On the final day of the seventeenth Legislative Assembly’s Budget Session, the West Bengal government passed an amendment to the Panchayat law, extending the period during which no-confidence motions cannot be brought against local bodies.
Under the new provision, a no-confidence motion cannot be moved against any Panchayat institution unless at least three years have passed since its formation. Earlier, this period was one year. In 2015, it was extended to two and a half years, and the latest amendment further increases it to three years.
The state government said the move is aimed at reducing administrative instability at the Panchayat level caused by repeated no-confidence motions. According to the government, the amendment will ensure greater stability and allow development work and public services to reach the grassroots more effectively.
As per the revised rules, no-confidence motions cannot be brought within the first three years against the Pradhan and Upa-Pradhan of Gram Panchayats, the President and Vice-President of Panchayat Samitis, and the Sabhadhipati and Sahakari Sabhadhipati of Zilla Parishads.
State Panchayat Minister Pradip Majumder introduced the amendment on Saturday as the last bill of the final Assembly session. He said that frequent no-confidence motions within a short span made it difficult to work for the public.
“If such motions are brought within three years, it becomes difficult to carry out work for the common people. The government’s main objective is to provide services to the people, and this proposal is aimed at preventing instability,” he said.
During the vote of thanks at the end of the session, Minister Arup Biswas said the opposition failed to corner the government because it could not raise the right questions. He also claimed that under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s leadership, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) would return to power with more than 250 seats. He concluded his speech by thanking all members.
Announcing the adjournment of the session, Speaker Biman Banerjee said that some members might be satisfied and others dissatisfied with his decisions during the functioning of the seventeenth Assembly. However, he added that strict measures were sometimes necessary for the smooth functioning of the House.
“Today it feels like it’s over, yet not quite over. The opposition will play its role, and the government will take on its responsibilities,” the Speaker said, before adjourning the House sine die.
He also noted that the government may convene another session before the eighteenth Legislative Assembly if it deems it necessary.
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