(Articles 243D & 243T of Constitution of India, Sections. 7, 8, 9, 153 and 162 of Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, Sections 6,10 and 21 of Kerala Municipality Act-1994)

As provided in the Constitution of India, Kerala Panchayat Raj Act-1994 and Kerala Municipality Act-1994, reservation of seats of members/councillors, offices of President/Chairperson, Standing Committee Chairman and Standing Committee members are made in the following manner:

i) Reservation of Seats of members /councilors

Seats are reserved for Scheduled Cast and Scheduled Tribe, women belonging to Scheduled Cast, Scheduled Tribe and for Women, in every Panchayat/Municipality. The reservation for Scheduled Cast & Scheduled Tribe is in proportion to their respective population in the Panchayat/Municipality. Not less than 50% of the seats reserved for Scheduled Cast and Scheduled Tribe is reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Cast and Scheduled Tribe. Not less than 50% of the total seats (including Scheduled Cast/Scheduled Tribe women) is reserved for women. However, if the number of seats reserved for Scheduled Cast/Scheduled Tribe is only one, it need not be reserved for Scheduled Cast/Scheduled Tribe women.

The number of seats to be reserved in a Panchayat/Municipality is determined by the Government. The reservation seats for each general election are allotted by rotation to different constituencies/wards by the State Election Commission or officers authorised by it. The State Election Commission has authorized the District Collectors, the Regional Joint Directors of Urban Affairs and the Director of Urban Affairs to allot the reserved seats of Panchayats, Municipal councils and Municipal Corporation respectively. The officer authorized determines the reservation of wards/constituency by draw of lots.

ii) Reservation of offices of President/Chairperson

The offices of President/Chairman/Mayor are also reserved for Scheduled Cast, Scheduled Tribe, women belonging to Scheduled Cast, Scheduled Tribe and Women. The reservation for Scheduled Cast and Scheduled Tribe are in proportion to the Scheduled Cast/Scheduled Tribe population in the Panchayats or Municipalities. Not less than 50% of posts reserved for Scheduled Cast, Scheduled Tribe are reserved to women belonging to Scheduled Cast, Scheduled Tribe. Not less than 50% of the total offices of Presidents and Chairpersons (including Scheduled Cast, Scheduled Tribe women) reserved for women.

The number of offices of Presidents and Chairpersons to be reserved shall be determined by the Government. It shall be allotted by rotation for every level of Panchayats/Municipalities by State Election Commission. The rotation shall begin from the Panchayat/Municipality having the highest population of Scheduled Cast/Scheduled Tribe or Women and thereafter to the Panchayat/Municipality having the next higher percentage of population and shall be so continued in like manner

Where the offices of Presidents and Chairpersons is reserved for women, the offices of the Vice Presidents and Deputy Chairpersons will be unreserved and where the offices of the Presidents and Chairpersons not reserved for women, the offices of the Vice Presidents and Deputy Chairpersons will be reserved for women.

iii)Reservation in the Standing Committee.

In the Standing Committee of Panchayats and Municipalities seats of members and posts of chairman are reserved in the following manner. In the Standing Committee reservation is given to women. There is no provision for reservation for Scheduled Cast, Scheduled Tribe.

In every Standing Committees Panchayats and Municipalities one seat is reserved for women

In Grama Panchayats and Block Panchayats where the office of Vice President is reserved for woman, office of Chairman of one Standing Committee except Standing of Finance shall be reserved for women. Where the office of Vice President is not reserved for women, offices of Chairman of two Standing Committee except Standing Committee of Finance shall be reserved for women. In the case of District Panchayat where the office of Vice President is reserved for women office of Chairman of two Standing Committees shall be reserved for women. Where the office of Vice President is not reserved for women, office of chairman of three Standing Committees except Finance Standing Committee shall be reserved for women.

In Municipalities where the office of Deputy Chairperson is reserved for women, office of Chairman of two Standing Committee other than Finance Standing Committee shall be reserved you women. Where office of Deputy Chairperson is not reserved for women, office of Chairman of three Standing Committee other than Finance Standing Committee shall be reserved for women.

In Municipal Corporations where the office of Deputy Chairperson is reserved for women, office of Chairman of three Standing Committee other than Finance Standing Committee shall be reserved you women. Where office of Deputy Chairperson is not reserved for women, office of Chairman of four Standing Committee other than Finance Standing Committee shall be reserved for women.

It shall be allotted by State Election Commission after each general elections on rotation basis.