Panchayati Raj is an indigenous and time-honoured concept in India. The form may vary, but the spirit has always been part of India's socio- cultural ethos. Its origin can be traced back to ancient ages where community spirit was the main force not only to keep village communities united but to help them to manage local affairs independently. Sir Charles Metcalfe characterized them as small "republics having nearly everything that they want within themselves".' In the villages the different sections of the community depended on one another and this mutual dependence was reinforced by age old customs and traditions. Mobility was limited and so were their needs and aspirations. Since most of these village communities were self-sufficient for their day-to-day needs, the system of self- governance helped them remain intact and self-contained. These village bodies were the line of contact with higher authorities on all matters affecting the villages. Despite many political changes in cities and towns during the medieval period, the system of local government or the panchayats in the villages continued undisrupted.The state of Jammu and Kashmir has its own unique history as far as Panchayati Raj is concerned.