Chandigarh: The Punjab cabinet on Friday approved changes to the reservation roster for electing chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of zila parishads and panchayat samitis and sarpanches in panchayats.Punjab finance minister Harpal Cheema said the decision follows the boundaries of the blocks in six districts being changed, which legally allows them to change the roster. “The changes follow redrawing of jurisdiction of blocks in Patiala, Mohali, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Malerkotla and Sangrur. Consequently, changes will have to be made in the reservation of posts of sarpanches of villages and chairpersons and vice chairpersons of zila parishads and panchayat samitis. The reservation roster will be changed in these areas,” he said. The cabinet approved an amendment to Rule 6 of the Punjab Reservation for the Offices of Sarpanches of Gram Panchayats and Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads Rules, 1994, aimed at “rationalising representation across categories.” The move is aimed at rationalising the representation to each category for reservation of scheduled castes, scheduled castes women, women and general category. It stipulates that in case 10% or more of the total number of zila parishads in the state are affected, the roster for rotation of the scheduled caste, scheduled caste women, women and general categories will be prepared afresh.
