THE MANIPUR PANCHAYATI RAJ ACT, 1994 
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ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 
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CHAPTER I 

PRELIMINARY 

SECTIONS 

1.  Short title, extent and commencement. 
2.  Definitions. 

CHAPTER II 

GRAM SABHA 

3.  Membership of Gram Sabha and disqualification. 
4.  Cessation of Membership. 
5.  Periodicity of Meetings. 
6.  Convening of Meetings. 
7.  Quorum. 
8.  Gram Sabha Meetings. 
9.  Agenda. 
10.  Resolution. 
11.  Functions of Gram Sabha. 
12.  Vigilance Committee. 

CHAPTER III 

GRAM PANCHAYATS 

13.  Constitution of Gram Panchayat. 
14.  Incorporation of Gram Panchayat. 
15.  Electoral Roll of Gram Panchayat. 
16.  Publication of Electoral Roll of Gram Panchayat. 
17.  Composition of Gram Panchayat. 
18.  Division of Gram Sabha into territorial constituencies. 
19.  Reservation of seats. 
20.  Term of the Gram Panchayats. 
21.  Election of the Pradhan and members of Gram Panchayat. 
22.  Appointment of an Administrative Committee or Administrator on failure to elect members of 

Gram Panchayats and in other cases. 

23.  Filling of casual vacancy in the office of Pradhan and of the member. 
24.  Election of Up-Pradhan. 
25.  Reservation of seats for Pradhan and Up-Pradhan. 

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SECTIONS 

26.  Procedure for election of Up-Pradhan on the establishment of Gram Panchayat. 
27.  Term of the office of the Pradhan and Up-Pradhan. 
28.  Powers, functions and duties of Pradhan and Up-Pradhan. 
29.  Resignation of Pradhan and Up-Pradhan. 
30.  No confidence motion against the Pradhan and Up-Pradhan. 
31.  Resignation of members. 
32.  Meeting of Gram Panchayat. 
33.  Minutes. 
34.  Quorum and procedure. 
35.  Functions of Gram Panchayat. 
36.  Assignment of functions. 
37.  General powers of the Gram Panchayat. 
38.  Standing Committees. 
39.  Property and funds. 
40.  Taxation. 
41.  Financial assistance to Gram Panchayats. 
42.  Budget of the Gram Panchayat. 
43.  Accounts. 
44.  Audit. 
45.  Staff of Gram Panchayat. 
46.  Staffing pattern and category of employees. 
47.  Appointment and control of employees. 

CHAPTER IV 

ZILLA PARISHAD 

48.  Establishment of Zilla Parishad. 
49.  Composition of Zilla Parishad. 
50.  Elected Members. 
51.  Filling of casual vacancy. 
52.  Reservation. 
53.  Term of a Zilla Parishad. 
54.  Election of Adhyaksha and Up-Adhyaksha. 
55.  Salary and allowances to the Adhyaksha and Up-Adhyaksha and other Members. 
56.  Powers, funtions and duties of the Adhyaksha and Up-Adhyaksha. 
57.  Resignation or removal of the Adhyaksha and Up-Adhyaksha. 
58.  Resignation of Member. 
59.  Meeting of the Zilla Parishad. 
60.  Minutes. 
61.  Functions and powers of Zilla Parishad. 
62.  General powers of Zilla Parishad. 
63.  Assignment of functions. 
64.  Delegation of powers. 
65.  Standing Committees. 
66.  Functions of the Standing Committee. 
67.  Procedure of Committees. 

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SECTIONS 

68.  Power to acquire, hold and dispose of property. 
69.  Zilla Parishad Fund. 
70.  Taxation. 
71.  Financial arrangements of Zilla Parishad. 
72.  Budget. 
73.  Accounts. 
74.  Audit. 
75.  Staff of Zilla Parishad. 
76.  Functions of the Chief Executive Officer and other officers. 
77.  Right to requisition records, recover money, etc. 

CHAPTER V 

MISCELLANEOUS 

78.  Powers to revise or modify decisions of committees. 
79.  Powers of Gram Panchayats to make bye-laws. 
80.  Powers of Zilla Parishad to make regulations. 
81.  Powers of Government to make model regulations and bye-laws. 
82.  Powers of Government to dissolve and reconstitute Gram Panchayat and Zilla Parishad in case of 

alteration of area. 

83.  Dissolution of Gram Panchayats and Zilla Parishad in certain other cases. 
84.  Inquiry into the afffairs of the Panchayats by the Government. 
85.  Inspection of Development Schemes. 
86.  Directions from the Government. 
87.  Commissioner and Chief Executive officer’s powers in respect of Gram Panchayat and Zilla 

Parishad. 

88.  Power of Government and Chief Executive Officer to provide for performance of duties in default 

of Gram Panchayat or Zilla Parishad. 

89.  Zilla Prishads, power of suspending the executions of order, etc., of Gram Panchayat. 
90.  Government’s power of suspending execution of unlawful orders or resolutions. 
91.  Purchase of stores and equipment. 
92.  Power to appoint administrator in certain cases. 
93.  Removal of members for misconduct, etc. 
94.  Restrictions on withdrawal of powers and functions from the Panchayats. 
95.  Preparation of development plans. 
96.  District Planning Committee. 
97.  Finance Commission for Panchyats. 
98.  State Election Commission. 
99.  Determination of elected members after census. 
100. Qualification of membership for election to Panchayat or Zilla Parishad. 
101. Disqualification for memberships. 
102. Power of State Government to rescind or suspend resolution of a Gram Panchayat or Zilla 

Parishad. 

103. Constitution of Election Tribunal. 
104. Annual Administration Report. 

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SECTIONS 

105. Power to make rules. 
106. Bar to interference by Courts in electoral matters. 
107. Taking of oath. 
108. Repeal and savings. 
109. Removal of difficulties. 

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THE MANIPUR PANCHAYATI RAJ ACT, 1994  

NO. 26 OF 1994 

[23rd April, 1994.]  

An  Act  to  provide  for  the  constitution  and  organisation  of  Panchayats  as  units  of  local  
self-Government  in  the  rural  areas  of  Manipur  and  for  matters  connected  therewith  and 
incidental thereto. 

WHEREAS  it  is  expedient  to  reorganise  Panchayats  in  rural  areas  of  Manipur  by  comprehensive 
enactment to establish a two-tier Panchayati Raj system in the State with elected bodies at the Gram and 
District  levels,  in  keeping  with  the  Constitutional  provisions  relating  to  Panchayats  for  greater 
participation of the people and more effective implementation of rural development programmes. 

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Forty-fifth Year of the Republic of India as follows:— 

CHAPTER I 

PRELIMINARY 

1. Short title extent and commencement.—(1) This Act may be called the Manipur Panchayati Raj 

Act, 1994. 

(2)  It  extends  to  the  whole  of  the  State  of  Manipur  excepting  any  area  to  which  the  Manipur  (Hill 
Areas) District Council Act, 1971 (Manipur Act 76 of 1971) or the Manipur (Village Authorities in Hill 
Areas) Act, 1956 (Manipur Act 80 of 1956) extends, or which has been or may hereafter be declared as, 
or  included  in,  a  municipality  under  any  law  for  the  time  being  in  force,  or  which  has  been  or  may 
hereafter be declared as, or included in a cantonment under the Cantonment Act, 1924 (2 of 1924). 

(3)  It  shall  come  into  force  on  such  date1  as  the  Government  may,  by  notification  in  the  Official 

Gazette, appoint; and different dates may be appointed for different provisions of this Act.  

2. Definitions.—In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,— 

(a)  “Adhyaksha  and  Up-Adhyaksha”  means  an  Adhyaksha  and  a  Up-Adhyakhsa  of  a  Zilla 

Parishad elected under section 54 of this Act; 

(b)  “Chairperson”  means  Chairperson  of  a  Standing  Committee  of  a  Zilla  Parishad  or  a  Gram 

Panchayat, as the case may be, constituted under the provisions of this Act; 

(c)  “Chief  Executive  Officer”  means  the  Chief  Executive  Officer  of  a  Zilla  Parishad  appointed 

under section 75 of this Act; 

(d)  “Commissioner”  means  the  Commissioner  of  the  Government  in  the  Development  and 
Panchayati  Raj  or  such  other  person  as  may  be  appointed  by  the  State  Government  to  exercise  the 
powers of a Commissioner under this Act; 

(e) “district” means the revenue district; 

(f) “Deputy Commissioner” means the Deputy Commissioner of District; 

(g) “Government” means the State Government of Manipur; 

(h) “Gram Sabha” means a body consisting of persons registered in the electoral rolls relating to a 

village comprised within the area of the Panchayat at the village level; 

(i) “Gram Panchayat” means the Gram Panchayat constituted under the Act; 

(j) “Official Gazette” means the Manipur Gazette; 

(k) “Panchayat” means a Gram Panchayat and a Zilla Parishad constituted under the provisions of 

this Act; 

(l) “Panchayat area” means the territorial area of a Panchayat; 

1. 23rd April, 1994, vide notification No. S.O. 328(E), dated 23rd April, 1994, see Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, sec. 

3(ii). 

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(m) “population”  means the population as ascertained at the last preceding census of which the 

relevant figures have been published, 

(n) “Pradhan” means a Pradhan of a Gram Panchayat elected under section 21 of this Act; 

(o) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under the Act; 

(p) “Secretary” means the Secretary of a Gram Panchayat appointed under this Act; 

(q) “Standing Committee” means a Standing Committee constituted by a Zilla Parishad or a Gram 

Panchayat under this Act; 

(r) “Up-Pradhan” means a Up-Pradhan of a Gram Panchayat elected under section 24 of this Act; 

(s) “village” means a village specified by the Governor by public notification to be a village for 

the purpose of this Act and includes a group of villages so specified; and 

(t) “Zilla Parishad” means a Zilla Parishad of a district constituted under section 48 of this Act.  

CHAPTER II 

GRAM SABHA 

3.  Membership  of  Gram  Sabha  and  disqualification.—(1)  A  Gram  Sabha  shall,  subject  to  
sub-section (2), consist of all persons whose names are included in electoral rolls referred to in section 15 
within the area of the Gram Sabha: 

Provided that no person shall be a member of more than one Gram Sabha. 

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

(a) he is not a citizen of India; or 

(b) he is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent court; or 

(c)  he  is  for  the  time  being  disqualified from  voting  under the  provision  of  any  law  relating  to 

corrupt practices and other offences in connection with election to State Legislature. 

4. Cessation of membership.—(1) A member of Gram Sabha shall cease to be a member, if he has 

ceased to be ordinarily resident within the Gram Sabha area. 

(2) Where any person ceases to be a member of Gram Sabha under sub-section (1) he shall also cease 

to hold any office to which he may have been elected or appointed by virtue of being a member thereof. 

5. Periodicity of meetings.—The Gram Sabha shall meet from time to time but six months shall not 

intervene between any two meetings. 

6. Convening of meetings.—The meeting of the Gram Sabha shall be held in accordance with such 

procedure as may be prescribed. 

7.  Quorum.—(1)  The  quorum  for  a  meeting  of  the  Gram  Sabha  shall  be  one-tenth  of  its  total 

membership. 

(2) If at the time appointed for the meeting, a quorum is not present, the person presiding shall wait 
for thirty minutes, and if within such period, there is no quorum, the person presiding shall adjourn the 
meeting  to  the  same  time  on  the  same  day  in  the  following  week.  He  shall  similarly,  after  waiting  for 
thirty minutes, adjourn the meeting if at any time after it has begun, attention is drawn to the want of a 
quorum.  A  notice  of  the  meeting  so  fixed  shall  be  posted  in  the  office  of  the  Gram  Panchayat.  The 
business which could not be considered at the meeting so postponed for want of quorum, shall be brought 
before and disposed of at the meeting so fixed or at any subsequent adjourned meeting at which there is a 
quorum. 

8. Gram Sabha meetings.—Every meeting of the Gram Sabha shall be presided over by the Pradhan 
of the concerned Gram Panchayat and in his absence, by the Up-Pradhan, and in the absence of both by a 
member of the Gram Panchayat to be chosen from amongst the members of the Panchayat.  

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9. Agenda.—The Gram Panchayat shall prepare the agenda for discussion of the Gram Sabha, such 

matters shall relate to the following, namely:— 

(a) the annual statement of accounts of the Gram Panchayat, the report of administration of the 

preceding financial year and the last audit note and replies if any, made thereto; 

(b) the budget of the Gram Panchayat for the next financial year; and 

(c)  the  report  in  respect  of  development  programmes  of  the  Gram  Panchayat  relating  to  the 

preceding year and development programmes proposed to be undertaken during the current year.  

10.  Resolution.—Any  resolution  relating  to  the  functions  entrusted  to  the  Gram  Sabha  under  
section  11,  shall  have  to  be  passed  by  a  majority  of  votes  of  the  members  present  and  voting  in  the 
meeting of the Gram Sabha. 

11. Functions of Gram Sabha.—A Gram Sabha shall exercise the following functions, namely:— 

(a) rendering assistance in the implementation of development schemes pertaining to the village; 

(b) identification of  beneficiaries  for the implementation  of  development  schemes  pertaining  to 

the village: 

Provided that in case the Gram Sabha fails to identify the beneficiaries within a reasonable time 

the Gram Panchayat can identify the beneficiaries; 

(c)  mobilising  voluntary  labour  and  contributions  in  kind  or  cash  or  both  for  the  community 

welfare programmes; 

(d) to promote adult education and family welfare within the village; 

(e) promotion of unity and harmony among all sections of society in the village; 

(f) such other matters as may be prescribed. 

12.  Vigilance  Committee.—The  Gram  Sabha  may  also  form  one  or  more  Vigilance  Committees 
consisting  of  persons,  who  are  not  members  of  the  Gram  Panchayat  to  supervise  the  Gram  Panchayat 
works, schemes and other activities and to put up reports concerning them in its meeting. 

CHAPTER III 

GRAM PANCHAYATS 

13. Constitution of Gram Panchayat.—(1) There shall be constituted a Gram  Panchayat for every 

Gram Sabha. 

(2) The Gram Panchayat constituted under sub-section (1) shall be notified in the Official Gazette and 

shall be deemed to have been constituted from the date of its first meeting. 

(3) Every person shall be entitled to be included in the list of electors of Gram Panchayat if he is not 
less  than  eighteen  years  of  age  on  the  date  of  its  publication  under  sub-section  (1)  and  is  ordinarily 
resident within the area of the Gram Panchayat: 

Provided  that  no  person  shall  be  entitled  to  be  included  in  the  list  of  the  electors  of  any  Gram 
Panchayat  for  more  than  one  Gram  Panchayat  and  no  person  shall  be  entitled  to  be  included  in  the 
electoral roll of any Gram Panchayat for more than once: 

Provided further that if the applicant is included in the electoral roll of any other Gram Panchayat, the 
officer  who  includes  his  name  shall  inform  the  officer  publishing  the  electoral  roll  of  that  other  Gram 
Panchayat and that the other officer shall, on receipt of the information, strike off the applicant’s name 
from that list. 

Explanation.—For the purpose of this sub-section, the expression “ordinarily resident” shall have the 
same meaning as has been given in section 20 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 (43 of 1950). 

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(4) The name of any person included in the list of electors who becomes disqualified at any time after 

his name was entered in the list, shall forthwith be struck-off from the list in which it is included: 

Provided that the name of any person struck-off from the electoral roll by reason of disqualification 
under  clause  (c)  of  sub-section  (2)  of  section  3  shall  forthwith  be  re-instated  if  such  person  ceases  to 
become disqualified. 

(5) An appeal shall be made within such time and in such manner and to such authority as may be 

prescribed against any order passed under sub-sections (2) and (4). 

14. Incorporation of Gram Panchayat.—Every Gram Panchayat shall, by the name notified in the 
Official Gazette under section 13, be a body corporate having perpetual succession and a  common seal 
with  power  to  acquire,  hold  and  dispose  of  property  and  to  enter  into  contracts,  and  shall,  by  the  said 
name sue and be sued. 

15. Electoral roll of Gram Panchayat.—The electoral roll of the Manipur Assembly prepared under 
the provision of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 (43 of 1950) and as in force on such date as 
the  State  Government  may,  by  general  or  special  order,  notify  in  this  behalf  for  such  part  of  the 
constituency of the Assembly as is included in the Gram Sabha, shall be the list of electors for such Gram 
Panchayat.  

16.  Publication  of  Electoral  roll  of  Gram  Panchayat.—(1)  The  list  of  electors  referred  to  in  

section 15 shall be published in such manner and by such authority as may be prescribed. 

(2) Any person whose name is not included in the list of electors published under sub-section (1) may 
apply  within  ten  days  from  its  publication  to  the  officer  publishing  the  same  for  inclusion  of  his  name 
therein and officer concerned shall, if he is satisfied that the applicant fulfils the condition mentioned in 
sub-section (3) and is not disqualified from being included in the list of electors under section 15  after 
making such inquiry as may be prescribed, direct his name to be included in the list of electors.  

17.  Composition  of  Gram Panchayat.—A  Gram  Panchayat shall  consist  of the  Pradhan  and  such 
number of directly elected members as may be notified from time to time by the State Government and 
one member for every 350 population or part thereof of the Panchayat area shall be elected as a member 
of such Panchayat. 

18. Division of Gram Sabha into territorial constituencies.—(1) The Deputy Commissioner shall, 

for the conduct of the election,— 

(i) divide the area of the Gram Sabha into territorial constituencies in such manner that the ratio 
between  the  population  of  each  constituency  and  the  number  of  seats  allotted  to  it  shall,  as  far  as 
practicable, be the same throughout the Gram Sabha area; 

(ii) determine the number of seats allotted to each constituency. 

(2)  One  member  from  each  territorial  constituency  shall  be  elected  by  direct  election  to  the  Gram 

Panchayat. 

19. Reservation of seats.—(1) Seats shall be reserved for Scheduled Castes and 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 that Panchayat as the population of 
Scheduled Castes or of the Scheduled Tribes in that Panchayat area bears to the total population of that 
area  and  such  seats  shall  be  allotted  by  rotation  to  different  constituencies  in  such  Gram  Panchayat,  in 
such manner as may be prescribed. 

(2)  Not  less  than  one-third  of  the  total  number  of  seats  reserved  under  sub-section  (1)  shall  be 

reserved for women belonging to Scheduled Castes, or as the case may be, the Scheduled Tribes. 

(3)  Not  less  than  one-third  (including  the  number  of  seats  reserved  for  women  belonging  to  the 
Scheduled Castes and 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 rotation to different 
constituencies in a Gram Panchayat in such manner as may be prescribed. 

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20. Term of the Gram Panchayats.—(1) Every Gram Panchayat  shall continue for a term of five 

years from the date appointed for its first meeting and no longer: 

Provided that a Gram Panchayat which is functioning immediately before the commencement of this 

Act shall continue till the expiration of its duration. 

(2) The election to constitute a Gram Panchayat shall be completed— 

(a) before the expiration of its duration specified in sub-section (1); and 

(b)  in  case  of  dissolution,  before  the  expiration  of  a  period  of  six  months  from  the  date  of 

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 clause 
for constituting the Gram Panchayat for such period. 

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

21. Election of the Pradhan and members of Gram Panchayat.—The Pradhan and members of the 
Gram Panchayat shall be elected by direct election under secret ballot by the members of the Gram Sabha 
from amongst themselves in such manner as may be prescribed. 

22. Appointment of an Administrative Committee or Administrator on failure to elect members 
of Gram Panchayat and in other cases.—(1) (a) If the Deputy Commissioner is satisfied that a Gram 
Panchayat for a village or group of villages immediately after the establishment of such Gram Panchayat 
cannot be constituted by reason of— 

(i) any difficulty in holding an election of the members of the Gram Panchayat; or 

(ii) failure to elect such members at two successive elections held under section 17; or 

(iii) any other sufficient reason whatsoever; or 

(b) If at any general election to a Gram Panchayat, no member is elected or less than two-third of the 

total number of members are elected, the Deputy Commissioner shall, by notification either,— 

(i) appoint an Administrative Committee consisting of persons qualified to be elected, the number 

of such persons being equal to the number of members determined under section 17; or 

(ii) appoint an Administrator. 

(2)  The  members  of  the  Administrative  Committee  or  the  Administrator  shall  hold  office  for  such 
period  not  exceeding  six  months  as  the  Deputy  Commissioner  may  specify  in  the  notification  under  
sub-section (1). 

(3) On the appointment of an Administrative Committee or an Administrator under sub-section (1), 
the persons, if any, chosen as members of the Gram Panchayat before such appointment shall cease to be 
members of the Gram Panchayat and all the powers and duties of the Gram Panchayat shall be exercised 
and performed by such Administrative Committee or Administrator, as the case may be. 

(4) The Administrative Committee or Administrator shall be deemed to be a duly constituted Gram 

Panchayat for the purpose of this Act, notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing provisions: 

Provided  that  if  at  any  time  after  the  appointment  of  the  Administrative  Committee  or  the 
Administrator  under  sub-section  (1), the  Deputy  Commissioner  is  satisfied that  there is  no  difficulty  in 
duly  constituting  the  Gram  Panchayat  by  election  of  members,  the  Deputy  Commissioner,  may, 
notwithstanding  that  the  term  of  office for  which the  members  of  the  Administrative  Committee  or  the 
Administrator  had  been  appointed  has  not  expired,  direct  by  notification  that  the  members  of  the 
Administrative Committee or the Administrator, as the case may be, shall cease to hold office with effect 
from such date as may be specified in such notification. 

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23. Filling  of  casual  vacancy  in the office  of Pradhan  and  of  the  member.—(1)  In  the  event of 
occurrence of any vacancy by reason of death, resignation, removal or otherwise in the office of Pradhan 
or of a member of a Gram Panchayat, the vacancy shall be filled by election in the manner prescribed. 

(2)  Every  Pradhan  and  every  Member  elected  to  fill  a  casual  vacancy,  shall  hold  office  for  the 

remaining term of office of the person in whose place he is so elected: 

Provided that no election for filling the casual vacancy shall be held if the vacancy is for a period of 

less than six months. 

24. Election of Up-Pradhan.—(1) Every Gram Panchayat shall, as soon as may be, elect one of its 

members to be Up-Pradhan. 

(2) In the event of occurrence of any vacancy by reason of death, resignation, removal or otherwise in 

the office of Up-Pradhan, the Gram Panchayat shall elect another member to be the Up-Pradhan: 

Provided that no election shall be held if the vacancy is for a period of less than six months. 

25. Reservation of seats for Pradhan and Up-Pradhan.—Subject to the general or special order of 

the Government, the Deputy Commissioner shall reserve— 

(i) such number of offices of Pradhan and Up-Pradhan of Gram Panchayat in the district for the 
Scheduled  Castes  and  Scheduled  Tribes  as  nearly  as  may  be,  in  the  same  proportion  as  the  total 
number of offices in the district bears to the population of the Scheduled Castes or of the Scheduled 
Tribes in the district bears to the total population of that district; 

(ii) not less than one-third of the total number of offices of Pradhan and Up-Pradhan, as the case 

may be, of the Gram Panchayat in the district shall be reserved for women: 

Provided  that  the  offices  reserved  under  this  section  shall  be  allotted  by  rotation  to  different  Gram 

Panchayats in such manner as may be prescribed. 

26.  Procedure  for  election  of  Up-Pradhan  on  the  establishment  of  Gram  Panchayat.—On  the 
establishment of Gram Panchayat for the first time under this Act, or on its reconstitution or establishment 
under section 20, a meeting of the Gram Panchayat shall be called immediately by the prescribed officer 
who  shall  himself  preside  over  the  meeting,  but  shall  have  no  right  to  vote,  and  in  such  meeting,  the     
Up-Pradhan shall be elected.  

27. Term of the office of the Pradhan and Up-Pradhan.—(1) The term of office of every Pradhan 
and Up-Pradhan of the Gram Panchayat shall, save as otherwise provided in this Act, cease on the expiry 
of the term of the Gram Panchayat. 

(2)  Pradhan  and  Up-Pradhan  shall  be  entitled  to  such  honoraria  and  other  allowances,  as  may  be 

prescribed. 

(3) Every member of the Gram Panchayat shall be entitled to receive such honoraria and allowances 

as may be fixed by the Government from time to time. 

28. Powers, functions and duties of Pradhan and Up-Pradhan.—(1) The Pradhan shall— 

(a) be responsible for convening the meeting of Gram Sabha and preside over its meeting; 

(b)  be  responsible  for  convening  the  meeting  of  Gram  Panchayat  and  shall  preside  over  its 

meetings; 

(c) be responsible for the maintenance of the records of the Gram Panchayat; 

(d)  have  the  general  responsibility  for  the  financial  and  executive  administration  of  the  Gram 

Panchayat; 

(e)  exercise  administrative  supervision  and  control  over  the  work  of  the  staff  of  the  Gram 
Panchayat and the officers and employees whose services may be placed at the disposal of the Gram 
Panchayat by any other authority; 

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(f) for the transaction of business connected with this Act, or for the purpose of making any order 
authorised thereby, exercise such powers, perform such functions and discharge such duties as may 
be  exercised,  performed  or  discharged  by  the  Gram  Panchayat  under  this  Act  or  the  rules  made 
thereunder: 

Provided  that  the  Pradhan  shall  not  exercise  such  powers,  perform  such  functions  or  discharge 
such  duties  as  may  be  required  by  the  rules  made  under  this  Act  to  be  exercised,  performed  or 
discharged by the Gram Panchayat at a meeting; and 

(g) exercise such other powers, perform such other functions and discharge such other duties as 
the Gram Panchayat may, by general or special resolution direct or as the Government may by rules 
made in this behalf, prescribe. 

(2) The Up-Pradhan shall— 

(a) exercise such of the powers, perform such of the functions and discharge such of the duties of 
Pradhan  as  the  Pradhan  may  from  time  to  time,  subject  to  rules  made  in  this  behalf  by  the 
Government, delegate to him by order in writing: 

Provided  that  the  Pradhan  may  at  any  time  withdraw  all  or  any  of  the  powers,  functions  and 

duties so delegated to the Up-Pradhan; 

(b)  during  the  absence  of  the  Pradhan,  exercise  all  the  powers,  perform  all  the  functions  and 

discharge all the duties of the Pradhan; 

(c) exercise such other powers, perform such other functions and discharge such other duties as 
the Gram Panchayat may, by general or special resolution, direct or as the Government may, by rules 
made in this behalf, prescribe. 

29. Resignation of Pradhan and Up-Pradhan.—(1) The Pradhan and the Up-Pradhan, as the case 

may be, may resign his office by writing under his hand addressed to the prescribed authority. 

(2)  Every  resignation  under  sub-section  (1)  shall  take  effect  on  the  expiry  of  fifteen  days  from  the 
date of its receipt by the prescribed authority, unless within this period of fifteen days he withdraws such 
resignation by writing under his hand addressed to the prescribed authority. 

(3) Every Up-Pradhan shall vacate the office if he ceases to be a member of a Gram Panchayat. 

30. No confidence motion against the Pradhan and Up-Pradhan.—(1) Every Pradhan and every 
Up-Pradhan  shall  be  deemed  to  have  vacated  his  office  forthwith  if  a  resolution  expressing  want  of 
confidence  in  him  is  passed  by  a  majority  of  not  less  than  two-third  of  the  members  of  the  Gram 
Panchayat present and voting, at a meeting specially convened for the purpose. The requisition for such a 
special  meeting  shall  be  signed  by  not  less  than  half  of  the  total  number  of  members  of  the  Gram 
Panchayat and shall be delivered to the prescribed authority. The prescribed authority shall within seven 
days from the date of the receipt of the requisition, convene a special meeting of the Gram Panchayat. The 
meeting  shall  be  held  on  a  day  not  later  than  fifteen  days  from  the  date  of  issue  of  the  notice  of  the 
meeting. The meeting shall be presided over by the prescribed authority. In the initial two years of their 
term as Pradhan and Up-Pradhan of a Gram Panchayat on such motion of no confidence shall be moved 
against them. If the motion of no confidence is once rejected, no fresh motion of no confidence shall be 
brought  before  the  Gram  Panchayat  within  a  period  of  one  year  from  the  date  of  such  rejection  of  the 
motion. 

(2) Without prejudice to the provisions under this Act, a Pradhan and Up-Pradhan may be removed 
from office by the Government for misconduct in the discharge of his duties or neglect or, incapacity to 
perform his duties or for being persistently remiss in the discharge thereof, or guilty of any disgraceful 
conduct: 

Provided that, no such Pradhan, or Up-Pradhan be removed from office unless he has been given a 

reasonable opportunity to defend himself. 

(3) The Pradhan or Up-Pradhan removed under sub-section (2) shall not be eligible for re-election as 

Pradhan or Up-Pradhan during the remaining term of office. 

11 

 
(4)  A  Pradhan  or  Up-Pradhan  removed  from  his  office  under  sub-section  (2)  shall  cease  to  be  a 

member of the Gram Panchayat. 

31.  Resignation  of  members.—A  member  of  a  Gram  Panchayat  may  resign  his  membership  in 
writing under his hand addressed to the Pradhan of the Gram Panchayat and his seat shall become vacant 
on  the  expiry  of  fifteen  clear  days  from  the  date  of  such  resignation  unless  within  the  said  period  of 
fifteen days, he withdraws such resignation by writing under his hand addressed to the Pradhan. 

32. Meeting of Gram Panchayat.—(1) A Gram Panchayat shall meet for the transaction of business 
at  least  once  in  two  months  at  the  office  of  the  Gram  Panchayat  and  at  such  time  as  the  Pradhan  may 
determine. 

(2)  The  Pradhan  may,  whenever  he  thinks  fit,  and  shall,  upon  the  written  request  of  not  less  than  
one-third  of  the  total  number  of  members  and  on  a  date  within  fifteen  days  from  the  receipt  of  such 
request, call a special meeting. 

(3) Seven clear days’ notice of an ordinary meeting and three clear days notice of a special meeting 
specifying the place, date and time of such meeting and business to be transacted thereat, shall be given 
by the Secretary to the members and such officers as the Government may prescribe, and affixed on the 
notice board of the Gram Panchayat. 

(4) The officers to whom notice is given under sub-section (3) and other Government officers having 
jurisdiction over the Gram Panchayat area or any part thereof shall be entitled to attend every meeting of 
Gram Panchayat and take part in the proceedings but shall not be entitled to vote. 

(5) If the Pradhan fails to call a special meeting as provided in sub-section (2), the Up-Pradhan or, in 
his absence, one-third of the total number of members may call such a meeting for a day not more than 
fifteen days thereafter and require the Secretary to give notice to the members and to take such action as 
may be necessary to convene the meeting. 

33.  Minutes.—(1)  Minutes  shall  be  kept  of  the  names  of  the  members  and  of  the  officers,  if  any, 
present, and of the proceedings at each meeting of the Gram Panchayat and if any member present at the 
meeting  so  desires,  of  the  names  of  the  member  voting  respectively  for  or  against  any  resolution,  in  a 
book  to  be  provided  for the  purpose  and  after  they  are  read  over  and  agreed  to,  shall  be signed  by  the 
Pradhan and Up-Pradhan or person presiding at such meeting, and shall at all reasonable times be open to 
inspection by any member of the Gram Panchayat. Any person may inspect the copy of minutes of the 
meeting. The minutes books shall always be kept in the office of the Gram Panchayat and shall be in the 
custody of the Secretary of the Gram Panchayat. 

(2) A copy of every resolution passed by the Gram Panchayat shall within ten days from the date of 

meeting, be forwarded by the Secretary to the Chief Executive Officer. 

34. Quorum and procedure.—(1) The quorum for a meeting of the Gram Panchayat shall be one-
half of the total number of members. If, at the time appointed for the meeting, a quorum is not present, the 
presiding  authority  shall  wait  for  thirty  minutes,  and  if  within  such  period  there  is  no  quorum,  the 
presiding authority shall adjourn the meeting to such time on the following day or such future day as he 
may fix. He shall, similarly, after waiting for thirty minutes adjourn the meeting if, at any time, after it has 
begun, attention is drawn to the want of a quorum. A notice of the meeting so fixed shall be pasted in the 
office of the Gram Panchayat. The business which could not be considered at the meeting so postponed 
for want of quorum, shall be brought before and disposed of at the meeting so fixed or at any subsequent 
adjourned meeting at which there is a quorum. 

(2)  Save  as  otherwise  provided  by  or  under  this  Act,  at  every  meeting  of  Gram  Panchayat,  the 
Pradhan or in his absence the Up-Pradhan shall preside, and in the absence of both, the members present 
shall elect one from amongst themselves to preside for the occasion. 

(3) All questions shall, unless otherwise specifically provided, be decided by a majority of votes of 
the  members  present  and  voting.  The  Pradhan  or  Up-Pradhan  or  person  presiding,  as  the  case  may  be, 
unless he refrains from voting shall give his vote before declaring the number of votes for and against a 
question and in the case of equality of votes, he may give his casting vote. 

12 

 
(4)  No  member  of  a  Gram  Panchayat  shall  vote  on,  or  take  part  in  the  discussion  of,  any  question 
coming up for consideration at a meeting of a Gram Panchayat, if the question is one in which, apart from 
its general application to the public, he has any pecuniary interest, and if the person presiding has such an 
interest, he shall not preside over the meeting when such question comes up for consideration. 

(5)  If  the  person  presiding  is  believed  by  any  member  present  at  the  meeting  to  have  any  such 
pecuniary interest in any matter under discussion, and if a motion to that effect be carried, he shall not 
preside  at  the  meeting  during  such  discussion  or  vote  on  or  take  part  in  it.  Any  member  of  the  Gram 
Panchayat may be chosen to preside at the meeting during the continuance of such discussion. 

35.  Functions  of  Gram  Panchayat.—Subject  to  such  conditions  as  may  be  specified  by  the 

Government from time to time, the Gram Panchayat shall perform the functions specified below:— 

(1) General Functions:— 

(a) preparation of annual plans for the development of the Panchayat area; 

(b) preparation of annual budget; 

(c) power for mobilising reliefs in natural calamities; 

(d) removal of encroachments on public properties; 

(e) organising voluntary labour and contribution for community works; and 

(f) maintenance of essential statistics of village(s). 

(2) Agriculture, including Agriculture Extension:— 

(a) promotion and development of agriculture and horticulture; 

(b) development of waste lands; 

(c)  development  and  maintenance  of  grazing  lands  and  preventing  their  unauthorised 

alienation; 

(d) promote land improvement and soil conservation measures; and 

(e) promote measures for implementation of land reforms and land consolidation. 

(3) Animal husbandry, Dairying and Poultry:— 

(a) improvement of breed of cattle, poultry and other live-stock; 

(b) promotion of dairy farming, poultry and piggery; and 

(c) grassland development. 

(4) Fisheries:— 

development of fisheries in the village(s) 

(5) Social and Farm Forestry, Minor Forest produce Fuel and Fodder:— 

(a) planting and preservation of trees on the sides of roads and  other public lands under its 

control; 

(b) fuel plantations and fodder development; 

(c) promotion of farm forestry; and 

(d) development of social forestry. 

(6) Khadi, Village and Cottage Industries:— 

(a) promotion of rural and cottage industries; 

(b)  organisation  of  awareness  camps,  seminars  and  training  programmes,  agricultural  and 

industrial exhibitions for the benefit of the rural areas; and 

13 

 
(c)  identification  of  traditional  skills  in  the  area  to  develop  small  scale  industries  and 

popularising food processing units. 

(7) Rural Housing:— 

(a) implementation of house building programme; and 

(b)  maintenance  of  records  relating  to  the  houses,  sites  and  other  private  and  public 

properties. 

(8) Drinking water:— 

(a) construction, repair and maintenance of drinking water wells, tanks and ponds; 

(b) prevention and control of water pollution; and 

(c) maintenance of rural water supply schemes. 

(9) Roads, buildings, culverts, bridges, ferries, waterways and other means of communication:— 

(a) construction and maintenance of village roads, drains and culverts; 

(b) maintenance of buildings under its control or transferred to it by the Government or any 

public authority; and 

(c) maintenance of boats, ferries and waterways. 

(10) Non-Conventional Energy Source:— 

(a) promotion and development of non-conventional, energy schemes; 

(b) maintenance of community, non-conventional, energy devices, including bio-gas plants; 

and 

(c) propagation of improved chulhas and other efficient energy devices. 

(11) Poverty Alleviation Programme:— 

(a)  promotion  of  public  awareness  and  participation  in  poverty  alleviation  programmes  for 

fuller employment and creation of productive assets; 

(b) selection of beneficiaries under various programmes through Gram Sabha; and 

(c) participation in effective implementation and monitoring. 

(12) Education including primary schools and secondary schools:— 

(a) promotion of public awareness and participation in primary and secondary education with 

special emphasis on technical training and vocational education; and 

(b)  ensuring  full  enrolment  and  attendance  in  primary  and  secondary  schools  and  its 

management. 

(13) Adult and non-formal Education:— 

promotion of Adult literacy. 

(14) Libraries:— 

village libraries and reading rooms. 

(15) Cultural activities:— 

promotion of social and cultural activities. 

(16) Markets and fairs:— 

regulation of fairs (including cattle fairs) and festivals. 

14 

 
 
(17) Rural sanitation:— 

(a) maintenance of general sanitation; 

(b) cleaning of public roads, drains, tanks, wells and other public places; 

(c) maintenance and regulation of burning and burial grounds; 

(d) construction and maintenance of public latrines; and 

(e) management and control of washing and bathing ghats. 

(18) Public health and family welfare:— 

(a) implementation of family welfare programmes; 

(b) prevention and remedial measures against epidemics; 

(c) regulation of sale of meat, fish and other perishable food articles; 

(d) participation in programmes of human and animal vaccination; 

(e) regulation of eating and entertainment establishments; 

(f) destruction of stray dogs; 

(g) regulation of curing, tanning and dyeing of skins and hides; and 

(h) regulation of offensive and dangerous trades. 

(19) Woman and child development:— 

(a) participation in the implementation of woman and child welfare programmes; and 

(b) promotion of school health and nutrition programmes. 

(20) Social welfare including welfare of the handicapped and mentally retarded:— 

(a)  participation  in  the  implementation  of  the  social  programmes,  including  welfare  of  the 

handicapped, mentally retarded and destitute; and 

(b) monitoring of the old-age and widows pension schemes; 

(21)  Welfare  of  the  weaker  section  and  in  particular  the  Scheduled  Castes  and  Scheduled 

Tribes:— 

(a)  promotion  of  public  awareness  with  regard  to  welfare  of  Scheduled  Castes,  Scheduled 

Tribes and other Weaker Sections; and 

(b)  participation  in  the  implementation  of  the  specific  programmes  for  the  welfare  of  the 

weaker sections. 

(22) Public distribution system:— 

(a)  promotion  of  the  public  awareness  with  regard  to  the  distribution  of  essential 

commodities; and 

(b) monitoring the public distribution system. 

(23) Maintenance of community assets:— 

(a) maintenance of community assets; and 

(b) preservation and maintenance of other community assets. 

(24) Construction and maintenance of Dharmashalas, Chatras and similar institutions. 

(25) Construction and maintenance of cattle sheds, pounds and cart stands. 

(26) Construction and maintenance of slaughter houses. 

(27) Maintenance of public parks, playgrounds. 

(28) Regulation of manure pits in public places. 

15 

 
(29) Establishment and control of shandies. 

(30) Irrigation, water management and watershed development:— 

(a)  promote  measures  for  construction  and  maintenance  of  minor  irrigation  works  and 

watershed development programmes; 

(b) develop ground water resources; 

(c) providing for timely and equitable distribution of irrigation water. 

(31) Rural electrification including distribution of electricity:— 

(a) promote extension of electricity to unelectrified areas; 

(b) help in prevention of illegal tapping of electricity; and 

(c) help in the recovery and collection of electricity due. 

(32) Such other functions as may be entrusted. 

36. Assignment of functions.—The Government may, by notification and subject to such conditions 

as may be specified therein— 

(a) transfer to any Gram Panchayat the management and maintenance of a forest situated in the 

panchayat area; 

(b)  make  over  to  the  Gram  Panchayat  the  management  of  waste  lands,  pasture  lands  or  vacant 

lands belonging to the Government situated within the panchayat area; 

(c) entrust the Gram Panchayat with the collection of land revenue on behalf of the Government 

and the maintenance of such records as are connected therewith; and 

(d) entrust such other functions as may be prescribed: 

Provided  that  no  entrustment  under  clause  (c)  shall  be  made  without  the  concurrence  of  the  Gram 

Panchayat concerned: 

Provided further that when any transfer of the management and maintenance of a forest is made under 
clause (a) the Government shall direct that any amount required for such management and maintenance or 
an adequate portion of the income from such forest be placed at the disposal of the Gram Panchayat. 

37. General powers of the Gram Panchayat.—A Gram Panchayat shall have powers to do all acts 
necessary for or incidental to the carrying out the functions entrusted assigned or delegated to it and, in 
particular, and without prejudice to the foregoing powers, to exercise all powers specified under this Act. 

38. Standing Committees.—(1) Every Gram Panchayat shall constitute the following committees by 

election— 

(i)  Production  Committee  for  performing  functions  relating  to  agricultural  productions,  animal 

husbandry and rural industries and poverty alleviation programmes; 

(ii) Social Justice Committee for performing functions relating to— 

(a)  promotion  of  education,  economic,  social,  cultural  and  other  interests  of  the  Scheduled 

Castes and Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes; 

(b) protection of such castes and classes from social injustice and any form of exploitation; 

and 

(c) welfare of women and children. 

(iii)  Amenities  Committee  to  perform  functions  in  respect  of  education,  public  health,  public 

works and other functions of the Gram Panchayat. 

(2) (a) Each Committee shall consist of not less than three and not more than five members including 
the  Pradhan  and  Up-Pradhan  as  the  case  may  be.  The  Pradhan  shall  be  the  ex  officio  member  and 
Chairman  of  Production  Committee  and  Amenities  Committee.  The  Pradhan  shall  be  the  ex  officio 
member and Chairman of the Social Justice Committee: 

16 

 
 
Provided that the Social Justice Committee shall consist of at least one member who is a woman and 

one member belonging to the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes. 

(b) Each Committee shall be competent to co-opt in such manner as may be prescribed, members of 
farmers’ club, mahila mandals, yuvak mandals and other similar bodies recognised by the Government. A 
representative  of  Co-operative  societies  in  the  panchayat  areas  shall  be  co-opted  to  the  Production 
Committee. The rights and liabilities of the co-opted members shall be such, as may be prescribed. 

  (3) The Standing Committee shall perform the functions referred to above, to the extent the powers 

are delegated to them by the Gram Panchayat  

39.  Property  and  funds.—(1)  For  every  Gram  Panchayat  there  shall  be  constituted  a  Gram 
Panchayat Fund bearing the name of the Gram Panchayat and there shall be placed to the credit thereof— 

(a) contributions and grants, if any, made by the Central or State Government;  

(b) contributions and grants, if any, made by the Zilla Parishad or any other local authority; 

(c) loans, if any, granted by the Central or the State Government; 

(d) all receipts on accounts of taxes, rates and fees levied by it; and 

(e) all other sums received by or on behalf of other Gram Panchayat. 

(2) Every Gram Panchayat shall set apart and apply annually such sum as may be required to meet— 

(a)  The  cost  of  its  own  administration  including  the  payment  of  salary,  allowances,  provident 

fund and gratuity to the officers and employees and to the Secretary: 

Provided  that  the  total  expenditure  on  establishment  shall  not  exceed  one-third  of  the  total 

expenditure, of the Gram Panchayat in any year. 

(b) Every Gram Panchayat shall have the power to spend such sums as it thinks fit for carrying 

out the purpose of this Act; 

(c) The Gram Panchayat Fund shall be vested in the Gram Panchayat and the balance to the credit 

of the Fund shall be kept in such custody as may be prescribed. 

40.  Taxation.—(1)  Subject  to  such  rules  as  may  be  made  in  this  behalf,  a  Gram  Panchayat  shall 
impose yearly tax on lands and buildings within the local limits of the jurisdiction of the Gram Panchayat. 

(2) Subject to such maximum rates as the Government may prescribe, a Gram Panchayat may levy the 

following fees and rates, namely:— 

(a) a fee for providing sanitary arrangements at such places of worship or pilgrimage, fairs and 

melas within its jurisdiction as may be specified by the Government by notification; 

(b)  a  lighting  rate,  where  arrangement  for  lighting  of  public  streets  and  places  is  made  by  the 

Gram Panchayat within its jurisdiction; and 

(c) a conservancy rate, where arrangement for clearing private latrines, urinals and cesspools is 

made by the Gram Panchayat within its jurisdiction. 

41.  Financial  assistance  to  Gram  Panchayats.—Subject  to  the  provisions  of  this  section,  every 
Gram  Panchayat  shall,  after  a  re-appropriation  made  by  law  in  this  behalf,  be  entitled  to  receive        
grants-in-aid from the Consolidated Fund of the State as recommended by the State Finance Commission, 
constituted under section 97 of this Act. 

42.  Budget  of  the  Gram  Panchayat.—(1)  Every  Gram  Panchayat  shall,  at  such  time  and  in  such 
manner  as  may  be  prescribed,  prepare  during  each  year  a  budget  of  its  estimated  receipts  and 
disbursements for the following year and shall submit the budget to the Zilla Parishad having jurisdiction 
over the area of the Gram Panchayat. 

(2)  The  Zilla  Parishad  may,  within  such  time  as  may  be  prescribed,  either  approve  the  budget  or 
return  it  to  the  Gram  Panchayat  for  such  modifications  as  it  may  direct.  On  such  modifications  being 

17 

 
made  the  budget  shall  be  resubmitted  within  such  time  as  may  be  prescribed  for  approval  of  the  Zilla 
Parishad. 

(3) No expenditure shall be incurred unless the budget is approved by the Zilla Parishad. If the Zilla 
Parishad  does  not  convey  its  approval  within  the  time  prescribed  for  the  purpose,  the  budget  will  be 
deemed to have been approved by the Zilla Parishad. 

43. Accounts.—Accounts of the income and expenditure of every Gram Panchayat shall be kept in 

such form and manner as may be prescribed. 

 44.  Audit.—(1)  The  accounts  of  a  Gram  Panchayat  shall  be  audited  by  the  Director,  Local  Fund 
Audit and Accounts of the Government of Manipur in such manner as may be prescribed and a copy of 
the  audit  report  shall  be  forwarded  to  the  Gram  Panchayat  within  one  month  of  the  completion  of  the 
audit. 

(2)  On  receipt  of  the  audit  report  referred  to  in  sub-section  (1),  the  Gram  Panchayat  shall  either 
remedy the defects or irregularities which have been pointed out in the audit report and send to the Zilla 
Parishad within three months an intimation of its having done so, or shall, within the said period, supply 
any  further  explanation  to  the  prescribed  authority  in  regard  to  such  defects  or  irregularities  as  it  is 
required to furnish. 

45. Staff of Gram Panchayat.—(1) There shall be a Secretary for every Gram Panchayat who shall 
be  appointed  in  such  manner  as  may  be  prescribed  and  shall  draw  his  salary  and  allowances  from  the 
Gram Panchayat Fund. 

(2) The  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 Act or any rules or 
bye-law made thereunder. 

(3)  The  Government  shall  make  rules  relating  to  the  method  of  recruitment  and  the  terms  and 
conditions of service including the pay and allowances, superannuation, provident fund and gratuity of the 
Secretary. 

(4)  Subject  to  rules  as  may  be  prescribed  by  Government  regarding  discipline  and  control,  the 

Secretary shall act in all matters under the control of Gram Panchayat.  

46. Staffing pattern and category of employees.—(1) The Government may, by order, specify the 

staffing pattern, the scales of pay and mode of recruitment of staff of Gram Panchayats. 

(2) The Gram Panchayat shall, subject to sub-section (1), determine and submit for approval of the 
Chief Executive Officer a category of  employees specifying the designation and grades and the salaries 
and  allowances  payable  to  its  officers  other  than  the  Secretary  required  for  carrying  out  the  duties 
imposed upon the Gram Panchayat by or under this Act.  

47.  Appointment  and control  of  employees.—Subject to the  provisions of  sections  45 and  46 the 
Gram Panchayat may, with the prior approval of the Chief Executive Officer appoint other employees of 
the Gram Panchayat and pay their salaries from the Gram Panchayat fund: 

Provided  that  in  making  appointments,  posts  for  the  Scheduled  Castes,  the  Scheduled  Tribes  and 
other socially and educationally backward classes of citizens shall be reserved in the same manner and to 
the same extent as is applicable for the recruitment to posts in the State Civil Services.  

CHAPTER IV 

ZILLA PARISHAD 

48.  Establishment  of  Zilla  Parishad.—(1)  The  Governor  shall,  by  notification  in  the  Official 
Gazette establish a Zilla Parishad for a district and having jurisdiction over it, with effect from such date 
as may be specified. 

(2)  Every  Zilla  Parishad  shall  be  a  corporate  body  by  the  name  of  its  district,  having  perpetual 
succession and common seal and subject to such restrictions as are imposed by or under this or any, other 
enactment, shall be vested with the capacity of sueing or being sued in its corporate name, of acquiring, 

18 

 
holding and transferring property movable or immovable, whether without or within the limits of the area 
over  which  it  has  authority,  of  entering  into  contracts  and  of  doing  all  things,  necessary,  proper  or 
expedient for the purpose for which it is constituted. 

49. Composition of Zilla Parishad.—The Zilla Parishad shall consist of—  

(a) the members directly elected from the territorial constituencies in the district under section 50; 

(b) the members of the House of the People and the members of the State Legislative Assembly 

representing a part or whole of the district whose constituencies lie within the district; and 

(c) ten per cent. of the Pradhans of the Gram Panchayats in the district: 

Provided that when the total number of members under clauses (b) and (c) exceed the total number of 
members under clause (a), only one-third of the members under clause (c) shall be selected on rotation for 
a  period  of  one  year  by  lot  as  the  Government  may  decide  from  time  to  time  and  district  to  district, 
subject  to  the  condition  that  a  Pradhan  who  was  a  member  under  this  clause  for  one  year  shall  not  be 
eligible to become member for a second term during the remainder of his term of office as Pradhan: 

Provided  further  that  all  members  of  the  Zilla  Parishad  whether  elected  or  not  from  territorial 
constituencies in the Zilla Parishad area shall have the right to vote in the meeting of the Zilla Parishad 
except in the election of Adhyaksha and Up-Adhyaksha. 

50. Elected Members.—(1) The Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, determine 
the  number  of  directly  elected  members  from  territorial  constituencies  keeping  in  view  the  overall 
population of the district at a rate of the one member for every 15,000 population or part thereof. 

(2)  For the  conduct  of  the election, the  prescribed  authority  shall,  in  accordance  with  such  rules  as 

may be prescribed in this behalf by the Government,— 

(a) divide the area of Zilla Parishad into territorial constituencies in such manner so that the ratio 
between  the  population  of each  constituency  and  the  numbers  of  seats  allotted  to  it  shall,  so  far  as 
may  be  practicable,  be  the  same  throughout  the  panchayat  area  and  determine  the  number  of  seats 
allotted to each constituency; 

(b)  in  relation  to  each  territorial  constituency  shall  elect  one  or  more  members  through  direct 

election in the manner prescribed.  

51.  Filling  of  casual  vacancy.—If  vacancy  of  a  member  in  Zilla  Parishad  occurs  because  of 

resignation, death, removal or otherwise, it shall be filled by election in the prescribed manner: 

Provided that no election for filling the casual vacancy shall be held if the vacancy is for a  period of 

less than six months. 

52. Reservation.—(1) Seats shall be reserved for— 

(a) the Scheduled Castes; 

(b) the Scheduled Tribes; 

in every Zilla Parishad and the number of seats shall bear, as nearly as may be, the same proportion to the 
total  number  of  seats  to  be  filled  by  direct  election  in  that  Zilla  Parishad  as  the  population  of  the 
Scheduled Castes in that Zilla Parishad area or of the Scheduled Tribes in that Zilla Parishad area bears to 
the total population of that area and such seats may be allotted by rotation to different constituencies in a 
Zilla Parishad in such manner as may be prescribed. 

(2)  Not  less  than  one-third  of  the  total  number  of  seats  reserved  under  sub-section  (1)  shall  be 

reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes or, as the case may be, the Scheduled Tribes. 

(3) Not less than one-third (including the number of seats reserved for women belonging to Scheduled 
Castes and Scheduled Tribes) of the total number of seats filled by direct election in every Zilla Parishad 
shall  be reserved  for  women  and  such  seats  may  be  allotted  by  rotation to  different  constituencies  in a 
Zilla Parishad, in such manner as may be prescribed. 

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53. Term of a Zilla Parishad.—(1) Every Zilla Parishad shall continue for five years from the date 

of its first meeting: 

Provided  that  a  Zilla  Parishad  which  is  functioning  immediately  before  the  commencement  of  this 

Act shall continue till the expiration of its duration. 

(2) An election to constitute a Zilla Parishad shall be completed:— 

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

(b) in case of its dissolution, before the expiration of a period of six months from the date of such 

dissolution: 

Provided that where the remainder of the period for which the dissolved Zilla Parishad would have 
continued, is less than six months, it shall not be necessary to hold any election under this clause for such 
period. 

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

54.  Election  of  Adhyaksha  and  Up-Adhyaksha.—(1)  The  elected  members  of  the  Zilla  Parishad 
referred  to  in  section  50  shall,  as  soon  as  may  be,  elect  two  members  from  amongst  themselves  to  be 
respectively Adhyaksha and Up-Adhyaksha thereof and so often as there is a casual vacancy in the Office 
of the  Adhyaksha  and  Up-Adhyaksha,  they  shall  elect  another  member  from  amongst  themselves  to  be 
Adhyaksha or Up-Adhyaksha, as the case may be: 

Provided that no election shall be held if the vacancy is for period of less than one month. 

(2) The State Government, shall in the prescribed manner reserve— 

(a) such number of offices of the Adhyaksha and Up-Adhyaksha of  Zilla Parishad in the State for 
persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes shall as nearly as may be, the same 
proportion  to  the  total  number  of  offices  in  the  Zilla  Parishad  as  the  population  of  the  Scheduled 
Castes or of the Scheduled Tribes in the State bear to the total population of the State; 

(b) not less than one-third of the total number of offices of Adhyaksha and Up-Adhyaksha in the 
State  from  each  category  which  are  reserved  for  persons  belonging  to  the  Scheduled  Castes,  the 
Scheduled Tribes and those which are unreserved, for women: 

Provided  that  the  offices  reserved  under  this  section  shall  be  allotted  by  rotation  to  different  Zilla 

Parishads. 

(3) Save as otherwise provided in this Act, the Adhyaksha or Up-Adhyaksha shall hold office for the 

term of office of the members of the Zilla Parishad. 

55. Salary and allowances to the Adhyaksha and Up-Adhyaksha and other members.—(1) The 

salary and allowances of the Adhyaksha and Up-Adhyaksha shall be such as may be prescribed. 

(2) Every member of the Zilla Parishad other than the Adhyaksha and Up-Adhyaksha shall be entitled 

to receive, such sitting fee and allowances as may be prescribed. 

56.  Powers,  functions  and  duties  of  the  Adhyaksha  and  Up-Adhayaksha.—(1)  The  Adhyaksha 

shall— 

(a) perform all the duties imposed and exercise all the powers conferred on the Adhyaksha under 

this Act and rules made thereunder; 

(b) convene, preside over, and conduct meetings of the Zilla Parishad; 

(c) exercise administrative supervision and control over the Chief Executive Officer and through 
him,  all  officers  and  other  employees  of  the  Zilla  Parishad  and  the  officers  and  employees  whose 
services may be placed at the disposal of the Zilla Parishad by the State Government; 

20 

 
 
(d) exercise such other powers, perform such other functions and discharge such other duties as 
the Zilla Parishad may, by general resolution direct or as the Government may, by rules made in this 
behalf, prescribe; 

(e)  exercise  overall  supervision  over  the  financial  and  executive  administration  of  the  Zilla 
Parishad and place before the Zilla Parishad all questions connected therewith which shall appear to 
him to require its orders and for this purpose may call for records of the Zilla Parishad; and 

(f) have power to accord sanction up to a total sum of rupees one lakh in a year for the purpose of 

providing immediate relief to those who are affected by natural calamities in the district: 

Provided that the Adhyaksha shall place at the next meeting of the Zilla Parishad for its ratification, 

the details of such sanctions. 

(2) The Up-Adhyaksha shall— 

(a) in the absence of the Adhyaksha, preside over the meetings of the Zilla Parishad; 

(b) exercise such powers and perform such duties of the Adhyaksha as the Adhyaksha from time 

to time may, subject to the rules as may be prescribed delegate to him by order in writing; and 

(c)  pending  the  election  of  the  Adhyaksha  or  during  the  absence  of  the  Adhyaksha  from  the 
district, or by reason of leave for a period exceeding thirty days, exercise the powers and perform the 
duties of the Adhyaksha. 

57.  Resignation  or  removal  of  the  Adhyaksha  and  Up-Adhyaksha.—(1)  The  Adhyaksha  may 
resign his office by writing under his hand addressed to the Commissioner, and the Up-Adhyaksha may 
resign his office by writing under his hand addressed to the Adhyaksha. 

(2)  Every  resignation  under  sub-section  (1)  shall  take  effect  on  the  expiry  of  fifteen  days  from  the 
date of its receipt by the prescribed authority, unless within this period of fifteen days he withdraws such 
resignation by writing under his hand addressed to the prescribed authority. 

(3)  Every  Adhyaksha  or  Up-Adhyaksha  shall  vacate  the  office  if  he  ceases  to  be  a  member  of  the 

Zilla Parishad. 

(4)  Every  Adhyaksha  or  Up-Adhyaksha  shall  be  deemed  to  have  vacated  his  office  forthwith  if  a 
resolution  expressing  want  of confidence  in  him  is passed  by  a  majority  of  the  total  number  of  elected 
members  of  the  territorial  constituencies  of  the  Zilla  Parishad  at  a  meeting  specially  convened  for  the 
purpose. The requisition for such a special meeting shall be signed by not less than one-fifth of the total 
membership of the Zilla Parishad and shall be delivered to the Adhyaksha. The Adhyaksha shall, within 
seven days from the date of receipt of the requisition, convene a special meeting of the Zilla Parishad. The 
meeting  shall  be  held  on  a  day  not  later  than  fifteen  days  from  the  date  of  issue  of  the  notice  of  the 
meeting.  The  meeting  shall  be  presided  over  by  the  Adhyaksha,  if  the  motion  is  against  the  
Up-Adhyaksha and in the case of Adhyaksha, the Up-Adhyaksha shall preside over the meeting, if it is 
against  both,  a  member  nominated  from  amongst  themselves  by  the  members  present  in  such  meeting 
shall preside over such meeting. In the initial two years of their term as Adhyaksha or Up-Adhyaksha, as 
the case may be, of Zilla Parishad, no motion of no-confidence shall be brought against them. 

(5) If the motion of no-confidence against the Adhyaksha or Up-Adhyaksha or both is once rejected, 
no fresh motion of no-confidence against the Adhyaksha or Up-Adhyaksha or both, as the case may be, 
shall be brought before the Zilla Parishad within a period of one year from the date of such rejection of 
the motion. 

58. Resignation of Member.—A member of a Zilla Parishad may resign his membership in writing 
under his hand addressed to the Adhyaksha of the Zilla Parishad and his seat shall become vacant on the 
expiry of fifteen clear days from the date of such resignation, unless within the said period of fifteen days, 
he withdraws such resignation by writing under his hand addressed to the Adhyaksha. 

59.  Meeting  of  the  Zilla  Parishad.—(1)  Every  Zilla  Parishad  shall  hold  meetings  at  least  once  in 
every three months, at such time and at such place within the local limits of the district concerned as the 
Zilla Parishad may fix at the immediately preceding meeting: 

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Provided that the first meeting of a newly constituted Zilla Parishad shall be held at such time and at 

such place within the local limits of the district concerned, as the prescribed authority may fix: 

Provided further that the Adhyaksha when required in writing by one fifth of the members of the Zilla 
Parishad to call a meeting he shall do so within ten days, failing which the aforesaid members may call a 
meeting after giving intimation to the prescribed authority and seven clear days notice to the Adhyaksha 
and the other members of the Zilla Parishad. 

(2)  One-third  of  the  total  number  of  members  of  the  Zilla  Parishad  shall  form  a  quorum  for 

transacting the business at the meeting of the Zilla Parishad. 

(3) All questions coming before the Zilla Parishad shall be decided, by a majority of votes and in case 

of equality of votes, the Adhyaksha or the member presiding shall have a casting vote. 

(4) Every meeting shall be presided over by the Adhyaksha or if he is absent by the Up-Adhyaksha 
and if both the Adhyaksha and the Up-Adhyaksha are absent or if the Adhyaksha is absent and there is no 
Up-Adhyaksha the members present shall elect one from among themselves to preside over the meeting. 

60.  Minutes.—(1)  Minutes  shall  be  kept  of  the  names  of  the  members  and  of  the  officers,  if  any, 
present, and of the proceedings at each meeting of the Zilla Parishad and if any  member present at the 
meeting so desires, of the names of the members voting respectively for or against any resolution, in a 
book  to  be  provided  for  purpose  and  after  they  are  read  over  and  agreed  to,  shall  be  signed  by  the 
Adhyaksha and Up-Adhyaksha or person presiding at such meeting, and shall at all reasonable times be 
open to inspection by any member of the Zilla Parishad. Any person may inspect the copy of the minutes 
of the meeting. The minutes books shall always be kept in the office of the Zilla Parishad and shall be in 
the custody of the Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Parishad. 

(2) A copy of every resolution passed by the Zilla Parishad shall within ten days from the date of its 

passing in the meeting, be forwarded by the Chief Executive Officer to the Government. 

61.  Functions  and  powers  of  Zilla  Parishad.—(1) Any  transfer  of  a  subject  to  the  Zilla  Parishad 

shall be with the approval of the Government from time to time. 

(2)  Subject  to  the  condition  and  exceptions  as  the  Government  may,  from  time  to  time,  impose,  it 
shall be the function of the Zilla Parishad to prepare plans for economic development and social justice of 
the District, and to ensure the coordinated implementation of such plans in respect of matters including 
those mentioned below, namely:— 

1. AGRICULTURE AND AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION: 

(i)  promotion  of  measures  to  increase  agricultural  production  and  to  popularise  the  use  of 

improved agricultural implements and the adoption of improved agricultural practices; 

(ii) establishment and maintenance of godowns; 

(iii) conducting agricultural fairs and exhibitions; 

(iv) training of farmers; 

(v) land improvement and soil conservation; and 

(vi) promotion of agricultural extension works. 

2. IRRIGATION GROUND WATER RESOURCES AND WATERSHED DEVELOPMENT: 

(i) construction, renovation and maintenance of minor irrigation works and lift irrigation; 

(ii) providing for the timely and equitable distribution, and full use of water under irrigation 

schemes under the control of the Zilla Parishad; 

(iii) development of ground water resources; 

(iv) installation of community pump sets; and 

(v) watershed development programme. 

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3. HORTICULTURE: 

(i) promotion of rural parks and gardens; 

(ii) promotion of cultivation of fruits and vegetables; and 

(iii) promotion of farms. 

4. STATISTICS: 

(i)  publication  of  statistical  and  other information  relating  to  activities  of  Gram  Panchayats 

and Zilla Parishads; 

(ii) co-ordination and use of statistics and other information required for the activities of the 

Gram Panchayats and Zilla Parishads; and 

(iii) periodical supervision and evaluation of project and programmes entrusted to the Gram 

Panchayats and Zilla Parishads. 

5. DISTRIBUTION OF ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES. 

6. SOIL CONSERVATION AND LAND REFORMS: 

(i) soil conservation measures; 

(ii) land reclamation and land development works; and 

(iii) promote implementation of land reforms and land consolidation. 

7. MARKETING: 

(i) development of regulated markets and marketing yards; and 

(ii) grading and quality control of agriculture products. 

8. SOCIAL FORESTRY: 

(i) organise campaign for tree planting; and 

(ii) planting and maintenance of trees. 

9. ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING: 

(i) improvement of breed of cows and pigs; 

(ii) promotion of poultry farms, duck farms and goat farms; 

(iii) promotion of fodder development programmes; 

(iv) promotion of dairy farming, poultry and piggery; and 

(v) prevention of epidemics and contagious diseases. 

10. MINOR FOREST PRODUCE, FUEL AND FODDER: 

(i) promotion of social and farm forestry, fuel plantation and fodder development; 

(ii) management of minor forest produce of the forests raised in community lands; and 

(iii) development of wasteland. 

11. FISHERIES: 

(i) promotion of fish seed production and distribution; 

(ii) development of pisiculture in private and community tanks; 

(iii) development of inland fisheries; 

(iv) promotion of fish curing and drying; 

(v) assistance to traditional fishing; 

23 

 
(vi) organising fish marketing co-operatives; and 

(vii) welfare schemes for the uplift and development of fisherman. 

12. HOUSEHOLD INDUSTRIES: 

(including food processing): 

(i) identification of traditional skills in the locality and promotion of household industries; 

(ii) organisation of training programme for craftsmen and artisan; 

(iii) liaison to tap bank credit for household industries; 

(iv) popularising and marketing of finished products; and 

(v) organising khadi, handloom, handicraft and village and cottage industries. 

13. RURAL ROADS AND INLAND WATERWAYS: 

(i)  construction  and  maintenance  of  roads  other  than  National,  State  Highways  and  other 

District road; 

(ii) bridges and culverts coming under roads falling in item (i); 

(iii) construction and maintenance of office buildings of the Zilla Parishad; 

(iv)  identification  of  major  link  roads  connecting  markets,  educational  institutions,  health 

centres; and 

(v) organising voluntary surrender of lands for new roads and for widening of existing roads. 

14. HEALTH AND HYGIENE: 

(i) implementation of immunization and vaccination programme; 

(ii) health education activities in hospitals, primary health centres and dispensaries; 

(iii) maternity and child health service activities; 

(iv) family welfare activities; 

(v) organising health camps with Gram Panchayats; and 

(vi) measures against environment pollution. 

15. RURAL HOUSING: 

(i) identification of houseless families; 

(ii) implementation of house building programmes in the district; and 

(iii) popularising low cost housing. 

16. EDUCATION: 

(i)  promotion  of  educational  activities  including  the  establishment  and  maintenance  of 

primary and secondary schools; 

(ii) planning of programmes for Adult Education and Library facilities; 

(iii) propagation of technical training and vocational education; and 

(iv) extension work for propagation of Science and Technology to rural areas. 

17.  SOCIAL  WELFARE  AND  WELFARE  OF  WEAKER  SECTIONS  AND  HANDICAPPED 

PERSONS: 

(i)  promotion  of  social  welfare  programme  and  social  welfare  activities  with  emphasis  on 

handicapped and mentally retarded persons; 

24 

 
(ii)  organising  nursery  schools,  balwadies,  night  schools  and libraries  to eradicate  illiteracy 

and impart general education; and 

(iii) organising co-operative societies of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. 

18. POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROGRAMMES: 

planning, supervision monitoring and implementation of poverty alleviation programmes. 

19. DRINKING WATER: 

(i) construction, repair and maintenance of drinking water wells, tanks and ponds; 

(ii) prevention and control of water pollution. 

20. RURAL ELECTRIFICATION: 

(i) promote extension of electricity to unelectrified areas; 

(ii) help in the prevention of illegal tapping of electricity; and 

(iii) help in the recovery and collection of electricity dues. 

21. NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY SOURCES: 

(i) promotion and development of non-conventional energy scheme; and 

(ii) propagation of efficient energy devices. 

22. SOCIAL REFORM ACTIVITIES: 

(i) promotion of women’s organisation and welfare; 

(ii) promotion of children’s organisation and welfare; 

(iii) organise cultural and recreation activities; 

(iv) encouragement of sports and games and construction of rural stadia; 

(v) promotion of thrift and savings through:— 

(a) promotion of saving habits; 

(b) small savings campaign; 

(c) fight against spurious money lending practices and rural indebtedness. 

(4) In addition, the Zilla Parishad may— 

(a)  manage  or  maintain  any  work  of  public  utility  or  any  institution  vested  in  it  or  under  its 

control and management; 

(b) acquire and maintain village hats and markets; 

(c) make grants to Gram Panchayats; 

(d) adopt measures for the relief of people in distress; 

(e) co-ordinate and integrate the development plans and schemes prepared by Gram Panchayats in 

the district; 

(f) examine and sanction the budget estimates of Gram Panchayat in the district; 

(g) undertake or execute any scheme extending to the whole or part of the district; and 

(h) take over the maintenance and control of any rural bridge, tank, ghat, well, channel or drain, 

belonging to a private owner or any other authority on such terms as may be agreed upon. 

(5)  The  Zilla  Parishads  of  two  or  more  adjacent  districts  may  jointly  undertake  and  execute  any 

development scheme on such terms and conditions as may be mutually agreed upon: 

25 

 
 
Provided that the Government may, by notification and subject to such conditions as it may impose, 

transfer additional functions to the Zilla Parishad. 

62.  General  powers  of  Zilla  Parishad.—(1)  Subject  to  the  general  or  special  orders  of  the 

Government, the Zilla Parishad may— 

(a) incur expenditure on education or medical relief outside its jurisdiction; 

(b)  provide  for  carrying  out  any  work  or  measure  likely  to  promote  health,  safety,  education, 

comfort, convenience or social or economic or cultural well-being of the inhabitants of the district; 

(c) contribute to association of All India, State or Inter-State level concerned with the promotion 
of local government and for holding exhibition, seminar and conferences within the district related to 
the activities of Gram Panchayat and Zilla Parishad; and 

(d) render financial or other assistance to any person for carrying in the district any activity which 

is related to any of its functions. 

(2) The Zilla Parishad shall have powers to do all acts necessary for or incidental to the carrying out 
of  the  functions  entrusted  or  delegated  to  it  and,  in  particular,  and  without  prejudice  to  the  foregoing 
powers to exercise all powers specified under this Act. 

63.  Assignment  of  functions.—(1)  The  Government  may  assign  to  Zilla  Parishad,  functions  in 
relation  to  any  matters  to  which  the  executive  authority  of  the  Government  extends  or  in  respect  of 
functions which have been assigned to the State Government by the Central Government. 

(2)  The  Government  may,  by  notification,  withdraw  or  modify  the  functions  assigned  under  

sub-section (1). 

64. Delegation of powers.—The Zilla Parishad may, by notification, delegate to the Chief Executive 

Officer or other Officer any of the powers conferred by or under this Act on the Zilla Parishad. 

65. Standing Committees.—(1) The Zilla Parishad shall have the following  Standing Committees, 

namely:— 

(a) General Standing Committee; 

(b) Finance, Audit and Planning Committee; 

(c) Social Justice Committee; 

(d) Education and Health Committee; 

(e) Agriculture and Industries Committee; and 

(f) Works Committee. 

(2) Each Standing Committee shall consist of such number of members not exceeding five including 

the Chairman elected by the members of Zilla Parishad from amongst the elected members. 

(3) The Adhyaksha shall be the ex officio member and Chairman of the General Standing Committee 
and the Finance, Audit and Planning Committee. The Up-Adhyaksha shall be the ex officio member and 
Chairman of the Social Justice Committee. The other Standing Committee shall elect the Chairman from 
among their members. 

(4)  No  member  of  the  Zilla  Parishad  shall  be  eligible  to  serve  not  more  than  two  Standing 

Committees. 

(5) The Chief Executive Officer shall be the ex officio Secretary of the General Standing Committee 
and the Finance, Audit and Planning Committee and he shall nominate one of the Deputy Secretaries as 
ex officio Secretary for each of the remaining Standing Committees. The Chief Executive Officer shall be 
entitled to attend the meetings of all the Standing Committees. 

66.  Functions  of  the  Standing  Committee.—(1)  The  General  Standing  Committee  shall  perform 
functions relating to the establishment matters and functions relating to communication, buildings, rural 
housing, village extensions, relief against the natural calamities and allied matters and all other matters. 

26 

 
(2) The Finance, Audit and Planning Committee shall perform the functions relating to:— 

(a) the finances of the Zilla Parishad, framing of Budgets, scrutinising proposals for increase of 
revenue, examination of receipts and expenditure statements, consideration of all proposals affecting 
the finances of the Zilla Parishad and general supervision, of the revenue and expenditure of the Zilla 
Parishad; 

(b)  the  plan  priorities,  allocation  of  outlays  to  developments,  horizontal  and  vertical  linkages, 
implementation  of  guidelines  issued  by  the  Government,  regular  review  of  planning  programmes, 
evaluation of important programmes and small savings schemes. 

(3) The Social Justice Committee shall perform functions relating to:— 

(a) promotion of education, economic, social, cultural and other interests of the Scheduled Castes, 

Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes; 

(b) protecting them from social injustice and all other forms of exploitation; 

(c) amelioration, of the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes; 

(d)  securing  social  justice  to  the  Scheduled  Castes,  the  Scheduled  Tribes,  women  and  other 

weaker sections of the society. 

(4) The Education and Health Committee shall:— 

(a) be incharge of all educational activities of the Zilla. Parishad; 

(b) undertake the planning of education in the district within the framework of the national policy 

and the national and state plans; 

(c) survey and evaluate the educational activities of the Zilla Parishad; 

(d) perform such other duties pertaining to education, adult literacy and cultural activities as the 

Zilla Parishad may assign to it; 

(e) health services, hospitals, water supply, family welfare and other related matters. 

(5) The Agriculture and Industry Committee shall perform functions relating to:— 

(a) agricultural production, animal husbandry, co-operation, contour bunding and reclamation; 

(b) village and cottage industries; and 

(c) promotion of industrial development of the district. 

(6) The Works Committee shall perform functions relating to maintenance of:— 

(a) roads including district roads, bridges, culverts; 

(b)  maintenance  of  buildings  under  its  control  or  transferred  by  the  Government  or  any  public 

authority; and 

(c) maintenance of boats, ferries, waterways. 

(7) The Standing Committee referred to in sub-sections (1) to (6) shall perform the functions referred 

to above to the extent the powers are delegated to them by the Zilla Parishad. 

(8)  The  Standing  Committees  shall  perform  in  respect  of  matters  assigned  to  them  such  additional 

duties as may be prescribed. 

67. Procedure of Committees.—(1) The Zilla Parishad may frame regulations relating to election of 

members of committees, conduct of business therein, and all other matters relating to the committees. 

(2)  The  Chairman  of  every  Standing  Committee  shall  in  respect  of  the  work  of  that  committee  be 
entitled to call for any information, return statement or report from the officer of the Zilla Parishad and to 
enter on and inspect any immovable property of the Zilla Parishad or any work in progress concerning the 
committee. 

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(3) Each Standing Committee shall be entitled to require attendance at its meetings of any officer of 
the Zilla Parishad who is connected with the work of the Committee. The Chief Executive Officer shall 
under instruction of the committee, issue notices and secure the attendance of the officer. 

68. Power to acquire, hold and dispose of property.—(1) A Zilla Parishad shall have the power to 

acquire, hold and dispose of property and to enter into contracts: 

Provided  that in  all  cases of  acquisition  or  disposal of  immovable  property  the  Zilla  Parishad  shall 

obtain the previous approval of the Government. 

(2) All roads, buildings or other works constructed by a Zilla Parishad with its own funds shall vest in 

it. 

(3)  The  Government  may  allocate  to  a  Zilla  Parishad  any  public  property  situated  within  its 

jurisdiction, and thereupon such property shall vest in the Zilla Parishad. 

(4) Where a Zilla Parishad requires land to carry out any of the purposes of this Act, it may negotiate 
with the person or persons having in the said land, and if it fails to reach an agreement, it may make an 
application  to  the  Deputy  Commissioner  for  the  acquisition  of  the  land  and  the  Deputy  Commissioner 
may, if he is satisfied that the land is required for a public purpose, take steps to acquire the land under 
the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (1 of 1894) and such land shall on acquisition, vest in 
the Zilla Parishad.  

69.  Zilla  Parishad  Fund.—(1)  For  every  Zilla  Parishad  there  shall  be  constituted  a  Zilla  Parishad 

Fund bearing the name of the Zilla Parishad and there shall be placed to the credit thereof:— 

(a) contributions and grants, if any, made by the Central or the State Government including such 

part of land revenue collected in the State as may be determined by the Government; 

(b) contributions and grants, if any, made by a Gram Panchayat or any other local authority; 

(c) loans, if any, granted by the Central or State Government or raised by the Zilla Parishad on 

security of its assets; 

(d) the proceeds of road-cess and public works-cess levied in the district; 

(e) all receipts on account of tolls, rates and fees levied by the Zilla Parishad; 

(f) all receipts in respect of any schools, hospitals, dispensaries, buildings, institutions or works, 

vested in, constructed by or placed under the control and management of the Zilla Parishad; 

(g) all sums received as gift or contribution and all income from any trust or endowment made in 

favour of Zilla Parishad; 

(h)  such  fines  or  penalties  imposed  and  realised  under  the  provisions  of  this  Act  or  of  the  

bye-laws made thereunder, as may be, prescribed; and 

(i) all other sums received by or on behalf of the Zilla Parishad. 

(2) Every Zilla Parishad shall set apart and apply annually such sum as may be required to meet the 
cost of its own administration including the payment of salary, allowances, provident fund and gratuity to 
the  officers  and  employees.  The  overall  expenditure on  establishment  shall  not exceed  one-third  of  the 
total expenditure. 

(3) Every Zilla Parishad shall have the power to spend such sums as it thinks fit for carrying out the 

purpose of this Act. 

(4) The Zilla Parishad Fund shall be vested in the Zilla Parishad and the amount standing to the credit 
of the fund shall be kept in such custody or invested in such manner as the Government may, from time to 
time, direct. 

28 

 
 
 
70.  Taxation.—(1)  Subject  to  such  maximum  rates  as  the  Government  prescribe,  a  Zilla  Parishad 

may— 

(a) levy tolls on persons, vehicles or animals or any class of them at any toll-bar established by it 

on any road other than kutcha road or any bridge vested in it or under its management; 

(b) levy tolls in respect for any ferry established by it or under its management; 

(c) levy road cess and public works cess; 

(d) levy the following fees and rates, namely:— 

(i) fees on the registration of boats or vehicles; 

(ii) a fee for providing sanitary facilities at such places or pilgrimage, fairs and melas within 

its jurisdiction as may be specified by the Government by notification; 

(iii) a fee for licence for fair or mela; 

(iv) a lighting rate where arrangement for lighting of public streets and places is made by the 

Zilla Parishad within its jurisdiction; and 

(v) water rate, where arrangement for the supply of water for drinking, irrigation or any other 

purpose is made by the Zilla Parishad within its jurisdiction. 

(2) The Zilla Parishad shall not undertake registration of any vehicle or levy fee thereof and shall not 
provide sanitary arrangements at places of worship or pilgrimage, fairs and melas within its jurisdiction or 
levy fee thereof if such vehicle has already been registered by any other authority under any law for the, 
time being in force or if such provision for sanitary arrangement has already been made by any other local 
authority. 

(3) The scales of tolls, fees or rates and the terms and conditions for the imposition thereof shall be 
such as may be provided by regulation. Such regulation may provide for exemption from all or any of the 
tolls, fees or rates in any class of cases. 

71. Financial arrangements of Zilla Parishad.—(1) A Zilla Parishad may, subject to the provisions 
of any law relating to the raising of loans by local authorities for the time being in force, raise from time 
to time, with the approval of the Government, loans for the purpose of the Act and create a sinking fund 
for the repayment of such loans. 

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) a Zilla Parishad may borrow money from 
the  Government  or,  with  the  previous  sanction,  of  the  Government,  from  banks  or  other  financial 
institutions, for furtherance of its  objective on the basis of specific scheme as may be drawn up by the 
Zilla Parishad for the purpose. 

72. Budget.—(1) Every Zilla Parishad shall, at such time and in such manner as may be prescribed, 
prepare  in  each  year  a  budget  of  its  estimated  receipts  and  disbursements  for  the  following  year  and 
submit it to the Government. 

(2) The Government may, within such time as may be prescribed either approve the budget or return 
it  to  the  Zilla  Parishad  for  such  modifications  as  it  may  direct.  On  such  modifications  being  made  the 
budget shall be resubmitted within such time as may be prescribed for approval of the Government. If the 
approval of the Government is not received by the Zilla Parishad by the last date of the financial year, the 
budget shall be deemed to be approved by the Government. 

(3) No expenditure shall be incurred unless the budget is approved by the Government. 

(4)  The  Zilla  Parishad  may  prepare  in  each  year  a  supplementary  estimate  providing  for  any 
modification of its budget and may submit it to the Government for approval within such time and in such 
manner as may be prescribed. 

29 

 
 
 
73. Accounts.—A Zilla Parishad shall keep accounts in such manner as may be prescribed. 

74. Audit.—(1) The audit of the accounts of the Zilla Parishad shall be carried out by the authority as 
may  be  prescribed  by  the  Government  and  a  copy  of  the  audit  note  shall  be  forwarded  to  the  Zilla 
Parishad within one month of the completion of the audit. 

(2) on receipt of the audit report referred to in sub-section (1), the Zilla Parishad shall either remedy 
any defects or irregularities which have been pointed out in the audit and send to the Government within 
three  months  an  intimation  of  its  having  done  so  or  shall,  within  the  said  period,  supply  any  further 
explanation  to  the  prescribed  authority  in  regard  to  such  defects  or  irregularities  as  it  is  required  to 
furnish. 

75.  Staff  of  Zilla  Parishad.—(1)  An  officer  of  the  rank  of  the  Deputy  Commissioner  shall  be  the 
Chief  Executive  Officer  of  the  Zilla  Parishad  who  shall  be  appointed  by  the  Government.  The 
Government may, also appoint an Additional Chief Executive Officer for a Zilla Parishad on such terms 
and conditions as may be prescribed. 

(2)  The  Government  shall  also  appoint  a  Chief  Accounts  Officer  and  a  Chief  Planning  Officer  for 

each Zilla Parishad on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed. 

(3) The Government shall post from time to time in every Zilla Parishad such number of officers of 
Group A, B and C services of the State (including any officers appointed to such service from amongst 
person employed by the existing local authority) and officers of an All India Service allocated to serve 
under the Government, as the Government considers necessary. 

(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or any other law for the time being in force the 
Government or any other officer or other authority authorised by it in this behalf shall have the power to 
effect transfer of the officers and officials so posted from one district to another district. 

(5)  The  Government  may  constitute,  from  such  date  as  is  specified,  such  services  for  each  Zilla 

Parishad as may be prescribed. 

76. Functions of the Chief Executive officer and other officers.—(1) Save as otherwise expressly 

provided by or under this Act, the Chief Executive Officer shall,— 

(a) carry out the policies and directions of the Zilla Parishad and take necessary measures for the 

speedy execution of all works and developmental schemes of Zilla Parishad; 

(b) discharge the duties imposed upon him, by or under this Act or the rules and regulations made 

thereunder; 

(c) control the officers and servants of the Zilla Parishad subject to the general superintendence 

and control of the Zilla Adhyaksha and under such rules as may be prescribed; 

(d) have custody of all papers and documents relating to Zilla Parishad; and 

(e) draw and disburse money out of the Zilla Parishad Funds and exercise such other powers and 

perform such other functions as may be prescribed. 

(2) The Chief Executive Officer shall attend every meeting of the Zilla Parishad and may take part in 
the discussion but shall not have the right to move any resolution or to vote. If in the opinion of the Chief 
Executive  Officer  any  proposal  before  the  Zilla  Parishad  is  violative  of  or  is  inconsistent  with  the 
provisions of this Act or any other law or the rules made thereunder, it shall be his duty to bring the same 
to the notice of the Zilla Parishad. 

(3) The Chief Accounts Officer shall advise the Zilla Parishad in matters of financial policy and shall 
be  responsible  for  all  matters  relating  to  the  accounts  of  the  Zilla  Parishad  including  preparation  of 
accounts and the budget. 

(4)  The  Chief  Accounts  Officer  shall  ensure  that  no  expenditure  is  incurred  except  under  proper 
sanction and in accordance with this Act and the rules and regulations made thereunder and shall disallow 
any expenditure not warranted by the Act or rules and regulations or for which no provision is made in 
the budget. 

30 

 
(5)  The  Additional  Chief  Executive  Officer  shall  assist  the  Chief  Executive  Officer  in  the 

performance of his duties. 

(6) The Chief Planning Officer shall advise the Zilla Parishad in matters of plan formulation and shall 
be responsible for all matters relating to planning of the Zilla Parishad including the preparation of plans 
of economic development and social justice and annual plan of the district. 

77. Right to requisition records, recover money, etc.—(1) Every person in possession of money, 
accounts,  records  or  other  property  pertaining  to  a  Gram  Panchayat  or  a  Zilla  Parishad  shall  on  the 
requisition in writing of the Chief Executive Officer for this purpose, forthwith hand over such money 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. 

(2) The Chief Executive Officer may also take steps to recover any money due by such person in the 
same manner and subject to the same provisions as in the relevent Land Revenue Act, for the recovery of 
the arrears of land revenue from defaulters and for the purpose of requisitioning the accounts, records or 
for recovering any other property apertaining to the Gram Panchayat or Zilla Parishad may issue a search 
warrant and exercise all such powers with respect thereto as may lawfully be exercised by a Magistrate 
under the provisions of Chapter VII of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974). 

(3)  Every  person  knowing  where  any  money,  accounts,  records  or  other  property  apertaining  to  a 
Gram Panchayat or a Zilla Parishad are concealed shall be bound to give information of the same  to the 
Chief Executive Officer. 

(4)  An  appeal  shall  lie  from  an  order  of  the  Chief  Executive  Officer  under  this  section  to  the 

Government. 

CHAPTER V 

MISCELLANEOUS 

78. Powers to revise or modify decisions of committees.—Every Gram Panchayat and every Zilla 

Parishad shall have power to revise or modify any decision taken by any of its committees. 

79.  Powers  of  Gram Panchayats  to make  bye-laws.—(1)  A  Gram  Panchayat  may,  subject to  the 
provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder and with the previous sanction of the Zilla Parishad 
make bye-laws to carry out the purposes of this Act. 

(2)  In  making  any  bye-laws  under  sub-section  (1)  the  Gram  Panchayat  may  provide  that  a 

contravention thereof shall be punishable with such fine as may be prescribed. 

(3)  Any  such  bye-law  may  also  provide  that  a  person  contravening  the  same  shall  be  required  to 

remedy so far as it lies in his power, the mischief, if any, caused by such contravention. 

(4) All bye-laws made under this section shall be subject to the condition of previous publication and 

such publication shall be in such manner as may be prescribed. 

80.  Powers  of  Zilla  Parishad  to  make  Regulations.—(1)  A  Zilla  Parishad  may  subject  to  the 
provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder and with the previous sanction of the Government, 
by notification, make regulations to carry out the purposes of this Act in so far as it relates to its powers 
and duties. 

(2)  The  regulations  made  under  sub-section  (1)  shall  be  subject  to  the  condition  of  previous 

publication and such publication shall be in such manner as may be prescribed.  

81. Powers of Government to make model regulations and bye-laws.—(1) The Government may, 
subject to the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder and after previous publication of the 
draft  for  not  less  than  one  month,  make  model  regulations  and  bye-laws  for  Zilla  Parishads  and  Gram 
Panchayats respectively. 

(2) A Gram Panchayat or a Zilla Parishad may by resolution adopt the model bye-laws or regulations, 
as the case may be, made under sub-section (1), and such bye-laws and regulations shall come into force 

31 

 
within the jurisdiction of the Gram Panchayat or Zilla Parishad from such date as the Gram Panchayat or 
Zilla Parishad as the case may be, may specify in a notice published in the prescribed manner. 

82. Powers of Government to dissolve and reconstitute Gram Panchayat and Zilla Parishad in 
case  of  alteration  of  area.—(1)  When  on  account  of  the  reason  that  the  limits  of  an  area  of  Gram 
Panchayat or Zilla Parishad, are altered, the Government may by order published in the Official Gazette 
dissolve such Panchayat or Parishad, from a date, specified in the order and direct that Gram Panchayat or 
Zilla Parishad concerned:— 

(i) be reconstituted for the Panchayat area of which the Gram Panchayat or the district of which 

Zilla Parishad has been dissolved; or 

(ii) be established for a Panchayat area, or district which has been newly constituted. 

(2)  The  members  of  the  Gram  Panchayat  or  Zilla  Parishad  which  has  been  dissolved  under  

sub-section (1) shall vacate their office from the date specified in the order of the Government. 

(3)  The  Gram  Panchayat  or  Zilla  Parishad  reconstituted  or  established  under  the  provisions  of  
sub-section (1) shall consist of members nominated by the Government and such members shall as far as 
practicable  be  persons  who  are  members  of  the  Gram  Panchayat  or  Zilla  Parishad  which  has  been 
dissolved under sub-section (1). 

(4) The Chairpersons of Gram Panchayat or Zilla Parishad shall be elected in the manner provided in 

this Act. 

(5) The term of the Gram Panchayat or Zilla Parishad so reconstituted or established shall be for such 

period not exceeding six months as the Government shall by order specify. 

(6) Before the expiry of the term of the Gram Panchayat or Zilla Parishad constituted in accordance 
with  the  provisions  of  sub-section  (5),  a  Gram  Panchayat  or  Zilla  Parishad  shall  be  constituted  in  the 
manner provided under this Act: 

Provided  that  where  the  remainder  of  the  period  for  which  the  dissolved  Gram  Panchayat  or  Zilla 
Parishad would have continued is less than six months it shall not be necessary to hold an election under 
this section for constituting a Gram Panchayat or a Zilla Parishad for such period. 

(7) A Gram Panchayat or Zilla Parishad constituted under sub-section (1) shall continue only for the 
remainder of the period for which the dissolved Gram Panchayat or Zilla Parishad would have continued 
had it not been so dissolved. 

(8) When a Gram Panchayat or a Zilla Parishad has been dissolved and reconstituted or established 
under this section so much of the Gram Panchayat or Zilla Parishad fund and other property vesting in the 
Gram Panchayat or Zilla Parishad which has been dissolved shall vest in and such portion of the debts, 
and obligations shall be transferred to, the Gram Panchayat or Zilla Parishad reconstituted or established 
under this section as the Government may direct by an order made in writing. 

(9) The rights and liabilities of the dissolved Gram Panchayat or Zilla Parishad in respect of civil and 
criminal proceedings, contracts, agreements and other matters or things arising in and relating to any part 
of the area subject to the authority of the Gram Panchayat or Zilla Parishad reconstituted or established 
shall vest in such Gram Panchayat or Zilla Parishad. 

(10) Any appointment, notification, notice, tax, order, scheme, licence, permission, rule, regulation or 
form  made,  issued,  imposed  or  granted  by  the  Gram  Panchayat  or  Zilla  Parishad  which  has  been  
dissolved  in  respect  of  any  part  of  the  area  subject  to  the  authority  of  the  Gram  Panchayat  or  Zilla 
Parishad  which  has  been  reconstituted  or  established,  shall  be  deemed  to  have  been  made,  issued, 
imposed  or  granted  by  such  Gram  Panchayat  or  Zilla  Parishad  unless  and  until  it  is  suspended  by  any 
appointment,  notification,  notice,  form,  order,  scheme,  licence,  permission,  rule  and  regulation  made, 
issued, imposed or granted by such Gram Panchayat or Zilla Parishad. 

83.  Dissolution  of  Gram  Panchayats  and  Zilla  Parishad  in  certain  other  cases.—(1)  If,  in  the 
opinion  of  the  Zilla  Parishad,  a  Gram  Panchayat  exceed  or  abuses  its  powers  or  is  not  competent  to 
perform or makes persistent default in the performance of the duties imposed on it under this Act or any 

32 

 
other law for the time being in force, the Zilla Parishad may by order published in the Official Gazette, 
dissolve such Gram Panchayat. 

(2)  If  in  the  opinion  of  the  Government,  a  Zilla  Parishad  exceeds  or  abuses  its  powers  or  is  not 
competent to perform or  makes persistent default in the performance of the duties imposed on it under 
this Act or any other law for the time being in force, the Government may, by an order published in the 
Official Gazette, dissolve such Zilla Parishad. 

(3)  Before  publishing  an  order  under  sub-section  (1)  or  sub-section  (2)  the  Zilla  Parishad  or  the 
Government shall communicate to the Gram Panchayat or to the Zilla Parishad, as the case may be, the 
grounds on which it proposes to do so, and fix a reasonable period for the Panchayat concerned to show 
cause against the proposal and consider its explanation and objections, if any. 

(4)  When  a  Gram  Panchayat  or  Zilla  Parishad  is  dissolved  all  the  members  of  Gram  Panchayat  or 

Zilla Parishad shall, from the date specified in the order, vacate their office as such members. 

(5) If a Gram Panchayat or Zilla Parishad is dissolved:— 

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

(b)  all  property  vested  in  the  Gram  Panchayat  or  Zilla  Parishad  shall  during  the  period  of 

dissolution vest in the Zilla Parishad or the Government, as the case may be; and 

(c) the person is vacating office on dissolution shall be eligible for re-election.  

84. Inquiry into the affairs of the panchayats by the Government.—(1) The Government may, at 
any  time  for  reasons  to  be  recorded  in  writing,  cause  any  inquiry  to  be  made  by  any  of  its  officers  in 
regard to any Gram Panchayat or Zilla Parishad on matters concerning it, or any matters with respect to 
which the sanction, approval, consent or orders of the Government is required under this Act. 

(2) The Officer holding such inquiry shall have the powers of the Civil Court under the Code of Civil 
Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908) to take evidence and to compel attendance of witnesses and production of 
documents for the purposes of the inquiry. 

(3) The Government may make orders as to costs of inquiries made under sub-section (1) and as to 
the parties by whom and the funds out of which they shall be paid and such order may, on the application 
of the Commissioner or of any person named therein be executed as if it were a decree of a Civil Court. 

85.  Inspection  of  Development  Schemes.—(1)  For  the  purpose  of  efficient  and  economical 
execution of any works or development schemes undertaken by a Gram Panchayat or Zilla Parishad an 
officer or person authorised by general or special order of the Government, if he considers it necessary to 
give technical guidance or assistance to any officer of or under the Gram Panchayat or Zilla Parishad who 
is charged with the execution or maintenance of any such work or development scheme, then the officer 
or  person  so  authorised  may  periodically  inspect  such  works  or  development  schemes  to  give  such 
guidance, assistance or advise as he thinks necessary in relation to such works or development schemes 
and shall forward to the Gram Panchayat or Zilla Parishad a report on the inspection made pointing out 
therein any irregularities noticed, and suggestions for improvement. 

(2)  In  implementation  of  the  plans  or  schemes  all  the  rules  applicable  to  Government  Departments 
such as for purchase, tender, quality control, technical sanctions, accounts and audit and supervision shall 
mutatis mutandis be applicable in case of a Panchayat. 

86. Directions from the Government.—(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act it shall 
be  lawful  for  the  Government  to  issue  directions  to  any  Gram  Panchayat  or  Zilla  Parishad  in  matters 
relating  to  State  and  National  Policies  and  such  directions  shall  be  binding  on  the  Gram  Panchayat  or 
Zilla Parishad. 

(2) The Government may:— 

(a)  call  for  any  record,  register  or  any  other  document  in  possession  under  the  control  of  any 

Gram Panchayat or Zilla Parishad; 

33 

 
(b) require any Gram Panchayat or Zilla Parishad to furnish in return, plan, estimate, statement, 

account or statistics; and 

(c)  require  any  Gram  Panchayat  or  Zilla  Parishad  to  furnish  any  information  or  report  on  any 

matter connected with such Gram Panchayat or Zilla Parishad. 

87.  Commissioner  and  Chief  Executive  Officer’s  powers  in  respect  of  Gram  Panchayat  and 
Zilla  Parishad.—(1)  The  Chief  Executive  Officer  may  in  respect  of  Gram  Panchayat  exercise  the 
following powers, namely:— 

(a) call for proceedings of any Gram Panchayat or any extract of  any book or document in the 
possession  of  or  under the  control  of the  Gram  Panchayat  or any  return  or  statement  of  account  or 
report; 

(b) require a Gram Panchayat, to take into consideration any objection which appears to him to 
exist to the doing of anything which is about to be done or is being done by such Gram Panchayat or 
any information which appears to him to necessitate the doing of anything by such Gram Panchayat 
or within such period as he may fix; 

(c) order a duty to be performed within a specified period if a Gram Panchayat has made default 
in  the  performance  of  any  duty  and  if  such  duty  is  not  performed  within  the  specified  period,  to 
appoint  a  person  to  perform  such  duty  and  direct  that  the  expenses  thereof  shall  be  paid  by  the   
defaulting Gram Panchayat within such period as he may fix; 

(d)  direct  a  Gram  Panchayat  to  levy  any  tax  if  it  has  failed  to  do  so  in  accordance  with  the 

provision of this Act; 

(e) call for meetings of the Gram Panchayat, or any of its committees if no meeting of the  Gram 
Panchayat or its committees has been held in accordance with the provisions of this Act or rules made 
thereunder. 

(2) The Gram Panchayat may appeal to the Commissioner, against any order made under clause (c) of 

sub-section (1) by the Chief Executive Officer within thirty days from the date of such order. 

(3) The Commissioner may in respect of Zilla Parishad exercise the following powers, namely:— 

(a)  call  for  proceedings  of  any  Zilla  Parishad  or  any  extract  of  any  book  or  document  in  the 
possession  of  or  under  the  control  of  the  Zilla  Parishad  or  any  return  or  statement  of  account  or 
report; 

(b) require a Zilla Parishad, to take into consideration any objection which appears to him to exist 
to  the  doing  of  anything  which is  about to  be  done or  is being  done  by  such  Zilla  Parishad  or any 
information  which  appears  to  him  to  necessitate  the  doing  of  anything  by  such  Zilla  Parishad  or 
within such period as he may fix; 

(c) order a duty to be performed within a specified period if a Zilla Parishad has made default in 
the performance of any duty and if such duty is not performed within the specified period, to appoint 
a person to perform such duty and direct that the expenses thereof shall be paid by the defaulting Zilla 
Parishad within such period as he may fix; 

(d)  call  for  meetings  of  the  Zilla  Parishad  or  any  of  its  committees  if  no  meeting  of  the  Zilla 
Parishad or its committees has been held in accordance with the provisions of this Act or rules made 
thereunder. 

(4)  The  Zilla  Parishad  may  appeal  to  the  Government,  against  any  order  made  under  clause  (c)  of  

sub-section (3) by the Commissioner, within thirty days from the date of such order. 

88. Power of Government and Chief Executive Officer to provide for performance of duties in 
default of Gram Panchayat or Zilla Parishad.—When the Government in case of a Zilla Parishad and 
the Chief Executive Officer in case of a Gram Panchayat is informed on complaint made or otherwise, 
that any Zilla Parishad or Gram Panchayat has made default in performing any duty imposed on it, by or 
under  this  Act,  or  by  or  under  any  law  for  the  time  being  in  force  and  if  the  Government  or  Chief 
Executive  Officer,  as  the  case  may  be,  is  satisfied  after  due  enquiry  that  any  Zilla  Parishad  or  Gram 

34 

 
Panchayat, has failed in the performance of such duty, the Government or the Chief Executive Officer, as 
the case may be, may fix a period for the performance of that duty: 

Provided that no such period shall be fixed unless the Zilla Parishad or Gram Panchayat concerned 

has been given an opportunity to show cause why such an order shall not be made.  

89. Zilla Parishad's power of suspending the executions of order, etc., of Gram Panchayat.—(1) 
If in the opinion of the Zilla Parishad the execution of any order or resolution of a Gram Panchayat or any 
order of any authority or Officer of a Gram Panchayat or the doing anything which is about to be done, or 
is being done, by or on behalf of a Gram Panchayat is unjust, unlawful, improper or is causing or is likely 
to cause injury or annoyance to the public or to lead to a breach of the peace, it may by order suspend the 
execution of or prohibit the doing thereof. 

(2)  When  the  Zilla  Parishad  makes  an  order  under  sub-section  (1)  it  shall  forthwith  forward  to  the 
Government  and  to  the  Gram  Panchayat  affected  thereby  a  copy  of  the  order  with  a  statement  of  the 
reasons for making it and it shall be in the discretion of the Government to confirm or resind the order or 
to direct that it shall continue to be in force with or without modification permanently or for such period 
as it thinks fit: 

Provided that no order of the Zilla Parishad made under this section shall be confirmed, revised or 
modified  by  the  Government  without  giving  the  Gram  Panchayat  reasonable  opportunity  of  showing 
cause against the said order.  

90. Government’s power of suspending execution of  unlawful orders or resolutions.—(1) If on 
the receipt of a report from the Chief Executive Officer in this behalf or otherwise the Government is of 
the opinion that execution of any order or resolution of Zilla Parishad or the doing of anything which is 
about to be done or is being done by on behalf of a Zilla Parishad is unjust, unlawful, or improper or is 
causing or is likely to cause injury or annoyance to the public or to lead to a breach of the peace, it may, 
by an order suspend the execution or prohibit the doing thereof. 

(2) When the Government makes an order under sub-section (1), it shall forthwith forward to the Zilla 
Parishad  affected  thereby  a  copy  of  the  order  with  a  statement  of  reasons  for  making  it  and  the 
Government may confirm or rescind the order or direct that it shall continue to be in force with or without 
modification permanently or for such period as it thinks fit: 

Provided that  no  order under this  sub-section shall  be  made  by  the  Government  without  giving  the 

Zilla Parishad concerned a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against the said order. 

91.  Purchase  of  store  and  equipment.—(1)  The  Government  may  by  general  or  special  order 

provide for all any of the following matters, namely:— 

(a) the manner in which purchase of stores, equipments, machineries and other articles required 

by the Zilla Parishad or Gram Panchayat shall be made by them; 

(b) the manner in which tender for works, contracts and supplies shall be invited and examined 

and accepted by the Gram Panchayat or Zilla Parishad; 

(c)  the  manner  in  which  works,  and  development  schemes  may  be  executed  and  inspected  and 

payment may be made in respect of such works an schemes; and 

(d) constitution of committee for the purposes of this sub-section. 

(2) Save as otherwise expressly provided in sub-section (1), in respect of all other matters relating to 
withdrawal  of  funds,  form  of  bills,  incurring  of  expenditure  maintenance  of  accounts,  rendering  of 
accounts  and  such  other  matters,  the  rules,  of  implementation  as  applicable  to  Departments  of  the 
Government shall mutatis mutandis apply in case of a Gram Panchayat and Zilla Parishad. 

92. Power to appoint Administrator in certain cases.—(1) Whenever,— 

(a) any general election to a Zilla Parishad under this Act or any proceedings consequent thereon 

has been stayed by an order of a competent court, or authority; or 

35 

 
 
 
(b) all the members or more than two-thirds of the members of a Zilla Parishad have resigned, 

the Government shall by notification in the Official Gazette appoint an Administrator for such period as 
may  be  specified  in  the  notification  and  may,  by  like  notification,  curtail  or  extend  the  period  of  such 
appointment, so however, that the total period of such appointment shall not exceed six months. 

(2)  Notwithstanding  anything  contained  in  this  Act,  on  the  appointment  of  an  Administrator  under 
sub-section (1) the Zilla Parishad and the Committees thereof and the Adhyaksha, or Up-Adhyaksha of 
such Zilla Parishad charged with carrying out the provisions of this Act, or any other law, shall cease to 
exercise any powers and perform and discharge any duties or functions conferred or imposed on them by 
or under this Act or any other law and all such powers shall be exercised and all such duties and functions 
shall be performed and discharged by the Administrator during the period of such appointment. 

93.  Removal  of  members  for  misconduct,  etc.—The  Government  if  it  thinks  fit  on  the 
recommendation of the  Gram  Panchayat  or  Zilla  Parishad or otherwise,  may  remove  any  member  after 
giving him an opportunity of being heard and after such enquiry as it deems necessary if such  members 
has been guilty of misconduct in the discharge of his duties or of any disgraceful conduct or has become 
incapable of performing his duties as a member. 

94.  Restrictions  on  withdrawal  of  powers  and  functions  from  the  Panchayats.—(1) 
Notwithstanding the transfer of any power, functions and duties in respect of any matter to a Panchayat 
under this Act the Government on a proposal from Panchayat in that behalf or where it is satisfied that by 
reason  of  a  change  in  the nature  of the  matter  such as  the  conversion  of a  primary  health  centre into  a 
secondary  health  centre  or  hospital  or  the  conversion  of  a  seed  multiplication  farm  into  an  agricultural 
research farm or a road becoming a part of a highway, the matter would cease to be a matter in relevant 
Panchayat functions list and it is necessary to withdraw from the Panchayat powers, functions or duties in 
respect of such matter, may, by notification in the Official Gazette, 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,  right  and 
liabilities, if any vesting in the Panchayat and of the staff, if any, which may have been transferred to the 
Panchayat as the case may be.  

95.  Preparation  of  development  plans.—(1)  Every  Gram  Panchayat  shall  prepare  every  year  a 
development  plan  and  submit  it  to  the  Zilla  Parishad  before  such  date  and  in  such  form  as  may  be 
prescribed. 

(2) Every Zilla Parishad shall prepare every year a development plan of the District after including 
the  development  plans  of  the  Gram  Panchayat  and  submit  it  to  the  District  Planning  Committee 
constituted under section 96 of this Act.  

96. District Planning Committee.—(1) The Government shall constitute in every district a District 
Planning  Committee  to  consolidate  the  plans  prepared  by  the  Zilla  Parishad,  Gram  Panchayats,  Nagar 
Panchayat,  Municipal  Council  and  Municipal  Corporation  in  the  district  and  to  prepare  a  draft 
development plan for the district as a whole. 

(2) The District Planning Committee shall consist of— 

(a) members of the House of the People who represent the whole or part of the district; 

(b) all the members or the State Legislative Assembly whose constituencies lie within the district; 

(c) Adhyaksha of the Zilla Parishad; 

(d) Mayor or the President of the Municipal Corporation or the Municipal Council respectively, 

having jurisdiction over the headquarters of the district; and 

(e)  such  number  of  persons  not  less  than  four-fifth  of  the  total  number  of  members  of  the 
Committee as may be specified by the Government elected in the prescribed manner from amongst the 
members of the Zilla Parishad, Nagar Panchayat and Councillors of the Municipal Corporation and the 
Municipal Councils in the district, in proportion to the ratio between the population of the rural areas and 
of the urban areas in the district. 

(3)  The  Chairman  of  the  District  Co-operative  Banks  and  of  the  Land  Development  Bank  shall  be 

permanent invitees of the Committee. 

36 

 
(4) The Chief Executive Officer shall be the Secretary of the Committee. 

(5)  The  Deputy  Commissioner  of  the  districts  shall  be  the  Chairman  of  the  District  Planning 

Committee. 

(6) The District Planning Committee shall consolidate the plans prepared by the Zilla Parishad, Gram 
Panchayat,  Nagar  Panchayat,  Municipal  Council  and  the  Municipal  Corporations  in  the  district  and 
prepare a draft development plan for the district as a whole. 

(7) Every District Planning Committee shall in preparing the draft development plan:— 

(a) have regard to— 

(i)  the  matters  of  common  interest  between  the  Zilla  Parishad,  Gram  Panchayats,  Nagar 
Panchayats,  Municipal  Corporation  and  Municipal  Councils  in  the  district  including  spatial 
planning sharing of water and other physical and natural resource, the integrated development of 
infrastructure and environmental conservation, 

(ii) the extent and type of available resources whether financial or otherwise; 

(b) consult such institutions and organisations as the Government may by order specify.  

(8)  The  Chairman  of  every  District  Planning  Committee  shall  forward  the  development  plan,  as 

recommended by such Committee to the Government. 

97.  Finance  Commission  for  Panchayats.—(1)  The  Governor  shall  constitute  every  five  years  a 
Finance Commission to review the financial position of the Zilla Parishads and Gram Panchayats and to 
make recommendations to the Government as to— 

(a) the principles which should govern— 

(i) the distribution between the State and the Zilla Parishads and the Gram Panchayats and the 
net proceeds of the taxes, duties, tolls and fees leviable by the Government which may be divided 
between them and allocation between the Zilla Parishad and Gram Panchayat of their respective 
shares of such proceeds; 

(ii)  the  determination  of  the  taxes,  duties,  tolls  and  fees  which  may  be  assigned  to  or 

appropriated by the Zilla Parishad and Gram Panchayat; 

(iii) the grants-in-aid to the Zilla Parishads and Gram Panchayats from the Consolidated Fund 

of the State; 

(b)  the  measures  needed  to  improve  the  financial  position  of  the  Zilla  Parishads  and  Gram 

Panchayats; and 

(c) any other matter referred to the Finance Commission by the Governor in the interest of sound 

finance of the Zilla Parishads and Gram Panchayats. 

(2) The Finance Commission shall consist of a member. 

(3)  The  member  of  Finance  Commission  shall  be  appointed  in  such  manner  as  may  be  prescribed 

from among persons who— 

(a) have experience in public affairs; or 

(b) are or have been, or are qualified to be appointed as a Judge of a High Court; or 

(c) have special knowledge of the finances and accounts of Governments; or 

(d) have had wide experience in financial matters and in administration; or 

(e) have special knowledge of economics. 

(4) The Finance Commission shall determine its procedure. 

37 

 
(5)  The  member  of  the  Finance  Commission  may  resign  his  office  by  writing  under  his  hand  and 
addressed  to  the  Governor  but  he  shall  continue  in  office  until  his  resignation  is  accepted  by  the 
Governor. 

(6) The casual vacancy occurring due to the resignation of the member under sub-section (5) or for 
any other reason may be filled by fresh appointment and a member so appointed shall hold office for the 
remaining period for which the member in whose place as he was appointed would have held office.  

(7) In the performance of its functions, the Commission shall have the following powers, namely:—  

(a) to call for any record from any officer or authority; 

(b) to summon any person to give evidence or produce records; and 

(c) such other powers as may be prescribed. 

(8)  The  Governor  shall  cause  every  recommendation  made  by  the  Finance  Commission  under  this 
section  together  with  an  explanatory  memorandum  as  to  the  action  taken  thereon  to  be  laid  before  the 
State Legislature. 

98. State Election Commission.—(1) There shall be a State Election Commission constituted by the 
Government  for  superintendence,  direction and  control  of the  preparation of  electoral  rolls  for,  and  the 
conduct of all elections to the Panchayat bodies in the State under this Act and the rules made thereunder. 

(2) The Commission shall consist of a State Election Commissioner to be appointed by the Governor. 

(3) The conditions of services and tenure of office of the State Election Commissioner shall be such 

as the Governor may by rule determine: 

Provided  that  the  State  Election  Commissioner  shall  not  be  removed  from  his  office  except in  like 
manner and on the like grounds as a Judge of the High Court and the conditions of service of the State 
Election Commissioner shall not be varied to his disadvantage after his appointment. 

(4) The Government shall, when so requested by the State Election Commission, make available to 
the State Election Commission such staff as may be necessary for the discharge of the functions conferred 
on the State Election Commission under this Act.  

99. Determination of elected members after Census.—Upon the publication of the figures of each 
Census, the number of elected members of a Panchayat shall be determined by the State Government on 
the basis of the population of the Panchayat area as ascertained at that Census: 

Provided that the determination of the number as aforesaid shall not affect the then composition of the 
Panchayats existing at the time of the publication of Census under this section until the expiry of its term. 

100.  Qualification  of  membership  for  election  to  Panchayat  or  Zilla  Parishad.—Every  person 
whose  name  is  in  the  list  of  voters  within  the  Gram  Panchayat  or  Zilla  Parishad  constituency  and  is 
ordinarily resident within the Gram Panchayat or Zilla Parishad area shall, unless disqualified under this 
Act or under any other law for the time being in force, be qualified to be elected as a member of the Gram 
Panchayat: 

Provided  that  in  the  case  of  seats  reserved  for  the  Scheduled  Castes  or  Scheduled  Tribes  or  Back-
ward Classes and women, no person who is not a member of any of the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled 
Tribes or Backward Classes or is not a women, as the case may be, shall be qualified to be elected to such 
seat. 

101.  Disqualification for  Memberships.—(1)  A  person  shall  be disqualified  for  being  chosen  and 

for being a member of a Gram Panchayat or Zilla Parishad,— 

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

(b)  if  he  is  so  disqualified  by  or  under  any  law  for  the  time  being  in  force  for the  purposes  of 

elections to the State Legislatures; 

38 

 
(c) if an order has been passed against him under section 117 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 
1973 (2 of 1974), in proceedings instituted under section 110 of the Code, such order not having been 
subsequently revised or quashed; or 

(d) if he has been dismissed from the service under any local authority; or 

(e) if, having been a legal or medical practitioner or a chartered accountant, his name has been 
removed from the rolls or he is suspended by order of a  competent authority, the disqualification in 
the latter case being operative during the period of such suspension; or 

(f) if he has been removed from membership of any local authority; or 

(g) if he holds any office of profit under any local or other authority subject to the control of the 
Central  Government,  the  State  Government  or  the  Government  of  any  other  State,  other  than  such 
offices as are declared by rules made under this Act not to disqualify the holder. 

Explanation.—For the purpose of this clause, a person shall not be deemed to hold any office of 
profit under the Gram Panchayat or Zilla Parishad by reason only that he is a Pradhan or Up-Pradhan 
of the Gram Panchayat or an Adhyaksha or Up-Adhyaksha of Zilla Parishad; 

(h) if, save as hereinafter provided he has directly or indirectly any share or interest in any work 
done by order of the Gram Panachayat or the Zilla Parishad or in any contract or employment with, or 
under, or by, or on behalf of the Gram Panachayat or the Zilla Parishad; or 

(i)  if  he  is  employed  as  a  paid  legal  practitioner  on  behalf  of  the  Gram  Panchayat  or  the  Zilla 
Parishad or accepts employments as legal practitioner against the Gram Panchayat or Zilla Parishad; 
or  

(j) if arrears of any kind are due by him to the Gram Panchayat or the Zilla Parishad under this 

Act: 

Provided that,— 

(a) the disqualification in clause (b) shall cease to operate after the expiry of the period during 

which a person is ordered to furnish security; 

(b) the disqualification in clause (d) or clause (e) shall cease to operate after the expiry of five 
years  from  the  date  of  such  sentence  or  dismissal,  or  disenrolment  or  earlier  by  an  order  of  the 
Government; 

(c) the disqualification in clause (f) shall cease to operate after the expiry of five years from the 

date of such removal; 

(d) a person shall not be deemed to have incurred disqualification under clause (h) by reason of 

his,— 

(i)  having  a  share  in  any  joint  stock  company  or  a  share  or  interest  in  any  association 
registered  under  the  Manipur  Societies  Registration  Act,  1989  (1  of  1990)  in  any  co-operative 
society, which shall contract with or be employed by or on behalf of the Gram Panchayat or the 
Zilla Parishad; or 

(ii)  having  a  share  or  interest  in  any  newspaper  in  which  any  advertisement  relating  to  the 

affairs of the Gram Panchayat or the Zilla Parishad is inserted; or 

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

the Gram Panchayat or the Zilla Parishad. 

(2) If any question arises as to whether a member of a Panchayat at any level has become subject to 
any  of  disqualification  mentioned  in  sub-section  (1),  the  question  referred  for  the  decision  of  Election 
Tribunal. 

(3) If a person who is chosen as a member of a Panchayat is or becomes Member of the House of the 
People,  the  Council  of  States, the  State  Legislative Assembly  or  the  State  Legislative  Council,  or  is  or 
becomes  a  Municipal  Councillor  or  a  Councillor  of  Municipal  Corporation  or  a  Member  of  a  Sanitary 

39 

 
Board,  and  other  Panchayat,  then  within  fifteen  days  from  the  date  of  commencement  of  the  term  of 
office of a Member of the House of the People, the Council of States, the State Legislative Assembly or 
State Legislative Council or of a Municipal Councillor or a Councillor of a Municipal Corporation or a 
Member of such other Panchayat his seat in the Panchayat shall become vacant unless he has previously 
resigned his seat in the House of the People, the Council of States, the State Legislative Assembly or the 
State Legislative Council or the Municipal Corporation of the Board or such other Panchayat, as the case 
may be. 

102. Power of State Government to rescind or suspend resolution of a Gram Panchayat or Zilla 
Parishad.—(1) The State Government may, within a  period of six months, by order in writing, rescind 
any resolution passed by a Gram Panchayat or a Zilla Parishad, if in its opinion such resolution,— 

(a) has not been legally passed; or 

(b)  is  in  excess,  or  abuse  of  the  powers  conferred  by,  or  under  this  Act  or  in  rules  made 

thereunder. 

(2) The State Government shall, before taking any such action under sub-section (1) give the Gram 
Panchayat or the Zilla Parishad concerned an opportunity for making representation against the proposed 
order. 

103.  Constitution  of  Election  Tribunal.—(1)  The  Government  shall  constitute  Election  Tribunal 

consisting of one member to be appointed by that Government to dispose of:—  

(i) all election petitions challenging elections to a Panchayat;  

(ii) matters relating to disqualification of a member of the Panchayat; and 

(iii) any other election matter,  

in such manner as may be prescribed. 

(2) The Headquarter of the Tribunal shall be at such place as may be notified. 

(3) The decision of the Election Tribunal made under sub-section (1) shall be final. 

104.  Annual  Administration  report.—(1)  As  soon  as  may  be  after the first  day  of  April in every 
year and not later than such date as may be fixed by the Government, the Chief Executive Officer of the 
Zilla Parishad shall prepare a report on the administration of the Zilla Parishad during the preceding year 
in  such  form  and  with  such  details  as  the  Government  may  direct  and  submit  the  report  to  the  Zilla 
Parishad. After approval by the Zilla Parishad the report shall be submitted to the Government. 

(2) The report submitted to the Government under sub-section (1) shall together with a memorandum 
by  the  Government  reviewing  the  working  of  the  Zilla  Parishad  be  laid  before  the  House  of  the  State 
Legislature. 

105. Power to make Rules.—(1) The State Government may, by notification In the Official Gazette, 

make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act. 

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or any 

of the following matters, namely:— 

(a) the procedure for convening and holding the meetings of Gram Sabha under section 6; 

(b) the manner for publication of Electoral Rolls of Gram Panchayat and the authority competent 

to publish the same as referred to in sub-section (1) of section 16; 

(c) the manner for filing an appeal against the order of the authority publishing the Electoral Rolls 

as referred to in sub-section (5) of section 13; 

(d) the rotation of the reserved seats in constituencies of a Gram Panchayat under sub-sections (1) 

and (3) of section 19; 

(e) the procedure for election of Pradhan and members of Gram Panchayat under section 21; 

(f) the manner for filling up the casual vacancies in Gram Panchayat referred to in sub-section (1) 

of section 23; 

40 

 
(g)  the  payment  of  honorarium  and  other  allowances  to  Pradhan  and  Up-Pradhan  under  

sub-section (2) of section 27; 

(h)  powers,  functions  and  duties  of  Pradhan  and  Up-Pradhan  as  referred  to  in  clause  (g)  of  

sub-section (1) and clause (c) of sub-section (2) of section 28; 

(i) the authority competent to receive and accept the resignation of Pradhan and Up-Pradhan; 

(j) the officers to whom the notice of meeting of the Gram Panchayat is to be forwarded by the 

Secretary under sub-section (3) of section 32; 

(k)  the  manner  for  co-opting  the  members  by  Standing  Committee  under  clause  (b)  of  

sub-section (2) of section 38; 

(l)  the  custody  in  which  Gram  Panchayat  fund  shall  be  kept  as  referred  to  in  clause  (c)  of         

sub-section (2) of section 39; 

(m) the procedure for preparation and approval of the budget of Gram Panchayat under section 42 

and maintenance of accounts and its audit under sections 43 and 44; 

(n) appointment, terms and conditions of service, pay and allowances and other service conditions 

of the Secretary as referred to in section 45; 

(o) the manner of election of members to Zilla Parishad under section 50; 

(p) the manner for filling up the casual vacancy in Zilla Parishad referred to in section 51; 

(q) the rotation of reserved seats in constituencies of Zilla Parishad under sub-sections (1) and (3) 

of section 52; 

(r)  the  manner  for  reservation  of  seats  of  Adhyaksha  and  Up-Adhyaksha  of  Zilla  Parishad 

referred to in sub-section (2) of section 54; 

(s) salary and allowances of Adhyaksha and Up-Adhyaksha and sitting fee and other allowances 

to the members of Zilla Parishad under section 55; 

(t) powers, functions and duties of Adhyaksha and Up-Adhyaksha referred to in section 56; 

(u)  the  authority  competent  to  receive  and  accept  the  resignation  of  Adhyaksha  and                  

Up-Adhyaksha under sub-section (2) of section 57; 

(v) the additional duties to be performed by the Committees under sub-section (8) of section 66;  

(w) the maximum rate of taxes to be levied by a Zilla Parishad; 

(x) preparation and approval of budget for Zilla Parishad under section 72; 

(y) maintenance of accounts of Zilla Parishad and their audit referred to in sections 73 and 74; 

(z)  the  terms  and  conditions  for  appointment  of  Additional  Chief  Executive  Officer,  Chief 

Accounts Officer, Chief Planning Officer and other staff members under section 75; 

(aa)  the  superintendence  and  control  of  the  affairs  of  Zilla  Parishad  by  the  Chief  Executive 

Officer referred to in clauses (c) and (e) of sub-section (1) of section 76; 

(ab) the limits of fine to be imposed by Gram Panchayat under sub-section (2) of section 79 and 

the manner of publication of bye-laws of Gram Panchayat under sub-section (4) of the said section;  

(ac) the manner for appointment of member of Finance Commission referred to in sub-section (3) 

of section 97. 

(3) Every rule made under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be, after it is made, before the 
Legislative Assembly while it is in session, for a total period of twenty days which may be comprised 
in  one  session  or  in  two  or  more  successive  sessions,  and  if,  before  the  expiry  of  the  session 
immediately following the successive sessions aforesaid, the House agrees in making modification in 
the rule or that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified 

41 

 
form or be of no effect, as the case may be, so, however, that any such modification or annulment 
shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule. 

106. Bar to interference by Courts in electoral matters.—Notwithstanding anything in this Act— 

(a) the validity of any law relating to the delimitation of constituencies or the allotment of seat to 
such constituencies, made or purporting to be made under the relevant provision of the  Constitution 
of India shall not be called in question in any Court; 

(b) no election to any Panchayat shall be called in question in any Court. 

107. Taking of oath.—Every member, Adhyaksha or Up-Adhyaksha of the Zilla Parishad and every 
Member, Pradhan or Up-Pradhan of a Gram Panchayat shall before taking his seat, make at a meeting of 
the Zilla Parishad or Gram Panchayat as the case may be, an oath or affirmation of his allegiance to the 
Constitution of India in the following form, namely:— 

I,...............................................................  being 

a  Member/Adhyaksha/Up-Adhyaksha/Pradhan/       

Up-Pradhan  of  the....................................  do  swear  in  the  name  of  God  (or  solemnly  affirm)  that  I  will 
bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established and that I will faithfully 
discharge the duty upon which I am about to enter. 

108. Repeal and savings.—(1) The Manipur Panchayati Raj Act, 1975 (Manipur Act 12 of 1975) is 

hereby repealed. 

(2) Notwithstanding the repeal of the Manipur Panchayati Raj Act, 1975 (hereinafter referred to as the 

repealed Act) the repeal shall not affect:— 

(a) the previous operations of the repealed Act or anything duly done or suffered thereunder; or 

(b)  any  right,  privilege,  obligation  or  liability  acquired,  accrued  or  incurred  under  the  repealed 

Act; or 

(c) any penalty, forfeiture or punishment incurred in respect of any offence committed under the 

repealed Act; or 

(d) any investigation, legal proceedings or remedy in respect of such  right, privilege, obligation, 
liability,  forfeiture  or  punishment  as  aforesaid,  and  any  such  investigation,  legal  proceedings  or 
remedy may be instituted, continued or enforced, and any such penalty, foreiture or punishment may 
be imposed as if this Act had not been passed. 

109. Removal of difficulties.—If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this Act, 
the Government, may by order, published in the Official Gazette as the occasion may require, do anything 
which appears to it to be necessary to remove the difficulty.  

42 

 
