Composition of Municipalities
Article 243R — Composition of Municipalities
clause (2), all the seats in a Municipality shall be filled by persons chosen by direct election from the territorial constituencies in the Municipal area and for this purpose each Municipal area shall be divided into territorial constituencies to be known as wards. (2) The Legislature of a State may, by law, provide—
- (a) for the representation in a Municipality of—
- (i) persons having special knowledge or experience in
Municipal administration;
- (ii) the members of the House of the People and the members of the Legislative Assembly of the State representing constituencies which comprise wholly or partly the Municipal area;
- (iii) the members of the Council of States and the members of the Legislative Council of the State registered as electors within the Municipal area;
- (iv) the Chairpersons of the Committees constituted under clause (5) of article 243S: Provided that the persons referred to in paragraph (i) shall not have the right to vote in the meetings of the Municipality;
- (b) the manner of election of the Chairperson of a Municipality.
Plain English Summary
This article explains how the members of a Municipality (a local governing body) are chosen. Generally, all seats in a Municipality are filled by people directly elected by the residents within specific local areas called wards. However, the State Legislature can also decide to include certain types of representatives in the Municipality.
Key Points
- Direct Election: All seats in a Municipality must be filled by people directly elected from the territorial constituencies (wards) within that Municipal area.
- Wards: The Municipal area must be divided into specific territorial constituencies called wards for this purpose.
- State Legislature Powers: The State Legislature has the power to provide for representation in the Municipality by law, including experts, state assembly/legislature members, and registered electors.
- Exclusion of Experts: Persons appointed for special knowledge or experience in Municipal administration cannot vote in the Municipality's meetings.
Why It Matters
This article ensures that local governance is democratic through direct elections while allowing states flexibility to include specialized expertise or broader representation based on local needs.
Landmark Judgements
No major landmark judgements.