REVIEW OF THE MAHARASHTRA MUNICIPAL COUNCILS, NAGAR PANCHAYATS AND INDUSTRIAL TOWNSHIPS ACT, 1965
Near about 250 municipal councils in Maharashtra state are now having the base of this act for doing their daily business. The act was established in 1965, when there was neither any constitutional status for municipal councils nor any obligation by centre to states regarding the formation of law. This states the forwardness and reactiveness of the then leaders of Maharashtra state to put forward the agenda for motivating local leadership through local self governance.
The act later in line with 74th constitutional amendment in article 243, has been amended accordingly. Now the local self governing bodies were constitutionalised. They were given protection and amenities to have fair and regular elections. One of the primary agenda behind this amendment was democratic decentralization. This in real terms gave opportunity and constitutionalised platform to local leadership to practice self governance and shaping of future leaders.
The act puts forward guidelines for local self governance in near about 28 chapters. Some of the important chapter are as following:
- Classification of urban local bodies (ULBs)
- Formation of ULBs
- Elections to ULBs
- Functions and responsibilities of ULB and its staff and members
- Role of Director of Municipal administration and district collector
- Provisions regarding officers and employees
- Running of affairs
- Assets, funds and contracts of ULB
- Budget and accounts
- Taxation
- Recovery of claimed amount by ULB
- Roads and open spaces
- Regularization of buildings
- Drainage
- Water supply
- Public security and amenities
- Harmful diseases control and prevention
- Standard procedure for disposal of dead bodies
- Birth and death related statistics
- Market, slaughter houses, trade and business
- Provisions regarding stray animals
- Law suits and power of police action
- Control over administration
- Issuing notices on negligence in duties and recovery
The act has undergone many amendments since 1966. This amendments are published in gazette from time to time and become part of this act. For instance, the amendment of formation of state cadre for various posts was included in the act with gazette published in 2007-08.
Eligibility to constitute Municipal Council
- Population should be above 25000
- Non agricultural population should be above 35%
Classification of councils
| No | Population | Class of council | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | More than 1 Lac | A | |||
| 2 | 40000-100000 | B | |||
| 3 | Less than 40000 | C |
Main constitutional positions in councils
- Council
- President
- Standing Committee
- Subject Committee
- Ward Committee
- Chief Officer
Comments
Post a Comment