Executive Summary:
This document addresses the delay in Panchayat elections in Manipur, which were due in September 2022. The Minister of State for Panchayati Raj responded to questions raised in Lok Sabha, clarifying the constitutional mandate for timely Panchayat elections and outlining the reasons for the delay in Manipur, which include administrative issues, the introduction of Panchayat Samitis, and the prevailing law and order situation. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has issued advisories to the State Government to conduct the elections without further delay.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Constitutional Mandate:**
* Article 243E1 mandates Panchayat elections every five years.
* Article 243E3 requires elections to be completed before the expiry of the Panchayat's term or within six months of its dissolution.
* **Manipur Panchayat Elections:**
* Last general elections for Gram Panchayats and Zilla Parishads were held in October 2017; the tenure completed in October 2022.
* Panchayat Samitis (Block Panchayats) were introduced into the Manipur Panchayati Raj Act in February 2023.
* The 6th General Election, scheduled for June 2023, was suspended due to the law and order situation; Manipur was declared a Disturbed Area in September 2023.
* President's Rule has been imposed in Manipur as of February 13, 2025.
* **Reasons for Delay:**
* Administrative issues, court cases, litigation, delimitation, and reservation issues are causes for delays which fall under the purview of the States.
* Finalization of technicalities involving the administration of Panchayat Samitis is underway.
* **Government Actions:**
* The Ministry of Panchayati Raj issues advisories to States for the timely conduct of Panchayat elections.
* An advisory was issued to the Government of Manipur on December 18, 2024, to remove administrative hurdles and conduct elections.
* The Government of Manipur is working to resolve conflict and has strengthened law and order machinery.
Impact Analysis:
**Government of Manipur:**
* Impact: Required to address administrative hurdles, resolve conflict, and improve the law and order situation to enable Panchayat elections.
* Action Required: Remove administrative obstacles, continue efforts to establish peaceful conditions, and coordinate with the Ministry of Panchayati Raj to schedule and conduct elections.
**Ministry of Panchayati Raj:**
* Impact: Responsible for overseeing the implementation of the constitutional mandate for Panchayat elections in Manipur.
* Action Required: Continue to monitor the situation in Manipur, provide guidance and support to the State Government, and ensure compliance with constitutional requirements.
**Citizens of Manipur (Rural Areas):**
* Impact: Currently experiencing a gap in local self-governance and representation due to the delayed elections.
* Action Required: Await the resolution of the issues preventing elections and participate in the electoral process once it is initiated.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Panchayati Raj: A ministry within the Government of India responsible for Panchayati Raj institutions.
Manipur: A state in India where Panchayat elections have been delayed.
Constitution of India: The supreme law of India, which includes provisions for Panchayats.
State Panchayati Raj Acts: Laws enacted by individual states in India to govern the functioning of Panchayats.
Article 243E1 of the Constitution: Article of the Constitution of India that provides for holding elections to the Panchayats every five years.
Article 243E3 of the Constitution: Article of the Constitution of India that provides that elections to constitute a Panchayat shall be completed before the expiry of its duration of five years or before the expiration of a period of six months from the date of its dissolution.
Manipur Panchayati Raj Act 1994: The Panchayati Raj Act in the state of Manipur, which has been amended to include Panchayat Samitis.
Presidents Rule in Manipur: The Central government taking direct control of the state administration. It was imposed in Manipur as per gazette notification dt. 13.02.2025
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRYOF PANCHAYATIRAJ
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO– 1486
ANSWEREDON- 29/07/2025
PANCHAYATELECTIONS IN MANIPUR
1486.DR. ANGOMCHABIMOLAKOIJAM:
Will the Minister of PANCHAYATIRAJ be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that the last Panchayat elections in Manipur
were conducted in September 2017 and were due again by September 2022, but have
not yet been held, leading toa gapin localself-governance and representationin rural
areas;
(b) if so, the reasons for the delayinconducting these elections;
(c) the steps being taken by the Government to ensure that Panchayat elections are
heldpromptlyto upholdthe constitutional mandatefor localGovernance; and
(d) whether the Government has any plans to address the challenges hindering the
timelyconductof Panchayat elections,andif so, the detailsthereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FORPANCHAYATIRAJ
(PROF.S.P.SINGH BAGHEL)
(a) to (d) “Panchayat”, being “Local Government”, is a State subject and part of State List
of Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. Panchayats are set up and operate through
the respective State Panchayati Raj Acts which may vary from State to State, subject to the
provisions of the Constitution.Article 243E(1) of the Constitution provides holding of
elections to the Panchayats every five years. Further, Article 243E(3) of the Constitution
provides that elections to constitute a Panchayat shall be completed before the expiry of its
duration of five years or before the expiration of a period of six months from the date of its
dissolution. Therefore, the timelyholding of Panchayatelections ina Stateor Union Territory
is a Constitutional requirement. Accordingly, the States and Union Territories have made
provisions in their State Panchayati Raj laws relating to holding of elections to the
Panchayats.
1In State of Manipur, last General elections to Panchayats (for Gram Panchayats and
Zilla Parishads) were held in October 2017 and tenure of those Panchayats has been
completed in October 2022. Till that time, State of Manipur had two-tier Panchayati Raj
system i.e. Gram Panchayat at village level and Zilla Parishad at District level.After that,
vide Gazette notification dated 20thFebruary, 2023, the provision of “Panchayat Samiti”
(BlockPanchayat)hasbeen inserted inthe Manipur PanchayatiRaj Act 1994.
Govt. of Manipur has informed that finalization of technicalities involving
administration of PanchayatSamitis isunderprocess. The 6thGeneral Election toPanchayats
in Manipur was scheduled to be held in June, 2023. However, due to the prevailing law and
order situation in the State, all further processes related to 6thGeneral Panchayat Elections
were suspended. The State of Manipur was declared as “Disturbed Area”, vide Gazette
notification dt. 27.09.2023.Presently, vide gazette notification dt. 13.02.2025,the President’s
Rule hasbeenimposed inManipur.
Panchayat elections are usually delayed due to administrative issues, court cases,
litigation, delimitation of panchayats, reservation in Panchayats etc., of the states, which fall
within the purview of the States. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj issues advisories, from time
totime,tothe States for timelyconductof PanchayatElections.
The Government of Manipur has informed that it is actively working to resolve the
issues related to conflict. Law and order machinery has been strengthened and dialogues for
peaceful resolution have been attempted. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has issued an
advisory on 18.12.2024 to the Government of Manipur requesting therein to remove
administrative hurdlesand conductthe Panchayatelectionswithout any further delay.
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