(1) There shall be an office of the Village Council at such place as may be ·determined by the VilLtge Council with the approval of the Government. _
(2) The Government shall, in consultation with the President of the Village Council, appoint a Sec1-.,:tary to the Village Council.
(3) The Secretary to the Village Council shall be the Chief Executive of the Village Council and shall act under the direction and control of the President. All other officers and staff shall be subordinate to him.
THE ASSAM GAZETTE. EXTRAORDTNARY. MAY 17, 2005 1579
CHAPTER-VI POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL.
Subjects to be under the control and administration of the Village Council.
43. Notwithstanding anything eontained in any other law or rules for the time being in force, Village Council shall have the executive power in relation to 1he Village Council Area over the following subjects :-
1. Agriculture including Agricultural Extension,
2. Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Poultry, ·
3. Fisheries,
4. Social and Farm Forestry/Minor Forest produce , fuel & fodder,
5. Khadi, Village & Cottage Industries,
6. Rural Housing,
7. Drinking water,
8. Road, building, culverts, bridges, tunnels, waterways and other means of communication,
9. Rural Electrification,
10. Non Conventional Energy Sources,
11. Poverty alleviation programme, ·
12. Education including Primary Schools,
13. Adult & non-formal education,
14. Libraries,
15. Cultural activities,
16. Markets and Fairs,
17. Rural Sanitation,
18. Public Health & Family Welfare,
19. Women & Child Developme11t,
20. Social Welfare including We lfare of handicapped & mentally retarded,
21. Welfare of weaker section and in particular the SC/ST,
22. Public Distribution System,
23. Maintenance of community assets,
24. Construction and maintenance (If Dharamsalas and similar institutions, 1580 THE ASSAM GAZETTE, EXTRAORDINARY, MAY 17, 2005 ~~~~~~~~---~~~~~~---~~~~~~~~--'"--~~~"""-------~~~-'~ Other matters to be under the control and administration of the village council.
Power to impose levy and collect taxes.
25. Construction and maintenance of cattle sheds , pounds and cart stands,
26. Maintenance of public parks and play grounds,
27. Construction and maintenance of slaughter houses,
28. Maintenance and regulation of manure,
29. Such other functions as may lhe entrusted by the Government from time to time.
44. Subject to the General policy of the Government and subject to the general control and supervision of the General Council, the Village Council shall - ' {i) formulate integrated development plans for the Village Council Areas, '(ii) implement schemes and programmes for the development of the Village Council Ar0a, {iii) have powers to appoint Class-III and Class-TV staff of the Village Council,
(iv) have powers to regulate trade and commerce within the Village Council Area in accordance with the existing laws including issue of permits or licenses to individuals within the Village Council Area.
(v) guide customs and. traditions and social justice of Sonowal Kachari Community according to their traditional laws, and
(vi) allot permits for trade and commerce to the people residing in the Village Council Area preference being given to the Sonowal Kachari Community.
45. (I) Subject to the provisions of any other laws for the time .being in force and subject to the previous approval of th~ General Council, the Village Council sha ll have the power to collect within the Village Council Area such taxes as are payable under the law for the time being in force in the manner as may be prescribed :
Provided that tlie tax or taxes as aforesaid shall be collected from such date as may be appointed by the Government by notification in this behalf in the Official Gazette.
(2). Subject to sub-section ( l) and such maximum rates as the Government may prescribe, the Village Council shall,-
(a) levy tolls on persons, vehicles or animals of any class for the use of any bridge, or road other than kacha road, or ferry constructed or established by it ;
(b) levy the following fees and rates namely -
(i) fees on the registration of boats or vehicles ;
(ii) fees for providing sarntary arrangements as such places or worships, pilgrima~e, fairs, melas or other public :
• THE ASSAM GAZETTE, EXTRAORDINARY, MAY l 7, 2005 1581 Power to entrust functions.
Power to acquire, hold and dispose of property.
places within the Village Council Area as may be specified by the Government by notification in the official Gazette ;
(iii) fees for licenses ;
(iv) water rates where arrm1gements for irrigation or drinking water is made by it wit f1in the Village Council Area;
(v) lighting rate where arrangements for lighting on public streets or places are made by it within the Village Council Area.
(3). Notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing sub sections, the Village . Council shall not undertake registration of any vehicle or levy any fee in respect thereof and shall not provide sanitary arrangements at places of worship, pilgrimage, fairs, melas or other public places within the Village: Council Area or levy any fees in respect thereof, if such vehicle has already been registered by any other authority under the law for the time being in force or if such provisi'm for sanitary arrangements has already been made by the Government or any other local authority.
(4). The collection of tolls, fees or rates and the terms and conditions for the imposition thereof shall be such as may be prescribed by the bye-laws. Such bye-laws may, interalia, provide for ex..:mption from all or any class of cases.
46. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the Government may, in consultation with the Village Council, entrust either conditionally or withou1 any condition to the Village Council or its offifers any functions in relation to any matter not enumerated in Section 43 to which the executive power of the Government extends. '
47. Notwithstanding anything Cl)ntained in Scction-3, the Village Council subject to the previous approval of the Government and subject to such terms and conditions as may be imposed by the Government, shall have the power to acquire, ho ld and dispose of any immovable propertY or movable property the value of which exceeds rupees fifty thousand ar•d to enter into any agreement or contract with any party or authority.
l 582 THE ASSAM GAZETTE, EXTRAORDINARY, MAY 17, 2005 Delimitation.
Power to amend or alter delimitation.
Electoral rolls.
Right to vote.
)
CHAPTER-VII ELECTION