Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994 [Tamil Nadu Act 21 of 1994] (1994)
The Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994, enacted as Tamil Nadu Act 21 of 1994 and effective from 1 January 1994, establishes and governs village panchayats, panchayat union councils and district panchayats in Tamil Nadu. It covers their formation, elections, administration, property, public roads, commu...
What the Act governs
The Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994 [Tamil Nadu Act 21 of 1994] provides the legal framework for Grama Sabhas, village panchayats, panchayat union councils and district panchayats. It deals with their formation, incorporation, membership, elections, officers, meetings, staff, powers, duties, property and funds.
The Act includes provisions on:
- Formation and alteration of panchayat villages.
- Constitution and duration of the three levels of panchayats.
- Division into wards and preparation of electoral rolls.
- Qualifications and disqualifications of candidates and members.
- Election and functions of presidents, vice presidents, chairmen and vice chairmen.
- Election offences and requisitioning of premises or vehicles for election purposes.
- Administrative reports, proceedings, officers and employees.
Property and land provisions
The Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994 contains several provisions that may affect landowners, occupiers and property buyers in panchayat areas. The source lists powers and duties concerning:
- Vesting of public roads in village panchayats and panchayat union councils.
- Prohibition of obstructions in or over public roads.
- Vesting of communal property or income in village panchayats.
- Regulation of certain porambokes in ryotwari tracts and certain communal lands in estates.
- Transfer of immovable property and management of institutions or works to village panchayats.
- Transfer and resumption of control over endowments and inams by the Commissioner of Land Administration.
- Acquisition of immovable property required by village panchayats or panchayat union councils under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894.
- Fencing of buildings or land, pruning of hedges and trees, and precautions concerning dangerous structures, trees, tanks, wells and holes.
- Numbering or naming of buildings.
Construction, business use and local revenue
The Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994 addresses uses of property that may require local approval. It includes licensing of private markets, restrictions on slaughtering places, licences for specified uses of places, and permission for factory construction and machinery installation.
The Act also provides for local cess, taxes leviable by village panchayats, advertisement tax, appeals against assessments, duty on transfer of property, collection of taxes and fees, and the establishment of village panchayat, panchayat union and district panchayat funds.
This summary is generated from the source document to help you find what is relevant. The PDF above is authoritative. For advice on your own property, use LandLens One or speak to a qualified professional.
Common questions
Can a village panchayat control poramboke or communal land?
The Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994 includes provisions for village panchayats to regulate certain porambokes in ryotwari tracts and certain communal lands in estates. It also addresses the vesting of communal property or income in village panchayats.
Can land be acquired for a village panchayat or panchayat union council?
Yes. The Act provides that immovable property required by village panchayats and panchayat union councils may be acquired under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894.
Does the Act regulate obstructions on public roads?
Yes. The Act includes the vesting of public roads in village panchayats or panchayat union councils and a prohibition against obstructions in or over public roads.
Does factory construction in a panchayat area require permission?
The Act contains a provision concerning permission for the construction of factories and installation of machinery. It also allows rules to be made for granting and renewing licences and permissions.
