discuss about the composition and function of Panchayat samiti in West Bengal
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Answer:
According to the West Bengal Panchayat Act of 1973 the Panchayat Samiti is the second layer of the three-tier Panchayat system. In fact, the Panchayat Samiti is the successor of the former Anchalik Parishad at the block level as per 1963 Panchayat Act.
Composition of Panchayat Samiti
The Panchayat Samiti consists of the following members.
First, all the Pradhans of the Village Panchayat within the block are the ex-officio members of the Panchayat Samiti.
Secondly, all the elected members of Lok Sabha and the State Legislative Assembly elected from the block and the members of the Rajya Sabha residing in the block automatically becomes the member of Panchayat Samity. However, no minister either of the central government or of the state government can become a member of the Panchayat Samiti.
Functions of Panchayat Samiti
As regards the function of the Panchayat Samiti, it is the Sabhapati who enshoulders all the administrative and financial responsibilities of the Panchayat Samiti. It is his duty to maintain and preserve all the important documents and necessary papers of the Samity. The Sabhapati supervises and controls the activities of the members of the Samiti appointed by the state government. He may have to enshoulder any other special duty that the state government may entrust on him. During the absence of the Sabhapati the Saha-Sabhapati performs his duties. Of course the former can delegate some of his functions or can give some special duty in writing to the Saha-Sabhapati. Yet the Sabhapati is the Chief of the Panchayat Samiti and all activities of the Samiti are performed under his leadership. It is his duty to convene the meeting of the Samiti at least once in a month. However, after the West Bengal Panchayat Fourth Amendment Act of 1978. Such meeting may be convened once after three months. At least a seven days’ notice is to be given before convening such meeting and an emergency meeting may be convened on three days’ notice. In each meeting the date, time and place of the next meeting is fixed. The presence of at least one-fourth members will make the quorum. The Sabhapati enjoys the power of giving the casting vote in case of a tie in the meeting. Generally the Sabhapati presides over the meeting, though in his absence the responsibility is taken by the Saha-Sabhapati. If both the Sabhapati and the Saha-Sabhapati are absent at the time of the meeting the members elect one from among themselves to chair the meeting.