This article will help you to learn about the relationship between the Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti.
The Panchayat Samiti is organically linked with the Zila Parishad. The Pradhan of the Samiti sits as a member in the Parishad’s meetings and participates in the election of Pramukh. If the political composition of both the organs is not homogeneous, the problems of co-ordination are conspicuous by their absence.
The Panchayat Samiti sends its budget to the Zila Parishad which possesses only advisory jurisdiction except in U.P. and Maharashtra where it possesses mandatory powers. The Panchayat Samiti banks upon Zila Parishad for the distribution of matching or adhoc grants.
The Zila Parishad possesses the power of supervising the activities of the Panchayat Samiti. It can ask for the latter’s records and seek any information it deems essential. It even advises the State Government regarding the development work in the district and can exercise influence on the opinion of the latter about the work of the Panchayat Samiti.
The Zila Parishad can institute an Establishment Committee or Selection Board, which regulates the mode of temporary appointments or appointments by promotion or transfer and renders advice to the Panchayat Samitis on all disciplinary matters concerning the employees employed in Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad Services.
Besides the supervisory powers, the Zila Parishad can exhort the district technicians to respond to the needs of the Samitis and effect coordination in their activities through the Collector or Chief Administrator.
It may, however, be said at the end, that unless large amounts of ad hoc grants are extended through the Zila Parishad and district technicians are effectively subordinated under it, it cannot force the Panchayat Samiti to observe its own notions of propriety.
If, however, the Parishad is held in confidence by the State Government, it can exert indirect pressure but its utility chiefly lies in its being a “forum for the exchange of views and experiences, operational coordination, expression of grievances and learning from the experiences of elderly statesmen.”
Possibility of tension between Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti cannot be ruled out if both are dominated by leaders of different parties embracing contrary views. However, on account of expectations of procuring grants which are to be distributed amongst the Samitis through the Parishad, the Samitis cannot displease the latter.
The Parishad’s assistance in mobilizing technical support at district level and solving administrative difficulties through the Collector or Commissioner can also prove substantial allurement for the Samitis to abide by the directions of the Parishad.
Likewise, the Parishads have to depend upon the Samitis for the execution of development projects within the district. Hence a strong bond of interdependence automatically helps in resolving their differences and relieving the tension between the Parishads and the Samitis.