Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Panchayati Raj Department has laid down the powers and responsibilities of administrators appointed to Zila Panchayats and Kshetra Panchayats after the terms of elected bodies ended, providing a framework for handling ongoing works and routine administrative matters.
The guidelines allow administrators to process payments for works that were already underway and permit further action on board-approved projects that had not yet entered the tender or construction stage, subject to approval from the District Magistrate (DM). The state Panchayati Raj Department is responsible for the administration of these local bodies, whose functioning is governed by state legislation.
What Administrators Can Now Do
The guidelines provide for administrators to:
- Evaluate and make payments for ongoing development works.
- Take further action on previously board-approved works that have not entered the tender or construction stage, with DM approval.
- Make routine payments, including employee salaries.
- Hold meetings with officials when necessary to review schemes and their implementation.
- Prepare and submit minutes of such review meetings to the appropriate authorities.
Policy Matters to Require Higher-Level Approval
The administrators will not have unrestricted powers on policy-related matters.
For Kshetra Panchayats, administrators will send policy proposals to the DM. For Zila Panchayats, proposals will be routed through the DM to the state government.
For matters involving policies, rules or court orders, Kshetra Panchayat administrators will require the DM’s approval before proceeding.
In the case of Zila Panchayats, such proposals will be forwarded through the DM to the concerned Divisional Commissioner for approval. The Divisional Commissioner will have 15 days to take a decision and communicate it to the concerned Zila Panchayat.
No Routine Board Meetings Until New Panchayats Are Formed
The administrators will not convene official or administrative board meetings until new Zila and Kshetra Panchayats are constituted following the Panchayat elections.
However, meetings with officials may be held when considered necessary for reviewing schemes and their implementation.
For Kshetra Panchayats, the minutes of such meetings will be submitted to the DM. In the case of Zila Panchayats, the minutes will be sent to both the DM and the state government.
Restrictions on New Works
Projects that had already been approved by the board before the appointment of administrators but had not yet gone to tender or started construction can move forward only after the required approval from the DM.
The guidelines therefore distinguish between ongoing works and projects that had been approved but had not yet entered implementation.
Provision for Special Cases
The government has also provided for a different arrangement in Kshetra Panchayats where an administrative committee is already in place or where a former chairperson or block chief has been found guilty in a case.
In such circumstances, the government can authorise the DM to nominate the concerned Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) as administrator.
Administrators Appointed After Terms Ended
The state government had earlier ordered the appointment of outgoing Zila Panchayat chairpersons as administrators after their terms ended on July 11, while outgoing block chiefs were appointed administrators after their terms ended on July 19.
The latest guidelines now specify the extent of their administrative powers while the state awaits the constitution of the new elected Panchayats.
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