The Punjab government has proposed reviving the Panchayat system through the Panchayat Bill 2025, aiming to establish community justice committees in every district and union council. These committees would resolve domestic disputes, minor financial issues, and small crimes within 30 days. Key features include:
- District Community Justice Committees with 10 members, including at least 2 women
- Union Council or Urban Ward committees with 15-20 members, 10% of whom would be women
- Committee members would be local residents with no history of corruption or serious crimes
- Deputy Commissioner approval for committee members
- Government-appointed District Chairperson and Deputy Director for committee operations
The proposed system would handle 28 types of cases, including:
- Domestic violence
- Dowry disputes
- Water disputes
- Theft
- Assault
- Crimes punishable up to 3 years
This initiative aims to provide speedy justice and dispute resolution at the grassroots level.
