**Executive Summary**
This document is the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette Extraordinary, dated April 16, 2025. It contains two bills introduced in the Legislative Assembly of the State of Tamil Nadu: The Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies (Amendment) Act, 2025 (L.A. Bill No. 9 of 2025) and The Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Second Amendment) Act, 2025 (L.A. Bill No. 10 of 2025). Both bills aim to nominate persons with disabilities in local bodies to ensure their representation.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies (Amendment) Act, 2025 (L.A. Bill No. 9 of 2025):**
* **Short Title and Commencement:** This Act may be called the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies (Amendment) Act, 2025, and it will come into force on a date appointed by the State Government.
* **Amendment of Section 2:** Inserts a clause defining "person with disability" in accordance with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
* **Amendment of Section 37:**
* Provides for the nomination of one person with disability as a member by the Government (or Director).
* Specifies that two persons with disability are to be nominated if the council strength exceeds one hundred.
* Defines qualifications for such nomination and states that the term of office will be co-terminus with the duration of the council.
* **Amendment of Section 43-A / Insertion of New Section 43-A:** Defines the powers and duties of the nominated member.
* **Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Second Amendment) Act, 2025 (L.A. Bill No. 10 of 2025):**
* **Short Title and Commencement:** This Act may be called the Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Second Amendment) Act, 2025, and it will come into force on a date appointed by the State Government.
* **Amendment of Section 2:** Inserts a clause defining "person with disability" in accordance with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
* **Insertion of New Section 32-A:** Requires the nomination of a person with disability as a member in every village panchayat, panchayat union council, and district panchayat, by the Government (or authorized authority), and states that the nomination is in addition to the existing members.
* States that the term of office will be co-terminus with the duration of the panchayat and specifies that nominated members do not have voting rights.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: State Government**
* **Impact:** Responsible for issuing notifications for the commencement of the Acts.
* **Action Required:** Appoint dates for the Acts to come into force, issue notifications, and define the manner of nomination, qualifications, and powers/duties of nominated members with disabilities.
**Stakeholder: Persons with Disabilities**
* **Impact:** Increased representation and opportunity for participation in urban local bodies and panchayats.
* **Action Required:** Express interest in being nominated and meet qualifications to be prescribed.
**Stakeholder: Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils, Town Panchayats, Village Panchayats, Panchayat Union Councils, and District Panchayats**
* **Impact:** Need to accommodate nominated members with disabilities within their structures.
* **Action Required:** Integrate nominated members and adapt processes and structures to facilitate their participation.
**Stakeholder: The Director (Regarding Municipal Councils and Town Panchayats)**
* **Impact:** Added responsibility for nominating members with disabilities.
* **Action Required:** Nominate persons with disabilities and define the manner of nomination.
Key Entities Referenced
Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Act, 1998: Principal act being amended to nominate persons with disabilities in urban local bodies.
Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994: Principal act being amended to nominate persons with disabilities in panchayats.
Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016: Defines 'person with disability' for the purpose of the amended acts.
Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies (Amendment) Act, 2025: Bill to amend the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Act to nominate persons with disabilities.
Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Second Amendment) Act, 2025: Bill to amend the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act to nominate persons with disabilities.