??? m: €3€H$§T§3QQR§€ £53” BELA$§$R §E %§§NBLE 3%RE w ’ EiéRENEERIQ ?\§§S§%§%& EQNELE $HF§H RN“ QHAMSRa’AKQE} «,M ’ gaém ‘9 Mai $335§ “ 2§G J%iendra Raf "4‘ $§§§i§mwr Ki&r$u$ Qgwcmdmw : 22$3.m a 0 f ' hhaitésgarh and other$ imd other cannectea‘ writ pé‘iitions MM QEEEER $§R €$NS3DE§AHGN Sdl- Dhirendra Mishvrgi I} Jadge W HQM’SLE gHRg RE. wmgmgw, $ ) QyLa i Sd/— ILNZ(}£§WDRAKAR. Judge M ?@$T FWQ QREBER GN QyiliiK-NiigR‘a’ 2M1 Sdl— ’ ’ Dhirendra Misima . Judge g Wféi Pei 6% § H ‘éamam gapaniénm ‘i . EM) ?&titi0n&r Vgr§i§$ é§pandamg 1 . @E’aiiéarmr versus Q§a§aam€m§ 1 . 9é§iémei (/b H§$H €{EUR'F §F 6HHA?TE§$§RH A? Eii£$$L§R .E. HGN’BLE $HR§ §HERENE%§ ME$HRK 3a HQN’BLE SHRI RN‘ CH$§NBRAK§RR 35% Wa’éi 9&té‘iim§ {€i RED” @338 0? 2G$§ Pggiiimmi" JEmtira 31Jyear$x F’aj Ca$te—Gong: S/a Shri Qwmsh R/e VégageuGamyayi, Raj aaed abouf E‘Ehgéé Takhafpm', Bigti‘m B§£33pw (CG) 3taiie. of Chaiéisagarh, Thmug‘n ihe Secriatary, Panchaya‘t arid 3065a! Welfan—z Departmeht, DKS ahawan, Mantfaiaya! Raiur {Chhattisgar‘n} p The Chha‘ztmg'atrh Sia’ie Eiection Sammiazym. ihmughthe Sacretary Raiaur Qhhaiiésgarh. The Distriat EEactkan df‘ficgr-Cum-Cwecton Di$trict Bi!a5pur (CG) Wré‘i Pai‘iian ic‘g N0“ $‘i5é 0f 2§§$ Pamchram Sagan 3/0 Dinbandhu $agar, age 54 year, Occupation Agricuiturist, R/c Dmgripaii, Tah. Baramkeia, Sigtt. Raigarh' (CG) $ia€e 0f Chhatti$garh, Through the 3e0faiary, Pwchayai and3esia§ Weifare Depariment, DK3 Bhawan, Mamfaiaya, Raimr Qhhatti3garh Stata Electisn Ceramisgion, thmuchth-t 39C r‘v Ramar {CC-3‘) T‘ig 9D%$tr‘§cf 4Eiéc‘?§é‘n bfficer—cum-CeHecter, Bi§wis€ R3§gzzrh (CG) W1i? %e%§%imi_§§i Ni}, $?’i§€§ a? g§gi§ Chitabodh {Bahu Sit; Asharp: mm dmé 1n Baramkala, Disfé. Raigarh (CG) Staté of Chhatiisgam, Through the Seemiary, Panchayat and Sada! Weifare Department, DKS Bhawan, Maniralaya, Réipur Chhatiisgarh State E!ection Cbmmissien, thraughtha Secretary Raipw (CG), The Di$trict Eieciicn Qfficer-cum—Canecton District Raigarh (CG) L'Vrii' Qgm’ign {c} E0, ?6$7 m‘ 2i§@§ Radhg$hyam Thawait, Sfo Ramwam Thawah; aged abeut 47 year$, We Viilage Khekhra, Eiock Navagam, Biss‘érict JahjgiruChampa (9&1) Q R D h : E ‘ lg 63 vémw Rwpamemg €. S‘ate a? Chha%€i$gam, Thmugh mg Sécreiafy; Panshayat and Smiaf WaEfara Degaartment, [3K3 f3hawan, Raipu! DEEtrig’z Raiwy (CG; The Shhatiggarh Smia Eiectian Cmnmi$sien, :‘nmugh ihg $acmiaw, Raigvur (3:3). The Bisirict Election Officer-cum-Caiiec’ior, Jainjgr‘Champa, Distriat Janjgir—Champa (CG) Presem : Shri Rakesh Pandey, $hri Amit Shafma and Shri PK Patel, counse! §0r the petitioners. Sm Sumesh Bajaj, Govt. Advecate for the State/re$pandent3. QREER. (PaSSed 0n Qgkl'anuary, 201 1”) Per Dhirendra Mism'a. J Chaitenge in these writ petitiarm is ta thg canstiiuticnai vaiidity of the. provision Le. “previded fhaf {he term at aenseaufi’ve fwa gewrgl eiecfiaim 6f Gram Panchayat‘ shaii cmsz‘iz‘zjée 0m? mtaffm”. camamaé in Seations $3(4)(§i), 13(6), 17(4), 23(3)(ii), 23(5), 25(2)(b), 30(3)(£%), 30(é3) and Sectisn 32{2)(§)(b) af Chhattiagarh Panchayai Raj Nihiniyam, 1993 (in ahert “the Act of 1993”). in$erted Vida the Chha‘t‘iisgarh P3nchayat Raj (Amendment) Act, 2008 (No. 1§ gf 2008), which came into force w.e.f. 23rd Mav. 2008. The Act of 1993 wa$ enactad it) consaiidam am amem‘j the iaw reigiirig t0 astabiEhment of Panchayat$ wiih a Viéw i0 gn§um anective rt invoivement of the Panshayati Raj m$tiiutéans in ihe iocgi adméni§tratian and devempment agtivitiga Ssectian 13 deai$ Wiih conaiitm'im of Gram .Danchayat, whereag $€$iion 17 ciaai$ with eiecttm Qt Sarpanc‘h and up Sarpanch and Section 23 provides tar divta‘ian at bioatr; mtg canatituenciea anti SEcticn 25 deal3 with election of Pre$idant amt. *‘R‘ G2. M Vise-President of Jwmd Panchayat. $k§ation 30 cieaisj wiih aivimri 0f Diatrict into c0na—tituw3ie3 and Sectmn 32 deaa%s with eiectian Gf Pmsident and Vice-President of Ziia Panchayat. Under‘the aforesaid section$, tha :3mvi3i0m; have 31:33 bean made fur reservatmn far SchemEEed Cagtg (SC), 3Qhs2du£asj Tribe {ST} aad Othar Backward (31-5535 (OBS) in ihe Pamhayat by rs‘cat?0n m déffa‘en‘i consiiiuencie3 by 2m Qaiimtior in Lhe pre$cribi3d mamm‘r. By the imwgneai amentiment, it hzga been ps’cvideci that ihe tam 0f cen$ecui§ve two generat éiectiam of Panchayat Shal! camtiwte one rcta‘iion {33‘ The petitioner$ have chaiienged {he amvs pmvigim on tho ground ihat the Legiowture i3 ompowered to make provision for reoervation of ooats in Panchayais or officeg of tho Chairporoono i’n tho ’ Panchayato at aoy tovei, however, the Constitutioo does not authorize the Legioiature of the State to oxtond the term of rotation or reoorvotion from five yearo (one term) to ten yearo (two terms). Thuo, tho provioiori i3 uitra viroo the provioiono of Artiote 243D of the Conotftutioo of india, which emooworo tho $tate Logiotaturo to orovitio for rooowation for SC, rs ST and QB». Howovor, tho t‘ooorveo ooats are to be oiiottoo by rotation to difforeot oohotituonoioo in tho Paoohayat. Attioie 243K(4) only ompoworo tho State togistoture to make provieione with reeoeot to oi! mattere rotating to, or in connection with, oieotion to the Ponohayate, However. the Legiotature cannot inoroaoe or reduoe tho roooruation in Fanohoyats or the term of rotation of reeervation in Panchayato, one therefore, inoreaoing the rotation of term for reeonrotion of two oonoeoutive genera! eiootiono ie uitre vireo and unoonotitmionai. o J. £34. Shri Sumeoh Boga}, ioarnett Govt Advocate appearing on bohaif of the State, wouid argue that the Pariiamont vide 73rd Amendment in / (95 the Camiitumn canfarreca‘ cen$ti%utémal étatu$ t0 the Egcai gavgmmant, imiuding Gram Panchzayat, Jawad Panchayat and Ziia Panchayai with thg :me purpoge thai the State Légéai*%ure cannei do away with mesa demacm’iio bedies in iheair i‘awemive Stateag and may functian far thei-ir nermal tanu’ré, and Panchayat$ are sanatiiutgd regmariy by canducting $Xac§on$ wiihom any dg3ay. We Stairs, in emrcége of iis powsfs conferred by Chapter-Di of the Con$tifuiian a5 am; by Entry 5 0f um H 0f S3hedule VH, has enacted the Panchayaf Raj Adhiniyam, and &$ such, was cemgaetem to enaci the impugned iaw anaj effecf suftabha amemmentg in iig wisdam. Second provitga to sab-clawe (4) 0f C§ause (1) 0f Artide 243D emfy' pmvtdes {hat the number m” nffims raSeWEd undef tn€$ ciauSe $haii ‘ b3 atiotted hy rotati’m tn diffarent Pannhnyatn an earsh ievaE; Amnfn 243E nf tna Cansiiiutéan previdgg far five yenra duraiion of Panchayai at a“ imam, Wherean ihe Pweiament haS nnngciowiy smitted t0 pmvidn inf frequency/duraiinn of retaticm. ()5. it i3 named iaw that inn con§titutional vaiidity of any Act can be chaltengaci nnly 0n two grounds: (i) tack of tegtolative competence, and (ii) vtotetion of any ofv-the fundamental rights guaranteed in Para-Ht of the Conetitution or any other conetitutionat provisions. Reiienoe ie placed on the decisions of the Hon’oie Apex Cow’t in the matters of Fueito eewiaes Tribueei gag? lesseeiatien V3. $iez‘e of UF amt anothef, Govt. of Athdhra Pretfesh emf others Vs. 3min F. ‘AIR2003 so 1115 )k! a iaxmi Bevig, and mS Viroch35< Sangir Va Mfi’zagw §1€9$§ Kawggg Ha § Jamat and 0f§3ersg. Q6. Further rewing upm the deciSsi 0f ihe Supremé Court in the m case of Unmn of dia Vs. Rakes!) Kumar arm oihers", i? was argued m that Articé 243D is a distinct and inofepedent cons€itutional basi$ for e n resewatmii in Panchaat aj ln$titutian$ and this annot be compared ' y R C t0 the2 affirmative actéan measures en&bled by Articies 15(4) and 16(4) 0f the Constiiution. Amide 243D(4) specifica§§y provides that nfféaess of e th C e o ve hatrpetgené; in th Panchayat$ at the village r any ather ha! $haii be egerved fer the SCS, STS and wnmen in $uch manner 5 the r a iegisiaturt: of :a State may, b ia, rovide, Therefor, in the abaance y w p e in cf any specific provision with 'reapect to fraquency cf ratation the Constituti the tate Legislature ie competet to decide te term of nn, S n h rottion. a Q7. We have heard eamed oeuneei for the parties. t GS. iieptably, Entry t3 of Lt ii of Scheduie Vii of the Constitutien ndu is empowers the State t enat any a reiating to constitution of iooei o c iw governmente, that ie to say, the netitution anti powers of mniotpai co u corporations, improvment trusts, district boare, miing settiement e d n ' authorities and other local authorities for the ppose of iooal eit— ur e government or viiiage adminietration. Part iX of the onstiution deals Ct with the Panchayate. Artioie 243D providee for reservation of eeats. tArtioie 243D(1) provides for reservation for SCe and STs in the iPanohayats. i it further provides forguidetines for determining the 2 2003 AIR SCW i826 3 Ark 2008 sc 1892 2010 AIR sow 657 M ruumber 0f seats to be regerved in a pmicuiar Pa‘nchay‘at arid further direct that such $eat$ may be aimtted by rotation t0 different conEtiiuenciei; in a Panchayat. CiaUSes '(4) arid (6) 0f Ariicie 243$ are repraciuced hereunder: It (4) ‘1‘ ihe officeg Qf tim Chairpgrsonss in the Panchayats at the viiiage or any Giher haw! shaii be reserved fer the $eheduied Castee, Scheduieai Tribes and women in such manner 31$ the Legieiature ef a State may, by law, provide. (e) Nothérrg iri thie Part eheii prevent the teegietat‘u‘re a 0f e Snate "' from r making any prcvreion fer reeervatien of Seats in any Panehayat or effieee of Chairpersons; in the Panchayats at any level in tayeur of backward claee of citizens. 09. Article 243E previdee thet every Panchayat, unieee eoener dieeeiyed under any law fer the time being in farce, ehail centinue fer five yeare tram the date anpninteei for ite firet meeting and no lengeri Article 243K grandee fer electien of Penchayat, which reads as unrier: “2%3K, Eieetiorre te tt’re Penci‘rayete. -— The superintendence, directéen and eentrol of the preparation ei‘ electoral rolis for, and the eenduct of, ait elections to the Panohayats eheli be yeeteol’ in a State Election Commieeion consisting of a State Eieotion Commissioner to be appointed by the Governor. (2) $ubjeot to the provieions of any law mede by the Legistature of a State the conditions of service and tenure of office of the $tate Election Commieeioner‘ ehaii be such as the Governor may by ruie determine: Provided that the State Eteotion Commissioner shall not be removed from his m z i I: Eawpt m xikw marine; 1m un the hké gmund as x uuduw 0f Hgh baud and Lhe condiimm Qf gerwcc of we State EEcvan (mmmssaioner <‘hai! nan bx? \I‘xned m his dsSadvantacxe a‘ter his mippomtment (3) Tha Governor of a State ohan, whao so requeoted by the Stake E!ection Commiosion, make avaiiame to the State Bastion Commi$$ion such staff as may be noceosary for the diocharge of the functions conferred on tho Stata EEection Commisoiom by oiauge (1). (4) Subjoo€ to the provismns‘ of thio Constitutmn, the Legisia‘iure of a Stata may, by iaw, mako pmvéoion with respect to an mattors reia‘iing to, or m conneotion with, elections to the Paochayate. 10. From oare reading of the aforeeaid provieione, it ts manifeetty etear that the eeeond proviso to Clause (4) of Artiste 243D onty provictee that the number of offices reserved Lmder thie clause ehall be atlotted by rotation to different Panchayate at each level rt does not provroe rm frequency/duration of rotation and rt doee not restrict that after each term of five years of the Panohayat, thetoftioes reserved under Articte 243D are to be rotated, on the contrary, sub—clause (4) providee that the offioee of the Chairpersons in the Panchayate at the Village or any other tevet shall be reserved in Such manner as Legielature of a State may, by 1aw, orovide. tn addition to that, sub—clause (6) further empowere the State Legialature to make any provision for reservation of seats in any Panohayat at any tevel in favour of backward ciase of Citizens ’\ 11. Similarly, sub-clause (4) of. Ctause 243K empowere the State \\ Legiatature to make provision with respect to matters retating to, or in \\__\ \ M ‘ connection with, eieotiohe to Panchayate, The duration of Panoheyete has baen fixad as fiV$ yeam undar Artide 243E(1) of the Constituiian. Howevar, whi!e providing far rotation of reoervod seats under Articie 243R tho Pariiameni hao conocious‘y refrainad from fixing termi’doratioo of rotation. i2. Theroforei in our oonoio‘aration mow the iorm “i'oiaiion” occuiiiog in Ariioio 243D of the Constitution canooi be rooiricted to one term of the Fariohayat, a3 argued by ieameci oounoei for the petittonero, amt ttr: impughod amendmont Eh Sectioho 13(4)(ii)! 13(6), t?(4), 23(3)(ié), 23(5), 25(2)(b), 30(3)(ii), 30(5) and Section 32(2)(i)(b) of Chapter itt of the Act of 19%, whereby it has boon providod that the term of consecutive two generai eieotione of Gram Pahohayat ehaii constitute one rotation, cannot be hetd uttra vireo Artioie 243D or any other provieione of the Conetitutioh, The petitione are wtthout any mertte, the Same deeerve to be end are, accordingly, diemieeeci. \‘l No order ae to ooete. Sd/— Sdl- R.N. CHANDRAKAR Dhirendra Misi111a : i i Judge Judge