(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,––
(a) “Block” means area comprising such contiguous number of Halqas as may be determined by the [Government of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir] from time to time ;
(b) “Block Development Council” means Block Development Council constituted under section 27 of this Act ;
(c) “Building” includes any shop, house, hut, out-house, shed, stable, superstructure and land appurtenent to a building whether used for the purpose of human habitation or otherwise and whether of masonry, bricks, wood, mud, thatch, metal or any other material whatever, and includes a well and a wall but does not include mudwall built round agricultural land not abutting on the public road ;
(d) “Case” means criminal proceedings in respect of an offence triable by a Halqa Panchayati Adalat ;
(e) [“Chairperson”] means the [Chairperson] of––
(i) the Panchayati Adalat ;
(ii) the Block Development Council ;
[(iii) the District Development Council ;
(iv) District Planning Committee] ;
[(ee) “Commission” means the ‘State Election Commission’ constituted under section 36 of this Act ;]
(f) “Constituency” means a ward for which a member is to be or has been elected ;
[(g) “District Development Council” means a District Development Council constituted under this Act ;
(gg) “District Planning Committee” means a District Planning Committee constituted under this Act ;]
[(h) “Election Authority” means the ‘State Election Commission’ constituted under section 36 of this Act] ;
(i) “Electoral Roll” means the rolls as may be prepared in accordance with the provisions of this Act ;
(j) “Halqa” means the area comprising a village or such contiguous number of villages as may be determined by the [Election Authority] from time to time :
Provided that the Halqa shall be determined in such a manner that the population of any Halqa does not [ordinarily] exceed 3,000 in the hilly areas and 4,500 in the plain areas :
Provided futher that [ordinarily] the unit of a village shall not be disturbed :
[Provided also that fresh determination of Halqas shall be undertaken only after the population figures of general census are published :
Provided futher that such fresh delimitation of Halqas shall not effect the representation of the existing Panchs and Sarpanchs] ;
[(jj) “Halqa Majlis” means all the voters of a Halqa Panchayat] :
(k) “Halqa Panchayat” means a Halqa Panchayat constituted under section 4 of this Act ;
(l) “Naib-Sarpanch” means the Naib-Sarpanch of the Halqa Panchayat ;
(m) “Panch” means member of Halqa Panchayat whether elected or nominated under this Act ;
[x x x x] ;
(n) “Panchayati Adalat” means a Panchayati Adalat constituted under section 47 of this Act for the purpose of trial of suits and cases ;
(o) “Prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act ;
(p) “Prescribed Authority “means authority as may be appointed by the [Government of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir], by notification, for all or any of the provisions of this Act ;
(q) “Rules” means rules made under this Act ;
(r) “Sarpanch” means the Sarpanch of the Halqa Panchayat ;
(s) “Schedule” means the Schedule appended to this Act ;
(t) “Suit” means a civil suit ;
(u) “[Vice-Chairperson]’’ means the [Vice-Chairperson] of––
(i) the Block Development Council ;
[(ii) the District Development Council ;]
(v) “Village” means a parcel or parcels of land having a separate name and known limits in the revenue records and not included in the limits of a Municipality, Cantonment or Towm Area Committee or Notified Area Committee.
(2) In this Act, the expressions “decree”, “decree-holder”, “judgement debtor”, “legal representative” and “movable property” shall have the same meaning as is assigned to them in the [Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908)].