(1) For every Block the State Government shall constitute a Panchayat Samiti bearing the name of the Block.
(2) The Panchayat Samiti shall consist of the following members, namely:—
(i) Pradhans of the Gram Panchayats within the Block, ex officio;
(ii) such number of persons not exceeding three as may be prescribed to be elected from each Gram within the Block, the Gram being divided for the purpose into as many constituencies as the number of persons to be elected, and the election being held by secret ballot at such time and in such manner as may be prescribed, from amongst themselves by persons whose names are included in the electoral roll of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly for the time being in force pertaining to the constituency comprised in such Gram;
(iii) members of the House of the People and the Legislative Assembly of the State elected thereto from a constituency comprising the Block or any part thereof, not being Ministers and members of the Council of States, not being Ministers, having a place of residence in the Block.
(3) EVery Panchayat Samiti constituted under this section shall be notified in the Official Gazette and shall come into office with effect from the date of its first meeting at which a quorum is present.
(4) Every Panchayat Samiti shall be a body corporate having perpetual succession and a common seal and shall by its corporate name sue and be sued.
Panchayat Samiti and its constitution.
311 The West Bengal Panchayat Act, 1973.
[West Ben. Act (Part III.—Panchayat Samiti.—Chapter VIII—Constitution of Panchayat Samiti.—Seetions 95, 96.)
Effect of the 95. (1) When any Gram is excluded from a Block under clause (a) alteration of the area of a of sub-section (3) of section 93, such Gram shall, as from the date of Block.
the notification referred to in that sub-section, cease to be subject to the jurisdiction of the Panchayat Samiti of that Block and, unless the State Government otherwise directs, to the rules, orders, directions and notifications in force therein.
(2) When a Gram is included in a Block under clause (b) of sub-section (3) of section 93, the Panchayat Samiti for that Block shall, as from the date of the notification referred to in that sub-section, have jurisdiction over such Gram and, unless the State Government otherwise directs, all rules, orders, directions and notifications in force in that Block shall apply to the Gram so included.
(3) When the area of any Block is divided under clause (c) of sub-section (3) of section 93 so as to constitute two or more Blocks, the Panchayat Samiti of the Block shall, as from the date of the notification referred to in that sub-section, cease to exist and there shall be reconstitution of the Panchayat Samitis for the newly-constituted Blocks in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
(4) When the areas of two or more Blocks are united under clause
(d) of sub-section (3) of section 93 so as to constitute a single Block, the Panchayat Samitis of the said Blocks shall, as from the date of the notification referred to in that sub-section, cease to exist and a separate Panchayat Samiti shall be constituted for the new Block in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
(5) When under sub-section (3) of section 93 any Gram is excluded from, or included in, a Block, or a Block is divided so as to constitute two or more Blocks, or two or more Blocks are united to constitute a single Block, the properties, funds and liabilities of the Panchayat Samiti or Samitis affected by such reorganisation shall vest in such Panchayat Samiti or Samitis, and in accordance with such allocation, as may be determined by order in writing by the prescribed authority, and such determination shall be final.
(6) An order made under sub-section (5) may contain such supplemental, incidental and consequential provisions as may be necessary to give effect to such reorganisation.
Term of office of members of Panchayat Samiti.