Part IXA: The Municipalities
Article 243S: Constitution and Composition of Wards Committees
Original Article:
Municipalities with a population exceeding 300,000 must establish Wards Committees, consisting of representatives from one or more wards.
Amendments:
Introduced through the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, this Article aims to decentralize municipal governance by establishing Wards Committees.
Explanation:
Article 243S provides for the formation of Wards Committees to ensure local representation and efficient governance within municipalities.
Clause-by-Clause Explanation:
- Mandatory Formation: Municipalities with populations over 300,000 must form Wards Committees.
- State Legislature’s Role: Defines the composition and territorial scope of these committees.
- Chairperson Selection: Representatives from wards elect the Chairperson for multi-ward committees.
Legislative History:
The 74th Amendment introduced Article 243S to empower local governance through Wards Committees, ensuring community participation in municipal decision-making.
Real-life Examples:
- The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) uses Wards Committees to address localized issues like traffic management and waste disposal.
- In Mumbai, Wards Committees manage public amenities such as sanitation and local parks.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Wards Committees address local issues and ensure citizen participation in municipal governance.
Municipal representatives from wards covered by the committee automatically become its members.
For multi-ward committees, members elect the Chairperson. For single-ward committees, the ward representative serves as Chairperson.
Debates and Deliberations:
During discussions on the 74th Amendment:
- Ms. Sheila Dikshit emphasized the need for Wards Committees to address localized urban issues efficiently.
- Dr. Manmohan Singh highlighted their role in decentralizing urban governance.