Every panchayat post — what each does, from ward panch to zila pramukh (Rajasthan)

Every gram panchayat is divided into wards, and each ward directly elects one panch; the sarpanch and these panches together make up the gram panchayat (Section 12). Panches vote on decisions in panchayat meetings, elect the up-sarpanch when the panchayat is constituted, and can sign a no-confidence notice against the sarpanch (Sections 27, 37).

Each ward's Ward Sabha (all adults of the ward) meets at least twice a year and proposes development works and identifies beneficiaries (Sections 3, 7). A ward panch gets no monthly honorarium, only a ₹276 meeting allowance. Panch polls are not on party symbols — only free symbols.

A panchayat samiti has three kinds of members: members directly elected from its constituencies, the area's MLAs, and the sarpanches of all its gram panchayats. MLAs and sarpanches can vote in samiti meetings, but not to elect or remove the pradhan and up-pradhan (Section 13). A samiti member gets a ₹483 meeting allowance.

The pradhan and up-pradhan are chosen by the samiti's elected members from among themselves (Section 28). The pradhan's powers (Section 33):

• Convening, presiding over and conducting samiti meetings; full access to its records.
• Supervision and control over the Vikas Adhikari to get the decisions of the samiti and its standing committees implemented.
• Overall supervision of the samiti's financial and executive administration.
• Sanctioning up to ₹25,000 a year in all, in consultation with the Vikas Adhikari, for immediate relief to people hit by natural calamities; to be ratified at the next meeting.
• Guiding panchayats in their plans and encouraging co-operation.

The up-pradhan presides in the pradhan's absence, exercises powers the pradhan delegates in writing, and acts as pradhan until one is elected or while the pradhan is on leave for more than 30 days (Section 34). The pradhan gets ₹11,689 a month.

Besides its directly elected members, a zila parishad includes the area's Lok Sabha MPs and MLAs, Rajya Sabha MPs registered as voters in the district, and the pradhans of all its panchayat samitis. These ex-officio members can vote in meetings but not to elect or remove the zila pramukh and up-pramukh (Section 14). A zila parishad member gets a ₹690 meeting allowance.

The zila pramukh and up-pramukh are chosen by the zila parishad's elected members from among themselves (Section 29). The zila pramukh's powers (Section 35):

• Convening, presiding over and conducting zila parishad meetings.
• Administrative supervision and control over the Chief Executive Officer and, through them, all zila parishad officers and staff; full access to records.
• Overall supervision of the zila parishad's financial and executive administration.
• Sanctioning up to ₹1 lakh a year in all, in consultation with the CEO, for immediate relief in natural calamities.
• Visiting the district's blocks and inspecting panchayat samitis' works and records, reporting to the zila parishad.
• Sending an annual report on the CEO's work to the Director, Panchayati Raj and Rural Development.

The up-pramukh presides in the pramukh's absence and exercises delegated powers. The zila pramukh gets ₹16,698 a month.

1. Ward panch, sarpanch, samiti or zila parishad member: meet the eligibility rules (at least 21, on that area's voter list, a working toilet at home and so on — Section 19), file a nomination with the deposit on time, then win the election.
2. Up-sarpanch: first be elected a ward panch, then win the up-sarpanch election at the panchayat's first meeting.
3. Pradhan or zila pramukh: first be elected a samiti or zila parishad member, then win the election among the elected members. The offices of sarpanch, pradhan and zila pramukh are reserved for SC, ST, backward classes and women (Section 16), so check whom the seat is reserved for first.

• Term: each institution lasts 5 years from its first meeting (Section 17); a deputy holds office only while a member (Section 30).
• Resignation (Section 36): sarpanch, up-sarpanch, panch → Vikas Adhikari; pradhan → zila pramukh; up-pradhan and samiti members → pradhan; zila pramukh → divisional commissioner; up-pramukh and zila parishad members → zila pramukh. Effective after 15 days unless withdrawn.
• No-confidence: against a chairperson or deputy on notice by one-third of members, carried by three-fourths; not within 2 years of taking office (Section 37).