Centres moots more powers to panchayats in UTs

New Delhi, Oct 17: The Centre today said it was in favour of devolution of more powers to panchayats in Union Territories.

"The Government would like to see that powers are given to Panchayat bodies as per the Constitution in the Union Territories where this has not been done so far," Home Minister Shivraj Patil told a meeting of Parliamentary Consultative Committee of his ministry.

The meeting discussed various issues relating to "Administration in the Union Territories." Minister of State for Home SriPrakash Jaiswal told mediapersons after the meeting that several suggestions regarding creation of legislatures, devolution of powers to Panchayat bodies and participation of elected representatives in the decision-making process in the Union Territories were put forward by the members.

Responding to the suggestions made by the members, the Home Minister said that on some points, a decision can be taken only by the Cabinet after a thorough discussion in Parliament.

Mr Patil said it had been decided to hold one meeting a year of the Advisory Committees pertaining to various Union Territories.

Members appreciated that these meetings had been held recently after a gap of 15 years.

On the issue of talks with United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), Mr Patil told the members that the government was in favour of talks with any group which is willing to hold talks and abjure violence.

"However, it cannot be a mute witness to the killing and harassment of innocent people," he added.

A suggestion that came up at the meeting was to have two different heads for the state of Haryana and the Union Territory of Chandigarh. At present, the Governor of Haryana is the Administrator for Chandigarh.

Mr Jaiswal said the government was seriously considering a proposal on the lines of the suggestions made by the members in this regard.

It was also suggested that the Chief Minister of Delhi should be the chairperson of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and not the Lt Governor as at present.

On the report of the Justice Jeevan Reddy Committee on the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in Manipur, he said the government was studying the report and appropriate decision would be taken in the matter. In this context, he said the government was of the view that armed forces shoud not be given extraordinary powers in a democracy.

However, special powers were given to armed forces in Manipur under extraordinary circumstances, he added.

Replying to a question, Mr Jaiswal said the situation had improved in Manipur this year.

Members from Puducherry thanked the Government for fulfilling the long-standing demand of the people of the Union Territory to change its name from Pondicherry to Puducherry. Appreciating the role played by Delhi Police in maintaining law and order in the city, some members said the police should be given more modern weapons and facilities like accommodation.

The members present at the meeting included Messrs Urkho Gwra Brahma, Lalhmingliana, Raj Mohinder Singh, Dr P C Alexander and Mukul Roy of the Rajya Sabha and Messrs Mani Kumar Subba, Madan Lal Sharma, Mohanbhai Delkar, Sarbananda Sonowal, Brajesh Pathak, S D Mandlik and Ms B Susheela of the Lok Sabha.

Members representing UTs in both the Houses of Parliament were special invitees at this meeting. Those present among them included Messrs V Narayanswamy and Janardan Dwivedi of the Rajya Sabha and Mr Sajjan Kumar, Prof M Ramadoss and Ms Krishna Tirath in the Lok Sabha.

Mr Jaiswal, Home Secretary V K Duggal, Special Secretary (Internal Security), G S Rajagopal and Commissioner of Delhi Police, Dr K K Paul were among others who were present.

Chief Secretaries of Delhi, Puducherry and Andaman&Nicobar Islands, Administrators of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu and Lakshadweep and Advisor to the Chandigarh administrator also participated in the meeting.

UNI