A working day view of Kerala High

Court in Kochi
KHCAA Golden Jubilee
Chamber Complex
The Kerala Legislative Assembly
Building in Thiruvananthapuram
assembly constituencies.
[146]
The state elects 20 and nine members for representation in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha respectively.
[147]
2. Executive: The Governor of Kerala is the constitutional head of state, and is appointed by the President
of India.
[148]
Sheila Dikshit is the Governor of Kerala.
[149]
The executive authority is headed by the
Chief Minister of Kerala, who is the de facto head of state and is vested with extensive executive
powers; the head of the party attaining majority in the Legislative Assembly is appointed to the post by
the Governor.
[148]
The Council of Ministers, has its members appointed by the Governor, taking the
advice of the Chief Minister.
[148]
Auxiliary authorities known as panchayats, for which local body
elections are regularly held, govern local affairs.
[150]
3. Judiciary: The judiciary consists of the Kerala High Court and a system of lower courts.
[151]
The High
Court, located at Kochi,
[152]
has a Chief Justice along with 23 permanent and seven additional pro
tempore justices as of 2012.
[153]
The high court also hears cases from the Union Territory of
Lakshadweep.
[154][155]
The local self-government bodies; Panchayat, Municipalities and
Corporations existed in Kerala since 1959, however, the major initiative to
decentralise the governance was started in 1993, conforming to the
constitutional amendments of central government in this direction.
[156]
With
the enactment of Kerala Panchayati Raj Act and Kerala Municipality Act in
the year 1994, the state implemented various reforms in the local self-
governance.
[157]
Kerala Panchayati Raj Act envisages a 3-tier system of
local-government with Gram panchayat, Block panchayat and District
Panchayat forming a hierarchy.
[158]
The acts ensure clear demarcation of
power among these institutions.
[156]
However, Kerala Municipality Act
envisages a single-tier system for urban areas, with the institution of
municipality designed at par with Gram panchayat of the former system. Substantial administrative, legal and
financial powers are delegated to these bodies to ensure efficient decentralisation.
[159]
As per the present norms, the state government devolves about 40
per cent of the state plan outlay to the local government.
[160]
Economy