Law of Local Self Government

Unit I — Basic Understandings on Democratic Decentralisation

Local Government system in the legal structure · powers and functions · governmental and judicial control over local government

• Democratic Decentralisation and Local Governments

Unit II — Development of Panchayati Raj Institutions inIndia

Evolution of Panchayati Raj System in India · a historical perspective · village panchayatsinancientIndia-Gandhiji'sideasonvillagepanchayatasunitofselfgovernment · Response of the Constituent Assembly towards the Gandhian idea · The nature, scope and spirit of Art. 40 of the Constitution.

• Beginnings — Gandhian Gram Swaraj and Dr Ambedkar's Views Decentralisation
• Key features of Article 40, 73 and 74 Constitutional Amendments Gram rd th Sabha and Participatory Democracy

Unit III — Constitutional Position of Panchayati Raj Institutions

Development of Panchayati Raj institutions in the post constitution period · Experiments in democratic decentralisation · Reports of Belwant Raj Mehta Committee, Ashok Mehta Committee etc. Emergence of Panchayati raj with constitutional system · 73rd Constitutional Amendment · its implications and consequential developments.

• Democratic Decentralisation and Local Governments
• Implications for gender and social inclusion — Promises & Limitations

Unit IV — Functioning of Panchayati Raj Institutions

Powers and functions of the various Panchayati Raj institutions-financial powers-finance commission · tax collection · welfare activities · Governmental and Judicial control over Panchayati Raj institutions · Local Self Ombudsman

Unit V — Institutions of Local Self Government in the State of Kerala

TheKeralaPanchayatiRajAct,1994-ThestructureofPanchayatiRajinstitutionsatvarious levels-their composition-election office bearers-meetings of the various bodies.