(1) For the purposes of filling up of ordinary and causal vacancies in the offices of Ward members of 12 Panchayats or Presidents of Village Panchayats as the case may be, the State Election Commission, in pursuance of and in consonance with the Constitutional provisions in this behalf, shall in consultation with the Government, by one or more notifications published in the manner prescribed, call upon the electors of such Wards and Panchayats to elect Ward members of the respective Panchayats, and / or Presidents of Village Panchayats, as the case may be, on such date or dates as may be specified therein.
(2) The notifications referred to in sub-rule (1) shall specify-
(i) the date on which the public notice of election shall be published;
(ii) the last date for making nominations, which shall be the seventh day after the publication of the public notice referred to in clause (i) or if that day is a public holiday, the next succeeding day which is not a public holiday, the hours between which the nomination can be made being 11-00 a.m. and 3-00 p.m. on each day;
(iii) the time and date for taking up the scrutiny of nominations, which shall be 11-00 a.m. of the date immediately following the last date for making nominations or, if that date is a public holiday, the next succeeding day which is not a public holiday;
(iv) the hour and date upto which the withdrawal of candidatures can be made, which shall be 3-00 p.m. on the second day after the date for the scrutiny of nominations or, if that day is a public holiday, the next succeeding day which is not a public holiday;
(v) the date or dates on which a poll shall, if necessary, be taken which or the first of which shall be a date not earlier than the seventh day after the last date for the withdrawal of Candidatures;
(vi) the date before which the election shall be completed; and
(vii) the date on which the meeting of the newly elected Ward members of the Panchayat shall be held for the election of Vice-President or Chairperson or Vice-chairperson as the cases may be.
(3) The notifications referred to in sub-rule (1) shall be published-
(i) in the case of both ordinary and causal election of members of District Panchayats, in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette and in the respective District Gazette;
(ii) in the case both ordinary and causal election of members of the Panchayat Union Councils, in the respective District Gazettes; and 13
(iii) in the case of both ordinary and causal elections of the Presidents of Village Panchayats and / or members of Village Panchayats, in the concerned District Gazette.
(4) the State Election Commission may also arrange to publish the notifications at such other places as it deems fit, to give further publicity to the notification.