Terms fixed for three-tier panchayat chiefs

KOLKATA: The West Bengal Assembly today passed the West Bengal Panchayat (Second Amendment) Bill-2014 by virtue of which chiefs of the three-tier panchayat system will have a fixed term of 30 months within which they cannot be removed after their election.

Introducing the Bill in the House, West Bengal panchayat minister Subrata Mukherjee said the provision had been made to ensure stability of the elected bodies for time bound delivery of services and also to ensure proper organisational dynamics.

Opposing the Bill, BJP member Shamik Bhattacharya said fixing the terms of Pradhan and Upa-Pradhan of Gram Panchayats, Sabhapati and Sahakari Sabhapati of Panchayat Samities and Sabhadhipati and Sahakari Sabhadhipati of Zilla Parishads would lead to corruption and autocracy.

Similar views were expressed by CPI(M) member Anisur Rahman who said such a provision would generate seeds of corruption and nepotism.

Mukherjee said the amendment brought in the West Bengal Panchayat Act of 1973 did have the provision of removal of the elected chiefs and there was no reason to apprehend that this change would lead to corruption and other illegal things.