By Asim Shehzad
LAHORE: Provincial govt proposal to bring back the Panchayat System in Punjab. PML-N member of Punjab Assembly Amjad Ali Javed presented a bill called the Panchayat System Restoration Bill 2025 under which it is proposed to form a committee in every district and union council that will decide domestic disputes, small financial disputes, and minor crimes in just 30 days.
The committee will hear 28 types of cases including domestic violence, dowry disputes, water disputes, theft, assault, and crimes punishable by up to 3 years.
A District Community Justice Committee should be formed in each district. The committee should have 10 members, of whom at least 2 should be women.
A small committee should be formed in each union council or urban ward, with 15 to 20 members, 10 percent of whom should be women. The committee members should belong to the same area, and they should not be involved in corruption or any serious crime.
The members of the committee should be approved by the Deputy Commissioner.
The Deputy Director Local Government will nominate the Deputy Commissioner, who will run the day-to-day work of the committee.
The district chairperson will also be appointed by the government on the recommendation of the Deputy Commissioner. The bill was referred to the relevant committee of the Punjab Assembly.
The committee will present a report in the House within two months.
