Correct Option
The correct option isIt serves as a forum where elected representatives are answerable to the electorate.
Explanation
The Gram Sabha is the foundational institution of the Panchayati Raj system, established under Article 243A of the Constitution (73rd Amendment Act, 1992). It consists of all persons registered in the electoral rolls of a village within the area of a Panchayat. It represents a form of direct democracy at the grassroots level.
Option Analysis
- It empowers the state government to dissolve the Panchayat at will. is Incorrect: The power to dissolve a Panchayat generally lies with the State Government under specific statutory provisions (e.g., in cases of incompetence or abuse of power). The Gram Sabha does not hold the legal authority to dissolve the elected body at will.
- It serves as a forum where elected representatives are answerable to the electorate. is Correct: The primary significance of the Gram Sabha is to ensure transparency and accountability. It serves as a general assembly where the elected Gram Panchayat must present its budget, accounts, and administrative reports. This mechanism ensures that elected representatives are directly answerable to the electorate (the villagers) for their performance and decisions.
- It restricts decision-making power to the land-owning class. is Incorrect: Membership in the Gram Sabha is determined by universal adult franchise. Every registered voter in the village is a member, regardless of land ownership, caste, or economic status.
- It functions as the primary judicial body for criminal cases in the village. is Incorrect: The Gram Sabha is a deliberative and supervisory body, not a judicial court. While Nyaya Panchayats (separate statutory bodies) were historically intended for petty dispute resolution, the Gram Sabha itself does not function as the primary judicial body for criminal cases.
Key Takeaway: The Gram Sabha is the only permanent body in the Panchayati Raj system that exercises social audit functions, making the elected Gram Panchayat directly accountable to the people.