Tamil Nadu Government Gazette Extraordinary No. 251
The Government of Tamil Nadu, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, through G.O. (Ms) No. 124, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (PR-1), dated 24th October 2016, and G.O. (Ms) No. 125, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (PR-1), dated 24th October 2016, published the Governor of Tamil Nadu's appointments of Special Officers for Village Panchayats and Panchayat Union Councils. The appointments took effect on 25th October 2016 and provided temporary administration until the first meetings after ordinary elections or 31st December 2016, whichever was earlier.
What the notifications govern
G.O. (Ms) No. 124, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (PR-1), dated 24th October 2016, governs the temporary administration of Village Panchayats. G.O. (Ms) No. 125, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (PR-1), dated 24th October 2016, governs the temporary administration of Panchayat Union Councils.
The Government of Tamil Nadu issued the notifications after the High Court of Madras quashed the local body election notifications and directed that fresh elections be held. The court also directed the Government to administer local bodies through Special Officers until elections were held. The existing terms of the local bodies were due to expire on 24th October 2016.
Who was appointed
The Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department notifications record the following appointments by the Governor of Tamil Nadu:
- Block Development Officers (Village Panchayats) of the respective Panchayat Unions were appointed as Special Officers for the respective Village Panchayats.
- Assistant Directors (Panchayats) and Assistant Directors (Audit) of the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department were appointed as Special Officers for the Panchayat Unions listed in the notification.
- The Panchayat Union table assigns officers by district and union. Depending on the listed union, the officer is an Assistant Director (Panchayats), an Assistant Director (Audit), or an Assistant Director responsible for a named division.
Duration and powers
The appointments under G.O. (Ms) No. 124 and G.O. (Ms) No. 125 came into force on 25th October 2016. The Special Officers were authorised to exercise the powers and perform the functions of the relevant Village Panchayats or Panchayat Union Councils under the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994.
The appointments were temporary. They continued until the first meeting of the relevant local body after ordinary elections, or until 31st December 2016, whichever occurred earlier.
Relevance to property owners and buyers
The Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department notifications do not set out changes to land title, ownership, land use, planning permission, taxes or property fees. Their relevance is administrative. During the stated temporary period, the appointed Special Officer exercised the functions of the relevant Village Panchayat or Panchayat Union Council instead of elected representatives.
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Common questions
Did these notifications change land ownership or land use rules?
No land ownership or land use change is set out in the notifications. They concern the temporary administration of Village Panchayats and Panchayat Union Councils.
Who administered Village Panchayats from 25th October 2016?
The Block Development Officer (Village Panchayats) of the respective Panchayat Union was appointed as Special Officer for each respective Village Panchayat.
Who was appointed for Panchayat Union Councils?
The notification appointed the relevant Assistant Director (Panchayats) or Assistant Director (Audit) of the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department for each Panchayat Union listed in its table.
How long were the Special Officers meant to remain in charge?
They were to remain in charge until the first meeting following ordinary elections or until 31st December 2016, whichever was earlier.
