Answer-The 73rd and 74th Amendments (Parts IX & IXA) of the Constitution introduced a threetier local gover...

Articles 243D Panchayats and 243T Municipalities mandate reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and women in local self-government institutions. Importantly, the Constitution expressly provides for rotation of reserved constituencies, ensuring that the benefit of political reservation does not remain confined to specific territorial units. This mechanism promotes substantive equality, a principle recognized under Articles 14 and 15, by distributing political opportunity more evenly over time. The objective is to prevent permanent exclusion of non-reserved constituencies and to encourage inclusive political participation. In K. Krishna Murthy v. Union of India 2010, the Supreme Court upheld reservations in local bodies but emphasized that they must be based on empirical data and constitutional principles, reinforcing the balance between equality and representation.

Question

The 73rd and 74th Amendments (Parts IX & IX

A of the Constitution introduced a threetier local government and reservation provisions. Under these amendments, which is TRUE about reservation rotation in Panchayats/Municipalities?

A Rotation of reserved seats is expressly required by the Constitution and cannot be delegated.

B Reservation percentages are absolute and cannot be altered by state legislation.

C States are required to provide rotation of reserved seats for SC/ST and women so that different constituencies get reservation over time; the statute must provide for this rotation.

D Reservation applies only to chairperson posts, not members.

E Rotation is prohibited by the Ninth Schedule.

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