Raipur: The Chhattisgarh government has taken a significant step to strengthen women’s participation in local governance by banning the practice of ‘proxy rule’, under which husbands and other family members of elected women representatives allegedly handled official responsibilities on their behalf.
The state’s Department of Urban Administration and Development has amended the 2022 rules through an official Gazette notification, inserting a new Rule 4 after Rule 3.
The amended provision applies immediately across Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats in the state.
Family Members Cannot Act as Proxies for Women Representatives
Under the amended rules, elected women representatives cannot appoint or designate their husbands, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters or other relatives as their official or unofficial representatives.
The new provisions specifically prohibit family members from functioning as:
- Proxies
- Representatives
- Coordinators
- Delegates on behalf of elected women representatives
The move is aimed at ensuring that the person elected by voters directly exercises the authority and responsibilities associated with the post.
‘Parshad Pati’ and ‘Mayor Pati’ Practice Under Scrutiny
The decision comes amid concerns over the long-standing practice in some urban local bodies where male family members allegedly took over the responsibilities of elected women representatives.
Women often win elections from seats reserved for women, but their husbands or other male relatives have sometimes been involved in:
- Attending official meetings
- Handling public grievances
- Participating in administrative discussions
- Taking policy-related decisions
- Interacting with government officials
- Exercising influence over civic administration
In some cases, citizens seeking solutions to local problems reportedly approached the husband of the elected woman representative rather than the elected leader herself.
The practice has commonly been referred to as ‘Parshad Pati’ or ‘Mayor Pati’ culture.
Women Representatives Must Attend Official Meetings
The amended rules make it clear that elected women representatives must personally participate in official proceedings.
Women serving as Mayors, Nagar Panchayat Chairpersons and Ward Councillors (Parshads) will be required to attend relevant:
- Official meetings
- Sessions
- Administrative briefings
- Other proceedings related to their elected responsibilities
Their family members cannot participate as substitutes or delegates.
Government Aims to Strengthen Women’s Political Leadership
The Chhattisgarh government has linked the move to the broader objective behind 50% reservation for women in local governance.
Officials have stressed that reservation is intended to provide women with direct political participation and opportunities to develop leadership and administrative skills.
According to the government’s approach, proxy representation can undermine this objective by keeping elected women representatives away from decision-making while allowing unelected family members to exercise influence.
The new rules are therefore intended to ensure that women representatives gain direct experience in:
- Local administration
- Policy decision-making
- Public grievance resolution
- Civic governance
- Interaction with officials and citizens
Direct Accountability for Elected Women Leaders
The government’s decision places direct responsibility on elected women representatives to exercise the powers entrusted to them by voters.
With family members barred from acting as proxies, elected women leaders will have to directly engage with citizens and administrative authorities.
The move is expected to strengthen accountability, independent decision-making and genuine political participation among women in Chhattisgarh’s urban local bodies.
The amended rules are now effective across the state, marking a formal move against proxy governance by family members of elected women representatives.
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