Zilla Parishad chairpersons' fate hangs in the balance with Telangana government
Hyderabad: The fate of Zilla Parishad chairpersons in the state hangs in the balance with the TS government proceeding with creation of new districts from Dasara day.
Presently, the ZPs are functioning with districts that are co-terminus and creation of more districts within an existing district will eventually disturb the jurisdiction of ZP chairpersons.
For example, the existing Warangal district is most likely to be split into three districts and parts of the existing district are likely to be merged with other districts.
The state at present consists 10 districts and nine ZPs (Hyderabad urban district does not have ZP).
The exercise taken up by the government is to create 14 more districts by reorganising the existing 10 districts.
Geographically, the ZPs at present spread over the entire district (minus municipal areas) and the chairperson is elected from among the Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency members.
If the new districts are created, the serving ZP chairperson elected from the ZPTCs may in all probability go to a newly-created district. In such a scenario, the question arises if this chairperson will also continue serving the other two or three newly-created districts, of fresh elections held for the new districts.
The law pertaining to ZPs and Mandal Parishads mandates reservations to various sections and accordingly, reservations in ZP chairperson posts were notified and elections conducted.
If new districts are formed, the government will have to revise the reservation guidelines that will add to the confusion and may also unseat the existing chairpersons.
“We are totally confused. We have to see what the government does. We are going to represent the difficulties to the Cabinet subcommittee, but when I spoke to a senior official, he told me that the government will take a decision in this regar,” said Tula Uma, Karimnagar ZP chairperson.
When contacted, Panchayati Raj minister Jupally Krishna Rao said, “We are studying the likely consequences of new districts’ formation vis-a-vis Zilla Parishads. Earlier, when the number of districts was increased in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Rajasthan, new ZP chairpersons were either nominated or elected. The question whether we have to supersede the existing ZP chairpersons and nominate someone or appoint Special Officers is being examined.”
According to a senior official who wished to be not named, the government will only bring changes in Revenue Administration of the State by creating more districts, but not contemplating to change the Panchayati Raj Administration, till at least the present bodies complete their full term in March, 2019.
“Once they complete their term, Panchayati Raj administration also will be subjected to changes and polls will be conducted according to the new ZPs,” he said.
This means till the next 2.5 years, new districts with new district collectors will function with reorganised territorial jurisdictions but the jurisdiction of the ZP chairperson would remain the same.
