Lakshadweep Panchayat Regulation, 2022 Bare Act

The source publishes this enactment as a single document rather than provision by provision, so the whole text is below and there are no per-section pages for it. Nothing has been shortened.

Type	Regulations
Year	2022
Status	In force as published by the source
Text	Published as one document, as the source published it
Subjects	agriculture

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MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE (Legislative Department) New Delhi, the 19th September, 2022/Bhadra 28, 1944 (Saka) THE LAKSHADWEEP PANCHAYAT REGULATION, 2022 NO. 5 OF 2022 Promulgated by the President in the Seventy-third Year of the Republic of India.

A Regulation to provide for Panchayats in the Union territory of Lakshadweep and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

In exercise of the powers conferred by article 240 of the Constitution, the President is pleased to promulgate the following Regulation made by her:—

CHAPTER I PRELIMINARY

1. (1) This Regulation may be called the Lakshadweep Panchayat Regulation, 2022.

(2) It extends to the whole of the Union territory of Lakshadweep.

(3) It shall come into force on such date as the Administrator may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.

2. In this Regulation, unless the context otherwise requires,—

(a) “Administration” means the Union territory administration of Lakshadweep;

(b) “Administrator” means the Administrator of the Union territory of Lakshadweep appointed by the President of India under article 239 of the Constitution;

Short title, extent and commencement.

Definitions.

सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-20092022-238925 CG-DL-E-20092022-238925 2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—

(c) “building” includes a house, an out-house, stable, privy, urinal, shed, hut, wall (other than a boundary wall not exceeding eight feet in height) and any other structure, whether of masonry, bricks, wood, metal or any other material but does not include any temporary structure erected on ceremonial or festive occasions or a tent;

(d) “Chief Executive Officer” means an officer appointed by the Administrator as Chief Executive Officer, District Panchayat;

(e) “Director Panchayat” means an officer in charge of Panchayats in the Department of Panchayati Raj working under the direct control and superintendence of the Secretary of that Department;

(f) “District” means a District specified by the Administrator by a public notification to be district for the purposes of this Regulation;

(g) “District Judge” means the District Judge of Union territory of Lakshadweep;

(h) “District Panchayat” means the District Panchayat constituted under section 57;

(i) “District Panchayat Fund” means the Fund constituted under section 87;

(j) “Election Commission” means the Election Commission referred to in sub-section (1) of section 107;

(k) “Finance Commission” means the Finance Commission referred to in section 108;

(l) “general election” means the election held under this Regulation for the constitution or the reconstitution of a Panchayat after the expiry of its terms or otherwise;

(m) “Gram” means a village;

(n) “Gram Fund” means the Fund referred to in section 38;

(o) “Gram Panchayat” means a Gram Panchayat constituted under this Regulation;

(p) “Gram Sabha” means the Gram Sabha constituted under sub-section (2) of section 3;

(q) “notification” means a notification published in the Official Gazette and the expression “notified” shall be construed accordingly;

(r) “Official Gazette” means the Lakshadweep Gazette;

(s) “Ombudsman” means a body constituted by the Administrator under the provisions of this Regulation;

(t) “Panchayat area” means the territorial area of a Gram Panchayat declared by the Administrator under sub-section (1) of section 3;

(u) “Panchayat Secretary” means a Panchayat Secretary appointed under subsection (1) of section 27;

(v) “population” means the population, as ascertained at the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published;

(w) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Regulation;

(x) “prescribed authority” means a person appointed by the Administrator to carry out the provisions of this Regulation;

(y) “President” and “Vice-President” means the President and the Vice-President of the District Panchayat respectively;

SEC. 1] THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY 3

(z) “public street” means a pathway, road, street, square, court, alley, cart track, foot path or riding path over which the public have a right of way, whether through fare or not and includes—

(i) the road-way over any public bridge or cause-way;

(ii) the foot-way attached to any such street, public bridge or cause-way;

(iii) the drains attached to any such street, road, public bridge or cause-way; and

(iv) the land which lies on either side of the road-way,—

(a) up to the boundaries of the adjacent property; or

(b) up to the right of way duly notified by the Chief Executive Officer in this regard;

(za) “Regulation” means the Lakshadweep Panchayat Regulation, 2022;

(zb) “Sarpanch” means the Sarpanch of a Gram Panchayat;

(zc) “Schedule” means a Schedule appended to this Regulation;

(zd) “Secretary Panchayat” means the Secretary in charge of the Department of Panchayati Raj in the Union territory of Lakshadweep;

(ze) “section” means section of this Regulation;

(zf) “State Election Commissioner” means the Election Commissioner for the Union Territories;

(zg) “tax” means a tax, cess, rate of other impost leviable under this Regulation but does not includes a fee;

(zh) “Union territory” means the Union territory of Lakshadweep;

(zi) “Upa-Sarpanch” means an Upa-Sarpanch of Gram Panchayat;

(zj) “village” means a village notified by the Administrator, to be a village for the purpose of this Regulation and includes a group of villages;

(zk) “Ward” means a body consisting of persons registered in the electoral rolls relating to ward of a district.

CHAPTER II GRAM SABHA

3. (1) The Administrator shall, after making such inquiry as may be necessary, by notification, declare a local area, comprising of a village or a group of villages or any part or parts thereof or a combination of any two or more of them to be a Panchayat area, for the purposes of this Regulation and shall also specify its headquarters.

(2) The Administrator shall, by notification, constitute a Gram Sabha by a name for each Panchayat area.

(3) Every Gram Sabha shall, by the name notified under sub-section (2) of this section, be a body corporate having perpetual succession and a common seal and shall, subject to such restrictions and conditions as may be imposed by or under this Regulation, have power to acquire, hold, administer and transfer property, both movable and immovable, and to enter into a contract and shall, by the said name, sue or be sued:

Provided that the powers and duties of the Gram Sabha shall, save as otherwise expressly provided in this Regulation, be exercised, performed and discharged by the Gram Panchayat constituted under sub-section (1) of section 12.

Declaration of Panchayat area and constitution of Gram Sabha.

4 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [PART II— Composition of Gram Sabha and disqualification for being as member of Gram Sabha.

Electoral Roll of Members of Gram Sabha.

Alteration in area of Gram Sabha.

Cessation of membership of Gram Sabha.

Meetings of Gram Sabha.

4. (1) A Gram Sabha shall consist of persons registered in the electoral roll relating to a Gram either a village or group of villages.

(2) A person shall be disqualified for being a member of the Gram Sabha if he is—

(a) under eighteen years of age;

(b) not a citizen of India;

(d) not ordinarily a resident within the village for which the Gram Sabha is constituted.

Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-section, it is hereby clarified that a “person” shall be deemed to be ordinarily resident in village if he has been ordinarily residing in such village or is in possession of a dwelling house therein ready for occupation.

5. (1) The prescribed authority under the superintendence, direction and control of the Election Commission shall cause to be prepared an electoral roll in such manner as may be prescribed.

(2) The electoral roll referred to in sub-section (1) shall contain the names of all persons entitled under section 4 to be the members of the Gram Sabha and such electoral roll shall be revised at least once in a financial year in such manner as may be prescribed.

6. (1) The Administrator may, after such inquiry as he thinks necessary at any time, by notification,—

(a) include any area in a Gram;

(b) exclude any area from a Gram;

(d) alter the headquarter of any Gram Sabha; or

(e) alter the name of any Gram Sabha.

(2) Where, by a notification under sub-section (1), any area is included in a Gram, such area shall thereby become subject to all notifications, rules, bye-laws and orders made under this Regulation or any other law for the time being in force in the area within, the jurisdiction of the Gram Sabha.

(3) Where, by notification under sub-section (1), the whole of the area of a Gram, ceases to be a Gram, the Gram Sabha shall cease to exist and its assets and liabilities shall be disposed of in the prescribed manner, and if a part of such area is excluded from a Gram, the jurisdiction of the Gram Sabha shall be reduced by that part.

7. (1) A member of a Gram Sabha shall cease to be member, if—

(a) he is disqualified under section 4;

(b) the area where he resides has been excluded from the jurisdiction of the Gram Sabha; or

(2) Where any person ceases to be a member of a Gram Sabha under sub-section (1), he shall also cease to hold any office to which he may have been elected or appointed by reason of his being a member thereof.

8. (1) Every Gram Sabha shall hold at least four general meetings in each financial year and it shall be the responsibility of the Sarpanch to convene such meetings:

Provided that the Sarpanch shall, upon a requisition in writing by not less than onetenth of the total number of members of the Gram Sabha call an extraordinary meeting of the Gram Sabha, within thirty days from the receipt of such requisition:

SEC. 1] THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY 5

Provided further that where the Sarpanch fails to convene the meetings under this sub-section, such authority as may be prescribed, shall convene such meetings within a period of thirty days.

(2) The Sarpanch or in his absence the Upa-Sarpanch or in the absence of both any person chosen by the Gram Sabha shall preside at such meetings.

(3) For any general meeting of the Gram Sabha, one-tenth of the total number of its members shall form the quorum and decisions shall be taken by a majority of the members present and voting.

(4) The notice of time and place of meetings shall be given in the prescribed manner.

(5) The minimum quorum for the meeting should be ten per cent. of the total members out of which at least thirty per cent. should be women.

9. (1) The Sarpanch shall place before the Gram Sabha for its approval the following matters, namely:—

(a) the annual statement of accounts;

(b) budget estimates;

(d) proposals for fresh taxation or enhanced taxation;

(e) report of the administration of the preceding financial year; and

(f) the last audit note and replies thereto.

(2) The Gram Sabha, shall consider the following matters and make recommendations and suggestions to the Gram Panchayat, namely:—

(a) annual administration report of the preceding financial year;

(b) planning, supervising, co-ordinating and monitoring the schemes of the Gram Panchayat;

(d) the last audit report and replies made thereto; and

(e) proposals for organising community service, voluntary labour or mobilisation of the local people for any specific work included in any programme:

Provided that the recommendations of the Gram Sabha shall be acted upon by the Gram Panchayat as far as practicable.

10. The Gram Sabha shall perform the following functions, namely:—

(i) identification of the beneficiaries and sites under various programmes of the Administration;

(ii) determination of the priorities of the work to be undertaken by the Gram Panchayat;

(iii) issuance of utilisation certificate in respect of the development work undertaken by the Gram Panchayat from the grants-in-aid or the Gram Panchayat funds; and

(iv) any other function as may be assigned to it by the Administrator from time to time.

Transaction of business at general meeting.

Functions of Gram Sabha.

6 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [PART II— Supervisory Committees of Gram Sabha.

Constitution of Gram Panchayats.

11. (1) The Gram Sabha shall constitute the following Supervisory Committees in such manner as may be prescribed to supervise the Gram Panchayat work and other activities in the Gram, namely:—

(a) the General Standing Committee;

(b) the Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Committee;

(d) the Education Committee (School Management Committees);

(e) the Social Justice Standing Committee; and

(f) the Water Supply, Water and Environmental Conservation Committee.

(2) The Supervisory Committees referred to in sub-section (1) shall submit its report to the Gram Panchayat and also place a copy of their report in the meeting of the Gram Sabha.

(3) Apart from ward members and Sarpanch, other expert government and nongovernment members shall be included as special invitees.

CHAPTER III THE GRAM PANCHAYAT AND ELECTIONS

12. (1) As soon as may be, after its constitution, every Gram Sabha shall elect by direct election an Executive Committee called the Gram Panchayat and a Chairperson of that Committee to be known as the Sarpanch.

(2) A Gram Panchayat shall, consist of such number of seats including the Sarpanch to be filled from such number of wards, as the Administrator may, by notification, determine.

(3) The ratio between the population of the territorial area of a Gram Panchayat and the number of seats in that Panchayat to be filled by election shall, so far as practicable, be the same throughout the Union territory.

(4) The territorial boundary for each ward shall be notified by the Administrator on the recommendations of the Election Commission.

(5) Each Gram Panchayat area shall be divided by the Election Commission into territorial constituencies in such manner that the ratio between the population of each constituency and the number of seats allotted to it shall, so far as practicable, be the same throughout the Gram Panchayat area.

(6) The seats shall be reserved for the Scheduled Tribes in every Gram Panchayat and the number of seats so reserved shall bear, as nearly as may be, the same proportion to the total number of seats to be filled by direct election in the Gram Panchayat as the population of the Scheduled Tribes in that Gram Panchayat area bears to the total population of that area and such seats shall be allotted by the Election Commission by rotation to different constituencies in a Gram Panchayat, in such manner as may be prescribed:

Provided that no such reservation shall be necessary, if the total population of the Scheduled Tribes in a Gram Panchayat is less than half the proportionate population required to fill one seat.

(7) Not less than one-half of the total number of the seats reserved under subsection (6), shall be reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Tribes.

(8) Not less than one-half (including the number of seats reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Tribes) of the total number of seats to be filled by direct election in every Gram Panchayat shall be reserved for women and such seats may be allotted by the Election Commission by rotation to different constituencies in a Gram Panchayat, in such manner as may be prescribed.

SEC. 1] THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY 7 22 of 1955.

(9) The number of seats to be reserved under sub-sections (7) and (8) shall be determined by the Administrator, by an order published in the Official Gazette.

(10) The Administrator shall reserve—

(i) the number of offices of Sarpanch in the Gram Panchayats for the Scheduled Tribes which shall bear, as nearly as may be, the same proportion to the total number of such offices in the Gram Panchayats as the population of the Scheduled Tribes in the area of Union territory to which this Regulation extends bears to the total population of such area;

(ii) not less than one-half of the total number of offices of Sarpanch in the Gram Panchayats for women:

Provided that offices reserved under this sub-section shall be allotted by the Election Commission by rotation to different Gram Panchayats in such manner as may be prescribed.

13. (1) Every member of Gram Sabha shall, unless disqualified under this Regulation or any other law for the time being in force,—

(a) be qualified to vote at an election to the Gram Panchayat or at a meeting of the Gram Sabha;

(b) be qualified to be elected to fill up a seat in the Gram Panchayat as a member or as its Sarpanch or as both:

Provided that if a person is elected to both the offices of a member as well as Sarpanch, he shall resign either of the two offices within a period of fourteen days from the date of the publication of the result in the Official Gazette, failing which his seat in the Gram Panchayat shall become vacant.

(2) The vacancy caused by the result of such resignation, shall be filled by holding a bye-election for the purpose.

14. (1) No person shall be a member of a Gram Panchayat or continue as such who—

(a) has not attained the age of twenty-one years;

(b) is not a citizen of India;

(i) of an offence under the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 and a period of five years, or such lesser period as the Administrator may determine in any particular case, has elapsed since his conviction;

(ii) of any other offence and been sentenced to imprisonment for not less than six months, and a period of five years, or such lesser period as the Administrator may determine in any particular case, has elapsed since his release;

(d) has been adjudged by a competent court to be of unsound mind;

(e) has been adjudicated as an insolvent;

(f) has been removed from any office held by him in any Gram Panchayat under any provision of this Regulation or in any Gram Panchayat before the commencement of this Regulation and a period of five years has not elapsed from the date of such removal, unless he has, by an order of the Administrator notified in the Official Gazette, been relieved from the disqualification arising on account of such removal from office;

(g) has been disqualified from holding office under any provision of this Regulation and the period for which he was so disqualified has not elapsed;

(h) holds any salaried office or place of profit in the gift or disposal of any Panchayat, other than as such office or place as prescribed;

Person qualified to vote and be elected.

Disqualification for being a member of Gram Panchayat.

8 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—

(i) has, directly or indirectly, any share or interest in any work done by order of the Panchayat, or in any contract with, by or on behalf of, or employment with or under the Panchayat.

Explanation.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby clarified that a person shall not be disqualified for membership of a Panchayat by reason only of such person—

(i) having share in any joint stock company or a share or interest in any society registered under any law for the time being in force which shall contract with or be employed by or on behalf of any Panchayat;

(ii) having a share or interest in any newspaper in which any advertisement relating to the affairs of any Panchayat may be inserted;

(iii) holding a debenture or being otherwise concerned in any loan raised by or on behalf of any Panchayat;

(iv) being professionally engaged on behalf of any Panchayat as a legal practitioner;

(v) having any share or interest in any lease of immovable property in which the amount of rent has been approved by the Gram Panchayat in the case of a Gram Panchayat, or by the District Panchayat in its own case or in any sale or purchase of immovable property or in any agreement for such lease, sale or purchase;

(vi) having a share or interest in the occasional sale to the Panchayat of any article in which he regularly trades or in the purchase from the Panchayat of any article, to a value in either case not exceeding in any year one thousand rupees; or

(vii) merely being a relative of a person in employment with or under or by or on behalf of the Panchayat;

(j) has, directly or indirectly, any share or interest in any transaction of loan of money advanced to or borrowed from any officer or servant of any Panchayat;

(k) fails to pay any arrears of any kind due by him to the Panchayat or any Panchayat subordinate thereto or any sum recoverable from him under this Regulation, within three months after a special notice in accordance with the rules made in this behalf has been served upon him.

Explanation.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby clarified that—

(i) a person shall not be deemed to be disqualified if he has paid the arrears or the sum referred to in clause (k), prior to the day prescribed for the nomination of candidates;

(ii) failure to pay the arrears or the sum referred to in clause (k) to the Panchayat by a member of a Hindu Undivided Family or by a person belonging to a group or unit, the members of which are by custom joint in estate or residence, shall be deemed to disqualify all members of such Hindu Undivided Family or as the case may be, all the members of such group or unit.

(l) is a servant of the Government or any local body;

(m) has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of a Foreign State or is under any acknowledgement of allegiance or adherence to a Foreign State;

(n) has no facility of water closet or privy accommodation at the place of his ordinary residence:

Provided that a sitting member shall be deemed to have incurred disqualification, if he does not submit to the Chief Executive Officer, within six months from the date of commencement of this Regulation, a certificate issued by the Panchayat Secretary of the Gram Panchayat in whose jurisdiction his ordinary residence is situated, to the effect that he is having facility of water closet or privy accommodation at the place of his ordinary residence.

SEC. 1] THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY 9 2 of 1974.

(o) is disqualified under any other provision of this Regulation, and the period for which he was so disqualified has not elapsed;

(p) has more than two children:

Provided that a person having more than two children on the date of commencement of this Regulation shall not be disqualified under this clause so long as the number of children he had on the date of such commencement does not increase:

Provided further that a child or more than one child born in a single delivery within the period of one year from the date of such commencement shall not be taken into consideration for the purpose of disqualification under this clause.

Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, it is hereby clarified that—

(i) where a couple has only one child on or after the date of such commencement, any number of children born out of single subsequent delivery shall be deemed to be one entity;

(ii) “child” does not include an adopted child or children;

(q) is, without permission of the Gram Panchayat, absent from three consecutive meetings;

(r) has been ordered to give security for good behaviour under section 109 or section 110 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973; or

(s) has been dismissed from the service of the Government or Municipality or Gram Panchayat for misconduct within five years prior to the date of poll.

(2) A person shall be disqualified for being a member of the Gram Panchayat if he is so disqualified under the Fifth Schedule.

15. If any question arises as to whether a person has become subject to any disqualification referred to in section 4 or section 14, it shall be referred to the Administrator and his decision thereon shall be final:

Provided that before giving any decision on such question, the Administrator shall obtain the opinion of the Election Commission and shall act according to such opinion:

Provided further that no person shall be disqualified unless such person has been given an opportunity of being heard in the matter.

16. (1) Any member of a Gram Panchayat who during his term of office—

(a) is absent for more than three consecutive months from the village and leave not exceeding four months so to absent has been granted by the Panchayat; or

(b) absents himself for four consecutive months from the meetings of the panchayat without the leave of the said Panchayat, shall cease to be a member and his office shall be vacant and thereupon the Panchayat shall, as soon as possible, inform him that the vacancy has occurred.

(2) Any dispute as to whether a vacancy has or has not occurred under this section shall be referred to the Secretary Panchayat for decision, and the decision of such Secretary Panchayat shall be final:

Provided that such reference shall not be entertained, if it is made after the expiry of fifteen days from the date on which the Panchayat informs under sub-section (1) to the member in regard to such vacancy.

(3) Whenever, a leave is granted under sub-section (1) to a member, who is an Upa-Sarpanch, another member shall, subject to the conditions to which the election of the Decision on disqualification.

Leave of absence.

10 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [PART II— Election of members.

Election of Upa- Sarpanch.

Executive functions of Sarpanch.

Duration of Gram Panchayat.

Oath of office.

Upa-Sarpanch so absenting himself was subjected to, be elected to perform all the duties and exercise all the powers of an Upa-Sarpanch during the period for which such leave is granted.

17. The election of members of a Gram Panchayat shall be held in such a manner (including the manner of voting) as may be prescribed and on such date or dates as the Administrator may, in consultation with the Election Commission, by notification direct:

Provided that a casual vacancy shall be filled up within a period of six months from the date of occurrence of such vacancy:

Provided further that no election shall be held to fill a casual vacancy occurring within six months prior to the general election of a Gram Panchayat under this section.

18. (1) On the constitution of a Gram Panchayat for the first time under this Regulation or on the expiry of the term of a Gram Panchayat or on its reconstitution, a meeting shall be called on a date fixed by the Administrator for the election of Upa-Sarpanch in such manner as may be prescribed.

(2) The officer appointed by the Administrator shall preside over such meeting and shall not have the right to vote.

(3) No business other than the election of the Upa-Sarpanch shall be transacted at such meeting.

(4) In case of equality of votes, the result of the election shall be decided by draw of lots in the presence of officer referred to in sub-section (2), in such manner as he may determine.

19. The executive powers of the Gram Panchayat under this Regulation and the responsibility for the due fulfilment of the duties imposed on the Gram Panchayat under this Regulation and for carrying out the resolution of the Gram Panchayat shall vest in the Sarpanch.

20. (1) Every Gram Panchayat, unless sooner dissolved under any law for the time being in force, shall continue for five years from the date appointed for its first meeting and not longer.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the members of the Gram Panchayat functioning immediately before coming into force of this Regulation shall continue to hold their office till the expiration of the term specified under sub-section (1).

(3) An election to constitute a Gram Panchayat shall be completed—

(a) before the expiry of its period specified in sub-section (1);

(b) before the expiration of a period of six months from the date of its dissolution:

Provided that where the remainder of the period for which the dissolved Gram Panchayat would have continued is less than six months, it shall not be necessary to hold any election under this sub-section for constitution the Gram Panchayat for such period.

(4) A Panchayat constituted upon the dissolution of the Gram Panchayat before the expiration of its period shall continue only for the remainder of such period for which the dissolved Gram Panchayat would have continued under sub-section (1), had it not been so dissolved.

21. (1) As soon as may be, on the first meeting of the Gram Panchayat, every member thereof and Sarpanch and Upa-Sarpanch shall take the oath of office before such officers as the Administrator may specify, in the form set out in the First Schedule.

(2) No member who has not taken such oath shall vote or take part in the proceedings of any meeting nor shall he be included as a member of any Committee constituted by the Gram Panchayat.

SEC. 1] THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY 11

22. (1) Any member of the Gram Panchayat may resign his office by giving notice in writing to that effect to the Sarpanch under intimation to the Chief Executive Officer and such resignation shall take effect from date of its acceptance by the Sarpanch.

(2) The Upa-Sarpanch may resign his office by giving notice in writing to the Sarpanch under intimation to the Chief Executive Officer and such resignation shall take effect from the date of its acceptance by the Sarpanch.

(3) The Sarpanch may resign his office by giving notice in writing to the Chief Executive Officer and such resignation shall take effect from the date of its acceptance by the Chief Executive Officer.

(4) Where the office of the Sarpanch or Upa-Sarpanch falls vacant, the members of the Gram Panchayat may elect any person from amongst themselves by a simple majority to act as Sarpanch or Upa-Sarpanch, as the case may be, pending the election for such offices.

23. (1) A motion of no confidence may be moved against Sarpanch or Upa-Sarpanch by not less than one third of the total members of the Gram Panchayat after giving notice thereof to the Sarpanch under intimation to the Chief Executive Officer:

Provided that no such notice shall be given before six months of assumption of office by the Sarpanch or the Upa-Sarpanch.

(2) A special meeting of the Gram Panchayat shall be convened within a period of fifteen days from the date on which the motion of no confidence has been moved to deliberation, and decide the no confidence motion.

(3) If the motion of no confidence is carried by a majority of the total number of members of Gram Panchayat, then, the Gram Panchayat shall recommend to the Gram Sabha the removal of the Sarpanch or the Upa-Sarpanch, as the case may be, from his office.

(4) On receipt of recommendation under sub-section (3), a meeting of the Gram Sabha shall be convened with a quorum of not less than one-third of the total membership of the Gram Sabha and the recommendation shall be approved by majority of members present and voting.

(5) Upon the approval of the recommendation under sub-section (4), the Sarpanch shall cease to hold office after a period of three days from the date on which the recommendation is approved unless he has resigned earlier.

(6) If the recommendation of the Gram Panchayat is not approved by the Gram Sabha under sub-section (4) or there is no quorum in the special meeting of the Gram Sabha, no fresh motion of no confidence shall be moved against the Sarpanch in the Gram Panchayat within a period of six months from the date on which the recommendation fails to acquire approval of the Gram Sabha or the date on which the recommendation could not be considered for lack of quorum.

(7) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Regulation, the Sarpanch or Upa- Sarpanch, for the removal of whom the motion of no confidence or recommendation under sub-section (3) is under consideration, shall not preside over a meeting of Gram Panchayat under sub-section (2) and Gram Sabha under sub-section (4) but he shall have a right to speak or otherwise take part in the proceedings of such meetings.

24. (1) The Chief Executive Officer may by order suspend from the office a Sarpanch or an Upa-Sarpanch or any member of a Gram Panchayat against whom any criminal proceedings in respect of an offence involving moral turpitude have been instituted or who has been detained in a prison during trial for any offence or who is undergoing such sentence of imprisonment as would not disqualify him from continuing as a member of the Panchayat under section 14 or who has been detained under any law relating to preventive detention for the time being in force.

Resignation of office.

Motion of no confidence.

Suspension of Sarpanch or Upa-Sarpanch or any Members of Gram Panchayat.

12 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [PART II— Removal from office.

Casual vacancy.

Officers and employees of Gram Panchayat.

(2) Where any Sarpanch or Upa-Sarpanch or member, has been suspended under sub-section (1), another member of the Gram Panchayat shall, subject to the conditions to which the election of the Sarpanch or Upa-Sarpanch or member, so suspended was subjected to, be elected to perform all the duties and exercise all the powers of a Sarpanch or Upa- Sarpanch or member, during the period for which such suspension continues.

(3) An appeal against an order passed under sub-section (1) shall lie before the Administrator or any officer authorised by him within a period of thirty days from the date of the order.

25. (1) The Secretary Panchayat may by order remove from office any member of the Panchayat, the Sarpanch or, as the case may be, the Upa-Sarpanch thereof, after giving him an opportunity of being heard and giving due notice in that behalf and after such inquiry as it deems necessary, if such member, Sarpanch or, as the case may be, Upa-Sarpanch has been guilty of misconduct in the discharge of his duties or of any disgraceful conduct or abuses his powers or makes persistent default in the performance of his duties and functions under this Regulation or has become incapable of performing his duties and functions under this Regulation and the Sarpanch or, as the case may be, the Upa-Sarpanch, so removed may at the discretion of the Secretary Panchayat also be removed from the membership of the Panchayat:

Provided that no member, Sarpanch or Upa-Sarpanch shall be removed unless such person has been given an opportunity of being heard in the matter.

(2) The Secretary Panchayat may, after following the procedure laid down in subsection (1) by order disqualify for a period not exceeding five years any person who has resigned his office as a member, Sarpanch or Upa-Sarpanch, or otherwise ceased to hold any such office and has been guilty of misconduct specified in sub-section (1) or has been incapable of performing his duties and functions:

Provided that an action under this sub-section shall be taken within a period of six months from the date on which the person resigns or ceases to hold any such office.

(3) Any person aggrieved by an order of the Secretary Panchayat under subsection (1) or sub-section (2) may, within a period of thirty days from the date of the communication of such order, appeal to the Administrator or any officer authorised by him in this behalf against the said order.

26. Any casual vacancy in the office of the Sarpanch or the Upa-Sarpanch in the Gram Panchayat, shall be filled for the remainder of his term by election in accordance with the provisions of this Regulation:

Provided that in the case of a seat or the office of Sarpanch reserved for the Scheduled Tribe or women, no person other than the member of the Scheduled Tribe or women shall be qualified to be chosen to such vacancy.

27. (1) There shall be a Panchayat Secretary for every Gram Panchayat who shall be appointed by the Administrator and draw his salary and allowances from the Gram Fund.

(2) The Panchayat Secretary shall be in charge of the office of the Gram Panchayat and shall perform all the duties and exercise all the powers imposed or conferred upon him by or under this Regulation or any rules or bye-laws made thereunder.

(3) Subject to rules as may be made by the Administrator regarding discipline and control, the Panchayat Secretary shall act in all matters under the general supervision of the Sarpanch through whom he shall be responsible to the Gram Panchayat.

(4) The Gram Panchayat may appoint such other officers and employees and in such number as may, from time to time, be necessary with the prior approval of the Administrator and in such manner as may be prescribed:

SEC. 1] THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY 13

Provided that no post shall be created for which no budget provision is made and is not provided in the staffing pattern approved by the Administrator.

(5) The posting and transfer of the staff recruited under sub-section (4), shall vest with the Chief Executive Officer.

(6) The terms and conditions of service and duties of Panchayat Secretary and the term and conditions of service of the officers shall be such as may be prescribed.

28. (1) The time and place of meetings of a Gram Panchayat and the procedure to be followed at such meetings shall be such as may be prescribed.

(2) A member of a Gram Panchayat may, at any meeting, move any resolution and put questions to the Sarpanch or the Upa-Sarpanch on matters connected with the Administration of the Gram Panchayat in such manner as may be prescribed.

(3) No resolution of a Gram Panchayat shall be amended, varied or cancelled by the Gram Panchayat within a period of three months from the date of passing thereof, except by a resolution supported by two-thirds of the total number of members of the Gram Panchayat.

29. (1) Subject to such control and restrictions as may be prescribed, a Gram Panchayat may appoint the following Committees for exercising its powers and discharging its duties and functions, namely:—

(a) the Executive Committee;

(b) the Public Health Committee;

(d) the Education Committee;

(e) the Committee for production, co-operation and irrigation;

(f) the Social Justice Committee; and

(g) the Committee for Women, Child Development and Youth Activity.

(2) A Committee appointed under sub-section (1), shall consist of not more than five members and may be dissolved or reconstituted for such reasons and in such manner as may be prescribed.

(3) The recommendations of the Committees shall be advisory in nature and every Gram Panchayat shall have the powers to annul, revise or modify any decisions taken by any of its Committees.

30. No act or proceeding of a Gram Panchayat or of any Committee thereof shall be deemed to be invalid merely by reason of the existence of any vacancy.

CHAPTER IV POWERS, DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS OF GRAM PANCHAYAT

31. (1) It shall be the duty of Gram Panchayat, so far as the Gram Fund, to make reasonable provision within its jurisdiction, in regard to the matters specified in the Second Schedule.

(2) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (1) a Gram Panchayat shall have powers and responsibilities to make plans and implement schemes for the development and social justice including those in relation to the matters specified in the Second Schedule.

32. (1) The Gram Panchayat in respect of all roads, streets, bridges, culverts and other properties placed by the Administrator under section 37 under its direction, management and control, subject to the provisions of any other law for the time being in force, may do all things necessary for the maintenance and repair thereof, and in particular, may— Meetings of Gram Panchayat.

Committees.

Proceedings not to be invalid in certain cases.

Duties and functions of Gram Panchayat.

Control of Gram Panchayat on certain properties.

14 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—

(a) wider, open, enlarge, or otherwise improve any such road, bridge or culvert and plant and preserve trees on the sides of such roads;

(b) deepen or otherwise improve any water-course and other property mentioned in clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 89; and

(2) The Gram Panchayat shall also have control of all roads, streets, water-ways, bridges and culvert which are situated within its jurisdiction, not being private property or not being the property for the time being under the control of the Government and may do all things necessary for the improvement, maintenance and repair thereof and in particular, may— Transfer of any work or institution to Gram Panchayat.

Collection of revenue.

Village Volunteer Force.

Execution of contracts.

Modification of powers, functions, etc., from Gram Panchayat.

(a) lay out and make new roads; and

(b) construct new bridges and culverts.

33. The Administrator may entrust to the Gram Panchayat, the execution, maintenance or repair of any work or the management of any institution on behalf of the Administration or any local authority:

Provided that the funds necessary for the execution, maintenance or repairs of the work or the management of the institution shall be placed by the Administration or such local authority as may be determined by the Administrator at the disposal of the Gram Panchayat.

34. (1) Subject to such conditions as may be prescribed, the Administrator may, by notification, entrust to the Gram Panchayat the functions and duties of collecting the taxes, land revenue and other dues recoverable under specified scheme.

(2) Where any functions or duties are entrusted to a Gram Panchayat under subsection (1), the Administrator shall pay to such Gram Panchayat collection charges at such rates as may be prescribed.

35. (1) Subject to the rules under this Regulation, a Gram Panchayat may organise a force to be known as Village Volunteer Force consisting of able bodied persons residing in the Gram who are not below the age of 18 years and who are willing to join the force and place such force under the command of a suitable person.

(2) The services of the Village Volunteer Force, may be utilised for general watch and ward purpose and in cases of emergency like fire, floods, out-break of epidemics or any other natural calamity.

(3) No member of the Village Volunteer Force, shall be held liable for damages on account of any act done by him in the bona fide discharge of his duties as a member of such force.

36. Every contract or agreement entered into by a Gram Panchayat shall be signed by the Sarpanch and the Panchayat Secretary and sealed with the common seal of the Gram Panchayat.

37. Notwithstanding the transfer of any powers, functions and duties in respect of any matter to a Gram Panchayat, where the Administrator is satisfied that by reason of a change in the nature, the matter has ceased to be a matter in the Second Schedule and that it is necessary to withdraw from the Gram Panchayat the powers, function or duties in respect of such matter, by notification, withdraw such powers, functions and duties with effect from the date specified in the notification and make such incidental and consequential orders as may be necessary to provide for matters including the taking over of the property, rights and liabilities, if any, vesting in the Panchayat and of the staff, if any, which may have been transferred to the Panchayat.

SEC. 1] THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY 15

CHAPTER V FINANCE, PROPERTY AND ACCOUNTS

38. (1) There shall be a “Gram Fund” for each Gram Panchayat and the same shall be utilised for carrying out the duties and obligations imposed upon the Gram Panchayat by this Regulation.

(2) The following shall be credited to and form part of the Gram Fund, namely:—

(a) the proceeds of any tax or fee imposed under section 41;

(b) the contributions made by the Government or any local authority or person;

(d) the income from securities in which the Gram Fund is invested;

(e) the share in the collection of land revenue or other grants from the Administration;

(f) all sums received by way of loans or gifts;

(g) the income derived from fisheries and other sectors under the management of the Gram Panchayat;

(h) the income from or proceeds of any property of the Gram Panchayat;

(i) the sale proceeds of all dust, dirt, dung or refuse collected by the functionaries of the Gram Panchayat;

(j) the sums assigned to the Gram Fund by any general or special order of the Administration; and

(k) all sums received in aid of or for expenditure on any institution or service maintained or financed from the Gram Fund or managed by the Gram Panchayat.

(3) The amount in the Gram Fund shall be applied subject to the provisions and for the purposes of this Regulation and shall be kept in such custody and in such manner as may be prescribed.

39. The Administrator may, subject to such conditions as he may deem fit, make grants to the Gram Panchayat for general purposes or for the improvement of the village and the welfare of residents therein.

40. (1) The Administrator may, if he deems fit, place all or any of the properties, of the nature specified below, and situated within the jurisdiction of the Gram Panchayat under the direction, management and control of the Gram Panchayat, namely:—

(i) open sites, waste, vacant and grazing lands, not being private property and river beds;

(ii) public roads and streets;

(iii) public channels, water courses, wells, ponds, tanks (except irrigation tanks under the control of the Government), public reservoirs (except water treatment plants under the control of the Government), cisterns, fountains, aqueducts and any adjacent land (not being private property) appertaining to any public tanks or ponds, and lands appertaining thereto;

(iv) public sewers, drains, drainage works, tunnels and culverts and things appertaining thereto and other conservancy works;

(v) sewage, rubbish and offensive matter, deposited on streets or collected by the Gram Panchayat from streets, latrines, urinals, sewers, cesspools and other places;

(vi) street lights, public lamps, lamp posts and apparatus connected therewith or appertaining thereto;

Gram Fund.

Grants.

Properties placed under disposal, management and control of Gram Panchayat.

16 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [PART II— Taxes which may be imposed.

Appeal against levy of tax, etc.

Suspension of levy of tax or fee.

Lease of collection of markets fees, etc.

Recovery of taxes and other dues.

(vii) public library, reading rooms, slaughter houses, fish farms, cremation grounds, primary schools, anganwadi centres; and

(viii) road side trees, fuel wood plantation, non-conventional energy equipments.

(2) All markets and fairs or such portions thereof as are held upon public land shall be managed and regulated by the Gram Panchayat and Gram Panchayat shall receive to the credit of the Gram Fund referred to in sub-section (1) of section 38 all dues levied or imposed in respect thereof.

41. (1) Subject to the rules made under this Regulation a Gram Panchayat, in relation to the services provided by it directly, may levy—

(a) a tax on the owners or occupiers of buildings;

(b) a tax on trades, callings and employment;

(d) a tax on sale of cattle within the limits of the Gram Panchayat;

(e) a theatre or show tax on entertainments and amusements;

(f) a lighting tax;

(g) a drainage tax;

(h) fees for providing sanitary arrangements at such places of worship, of pilgrimage, fairs and melas within its jurisdictions;

(i) fees for sale of goods in markets, melas, fairs and festivals;

(j) fee for grazing of cattle in grazing lands under the management of the Gram Panchayat;

(k) fee for providing the watch and ward of crops in the Gram Panchayat;

(l) licence fee for plying of public ferry; and

(m) such other taxes as may be approved by the Administrator.

(2) The taxes and fees referred to in sub-section (1) shall be imposed, assessed and realised in such manner and at such times as may be prescribed.

42. Any person aggrieved by the assessment, levy or imposition of any tax or fee under section 41, may appeal to the Panchayat Secretary within thirty days of the date of the order imposing such tax or fee and second appeal in these cases shall lie with the Chief Executive Officer.

43. The Chief Executive Officer may, by order, suspend the levy or imposition of any tax or fee under section 38 and may at any time in the like manner rescind such suspension.

44. It shall be lawful for a Gram Panchayat to lease by public auction or private contract after following prescribed procedure, the collection of any fee on specified markets and bazars, if any, such fee is imposed under section 41:

Provided that a lessee shall give security for the due fulfilment of the conditions of the lease or contract.

45. (1) When any tax or fee or other sum due to a Gram Panchayat has become payable, the Gram Panchayat shall with the least practicable delay cause to be sent to the person liable for the payment thereof, a demand notice in the prescribed form for the amount due from him and require him, to pay the amount within a period of thirty days, from the date of such notice.

SEC. 1] THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY 17

(2) Every notice of demand under sub-section (1) shall be served in such manner as may be prescribed.

(3) If the sum for which a notice of demand has been served is not paid within a period of thirty days from the date of such notice, the Gram Panchayat may apply to the Mamlatdar or any other officer authorised in this behalf by the Administrator for its recovery as an arrear of land revenue.

46. Every Gram Panchayat shall maintain accounts in such form as may be prescribed.

47. (1) Every Gram Panchayat shall, at such time and in such manner as may be prescribed, prepare in each year a development plan for that year and present before the District Planning Committee.

(2) No expenditure shall be incurred unless the budget is approved by the Administrator.

48. (1) The accounts of every Gram Panchayat shall be audited annually in such manner as may be prescribed.

(2) The audit shall be carried out by the prescribed authority or such other officer as the Administrator may appoint in this behalf and such prescribed authority or other officer shall within one month of the completion of the audit, forward copies of the audit report to the Chief Executive Officer and the Gram Panchayat.

(3) The Chief Executive Officer may, after considering the report and after making such further enquiry as he may consider necessary, disallow any item which appears to him contrary to law and surcharge the same on the person making or authorising the illegal payment and shall—

(a) if such person is a member of the Gram Panchayat, proceed against him in the manner as specified in sub-sections (2) and (3) of section 53; and

(b) if such person is not a member of the Gram Panchayat, obtain the explanation of the person and direct such person to pay to the Gram Panchayat the amount surcharged within a specified period and if the amount is not paid within the specified period, the Chief Executive Officer shall cause it to be recovered as an arrear of land revenue and credit it to the Gram Fund referred to in sub-section (1) of section 38.

(4) Any person aggrieved by an order of the Chief Executive Officer under sub-section (3) may, within thirty days of the date of such order, prefer an appeal to the Secretary Panchayat whose decision thereon shall be final.

(5) Social audit of the major works being carried out by the Gram Panchayat shall be organised as may be decided by the Director Panchayat from time to time and the report of such audit whenever carried out shall be submitted to the Administrator by Director Panchayat along with his comments.

49. (1) Every Gram Panchayat shall submit annually to the Chief Executive Officer a report on the administration of the Gram Panchayat during the previous year.

(2) The report shall be prepared by the Panchayat Secretary and after it is approved by the Gram Panchayat, shall be forwarded to the Chief Executive Officer with a copy of the resolution of the Gram Panchayat thereon.

(3) The annual administration report of the Gram Panchayat shall contain an introductory section with basic statistics about the Gram Panchayat and data related to devolution of functions, finances, functionaries and performance of its duties, functions and obligations.

(4) The Chief Executive Officer shall forward the annual administrative report through the Director Panchayat along with his comments to the Administrator.

Accounts.

Annual estimate of expenditure.

Audit.

Administrative report.

18 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [PART II— Power to call for proceedings, etc.

Default in performance of duty by Gram Panchayat.

Suspension of execution of order on resolution of Panchayat.

Liability of members for loss, waste or misapplication.

CHAPTER VI CONTROL OF GRAM PANCHAYAT

50. The Chief Executive Officer and the Director Panchayat shall have power to—

(a) call for—

(i) any extract from the proceeding of a Gram Panchayat or any book, record, correspondence or documents in the possession or under control of a Gram Panchayat;

(ii) any return, plan, estimate, account or report for the purpose of inspection or examination;

(b) require a Gram Panchayat to take into consideration—

(i) any objection which appears to the Chief Executive Officer or the Director Panchayat to exist to the doing of anything which is about to be done or is being done by such Gram Panchayat, or

(ii) any information which the Chief Executive Officer or the Director Panchayat is able to furnish and which appears to the Chief Executive Officer or the Director Panchayat to necessitate the doing of a certain thing by the Gram Panchayat, and to make written reply to the said Chief Executive Officer or the Director Panchayat, as the case may be, within a reasonable time, stating its reasons for desisting from doing such things.

51. (1) If, at any time, it appears to the Chief Executive Officer that a Gram Panchayat has made wilful and persistent default in the performance of any duty imposed on it by this Regulation, he may, by order in writing, fix a period for the performance of that duty under intimation to the Director Panchayat.

(2) If the duty specified under sub-section (1), is not performed within the period so fixed, the Executive Officer may by an order in writing appoint any Government Agency to perform it, and direct that the expenses of the performance of such duty shall be paid by the defaulting Gram Panchayat within such period as the Chief Executive Officer may by order determine fit.

52. (1) If in the opinion of the Panchayat Secretary, the execution of any order or resolution of a Gram Panchayat or the doing of anything which is about to be done or is being done by or on behalf of a Gram Panchayat is causing or likely to cause danger to human life, health and public safety or annoyance to the public or to lead to a breach of peace or is unlawful, he shall forthwith bring it to the notice of the Chief Executive Officer who may by an order in writing suspend the execution or prohibit the doing thereof.

(2) When the Chief Executive Officer makes order under sub-section (1), he shall forthwith send to the Gram Panchayat affected thereby a copy of the order together with a statement of the reasons for making it.

(3) The Chief Executive Officer shall forthwith submit to the Secretary Panchayat a report of the circumstances in which the order was made under this section and the Secretary Panchayat may after giving notice to the Gram Panchayat and making such inquiry as he deems fit, rescind, modify or confirm the order.

(4) All actions taken or order made under sections 50, 51 and this section shall be reported to the Administrator as soon as possible.

53. (1) Every member of the Gram Panchayat shall be personally liable for the loss, waste or misapplication of any money or other property of the Gram Panchayat which has been caused or facilitated by his misconduct or wilful neglect of his duty as a member of the Gram Panchayat.

SEC. 1] THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY 19

(2) If after giving the member of the Gram Panchayat concerned a reasonable opportunity for showing cause to the contrary, the Panchayat Secretary is satisfied that the loss, waste or misapplication of any money or other property of the Gram Panchayat is a direct consequence of misconduct or wilful neglect on the part of such member, he shall report in writing to the Chief Executive Officer who shall direct such member to pay to the Gram Panchayat before a fixed date, the amount required to be reimbursed to it for such loss, waste or misapplication:

Provided that no such order shall be made for bona fide or technical irregularities or mistake of a member of the Gram Panchayat.

(3) If the amount referred to in sub-section (2) is not so paid, the Chief Executive Officer shall recover it as an arrear of land revenue and credit it to the Gram Fund referred to in sub-section (1) of section 38.

(4) An order of the Chief Executive Officer shall be subject to an appeal to the Secretary Panchayat if made within thirty days of the date of the order.

54. (1) If, in the opinion of the Administrator, a Gram Panchayat exceeds or abuses its powers or is incompetent to perform or makes persistent default in the performance of the duties imposed on it or functions entrusted to it under any provision of this Regulation or by or under any other law for the time being in force, or fails to obey an order made under this Regulation by the Gram Panchayat superior thereto or by the Administrator or any officer authorised by it, under this Regulation or persistently disobeys any of such orders, the Administrator may, after giving the Gram Panchayat an opportunity of rendering an explanation, by order in the Official Gazette—

(i) dissolve such Gram Panchayat; or

(ii) supersede such Gram Panchayat for the period specified in the order:

Provided that such period shall not be longer than six months or the residual period of duration of such Gram Panchayat whichever is less:

Provided further that the Administrator may subject to, the preceding proviso from time to time after making such inquiry as it may consider necessary by an order published in the Official Gazette, extend the period of supersession of such Gram Panchayat until such date as may be specified in the order or by like order curtail the period of such supersession.

(2) When a Gram Panchayat is dissolved or superseded, all members of the Gram Panchayat shall from the date specified in the order, vacate their office as such members.

(3) When the Gram Panchayat is dissolved or superseded, it shall be reconstituted, in the manner provided in this Regulation.

(4) If a Gram Panchayat is dissolved or superseded—

(a) all the powers and duties of the Gram Panchayat shall during the period of dissolution or supersession, as the case may be, exercised and performed by such person or persons as the Administrator may from time to time appoint in that behalf;

(b) all property vested in the Gram Panchayat shall during the period of dissolution or supersession, as the case may be, vest in the Administrator; and

(c) on the dissolution, or, as the case may be, on the expiry of the period of supersession, the Gram Panchayat shall be reconstituted in the manner provided in this Regulation, and the persons vacating office shall be eligible for re-election.

55. (1) If any dispute arises between two or more Gram Panchayats, it shall be referred to a Joint Committee of Panchayat appointed under section 80.

(2) If the Joint Committee is unable to resolve the issue it shall be referred to the Secretary Panchayat and the decision of Secretary Panchayat thereon shall be final.

Dissolution or suspension of panchayat for default.

Disputes between Gram Panchayats.

20 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [PART II— Administrator or Secretary Panchayat may call for proceedings.

56. The Administrator or the Secretary Panchayat may call for and examine the record of the proceedings of any Gram Panchayat for the purpose of satisfying himself as to the legality or propriety of any order passed and may revise or modify the order as he may deem fit:

District Panchayat.

Composition of District Panchayat.

Incorporation of District Panchayat.

Persons qualified to vote and be elected.

Disqualification.

Provided that no order shall be so revised or modified without giving the Gram Panchayat concerned a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against the proposed order for revision or modification of the order.

CHAPTER VII THE DISTRICT PANCHAYAT

57. The Administrator shall, by notification, constitute for the Districts in the Union territory, a Panchayat at the District level to be called the District Panchayat.

58. (1) The District Panchayat shall consist of such number of seats to be filled from such number of wards, as the Administrator may, by order, determine.

(2) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (3), the territorial boundary for each ward shall be notified by the Administrator on the recommendations of the Election Commission.

(3) The seats in the District Panchayat shall be filled by persons chosen by direct election from the wards in such manner that the ratio between the population of each constituency and the number of seats allotted to it shall so far as practicable be the same throughout the District Panchayat area.

(4) The following persons shall also be represented in the District Panchayat, namely:—

(a) all sarpanches of Gram Panchayats;

(b) the Member of Lok Sabha representing the Constituency of Union territory:

Provided that the representatives under clauses (a) and (b) shall have the right to vote in the meetings other than the meetings held for election of the President and the Vice-President.

(5) The provisions of sub-sections (5), (6), (7) and (8) of section 12 shall, so far as may be, apply to the District Panchayat as they apply to a Gram Panchayat subject to the modification that for the words “Gram Panchayat” wherever they occur in those provisions, the words “District Panchayat” shall be substituted.

59. The District Panchayat shall, by the name notified under section 57 be a body corporate having perpetual succession and a common seal and subject to such restrictions and conditions imposed by or under this Regulation or any other law for the time being in force, have power to acquire, hold, administer and transfer property, both movable and immovable and enter into any contract and shall by the said name sue or be sued.

60. Every member of the Gram Sabhas constituting the District Panchayat shall, unless disqualified under this Regulation or any other law for the time being in force be qualified,—

(i) to vote at an election to the District Panchayat;

(ii) be elected to the District Panchayat.

61. (1) No person shall be a member of a District Panchayat or continue as such who—

(a) has not attained the age of twenty-one years;

(b) is not a citizen of India;

SEC. 1] THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY 21 22 of 1955.

(d) has been adjudged by a competent court to be of unsound mind;

(e) has been adjudicated an insolvent;

(f) has been removed from any office held by him in any District Panchayat under any provision of this Regulation or in any District Panchayat before the commencement of this Regulation and a period of five years has not elapsed from the date of such removal, unless he has, by an order of the Administrator notified in the Official Gazette, been relieved from the disqualification on account of such removal from office;

(g) has been disqualified from holding office under any provision of this Regulation and the period for which he was so disqualified has not elapsed;

(h) holds any salaried office or place of profit in the gift or disposal of any Panchayat, other than as such office or place as prescribed under this Regulation;

(i) has, directly or indirectly, any share or interest in any work done by order of the Panchayat, or in any contract with, by or on behalf of, or employment with or under the Panchayat.

Explanation.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby clarified that a person shall not be disqualified under this clause for membership of a Panchayat by reason only of such person—

(ii) having a share or interest in any newspaper in which any advertisement relating to the affairs of any Panchayat may be inserted;

(iii) holding a debenture or being otherwise concerned in any loan raised by or on behalf of any Panchayat;

(iv) being professionally engaged on behalf of any Panchayat as a legal practitioner;

(v) having any share or interest in any lease of immovable property in which the amount of rent has been approved by the District Panchayat in the case of a village Panchayat, or by the District Panchayat in its own case or in any sale or purchase of immovable property or in any agreement for such lease, sale or purchase;

(vii) merely being a relative of a person in employment with or under or by or on behalf of the Panchayat;

(j) has, directly or indirectly, any share or interest in any transaction of loan of money advanced to or borrowed from any officer or servant of any Panchayat;

22 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—

Explanation.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby clarified that—

(i) a person shall not be deemed to be disqualified if he has paid the arrears or the sum referred to in clause (k) of this sub-section, prior to the day prescribed for the nomination of candidates;

(ii) failure to pay the arrears or the sum referred to in clause (k) of this sub-section to the Panchayat by a member of an Hindu Undivided Family or by a person belonging to a group or unit, the members of which are by custom joint in estate or residence, shall be deemed to disqualify all members of such Hindu Undivided Family or as the case may be, all the members of such group or unit;

(l) is a employee of the Government or any local authority;

(m) has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of a Foreign State or is under any acknowledgement of allegiance or adherence to a Foreign State;

(n) has no facility of water closet or privy accommodation at the place of his ordinary residence:

Provided that a sitting member shall be deemed to have incurred disqualification if he does not submit to the Chief Executive Officer, within six months from the date of commencement of this, a certificate issued by the Panchayat Secretary of the Gram Panchayat in whose jurisdiction his ordinary residence is situated, to the effect that he is having facility of water closet or privy accommodation at the place of his ordinary residence;

(o) is disqualified under any other provision of this Regulation, and the period for which he was so disqualified has not elapsed;

(p) has more than two children:

Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, it is hereby clarified that,—

(i) where a couple has only one child on or after the date of such commencement, any number of children born out of single subsequent delivery shall be deemed to be one entity;

(ii) “child” does not include an adopted child or children;

(q) is without permission of the Gram Panchayat, absent from three consecutive meetings;

(r) has been ordered to give security for good behaviour under section 109 or section 110 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973; or

(s) has been dismissed from the service of the Government or Municipality or Gram Panchayat for misconduct within five years prior to the date of poll.

(2) A person shall be disqualified for being a member of the District Panchayat if he is so disqualified under the Fifth Schedule.

2 of 1974.

SEC. 1] THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY 23

62. If any question arises as to whether a person has become subject to any disqualification referred to in section 4, section 14, section 15, section 60 and section 61, it shall be referred to the Administrator of the Union territory for decision and his decision thereon shall be final:

Provided that before giving any decision on such question, the Administrator shall obtain the opinion of the Election Commission and act according to such opinion:

Provided further that no person shall be disqualified unless such person has been given an opportunity for being heard in the matter.

63. (1) The election of members of a District Panchayat shall be held in such a manner (including the manner of voting) as may be prescribed and on such date or dates as the Administrator may, in consultation with the Election Commission, by notification direct:

Provided that a casual vacancy shall be filled-up within a period of six months from the date of occurrence of such vacancy:

Provided further that no election shall be held to fill a casual vacancy occurring within six months prior to the general election of a District Panchayat under this section.

(2) It shall be competent for the Election Commission for reasons which it considers sufficient, to extend the time for the completion of any election by making necessary amendments in the notification issued under sub-section (1).

(3) Where in respect of a Panchayat which is to be reconstituted on account of the expiry of its duration, the Administrator is satisfied that, it is not possible to hold elections before the expiry of duration for reconstituting the Panchayat, on account of any natural calamity, riots, communal disturbances, force-majeure, then, notwithstanding anything contained in this Regulation or rules made thereunder, the Administrator may by notification, make a declaration to that effect.

(4) On the issue of the notification under sub-section (3), all the powers and duties of the Panchayat shall be exercised and performed for the period, during which the notification remains in force by such officer as the Administrator may by order in writing specify.

64. (1) Any member of a District Panchayat who during his term of office—

(i) is absent for more than three consecutive months from the district and a leave not exceeding four months so to absent himself has been granted by the Panchayat; or

(ii) absents himself for four consecutive months from the meetings of the Panchayat without the leave of the said Panchayat, shall cease to be a member and his office shall be vacant and thereupon the Panchayat shall as soon as may be inform him that the vacancy has occurred.

(2) Any dispute, as to whether a vacancy has or has not occurred under this section, shall be referred to the Secretary Panchayat for decision, and the decision of such Secretary Panchayat shall be final:

(3) Whenever a leave is granted under sub-section (1) to a member who is a Vice- President, another member shall, subject to the conditions to which the election of the Vice- President so absenting himself was subjected to, be elected to perform all the duties and exercise all the powers of a Vice-President during the period for which such leave is granted.

65. (1) On the constitution of the District Panchayat for the first time under this Regulation or on its reconstitution, a meeting shall be called on a date fixed by the Administrator for taking oath of office by all the members in the form set out in the First Schedule before the Secretary Panchayat.

Decision on question as to disqualification.

Election.

Leave of absence.

Oath of office.

24 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [PART II— Election of President and Vice- President.

Meetings.

Powers and duties of Vice- President.

Duration of District Panchayat.

(2) The officer appointed by the Administrator shall preside over at such meeting, but not have the right to vote.

(3) No member of the District Panchayat who has not taken such oath shall vote or take part in the proceedings of any meeting nor shall be included as a member of any Committee constituted by the District Panchayat.

66. (1) On the constitution of the District Panchayat for the first time under this Regulation or on the expiry of the term of the District Panchayat or on its reconstitution, a meeting shall be called on a date fixed by the Secretary Panchayat where the elected members of the District Panchayat shall elect, from amongst themselves, a President and a Vice-President.

(2) The officer appointed by the Secretary Panchayat shall preside over at such meeting, but shall not have the right to vote.

(3) No business other than the election of the President and the Vice-President shall be transacted at such meeting.

(4) In case of equality of votes, the result of the election shall be decided by lots drawn in the presence of the officer appointed, in such manner as he may determine.

(5) The office of the President and the Vice-President shall be reserved for the Scheduled Tribes according to a roster of reservation which shall be maintained in such form and manner as may be prescribed:

Provided that the office of the President and Vice-President shall be reserved for women in every second term.

(6) The term of the office of the President and Vice-President, unless the District Panchayat is sooner dissolved under any law for the time being in force, shall be maximum of two years and six months from the date they are appointed for its first meeting and no longer.

67. The President shall—

(i) convene and preside at and conduct meetings of the District Panchayat;

(ii) have access to the records of the Panchayat;

(iii) discharge all duties imposed, and exercise all the powers conferred on him by or under this Regulation;

(iv) watch over the financial and executive administration of the Panchayat and submit to the Panchayat all questions connected therewith which shall appear to him to require its orders; and

(v) exercise administrative supervision over the Chief Executive Officer for securing implementation of resolution or decisions of the Panchayat or of any Committee thereof.

68. The Vice-President shall,—

(a) exercise the powers and perform the duties of the President when he is absent on leave or incapacitated from functioning or when the office of the President falls vacant; and

(b) in the absence of the President or when the office of the President falls vacant, preside over the meetings of the District Panchayat.

69. (1) The District Panchayat, unless sooner dissolved under any law for the time being in force, shall continue for five years from the date appointed for its first meeting and no longer.

(2) An election to constitute the District Panchayat shall be completed—

(a) before the expiry of its duration specified in sub-section (1); and SEC. 1] THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY 25

(b) before the expiry of a period of six months from the date of its dissolution:

Provided that where the remainder of the period for which the dissolved District Panchayat would have continued is less than six months, it shall not be necessary to hold any election under this sub-section for constituting the District Panchayat.

(3) The District Panchayat constituted upon the dissolution of a District Panchayat before the expiration of its duration shall continue only for the remainder of the period for which the dissolved District Panchayat would have continued under sub-section (1) had it not been so dissolved.

70. (1) Any member of the District Panchayat may resign his office by giving notice in writing to that effect to the President under intimation to the Chief Executive Officer and such resignation, shall take effect from the date of its acceptance by the President.

(2) The Vice-President may resign his office by giving notice in writing to the President under intimation to the Chief Executive Officer and such resignation, shall take effect from the date of its acceptance by the President.

(3) The President may resign his office by giving notice in writing to the Secretary Panchayat, under intimation to the Administrator and such resignation, shall take effect from the date of its acceptance by the Secretary Panchayat.

71. Any casual vacancy in the office of the President or the Vice-President or Member in the District Panchayat shall be filled for the remainder of the duration of the District Panchayat by election in accordance with the provisions of this Regulation:

Provided that where a seat or office of the President has been reserved for women or the Scheduled Tribes, no person other than a women or a member of the Scheduled Tribes shall be qualified to be chosen to fill such vacancy for the remainder of the term.

72. (1) The Secretary Panchayat may by order suspend from office the President or the Vice-President or any member of District Panchayat against whom any criminal proceedings in respect of an offence involving moral turpitude have been instituted or who has been detained in a prison during trial for any offence or who is undergoing such sentence of imprisonment as would not disqualify him from continuing as a member of the Panchayat under section 58, or who has been detained under any law relating to preventive detention for the time being in force.

(2) Where the President or the Vice-President or any member of District Panchayat has been suspended under sub-section (1), another member shall, subject to the condition to which the election of the President, Vice-President or, as the case may be, any member of District Panchayat suspended, was subject be elected to perform all the duties and exercise all the powers of a President or a Vice-President or a member of District Panchayat, as the case may be, during the period for which such suspension continues.

(3) An appeal against an order passed under sub-section (1) shall lie before the Administrator or any officer authorised by him in this behalf within a period of thirty days from the date of the order.

73. (1) A motion of no confidence against the President or the Vice-President may be moved by not less than one-third of the elected members of the District Panchayat after giving notice thereof, but not before six months of assumption of office by the President or the Vice-President.

(2) If the motion is carried by a majority of not less than two-third of the elected members of the District Panchayat, the President or the Vice-President, as the case may be, shall cease to hold office from the date on which the motion is carried unless he has resigned earlier.

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Regulation, the President or the Vice-President shall not preside over a meeting in which motion of no confidence is discussed Resignation of office.

Casual vacancy.

Suspension of President or Vice-President or any member of District Panchayat.

Motion of no confidence.

26 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [PART II— Removal from office.

Staff of District Panchayat.

Service conditions of staff of District Panchayat.

against him, but he shall have a right to speak or otherwise take part in the proceedings of such meetings.

74. (1) The Secretary Panchayat may by order remove from office any member of the District Panchayat, the President or Vice-President thereof, after giving him an opportunity of being heard and due notice in that behalf and after such inquiry as it deems necessary, if such member, the President or the Vice-President has been guilty of misconduct in the discharge of his duties or of any disgraceful conduct or abuses his powers or makes persistent default in the performance of his duties and functions under this Regulation or has become incapable of performing his duties and functions under this Regulation and the President or as the case may be the Vice-President, so removed may at the discretion of the Secretary Panchayat also be removed from the membership of the Panchayat:

Provided that no member, the President or the Vice-President of District Panchayat shall be removed unless such person has been given an opportunity of being heard in the matter.

(2) The Secretary Panchayat may, after following the procedure laid down in subsection (1) by order disqualify for a period not exceeding five years any person who has resigned from his office of member, the President or the Vice-President or otherwise ceases to hold any such office and has been guilty of misconduct specified in sub-section (1) or has been incapable of performing his duties:

Provided that such action shall be taken within six months from the date on which the person resigns or ceases to hold any such office.

75. (1) The Administrator shall appoint the Chief Executive Officer of the District Panchayat who shall not be below the rank of Additional District Magistrate.

(2) The Administrator shall also appoint an Accounts Officer for District Panchayat.

(3) The Administrator shall post from time to time in District Panchayat such number of officers of Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ including any officers employed by the existing local authority and other officers allocated to serve under the Lakshadweep Administration, as the Administrator considers necessary.

(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Regulation or any other law for the time being in force the District Panchayat or other authority authorised by the District Panchayat in this behalf shall have power to effect transfer of the officers and officials other than those mentioned in sub-section (3) posted in the District Panchayat.

(5) The District Panchayat may create and fill-up such other posts in such number as may from time to time be necessary with the prior approval of the Administrator:

Provided that no post shall be created for which no budget provision is made and is not provided in the staffing pattern approved by the Administrator as provided under subsection (6).

(6) The Administrator shall approve the staffing pattern for the District Panchayat and Gram Panchayat for carrying out the functions mentioned in this Regulation and the terms and conditions of service of such staff shall be such as may be prescribed.

76. The staff posted in the District Panchayat shall be governed by the terms and conditions of their service as may be applicable to them before their posting in the District Panchayat.

SEC. 1] THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY 27

77. (1) Save as otherwise expressly provided by or under this Regulation, the executive powers of a District Panchayat for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Regulation, shall vest in the Chief Executive Officer and he shall—

(a) perform all the functions and exercise all the powers specifically imposed or conferred upon him by or under this Regulation, or under any law for the time being in force; and

(b) lay down the duties of all officers and employees of the District Panchayat.

(2) Subject to the provisions of this Regulation and the rules made thereunder the Chief Executive Officer shall—

(a) be entitled to—

(i) attend the meetings of the District Panchayat, or any of its committee;

(ii) call for any information, return statement, account or report from any officer or servant of or holding office under, the District Panchayat;

(iii) grant leave of absence to such class of officers as may be prescribed by rules; and

(iv) call for an explanation from any officer or servant of or holding office under the District Panchayat;

(b) subject to the control of the District Panchayat, discharge duties and perform function in respect of matters which by or under this Regulation are not expressly imposed or conferred on any committee, presiding officer or any officer of the District Panchayat;

(d) supervise and control, engagement of all casual labours, daily wage workers and contractual employment of the District Panchayat;

(e) supervise and control, the execution of all activities of the District Panchayat;

(f) take necessary measures for the speedy execution of all works and development schemes of the District Panchayat;

(g) have custody of all papers and documents connected with the District Panchayat;

(h) assess and give his opinion confidentially every year on the work of the officers holding office under the District Panchayat; forward them to such authorities as may be prescribed by the Union territory Administration and lay down the procedure for writing such reports about the work of officers and servants under the District Panchayat;

(i) draw and disburse money out of the fund;

(j) exercise supervision and control over the acts of officers and servants holding office under the District Panchayat in matters of executive administration and those relating to accounts and records of the District Panchayat; and

(k) exercise such other powers and perform such other functions as may be prescribed.

(3) The Chief Executive Officer may subject to such conditions as may be prescribed, delegate any of his power and functions to any officer or employee holding office under the District Panchayat, provided such officer or employee is not below such rank as may be prescribed.

(4) Subject to the other provisions of this Regulation, the Chief Executive Officer shall be under the general control of the District Panchayat.

Functions of Chief Executive Officer and other officers.

28 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [PART II— Right to requisition records.

Meetings of District Panchayat.

Standing Committees or Joint Committees, etc. .

Acts or proceedings not to be invalid.

Consultation with President and Vice- President.

Duties and functions of District Panchayat.

78. Every person in possession of moneys, accounts, records or other property pertaining to a Gram Panchayat or a District Panchayat, shall on the requisition in writing of the Chief Executive Officer for this purpose, forthwith hand over such moneys or deliver up such accounts, records or other property to the Chief Executive Officer or the person authorised in the requisition to receive the same.

79. (1) The time and place of meetings of the District Panchayat and the procedure to be followed at such meeting shall be such as may be prescribed.

(2) A member of the District Panchayat may, at any meeting, move any resolution and put question to the President or the Vice-President on matters connected with the administration of the District Panchayat in such manner as may be prescribed.

(3) No resolution of the District Panchayat shall be modified, amended, varied or cancelled by the District Panchayat within a period of three months from the date of passing thereof except by a resolution supported by two-thirds of the total number of members of the District Panchayat.

80. (1) Subject to such rules as may be prescribed, the District Panchayat may appoint from amongst its members, the following Standing Committees for exercising its powers and discharging its duties and functions, namely:—

(a) Executive Committee;

(b) Public Health Committee;

(d) Education Committee;

(e) Committee for production, co-operation and irrigation;

(f) Social Justice Committee; and

(g) Committee for Women, Child Development and Youth activity.

(2) The composition and tenure of Committees referred to in clauses (a) to (g) of sub-section (1) shall be such as may be prescribed.

(3) In addition to the Committees referred to in sub-section (1), a District Panchayat may with the prior approval of the Administrator constitute a Committee or Committees to execute any work or scheme decided upon by the District Panchayat or to inquire into and report to the District Panchayat on matters which the Panchayat may refer to such Committee or Committees and the District Panchayat may make regulations for the procedure to be followed by any such Committee.

(4) No fee or allowances shall be payable for attending the meetings.

81. No act or proceedings of the District Panchayat or of Standing Committee thereof shall be deemed to be invalid merely by reason of the existence of any vacancy therein.

82. The Administrator shall, from time to time, consult the President and the Vice- President of the District Panchayat on any matter specified in the Fourth Schedule and the views of the President or the Vice-President on such matter shall be recommendatory in nature.

83. The District Panchayat shall have such powers and authority as the Administrator may, by order, specify, so as to enable it to function as an institution of self-government with respect to the preparation of plans for economic development and social justice and the implementation of schemes for economic development and social justice in relation to the matters listed in the Third Schedule.

SEC. 1] THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY 29

84. The District Panchayat in respect of roads, streets, bridges, culverts and other properties placed by the Administrator under sub-section (1) of section 89 under its direction, management and control, may do all things necessary for the maintenance and repair thereof, and in particular, may:—

(a) widen, open, enlarge, or otherwise improve any such road, bridge or culvert and plant and preserve trees on both sides of such roads;

(b) deepen or otherwise improve any water course and other property mentioned in clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 89;

(d) lay out and make new roads; and construct new bridges and culverts.

85. The Administrator may entrust to the District Panchayat, the execution, maintenance or repair of any work or the management of any institution on behalf of the Administrator or any local authority:

Provided that the funds necessary for the execution, maintenance or repair of the work or the management of such institution shall be placed at the disposal of the District Panchayat by the Administrator or such local authority.

86. Every contract or agreement entered into on behalf of the District Panchayat, shall be in writing and shall be signed by the President and

The Lakshadweep Panchayat Regulation, 2022

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