Parliament Question: Women Representatives in Panchayati Raj Institutions

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO– 2534 ANSWERED ON- 04.08.2026 WOMEN REPRESENTATIVES IN PANCHAYATI RAJ INSTITUTIONS †2534. SHRI PATEL UMESHBHAI BABUBHAI:

Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware that the tenure of the woman Chairperson in District Panchayats of Daman and Diu has been fixed to approximately two years and six months instead of complete five years if so, the details thereof;

(b) the date on which this rule was implemented and through which notification or amendment it was made effective along with the rationale of the Government behind it;

(c) whether this system prevents women representatives from completing their full tenure, which creates obstacles in the development of their leadership, decision-making capacity and administrative experience;

(d) whether this provision is contrary to the principle of equality enshrined in Article 14 of the Constitution and the spirit of political empowerment of women and should be considered an injustice to women; and

(e) if so, the steps being taken to repeal/amend this provision, and if not, the reasons therefor? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF PANCHAYATI RAJ (SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH)

(a) and (b) Yes, Sir. The Union Territory (UT) Administration has informed that ‘The Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu Panchayat Regulation, 2012’ was amended vide Presidential Regulation Order, 2020 dated 8th October, 2020 and notified in the Official Gazette on 17.04.2021, whereby the tenure of the Chairperson in District Panchayats, which includes women Chairperson has been fixed to two years and six months from the date they are appointed for its first meeting and no longer. The office of the Chairperson in District Panchayat shall be reserved for women in every second term. The UT Administration has also informed that the purpose of this amendment is to promote women empowerment by strengthening their leadership role and administrative experience.

1(c) No, Sir. The UT Administration has informed that the period of two years and six months is specifically reserved for women to strengthen their leadership role, decision making capacities and administrative experience along with the provision to assume leadership responsibilities for the remaining tenure.

(d) The UT Administration has informed that the said provision is not contrary to the principle of equality enshrined in Article 14 of the Constitution and the spirit of political empowerment of women and should not be considered an injustice to women. It is seen as a mechanism to fulfill the spirit of political empowerment of women by ensuring that more representatives, particularly those from reserved categories and women, have the opportunities to hold leadership roles.

(e) The UT Administration has informed that in the view of the provisions mentioned in the Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu Panchayat Regulation, 2012, no amendments are required. *** 2