(l) When the Deputy Commissioner is satisfied on information received or otherwise that in any village in his District (a) special measures are required to secure the public safety, and (b) the inhabitants have not either voluntarily, or on being required so to do by the Deputy Commissioner, made sufficient provision for watch and ward, he may make an order in writing that from such date as he may fix in the order, all able-bodied adult male inhabitants of the village shall be liable to patrol duty.
(2) An order under sub-section (1) shall remain in force for such period not exceeding one year as the Deputy Commissioner may fix; but it may be renewed from time to time as the Deputy Commissioner may direct.
(3) An order under sub-section (1) or (2) may be cancelled at any time by the Deputy Commissioner.
4. Functions of Gram Panchayat- (1) The Gram Panchayat of any
1. Extended to the areas added to Himachal Pradesh under section 5 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act. 1966 vide the Himachal Pradesh Extension of Laws Act, 1968 (Act No. 25 of 1969).
2. Substituted for " Panchayat Raj Act, 1952 (Act No.6 of 1953)" by A.O. 1973.
THE HIMACHAL PRADESH VILLAGE AND SMALL TOWNS PATROL ACT, 1964 3 village in respect of which an order under section 3 has been passed shall report forthwith:-
(a) the number of able-bodied adult male inhabitants of the village;
(b) the number of persons which, in their opinion, will be required for patrol duty each night ;
(c) the method by which, in their opinion, such persons shall be selected, that is, whether by rotation or by lot or otherwise.
(2) Upon receipt of the report of the Gram Panchayat, the Deputy Commissioner shall determine the number of persons required for patrol duty and the method of their selection, and shall inform the Gram Panchayat of his decision.
(3) Persons shall be selected by the Gram Panchayat for patrol duty in such number and according to such methods as the Deputy Commissioner may determine.
(4) Where the selection is by lot, names once drawn shall not be drawn again until all the remaining names on the list have been drawn.
(5) The Gram Panchayat shall by publication of list or otherwise inform the persons liable to patrol duty of the date, time, area and nature of such duty.