Local Self Governance In Himachal Pradesh

June 3, 2021

The Punjab Village Panchayat Act of 1939 was the first statute in some areas of present Himachal Pradesh, which established the strong foundations of Panchayati Raj when in 1952, the state passed its own Panchayati Raj
Panchayati Raj system in Himachal Pradesh was established in 1954 under the provisions of HP Panchayati Raj Act, 1952.
The first term of the Gram Panchayats expired in the year 1957. The second elections to the village Panchayats were held during the year 1957-58, and as a result, 497 Panchayats were established in the Pradesh upto the 31st March, 1959 i. e. 160 in Mahasu , 116 in Mandi, 73 in Sirmour, 40 in Bilaspur and 108 in Chamba District .

The Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj Act, 1952 was repealed when a new Panchayati Raj Act was passed in 1968 which provided a uniform statute for the old areas of Himachal Pradesh as well as those transferred areas.
The Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj Act,1968 remained enforced in the State till the implementation of 73rd amendment to the Constitution of India. Thereafter the State Legislature passed the Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj Act,1994. This Act is enforced in the State w.e.f. 23-04- 1994 till date.
The first General Elections to the Panchayati Raj Institutions in the State was conducted by the State election Commission during December 1995.
At present there are 12 Zila parishad, 75 Block Samitis, 3243 Village Panchayats 17,882 inhabited villages in Himachal Pradesh.

In 2006, state election commission fixed different color for different category posts such as white ballot paper for ward members, pink for panchayat Pradhan, green for BDC members and yellow for Zila Parishad.
Shimla Municipal Corporation: It was established in 1851. It was the first municipality in then Punjab province. Politically executive is known as Mayor who is annually elected from among the members of the corporation. Other municipal corporation in Himachal Pradesh is Dharmshalla.
Panchayati Raj training institute in Mashobra was established under the Panchayt Raj department in 1978. Before 1978, it was run as an autonomous body at Salogra(Solan).