(1) Every Gram Panchayat shall hold a meeting at least once in a month at such time and at such place within the local limits of the Gram concerned as the Gram Panchayat may fix at the immediately preceding meeting:
Provided that the first meeting of a newly-constituted Gram Panchayat shall be held at such place within the local limits of the Gram concerned as the prescribed authority may fix:
274 The West Bengal Panchayat Act, 1973.
XLI of 1973.]
(Part 11.—Gram Panchayat.—Chapter H.—Constitution of Gram Panchayat.—Sections 17, 18.)
Provided further that the Pradhan when required in writing by one-fifth of the members of the Gram Panchayat subject to a minimum of four members to call a meeting shall do so within seven days, failing which the members aforesaid may call a meeting after giving intimation to the prescribed authority and seven clear days' notice to the Pradhan and other members of the Gram Panchayat. Such meeting shall be held at such time and at such place within the local limits of the Gram concerned as the members calling the meeting may decide.
(2) The Pradhan or in his absence the Upa-Pradhan shall preside at the meeting of the Gram Panchayat; and in the absence of both, the members present shall elect one of them to be the President of the meeting.
(3) One-fourth of the total number of members subject to a minimum of four members shall form a quorum for a meeting of a Gram Panchayat:
Provided that no quorum shall be necessary for an adjourned meeting.
(4) All questions coming before a Gram Panchayat shall be decided by a majority of votes:
Provided that in case of equality of votes the person presiding shall have a second or casting vote.
17. A list of the business to be transacted at every meeting of a List of Gram Panchayat except at an adjourned meeting, shall be sent to each business to be transacted member of the Gram Panchayat in the manner prescribed at least seven at a meeting.
days before the time fixed for such meeting and no business shall be brought before or transacted at any meeting, other than the business of which notice has been so given, except with the approval of the majority of the members present at such meeting:
Provided that if the Pradhan thinks that a situation has arisen for which an emergent meeting of the Gram Panchayat should be called, he may call such meeting after giving three days' notice to the members:
Provided further that not more than one matter shall be included in the list of business to be transacted at such meeting.
18. The Gram Panchayat shall prepare in the prescribed manner Report on the work of a report on the work done during the previous year and the work proposed ra Gm to be done during the following year and submit it to the prescribed Panchayat.
authority and to the Panchayat Samiti concerned within the prescribed time.
275 The West Bengal Panchayat Act, 1973.
[West Ben. Act Obligatory duties of Gram Panchayat.
(Part IL—Gram Panchayat.—Chapter III—Powers and duties of Gram Panchayat.—Section 19.)
CHAPTER III Powers and duties of Gram Panchayat.
19. Subject to such conditions as may be prescribed, the duties of a Gram Panchayat shall be to provide within the area under its jurisdiction for—
(a) sanitation, conservancy and drainage and the prevention of public nuisances;
(b) curative and preventive measures in respect of malaria, small pox, cholera or any other epidemic;
(c) supply of drinking water and the cleansing and disinfecting the sources of supply and storage of water;
(d) the maintenance, repair and construction of public streets and protection thereof;
(e) the removal of encroachments of public streets or public places;
(f) the protection and repair of buildings or other property vested in it;
(g) the management and care of public tanks, subject to the provisions of the Bengal Tanks Improvement Act, 1939, Ben. Act XV common grazing grounds, burning ghats and public of 1939.
graveyards;
(h) the supply of any local information which the District Magistrate, the Zilla Parishad or the Panchayat Samiti within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the Gram Panchayat is situate, may require;
(i) organising voluntary labour for community works and works for the upliftment of its area;
(j) the control and administration of the Gram Panchayat Fund established under this Act;
(k) the imposition, assessment and collection of the taxes, rates or fees leviable under this Act;
(1) the maintenance and control of Dafadars and Chowkidars within its jurisdiction and securing due performance by the Dafadars and Chowkidars of the duties imposed on them under this Act;
(m) the constitution and administration of the Nyaya Panchayat established under this Act; and
(n) the performance of such functions as may be transferred to it under section 31 of the Cattle-trespass Act, 1871. 1 of 1871.
276 The West Bengal Panchayat Act, 1973.
XLI of 1973.]
(Part IL—Gram Panchayat.—Chapter /IL—Powers and duties of Gram Panchayat.—Sections 20, 21.)