Amendment to the Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Fixation of Strength of Members and Division of Wards) Rules, 1995
The Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, through G.O.Ms No.92, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (PR-1), dated 3 July 2018, amended the Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Fixation of Strength of Members and Division of Wards) Rules, 1995. Issued by the Governor of Tamil Nadu, the amendment keeps the existing numbers of wards and ward members in every Village Panchayat, Panchayat Union Council and District Panchayat unchanged, regardless of population, until the Government directs otherwise.
What the amendment governs
The Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department issued G.O.Ms No.92, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (PR-1), dated 3 July 2018. Acting under the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994, the Governor of Tamil Nadu added a new provision to the Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Fixation of Strength of Members and Division of Wards) Rules, 1995.
The amendment governs the number of wards and the number of members returned by each ward in three types of rural local bodies:
- Village Panchayats.
- Panchayat Union Councils.
- District Panchayats.
What changes
The amendment adds sub-rule (4) after sub-rule (3) in rule 3. Its main provisions are:
- The number of wards in each covered rural local body must remain the same as it existed on the commencement date of the Tamil Nadu Delimitation Commission Act, 2017.
- The number of members returned by each ward must also remain the same as it existed on that date.
- These numbers remain unchanged irrespective of population.
- The arrangement continues until the Government directs otherwise.
- The new provision applies despite anything contained in sub-rules (1), (2) and (3) of rule 3.
Who is affected
G.O.Ms No.92 directly concerns the structure of representation in Village Panchayats, Panchayat Union Councils and District Panchayats. It is relevant to rural local bodies, their members, election administrators and residents who need to know how many wards and representatives their local body has.
For a property buyer or owner, the notification is relevant only to the local government ward structure described in it. The source text addresses ward numbers and the number of members returned from each ward. It does not set out provisions on property ownership, land classification, planning permission, building approval or land use.
Duration of the arrangement
The fixed ward and member numbers do not have an end date stated in the notification. They continue until the Government issues a different direction.
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
Does the amendment redraw Village Panchayat ward boundaries?
The notification does not describe new ward boundaries. It states that the number of wards and the number of members returned by each ward must remain the same as they existed when the Tamil Nadu Delimitation Commission Act, 2017 commenced.
Can population changes alter the number of wards under this amendment?
No. The amendment says the existing number of wards and ward members remains the same irrespective of population, until the Government directs otherwise.
Which local bodies are covered?
The amendment covers every Village Panchayat, Panchayat Union Council and District Panchayat.
Does G.O.Ms No.92 change land ownership or land use rules?
The source text only changes rules concerning the number of wards and members in specified rural local bodies. It does not contain provisions on land ownership or land use.
