SSC
If a panchayat is dissolved before the end of its term, the election to constitute a new panchayat must be completed within:
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Answer: Option D — 6 months of the dissolution
Detailed Solution
Under Article 243E(3)(b), an election to constitute a panchayat must be completed before the expiry of a period of six months from the date of its dissolution, if it is dissolved before the end of its term.
Exception:
If the remainder of the period for which the dissolved panchayat would have continued is less than six months, it is not necessary to hold an election for that short period.
Term of the new panchayat:
A panchayat formed after early dissolution continues only for the remainder of the term of the dissolved panchayat, not for a full term.
Why this rule exists:
- Before the 73rd Amendment, state governments often dissolved panchayats and did not hold elections for many years, ruling through officials.
- The six-month rule prevents such misuse and ensures that elected bodies are restored quickly.
Other provisions of Article 243E:
- Every panchayat has a fixed term, counted from the date appointed for its first meeting.
- A panchayat cannot be dissolved without being given a reasonable opportunity of being heard.
- An amendment of a state law cannot cause the dissolution of a panchayat before its term ends.
- Elections must be completed before the expiry of the term of the panchayat.
Who conducts elections:
The State Election Commission, under Article 243K.
Parallel provision for municipalities:
Article 243U makes similar provisions for municipalities, including the six-month rule after dissolution.
Judicial view:
- The Supreme Court has held that State Election Commissions must hold panchayat and municipal elections on time, and that delimitation or reservation issues cannot be used as excuses for indefinite delay.
- In the Suresh Mahajan case (2022), the Court directed Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh to hold overdue local body elections.
Importance:
Regular elections keep local self-government democratic and accountable.
Why not the other options?
- ✗3 months, 1 year and the next general election are not the periods laid down.
Quick tip
Remember: Dissolved panchayat → new election within 6 months (Article 243E); same for municipalities (Article 243U).
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Panchayati Raj & Municipalities — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Panchayati Raj & Municipalities, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers local self-government in India: the Balwant Rai Mehta and Ashok Mehta committees, the 73rd Amendment on panchayats (Part IX and the Eleventh Schedule), the 74th Amendment on municipalities (Part IX-A and the Twelfth Schedule), and state election commissions and finance commissions. Questions commonly ask which state first adopted Panchayati Raj (Rajasthan, at Nagaur in 1959), which committee recommended the three-tier system, and what the 73rd and 74th Amendments provide, such as reservation for women of not less than one-third of seats. The Eleventh Schedule lists 29 subjects and the Twelfth lists 18. Practise the Panchayati Raj and municipalities questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.