Finance Standing Committee

Finance Standing Committee

 

(Sections 162 and 162A)

As per the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, 1994, every Panchayat has Standing Committees constituted as prescribed under the Act. These Standing Committees serve as a support mechanism for the Panchayat to discharge its responsibilities in the areas of development, welfare, and infrastructure in an effective, efficient, and timely manner.

Before taking a decision on any matter, the Panchayat should examine the matter carefully and in detail. The respective Standing Committees are responsible for conducting the preliminary examination of such matters. A matter should be included in the agenda of the Panchayat meeting only after it has been discussed and considered by the concerned Standing Committee. Once the Panchayat takes a decision on a matter so placed before it, the concerned Standing Committee is also responsible for ensuring the effective implementation of that decision.

Resolutions passed by the Standing Committees shall be placed before the next meeting of the Panchayat. The Panchayat has the authority to modify such resolutions, if necessary. The Secretary shall attend all Standing Committee meetings and make necessary arrangements for recording the minutes and decisions of the meetings.

Structure of Standing Committees

Only elected representatives shall be members of the Standing Committees. Except for the President and Vice President, all elected members shall be elected as members of one of the Standing Committees.

No member shall be a member of more than one Standing Committee.

Each Standing Committee shall have at least one woman member.

Except for the Finance Standing Committee, every Standing Committee shall have a Chairperson elected from among its members.

The Vice President shall be the Chairperson of the Finance Standing Committee.

The President shall be an ex-officio member of all Standing Committees without voting rights. However, the Vice President shall be an ex-officio member of the Finance Standing Committee with voting rights and shall also serve as its Chairperson, as provided under Section 162(6).

Duties and Responsibilities of Standing Committees

The inclusion of every elected member in one of the Standing Committees is intended to ensure the effective distribution of the responsibilities of the Panchayat among all elected representatives. The responsibilities and functions are vested in the Panchayat as a whole and not in any individual or committee.

The administrative system incorporates various mechanisms to enable the Panchayat to discharge its responsibilities. Standing Committees constitute one of the most important among these mechanisms. The various functions vested in the Panchayat are distributed among the different Standing Committees. Accordingly, the Panchayat carries out its responsibilities through these Standing Committees.

Standing Committees are not independent bodies and do not possess independent powers. When each Standing Committee performs the responsibilities assigned to it by law on behalf of the Panchayat, it contributes to an efficient system of administration and promotes participation and decentralisation.

All decisions taken by the Standing Committees shall be placed before the next meeting of the Panchayat. The Panchayat has the authority to modify such decisions, if necessary, in accordance with Section 162A(3)(1) of the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, 1994.

Meetings of Standing Committees

(Kerala Panchayat Raj (Standing Committee) Rules, 2000)

  • Standing Committees shall meet at least once a month.
  • Meetings shall be held at the Panchayat office on the date and time fixed by the Chairperson.
  • Each Standing Committee shall consider matters relating to the functions and responsibilities assigned to it.
  • If different Standing Committees take conflicting decisions on the same matter, the matter shall be placed before the Panchayat for consideration.
  • The quorum for a meeting shall be three. However, where the number of members having voting rights is four or less, the quorum shall be two.
  • Decisions on agenda items shall be taken by a majority vote of the members present.
  • The Chairperson shall have a casting vote.
  • The date of the meeting and the agenda items shall be communicated to the President, who is an ex-officio member, and shall also be displayed on the notice board.
  • A decision of a Standing Committee may be modified or cancelled only through a resolution supported by more than half of the members prescribed for that Standing Committee and adopted at a specially convened meeting.
  • Any such modification or cancellation shall be made within three months.

Standing Committees play a crucial role in the effective discharge of the functions of local governments. Effective functioning of the Standing Committees is essential for ensuring that local governance is efficient, rational, and systematic.

Matters to be Considered by the Finance Standing Committee

The Finance Standing Committee shall consider matters relating to:

  • Finance
  • Taxation
  • Accounts
  • Audit
  • Budget
  • General Administration
  • Tax Appeals
  • Matters not assigned to other Standing Committees

Members of the Finance Standing Committee

Chairperson:
Smt. Preetha Dineshan
Vice President & Member, Ward No. 7 – Pala

Members:

  1. Shri. Mijilas P. P. – Member, Ward No. 1 – Oovappally
  2. Shri. Jayan N. – Member, Ward No. 4 – Pullanjod
  3. Smt. Rasheeda A. K. – Member, Ward No. 8 – Kakkayangad