(1) The oath of allegiance or affirmation to the newly elected Pradhans and Up- Pradhans of the Gram Panchayats shall be administered by the Sub- Divisional Officer(Civil) or any authority superior to him at any place in the State as decided by the State Government from time to time. The form of oath, as per Schedule V of the Act, shall be provided to the Pradhans and Up- Pradhans present in the meeting and the oath shall be administered to them.
The Pradhans and Up-Pradhans, who have taken the oath, shall sign the form of oath or put their thumb impression marks, which shall be handed over to the office /official of the Block for office record. The remaining Pradhans who could not take oath in meeting convened for the purpose shall be administered oath by the SDO(C) in his office.
(2) The Pradhans of the concerned Panchayats shall administer the oath to the remaining Up-Pradhans and members of the Gram Panchayat on the day of the first meeting of the Panchayats concerned as fixed by the State Government. Up-Pradhans and members taking oath in the first meeting, shall put their signature or thumb impression marks on the form of oath after subscribing to the oath, which shall be retained in the Panchayat record.
(3) Where the Pradhan refuses to administer oath to the Up-Pradhan and member(s) of the Gram Panchayat deliberately, in that event the oath shall be administered by SDO(C) either in his office or in the office of Gram Panchayat on such date which may be fixed by the SDO(C) within fortnight from the date of first meeting of the Panchayat.
(4) Pradhans or Up-Pradhans, as the case may be, elected in byeelection shall be administered oath by SDO(C) in his office. Members of the Gram Panchayat, elected in bye-election, shall be administered oath by Pradhan in the office of Gram Panchayat concerned.