(1) The Government may, by notification, declare any village or group of contiguous villages with a population of not less than one thousand and not more than five thousand to constitute one or more Sabha areas for the purposes of this act and also specify its headquarter:
Provided that in a Scheduled area the Government may by order declare any village or group of contiguous villages with a population of less than one thousand to constitute a Sabha area:
Provided further that the Government may, after having due regard of the geographical location, lack of means of transport and communication and administrative convenience, declare an area comprising a village or group of contiguous villages having a population either less than one thousand or more than five thousand to constitute a Sabha area.
(2) The Government may, at the request of the Gram Sabha concerned or otherwise, and after previous publication of a proposal by a notification, at any time,-
(a) increase any Sabha area by including within such Sabha area any village or group of villages; or
(b) diminish any Sabha area by excluding from such Sabha area any village or group of villages; or
(c) alter the headquarter of any Sabha area; or
(d) alter the name of any Sabha area; or
(e) declare that any area shall cease to be a Sabha area:
2 [***********] 3 [(2-A) When on account of the reason that the Sabha area is, during the term of the Gram Panchayat, increased or diminished or ceased under sub-
1. Clause (46-A) added vide Act No. 4 of 2001 w.e.f. 15.11.2000.
2. Proviso omitted vide H.P. Act No. 10 of 1997 w.e.f. 16.1.1997.
3 . Sub-section (2-A) added vide Act No. 10 of 1997 and further subs. vide Act No. 10 of 2002.
19 section (2), the increase or diminution or cessation of the Sabha area shall not affect the term of the office bearers of Gram Panchayat, till the expiration of the duration of the Gram Panchayat specified in sub-section (1) of section 120 or its dissolution under section 140 of this Act.]
(3) If the whole of the Sabha area is included in a municipality, the Sabha area shall cease to exist and its assets and liabilities shall in the manner prescribed be disposed of.]
1 [3-A. Diminution of the Sabha area not to affect the term of certain office bearers.- Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Act, but subject to the provision of sub-section (2-A) of section 3, when on account of reason that the Sabha area or the portion thereof is included in a municipality or a portion of municipality excluded therefrom is included in a Sabha area, during the term of the office of the office bearers of a Panchayat Samiti or Zila Parishad, such increase or diminution of the Sabha area, shall not affect the term of the office bearers of the Panchayat Samiti or Zila Parishad, till the expiration of its duration specified in sub-section (1) of section 120 of this Act or its dissolution under section 140 of this Act.]