Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements:
Panchayats at the intermediate level exist in all States.
To be eligible to be a member of a Panchayat at the intermediate level, a person should attain the age of thirty years.
The Chief Minister of a State constitutes a committee to review the financial position of Panchayats at the intermediate level and to make recommendations regarding the distribution of the net proceeds of taxes and duties leviable by the State between the State and Panchayats at the intermediate level.
Which of the statements given above are not correct?
1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
Correct Answer: D
Detailed Solution
Statement 1 is not correct. Article 243B generally provides for Panchayats at the village, intermediate and district levels. However, a Panchayat at the intermediate level need not be constituted in a State having a population not exceeding 20 lakh. Intermediate-level Panchayats, therefore, do not exist in every State.
Statement 2 is not correct. Under Article 243F, a person cannot be disqualified for Panchayat membership merely because the person is below 25 years of age, provided the person has attained 21 years. Thus, the minimum age for Panchayat membership is 21 years, not 30 years.
Statement 3 is not correct. The Chief Minister does not constitute the body that reviews the financial position of Panchayats. Article 243I requires the Governor to constitute a State Finance Commission every fifth year.
The State Finance Commission reviews the financial position of Panchayats and recommends to the Governor the distribution of net proceeds of taxes, duties, tolls and fees between the State and Panchayats; taxes that may be assigned to Panchayats; grants-in-aid from the Consolidated Fund of the State; and measures necessary to improve Panchayat finances. Its functions are not confined to intermediate-level Panchayats.