(1) In respect of a District Panchayat, the District Collector shall be, the Returning Officer and in respect of Panchayat Union Council, the 13[Assistant Director of Rural Development] or any other officer equivalent in remark, nominated by the State Election Commission shall be the Returning Officer.
(2) 21[Immediately after the declaration of the results of Election under Rule 67], the Returning Officer shall convene a meeting of Ward members on such dates as may be, notified by the State Election Commission for the purpose of election of Chairman. In respect of a causal vacancy, such meeting shall be convened on a date fixed by the State election Commission within 22[sixty days] of the occurrence of such casual vacancy.
(3) The Returning Officer shall give at least seven clear days notice to all Ward members for the meeting.
(4) The Returning Officer shall not start the process of election unless there be present a majority of the Ward members of the District Panchayat or the Panchayat Union Council, as the case may be.
23[Provided that this sub-rule shall not apply, if the process of election could not be started at three consecutive meetings for want of such majority.]