MOTILAL B. NALK, J.

( 1 ) ONE of the Directive Principles of State policy as enshrined in Article 40 of the constitution of India is that the States shall take steps to organize village panchayats and endow them with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as units of self-government. Past experience showed that the Panchayat Raj Institutions have not been able to acquire the status and dignity of viable and responsive peoples bodies due to a number of reasons including absence of regular elections, prolonged supersessions, insufficient representation of weaker sections like Scheduled Castes, Scheduled tribes and Women, inadequate devolution of powers and lack of financial resources. It is in this background, a Bill to seek 73rd amendment to the Constitution of India as introduced to achieve the following ojectives, viz. ,"to add a new Part relating to panchayats in the Constitution to provide for among other things. Gram sabha in a village or group of villages, constitution of Panchayats at village and other level or levels; direct elections to all seats in Panchayats at the village and intermediate level, if any, and to the Offices of Chairpersons

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