L.M. Singhvi Committee
Topic: Panchayati Raj: Rural Local Government · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The L.M. Singhvi Committee (1986) recommended that panchayati raj get recognition in the Constitution so that states could not ignore or dissolve panchayats at will. It also asked for more money for panchayats and for nyaya panchayats (village courts). It called the gram sabha, the assembly of all village voters, the embodiment of direct democracy.
Example
The Singhvi Committee's call for constitutional recognition came true with the 73rd Amendment (1992). Art. 243A now gives every panchayat area a gram sabha. Nyaya panchayats were not made compulsory.
Don't confuse with
- Ashok Mehta Committee (1978): it also wanted constitutional recognition and nyaya panchayats, but it proposed two tiers with mandal panchayats. The Singhvi Committee is best known for its stress on constitutional status and the gram sabha.
Related concepts
- Ashok Mehta Committee
- G.V.K. Rao Committee
- P.K. Thungon Committee
- Gadgil Committee
- Constitution (64th Amendment) Bill 1989