The history of development of local government in the State of Haryana, as in other states of India is of two kinds; the Urban Local Government and the Rural Local Government. The major units of the Urban Local Government are the municipal corporations/councils whereas minor ones are Municipal Committee. The major units of the Rural Local Governments are Zila Parishads, Panchayat Samitis, and Gram Panchayats. These institutes act within the framework set up by a state government and draw their powers from legislative enactments. These are manned and managed by persons drawn from among the public and are aimed to create harmonious coordination in keeping the administration smooth. The main purpose of these self-government institutions is to provide civic amenities to the people of area, and to promote a responsibility or will to participate in matters of local administration. The major step towards the establishment of local government in the area now comprising the Rohtak district was the constitution of Municipal Committee of Rohtak under the Punjab Municipal Act, 1867. The Meham, Kalanaur and Sampla Municipal Committee came into existence .

Municipal government in Haryana has its roots in ancient times. Some form of municipal authority appears to have been well established even during the period of Harappan Civilization. Positive evidence of highly developed urban civilization is provided by the archaeological excavations at Harappa, Montgomery district and Mohanjodaro (Larkana, Sindh), now in Pakistan. The streets were well planned with obvious town planning restrictions on sporadic buildings. Most impressive were the system of drainage. They testify to the vigilance of some regular and effective municipal government. On the other hand the village was the unit of State in ancient India. There was, however, no clear line between a village (Grama) and a town (Nagra). Gramin was the head of village as well as of the town. Gradually villages developed in to large towns and a city culture was evolved and reached its high watermark during the ‘Mauryan’ and ‘Gupta’ period of Indian history. Cities had their councils and also most probably had municipal administrations on the pattern of the metropolitan city of Patliputra as described by Magasthenes, the great ambassador at the court of the Mauryan Emperor Chandragupta. These councils were elected bodies but during the medieval and Mughal periods, there were no regular municipal institutions enjoying powers of self-government. Although, the existence of city councils in ancient India as well as in Haryana region cannot be denied, there is no doubt that the foundation of modern system of municipal government state was laid by the British particularly after the transfer of power from the East India Company to the Crown.