The Uttarakhand Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Act, 2025

(1) This Act may be called the Uttarakhand Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Act, 2025. (2) It shall come into force at once.

In Section 2 of the Uttarakhand Panchayati Raj Act, 2016 (hereinafter referred to as the principal Act), after clause (51), the following clause shall be inserted, namely:- "(52) "Dedicated Commission" means the Dedicated Commission constituted by the State Government for determining the seats/posts for the Backward Classes."

Clause (d) of sub-section (1) of Section 8 of the principal Act shall be substituted as follows, namely:- "(d) he has more than two living natural children, one of whom is born on or after 25th July, 2019: Provided that the said provision regarding disqualification shall not apply to one who has more than two children after the first one is born if the subsequent pregnancy results in multiple births."

In the principal Act, section 10-A shall be substituted as follows, namely:- "(1) The State Government shall by, order, reserve offices of Pradhans for the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the Backward Classes. The number of offices of Pradhans reserved for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the State shall bear, as nearly as may be, the same proportion to the total number of such offices as the population of the Scheduled Castes in the State or the Scheduled Tribes in the State bears to the total population of the State. The number of offices of Pradhans reserved for the Backward Classes shall be in such proportion as determined by the State Government in accordance with the recommendations made by the Dedicated Commission on the basis of contemporary in-depth empirical inquiry: Provided that the total reservation for the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the Backward Classes shall not exceed 50 percent of the total number of offices of Pradhans: Provided further that if the total reservation for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes is 50 percent of the total number of offices of Pradhans, there shall be no reservation for the Backward Classes: Provided also that if the figures of population of the Backward Classes are not available, their population may be determined by carrying out a survey in the prescribed manner. (2) Not less than half of the total number of offices of Pradhans reserved under sub-section (1) shall be reserved for the women belonging to the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the Backward Classes. (3) Not less than half of the total number of offices of Pradhans, including the number of offices of Pradhans reserved under sub-section (2), shall be reserved for women. (4) The offices of Pradhans reserved under this section shall be allotted by rotation to different Gram Panchayats in such order as may be prescribed. (5) The reservation of offices of Pradhans for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes under this section shall cease to have effect on the expiration of the period specified in Article 334 of the Constitution of India. Explanation- Nothing in this section shall prevent the persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes, the Backward Classes and the women from contesting election to unreserved seats."

(1) In every Gram Panchayat, seats shall be reserved for the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes and the ratio of the number of such seats so reserved shall, as far as may be, be the same as the ratio of the population of the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes in the Gram Panchayat area to the total population of the Panchayat area. The ratio of the number of seats reserved for the Backward Classes shall be the same as recommended by the Dedicated Commission on the basis of contemporary rigorous empirical inquiry and determined by the State Government and such seats may be allotted by rotation to different territorial constituencies of a Gram Panchayat in such order, as may be prescribed: Provided that the total reservation of seats in the Gram Panchayat for the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes shall not exceed 50 percent of the total number of seats in the Gram Panchayat: Provided further that if the reservation for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Gram Panchayat reaches 50 percent of the total number of seats, there shall be no reservation for the Backward Classes: Provided also that if the data regarding the population of the Backward Classes is not available, then their population can be determined by conducting a survey in the prescribed manner. (2) Not less than half of the total number of seats reserved in any Gram Panchayat under sub-section (1) shall be reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes, as the case may be. (3) Not less than half of the total number of seats in any Gram Panchayat, including the number of seats reserved for women under sub-section (2), shall be reserved for women and such seats shall be allotted by rotation to different territorial constituencies of a Gram Panchayat in such order, as may be prescribed. (4) The reservation of seats for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes under this section shall not be effective on the expiration of the period specified in Article 334 of the "Constitution of India". Explanation- Nothing contained in this section shall prevent persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Classes and women from contesting from unreserved seats.

Section 16 of the principal Act with marginal head shall be substituted as follows, namely: - "Filling of casual vacancies of the Gram Panchayat: If a vacancy in the office of Pradhan, Up-Pradhan or of a member of a Gram Panchayat arises by reason of his death, removal, resignation, declaration his election void or refusal to take oath of office, then it shall be filled before the expiration of a period of six months from the date of such vacancy, for the remainder of his term in the manner, as far as may be, provided as the case may be: Provided that if on the date of occurrence of such vacancy the residue of the term of the Gram Panchayat is less than six months, then such vacancy shall not be filled."

Clause (d) of sub-section (1) of Section 53 of the principal Act shall be substituted as follows, namely:- "(d) he has more than two living natural children, one of whom is born on or after 25th July, 2019 or after: Provided that the said provision regarding disqualification shall not apply to one who has more than two children after the first one is born if the subsequent pregnancy results in multiple births."

Section 55-A of the principal Act shall be substituted as follows, namely: - "(1) The offices of Pramukhs of Kshettra Panchayats in the State shall be reserved for the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the Backward Classes: Provided that the number of offices of Pramukhs so reserved shall bear, as nearly as may be, the same proportion to the total number of such offices in the State as the population of the Scheduled Castes in the State or the Scheduled Tribes in the State bears to the total population of the State. The number of offices of Pramukhs reserved for the Backward Classes shall be in such proportion as determined by the State Government in accordance with the recommendations made by the Dedicated Commission on the basis of contemporary in-depth empirical inquiry and the offices so reserved shall be allotted by rotation to different Kshettra Panchayats in the State in such order as may be prescribed: Provided that the total reservation for the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the Backward Classes shall not exceed 50 percent of the total number of offices of Pramukhs: Provided further that if the reservation for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes is 50 percent of the total number of offices in the Kshettra Panchayat, there shall be no reservation for the Backward Classes: Provided also that if the figures of population of the Backward Classes are not available, their population may be determined by carrying out a survey in the prescribed manner. (2) Not less than half of the offices reserved under sub-section (1) shall be reserved for the women belonging to the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the Backward Classes, as the case may be. (3) Not less than half of the total number of offices of Pramukhs, including the number of offices reserved for women under sub-section (2), shall be reserved for women and such offices shall be allotted by rotation to different Kshettra Panchayats in the State in such order as may be prescribed. (4) The reservation of offices of Pramukhs for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes under this section shall cease to have effect on the expiration of the period specified in Article 334 of the Constitution of India. Explanation- Nothing in this section shall prevent the persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes, the Backward Classes and the women from contesting election to unreserved seats."

Section 56 of the principal Act shall be substituted as follows, namely: - "(1) In every Kshettra Panchayat, seats shall be reserved for the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the Backward Classes and the number of seats so reserved shall bear, as nearly as may be, the same proportion to the total number of seats to be filled by direct election in the Kshettra Panchayat as the population of the Scheduled Castes in the Panchayat area or of the Scheduled Tribes in the Panchayat area bears to the total population of such area. The number of seats reserved for the Backward Classes shall be in such proportion as determined by the State Government in accordance with the recommendations made by the Dedicated Commission on the basis of contemporary in-depth empirical inquiry and such seats may be allotted by rotation to different territorial constituencies in a Kshettra Panchayat in such order as may be prescribed: Provided that the total reservation for the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the Backward Classes shall not exceed 50 percent of the total number of seats in Kshettra Panchayat: Provided further that if the reservation for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes is 50 percent of the total number of seats in the Kshettra Panchayat, there shall be no reservation for the Backward Classes: Provided also that if the figures of population of the Backward Classes are not available, their population may be determined by carrying out a survey in the prescribed manner. (2) Not less than half of the seats reserved under sub-section (1) shall be reserved for the women belonging to the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the Backward Classes, as the case may be. (3) Not less than half of the total number of seats, including the number of seats reserved for women under sub-section (2) shall be reserved for women and such seats may be allotted by rotation to different territorial constituencies in a Kshettra Panchayat in such order as may be prescribed. (4) The reservation of seats for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes under this section shall cease to have effect on the expiration of the period specified in Article 334 of the Constitution of India. Explanation: Nothing in this section shall prevent the persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes, the Backward Classes and the women from contesting election to unreserved seats."

Section 61 of the principal Act shall be substituted as follows, namely: - "If a vacancy in the office of Pramukh, Up-Pramukh or of a member of a Kshettra Panchayat arises by reason of his death, removal, resignation, declaration his election void or refusal to take oath of office, then it shall be filled before the expiration of a period of six months from the date of such vacancy, for the remainder of his term in the manner, as far as may be provided as the case may be: Provided that if on the date of occurrence of such vacancy the residue of the term of the Kshettra Panchayat is less than six months, then such vacancy shall not be filled."

Clause (r) of sub-section (1) of section 90 of the principal Act shall be substituted as follows, namely: - "(r) He has more than two living biological children, one of whom is born on or after July 25, 2019: Provided that the above provision regarding disqualification shall not apply in case when two or more children are born in the second pregnancy after first child."

(1) राज्य में जिला पंचायतों के अध्यक्षों के पद अनुसूचित जातियों, अनुसूचित जनजातियों व पिछड़े वर्गों के लिए आरक्षित किये जायेंगे: परन्तु यह कि अध्यक्षों के आरक्षित पदों की संख्या का अनुपात ऐसे पदों की कुल संख्या से यथाशक्य वही होगा जो राज्य में अनुसूचित जातियों की या अनुसूचित जनजातियों की जनसंख्या का अनुपात राज्य की कुल जनसंख्या में है। पिछड़े वर्गों के लिए आरक्षित अध्यक्ष के पदों की संख्या का अनुपात वही होगा, जो समर्पित आयोग द्वारा समसामयिक गहन अनुभवजन्य जांच के आधार पर की गई अनुशंसा के अनुसार राज्य सरकार निर्धारित करे और ऐसे आरक्षित पद भिन्न-भिन्न जिला पंचायतों को चक्रानुक्रम द्वारा ऐसे क्रम में आवंटित किये जायेंगे, जैसा नियत किया जाए: परन्तु यह कि अनुसूचित जातियों, अनुसूचित जनजातियों एवं पिछड़े वर्गों का कुल आरक्षण राज्य में अध्यक्षों के पदों की कुल संख्या के 50 प्रतिशत से अधिक नहीं होगा: परन्तु यह और कि अनुसूचित जातियों एवं अनुसूचित जनजातियों का आरक्षण राज्य में अध्यक्षों के पदों की कुल संख्या के 50 प्रतिशत होने पर पिछड़े वर्गों के लिए कोई आरक्षण नहीं होगा: परन्तु यह भी कि यदि पिछड़े वर्गों की जनसंख्या के आंकड़े उपलब्ध नहीं हो तो, नियत रीति से सर्वेक्षण कर उनकी जनसंख्या अवधारित की जा सकेगी। (2) उपधारा (1) के अधीन आरक्षित पदों की संख्या के आधे से अन्यून पद यथास्थिति, अनुसूचित जातियों, अनुसूचित जनजातियों और पिछड़े वर्गों की महिलाओं के लिए आरक्षित रहेंगे। (3) उपधारा (2) के अधीन महिलाओं के लिए आरक्षित पदों की संख्या को सम्मिलित करते हुए, अध्यक्षों के पदों की कुल संख्या के आधे से अन्यून पद, महिलाओं के लिए आरक्षित रहेंगे और ऐसे पदों को चक्रानुक्रम से राज्य में भिन्न-भिन्न जिला पंचायतों के लिए ऐसे क्रम में जैसा नियत किया जाए, आवंटित किये जायेंगे। (4) इस धारा के अधीन अनुसूचित जातियों और अनुसूचित जनजातियों के लिए अध्यक्षों के पद का आरक्षण "भारत का संविधान" के अनुच्छेद 334 में विनिर्दिष्ट अवधि की समाप्ति पर प्रभावी नहीं रहेगा। स्पष्टीकरण- इस धारा में उपबंधित कोई बात अनुसूचित जातियों, अनुसूचित जनजातियों, पिछड़े वर्गों के व्यक्तियों और महिलाओं को अनारक्षित स्थानों से निर्वाचन लड़ने से निवारित नहीं करेगी।

Section 93 of the principal Act shall be substituted as follows, namely: - "(1) In every Zila Panchayat, seats shall be reserved for the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the Backward Classes and the number of seats so reserved shall bear, as nearly as may be, the same proportion to the total number of seats to be filled by direct election in the Zila Panchayat as the population of the Scheduled Castes in the Panchayat area or of the Scheduled Tribes in the Panchayat area bears to the total population of such area. The number of seats reserved for the Backward Classes shall be in such proportion as determined by the State Government in accordance with the recommendations made by the Dedicated Commission on the basis of contemporary in-depth empirical inquiry and such seats may be allotted by rotation to different territorial constituencies in a Zila Panchayat in such order as may be prescribed: Provided that the total reservation for the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the Backward Classes shall not exceed 50 percent of the total number of seats in Zila Panchayat: Provided further that if the reservation for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes is 50 percent of the total number of seats in the Zila Panchayat, there shall be no reservation for the Backward Classes: Provided also that if the figures of population of the Backward Classes are not available, their population may be determined by carrying out a survey in the prescribed manner. (2) Not less than half of the seats reserved under sub- section (1) shall be reserved for the women belonging to the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the Backward Classes as the case may be. (3) Not less than half of the total number of seats, including the number of seats reserved for women under sub-section (2) shall be reserved for women and such seats may be allotted by rotation to different territorial constituencies in a Zila Panchayat in such order as may be prescribed. (4) The reservation of seats for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes under this section shall cease to have effect on the expiration of the period specified in Article 334 of the Constitution of India. Explanation- Nothing in this section shall prevent the persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes, the Backward Classes and the women from contesting election to unreserved seats."

Section 98 of the principal Act shall be substituted as follows, namely: - "If a vacancy in the office of Chairman, Vice- Chairman or of a member of a Zila Panchayat arises by reason of his death, removal, resignation, declaration his election void or refusal to take oath of office, then it shall be filled before the expiration of a period of six months from the date of such vacancy, for the remainder of his term in the manner, as far as may be provided as the case may be: Provided that if on the date of occurrence of such vacancy the residue of the term of the Zila Panchayat is less than six months, then such vacancy shall not be filled."

मूल अधिनियम की धारा 131-झ की उपधारा (3) को निम्नवत् प्रतिस्थापित कर दिया जायेगा, अर्थात्- "(3) इस अधिनियम के अधीन कराये जाने वाले निर्वाचनों के सम्बन्ध में जहां कहीं इस अधिनियम एवं नियमावली में निर्वाचन के सम्बन्ध में कोई व्यवस्था नहीं है, वहां राज्य निर्वाचन आयोग, उत्तराखण्ड द्वारा लोक प्रतिनिधित्व अधिनियम, 1951 के उपबन्धों को यथा आवश्यकतानुसार प्रयुक्त किया जा सकेगा।"

(1) The Uttarakhand Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 (Uttarakhand Ordinance No. 02 of, 2025) is hereby repealed. (2) Notwithstanding such repeal anything done or any action taken under the said Ordinance shall be deemed to have been taken under the corresponding provisions of this Act.