In a municipality in India, how are all the members of the municipal body chosen by the people of the municipal area?

Introduction / Context:

Municipalities are key institutions of urban local self government in India, responsible for the administration of towns and smaller cities. Democratic representation is central to their functioning. The Constitution and state municipal laws lay down the method of choosing members of municipalities. This question focuses on whether municipal members are elected directly by the people, elected indirectly, or nominated, thereby testing your understanding of how democratic representation works at the municipal level.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The institution in question is a municipality under Part IX-A of the Constitution.
• The focus is on how all members of a municipality are chosen by the people of the municipal area.
• Options explore different combinations of direct elections, indirect elections, and nominations.
• We assume the general pattern followed in Indian states as per the Seventy Fourth Amendment framework.

Concept / Approach:

Article 243R of the Constitution deals with the composition of Municipalities. It provides that all the seats in a Municipality shall be filled by persons chosen by direct election from the territorial constituencies in the municipal area. Although some states may have provisions for nominated members with special knowledge or experience, such nominated members do not have the same status as elected councillors, and the basic rule is that all seats are filled through direct elections. Therefore, the correct description of how members are chosen by the people is that they are elected directly.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

You can verify this by observing actual municipal elections in various cities and towns. Citizens vote directly for their ward councillors or corporators. These councillors together form the municipal council or municipal corporation. Indirect elections may later be used to select the Mayor or Chairperson from among these elected members, but that does not change the fact that members themselves are chosen through direct elections. This practical observation aligns with the constitutional provision and confirms the correct option.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Elected indirectly would describe a situation where representatives are chosen by other elected representatives, not by the people directly, which is not how ward members of a municipality are chosen. Nominated proportionally and nominated indirectly suggest appointed membership, which is not the primary rule for municipal councillors under the Constitution. The idea of partly nominated and partly elected might resemble some local arrangements but contradicts the constitutional mandate that all seats in a Municipality shall be filled by persons chosen by direct election.

Common Pitfalls:

Candidates sometimes confuse the method of electing the Mayor with the method of electing municipal councillors. In many places, the Mayor is chosen indirectly by councillors, giving the impression that municipal representation is indirect. Another mistake is to think that because some members can be nominated, the body is partly nominated and partly elected. The question, however, is clearly about how the members are chosen by the people of the municipal area, which refers to direct elections only.

Final Answer:

All the members of a municipality are elected directly by the people of the municipal area.