in that Panchayat area or of the Scheduled Tribes in that Panchayat area bears to the total population of that area and such seats may be allotted by rotation to different constituencies in a Panchayat. (2) Not less than one-third of the total number of seats reserved under clause (1) shall be reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes or, as the case may be, the Scheduled Tribes. (3) Not less than one-third (including the number of seats reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes) of the total number of seats to be filled by direct election in every Panchayat shall be reserved for women and such seats may be allotted by rotation to different constituencies in a Panchayat. (4) The offices of the Chairpersons in the Panchayats at the village or any other level shall be reserved for the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and women in such manner as the Legislature of a State may, by law, provide: Provided that the number of offices of Chairpersons reserved for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in the Panchayats at each level in any State shall bear, as nearly as may be, the same proportion to the total number of such offices in the Panchayats at each level as the population of the Scheduled Castes in the State or of the Scheduled Tribes in the State bears to the total population of the State: Provided further that not less than one-third of the total number of offices of Chairpersons in the Panchayats at each level shall be reserved for women: Provided also that the number of offices reserved under this clause shall be allotted by rotation to different Panchayats at each level. (5) The reservation of seats under clauses (1) and (2) and the reservation of offices of Chairpersons (other than the reservation for women) under clause (4) shall cease to have effect on the expiration of the period specified in article 334. (6) Nothing in this Part shall prevent the Legislature of a State from making any provision for reservation of seats in any Panchayat or offices of Chairpersons in the Panchayats at any level in favour of backward class of citizens.

Simple Meaning

Explain Like Ten

This rule ensures that seats in the village councils are set aside for Scheduled Castes and Tribes based on their population, and guarantees that at least one-third (33%) of all seats and leader positions are reserved for women.

Student Mode

Article 243D details reservations. SC and ST seats are reserved in proportion to their population in the Panchayat area. Crucially, clause (3) mandates that at least one-third of direct election seats must be reserved for women. Clause (4) extends this one-third women's quota to chairperson offices at all levels, and allows states to make reservations for backward classes.

Example

In a local election cycle, a village Panchayat is declared a 'women-reserved constituency'. Under Article 243D, only female candidates can contest for the office of the Sarpanch in that village during this term, ensuring representation.

Key Takeaway

Article 243D empowers marginalized sections and guarantees a minimum 33% representation for women in both Panchayat seats and leadership offices.

FAQs

What is the minimum reservation quota for women in Panchayats?

The Constitution mandates a minimum of one-third (33%) reservation for women, though several states (like Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra) have increased this to 50% through state laws.

Does the women's reservation apply to leadership positions (chairpersons)?

Yes, under Article 243D(4), at least one-third of the offices of chairpersons at the village, intermediate, and district levels must be reserved for women by rotation.

Are reservations for backward classes (OBCs) allowed under Article 243D?

Yes, Article 243D(6) permits state legislatures to make reservations for backward classes in seats or chairperson offices, though it is not constitutionally mandated like SC/ST and women's reservations.

Quiz

What is the minimum percentage of seats reserved for women in Panchayats under Article 243D?

Answer: 33% (One-third)

Reservations for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Panchayats are determined based on:

Answer: Their proportion to the total population of the Panchayat area