THE KARNATAKA GRAM SWARAJ AND PANCHAYAT RAJ (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2020

March 30, 2020

The Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2020 was passed by the Karnataka Assembly to bring about major changes in the functioning of the rural local bodies in Karnataka.

Salient features of the Bill:

The Bill amends the Karnataka Gram swaraj and Panchayat Raj act, 1993.
It reduces the term of the offices of presidents and vice-presidents of gram panchayats, taluk panchayats and zilla panchayats from five years to 30 months.
No-confidence motion could not be moved against the presidents and vice-presidents of all three-tiers of local bodies before 15 months from the date of election. At present, no-confidence motion can be moved within 30 months from the date of election.
The Deputy Commissioner would preside over the meeting while no-confidence motion is considered in taluk panchayat and the regional commissioner would preside in the case of ZP.
In case the no-confidence moved is defeated, then no such motion is to be moved again in the next six months.
The Bill envisages some electoral reforms and that included closing of liquor shops 48 hours before the polling of panchayats.
On property tax collection by GPs: It has proposed no tax on vacant land in airport or industrial area or industrial areas where plantations are grown. It proposes to levy 0.10% tax on the capital value of the property on the runway area of an airport.