ABSTRACT
Indian parliament can make a law on any item of the union and the current lists. It can also make a law on any residuary items. Accordingly, Indian parliament has directed the state governments to take steps to organize the village panchayats as units of rural self-government and endow them with powers and authority to carry out various important functions and duties, so as to satisfy the basic requirements of the people of the lowest levels of public administration. The pattern of decentralization of administration has reduced the role of bureaucracy, and local autonomy and accountability have been strengthened. But apprehensions are expressed that the devolution of the power under the new act may create a sense of deep frustration among bureaucrats, who are now expected to work under the elected representatives in Panchayats. Some reservations are still there about a complete bifurcation of the bureaucracy and placing a certain class of officials under panchayats cannot be accomplished easily.
