Taking note of the observation of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in this regard, Punjab has decided to revert to district-wise reservation of Sarpanch of Gram Panachayat from its current practice of Block-wise reservation.The decision was taken on Monday by the state cabinet, led by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh.The Cabinet approved the necessary amendment in the Punjab Reservation of Offices and Sarpanches of Gram Panchayats and Chairman and Vice Chairmen of Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads Rules, 1994, to make the rotation process of Sarpanch in conformity with section 12(4) of Panchayati Raj Act.The move will also enable effective implementation of the government’s historic decision of June 2017 to enhance women’s reservation from 33% to 50% by amending Section 12 of the Panchayati Raj Act.The High Court had, on 29.05.2008, observed that "we are unable to really interfere in the election process at this stage even though block wise rotation is apparently no in conformity with district wise rotation mandated vide section 12 of Panchayati Raj Act.”
Approving the amendment suggested by Rural Development and Panchayats Department, the State Cabinet gave its nod to inserting Rule 6 (A) after 6, under which the district wise rotation of reservation for the offices of Sarpanch of Gram Panchayats shall be made by Deputy Commissioner in accordance with the provision of the act and amended rules. Approving the principle of rotation, reservation in the roaster will begin from first non-reserved panchayat in order of Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Caste Women and Women. The remaining panchayats shall be unreserved.Clarifying the process of reservation, an official spokesperson said that all offices of Sarpanch of Gram Panchayats reserved for Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Caste Women and Women respectively, in different blocks of respective districts at the time of election in 2013, shall be merged category wise and placed at the top of the roster as per seriatim of first scheduled casts; then Scheduled Castes Women; and then Women.All offices of Sarpanches of the newly constituted Gram Panchayats in the district shall be placed at the end of the newly prepared roster. The roster for reservation of the offices of Sarpanch of Gram Panchayats would be notified minimum one week before the date of presentation of nomination papers.The cabinet also approved the reduction of time limit required to seek objections to draft rules from the general public to 15 days from earlier limit of 30 days.