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13. The Panchayat Raj Act came into force on 30-5-94. It was intended to provide for the constitution of Gram Panchayat, Mandal Praja Parishad and Zilla Praja Parishads, for the matters connected therewith or incidental thereof In the statement of objects and reasons, the purpose behind the bringing of such a legislation has been enumerated and declared after a lot of deliberation and after a decision of the Cabinet Subcommittee and an Expert Committee, and in view of the constitutional amendment, the law was enacted. The real basis for enacting such a law was due to Constitution (Seventy-third Amendment) Act, 1992 with a view to mainly strengthen and revitalise the Panchayat Raj bodies so that they can subserve the teeming millions that live in the rural areas. By virtue of such 73rd amendment of the Constitution, a special Chapter IX regarding the Panchayats from Article 243 to Article 243-O were incorporated, and similarly Chapter IX-A with reference to Municipalities was also incorporated. Article 243(d) defines 'Panchayat' as an institution of self-government constituted under Article 243B, for the rural areas. Notwithstanding any legislation like Panchayat Raj Act, such a panchayat could be constituted as a self-government for a rural area by the Government. Article 249 of the Constitution was not merely intended to pass a resolution by the States in regard to panchayats, but it by itself provided the machinery for constitution of the panchayats to be self-government in accordance with Article 243B of the Constitution. Therefore, a Panchayat so constituted under the said Article has a constitutional status, but not merely a statutory status. However, by virtue of Article 243G, the legislature of a State was empowered to pass the law to endow the panchayat with such powers and authority if necessary to function as an institution of self-government and such law may contain provisions for the devolution of powers and responsibilities upon Panchayats for the preparation of plans for economic development and social justice, for the implementation of schemes for economic development and social justice etc., in relation to the matters listed in the Eleventh Schedule. That is a clear indication of the special powers given for a Panchayat to be a self-government under the Constitution. Article 243H has empowered the State to make any law to authorise the Panchayat to levy, collect and appropriate such taxes, duties, tolls and fee in accordance with such procedure etc., to make it a self-government and to be more independently economic. Among such powers, a Gram Panchayat under Article 243G has invested the powers to the Panchayat to have markets and fairs. There is an indication of the constitutional powers vested in the Gram Panchayat to have markets and fairs as part of self-government. Mr. Venkateswarlu, learned advocate for Respondent No.2 has relied upon a recent pronouncement of this Court in Gram Panchayat, Kota v. A.P.S.R.T.C., Nellore and others, 1997 (4) ALD 560 in support of his contention that Article 243G of the Constitution does not confer upon the Gram Panchayat an exclusive power to provide for or to carry out the activities, and that it was not intended to impose curb on trade by individuals or even institutions in that village. It is true that the precedent while dealing with such a question has laid down the law as follows: