THE TAMIL NADU PANCHAYATS ACT, 1994
L.A. Bill No. 10 of 2025
Be it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Tamil Nadu in the Seventy-sixth Year of the Republic of India as follows: —
Short, title and Commencement
1. (1) This Act may be called the Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Second Amendment) Act, 2025.
(2) It shall come into force on such date as the State Government may, by notification, appoint. Short title and commencement. Tamil Nadu Act 21 of 1994. Central Act 49 of 2016.
Amendment of section 2
2. In section 2 of the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994 (Hereinafter referred to as the principal Act), after clause (25), the following clause shall be inserted, namely: —
“(25-A) ‘person with disability’ shall have the same meaning as in the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016;”. Amendment of section 2.
3. In Chapter III of the principal Act, after section 32, the following sub-heading and section shall be inserted, namely: —
“NOMINATION OF PERSON WITH DISABILITY.
32-A. Nomination of person with disability in panchayat. — (1) In every village panchayat, panchayat union council and district panchayat, a person with disability shall be nominated as a member by the Government or any authority authorised by them, in such manner as may be prescribed.
(2) The nomination under sub-section (1) shall be in addition to the members of the respective panchayats as specified in sections 6, 17 and 25. Insertion of new sub-heading and section 32-A.
3. In Chapter III of the principal Act, after section 32, the following sub-heading and section shall be inserted, namely: —
“NOMINATION OF PERSON WITH DISABILITY.
32-A. Nomination of person with disability in panchayat. — (1) In every village panchayat, panchayat union council and district panchayat, a person with disability shall be nominated as a member by the Government or any authority authorised by them, in such manner as may be prescribed.
(2) The nomination under sub-section (1) shall be in addition to the members of the respective panchayats as specified in sections 6, 17 and 25. Insertion of new sub-heading and section 32-A.
(3) The qualifications for nomination as a member shall be such as may be prescribed.
(4) The term of office of the member so nominated shall be co-terminus with the duration of the panchayat.
(5) The rights and duties of the member so nominated shall be such as may be prescribed, but he shall not have the right to vote.”.
Amendment of section 242.
4. In section 242 of the principal Act, in sub-section (2), after clause (xlvii), the following clauses shall be added, namely: —
“(xlviii) as to the manner of nomination of person with disability as a member;
(xlix) as to the qualifications for nomination as a member under section 32-A;
(l) as to the rights and duties of a member nominated under section 32-A.”.
STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS
The Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has announced that action will be taken to nominate persons with disabilities in all local bodies in the State to ensure that their voices are heard in local governance and that they are empowered to take leadership roles in local administration. The above announcement paved the way for achieving social justice by way of distribution of opportunities and privileges equally to all citizens including the persons with disabilities. Accordingly, the Government have decided to nominate one person with disability in all the village panchayats, panchayat union councils and district panchayats by amending the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994 (Tamil Nadu Act 21 of 1994) suitably.
2. The Bill seeks to give effect to the above decision.
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