The Karnataka Panchayat Raj Act Amendment Committee, which submitted its report to the government recently, is planning to consult legal and constitutional experts on making gram sabhas “final authority” to grant permission to set up industrial units.
Chairman of the Committee, K.R. Ramesh Kumar, on Monday said that considering the power being wielded by the corporate bodies in the changed scenario, which are “setting up industries with or without the consent of gram sabhas”, the committee was considering the issue seriously and trying to find a solution within legal and constitutional frameworks.
Though there is already a provision for gram sabhas to pass a resolution rejecting or accepting a proposal for setting up industries or granting mining licenses, the state government had the final say on these issues. Gram sabhas should become final authority in granting land for industries or giving mining licenses, said Mr. Kumar.
Disqualification
The amendments proposed provide powers to the State Election Commissioner to remove a Adhyaksha (president) or Upadhyaksha (vice-president) from office if upon enquiry he or she is found persistently guilty of not discharging duties or pertaining to misconduct.
On the phenomenon of sidelining the Adhyaksha by powerful vice-president and secretary, he said that “no Adhyaksha shall resign from his office or membership except on the grounds of proven physical or mental incapacity certified by competent authority approved by State Election Commission.
