Zila Panchayats are Panchayats at Apex or District Level in Panchayat Raj Institutions (or PRIs).
The 73rd Amendment is about Rural Local Governments (which are also known as Panchayati Raj Institutions or PRIs) [1]
The Zila Panchayat or District Council or Zilla Parishad or District Panchayat, is the third tier of the Panchayati Raj system. Zila Parishad is an elected body. Block Pramukh(president) of Panchayat Samiti (Block) are also represented in Zila Parishad. The members of the State Legislature and the members of the Parliament of India are members of the Zila Parishad.
Members of the Zila Parishad are elected from the district on the basis of adult franchise for a term of five years. Zila Parishad has minimum of 50 and maximum of 75 members. There are seats reserved for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, backward classes and women. These Councillors chosen by direct election from electoral divisions in the District.
The Chairmen of all the Panchayat Samitis under the district are the Ex-Officio members of Zilla Parishad. The Parishad is headed by a President and a Vice-President.
The Deputy Chief Executive Officer from General Administration department at district level is ex-Officio Secretary of Zilla Parishad.
The Chief Executive Officer, who is an IAS Officer or Senior State Service Officer heads the administrative set up of the Zilla Parishad. He supervises the divisions of the Parishad and is assisted by Deputy CEOs and other Officials at district and block level officers.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), who is an IAS or a State Civil Service officer, heads the administrative machinery of the Zila Parishad. He may also be District Magistrate in some states. The CEO supervises the divisions of the Parishad and executes its development schemes.