Uttar Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act, 1947

The Uttar Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act, 1947

(As amended up to date)

UP204

Passed by the United Provinces Legislative Assembly on June 5, 1947 and by the United Provincial Legislative Council on September 16,1947

(Received the assent of the Governor-General of the Dominion of India on December 7, 1947, under Section 76 of the Government of India Act, 1935 and published in the U.P. Government Gazette, dated December 27, 1947.)

An Act to establish and develop Local Self-Government in the rural areas of Uttar Pradesh.

Preamble - Whereas it is expedient to establish and develop Local Self-Government in the rural areas of Uttar Pradesh and to make better provisions for village administration and development.

It is hereby enacted as follows :-

CHAPTER I

Preliminary

Short title, extent and commencement. - (i) This Act may be called the U.P. Panchayat Raj Act, 1947.

(ii) It shall extend to the whole of Uttar Pradesh except the area which has been or may hereafter be declared as, or included in, [a city under the Uttar Pradesh [Municipal Corporation Act, 1959], or a Municipality or Notified Area under the provisions of the U.P. Municipalities Act, 1916, or as a Cantonment under the provisions of the Cantonments Act, 1924, or as a [Nagar Panchayat] under the provisions of the [U.P. Town Areas Act, 1914] ].

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(iii) It shall come into force at once.

Definitions - In this Act, unless there is an anything repugnant in the subject or context: -

(a) "Nyaya Panchayat" means a Nyaya Panchayat established under Section 42 and includes a bench thereof;

(b) "Adult" means a person who has attained the age of twenty-one years;

[(bb) "Backward classes" means the backward classes of citizens specified in Schedule-1 of the Uttar Pradesh Public Service (Reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other Backward Classes) Act, 1994];

(c) "Criminal case" means a criminal proceeding in respect of an offence triable by a Nyaya Panchayat [and includes a proceeding under Section 53];

(d) "Circle" means the area within which a Nyaya Panchayat exercises jurisdiction under Section 42;

(e) "Collector" or 'District Magistrate' or 'Sub-Divisional Magistrate' with reference to a [Gram Sabha], means the Collector District Magistrate or Sub-Divisional Magistrate of the district or the subdivision, as the case may be, in which such [Gram Sabha] is constituted; [and shall respectively include Additional Collector, Additional District Magistrate and Additional Sub-Divisional Magistrate];

[(ee) "Electoral Registration Officer" means an officer designated or nominated as such by the State Election Commission in consultation with the State Government for preparing and revising the electoral rolls in a district;

(eee) "Assistant Electoral Registration Officer" means a person appointed as such by the Electoral Registration officer for one or more Panchayat areas,]

[(f) "Zila Panchayat" shall have the meaning assigned to it under Clause (11) of Section 2 of the Uttar Pradesh Kshettra Panchayats and Zila Panchayats Adhiniyam, 1961;

(g) "Gram Sabha" means a body established under Section 3, consisting of persons registered in the electoral rolls relating to a village comprised within the area of a Gram Panchayat;

(h) "Gram Panchayat" means the Gram Panchayat [constituted] under Section 12;]

[(hh) "Finance Commission" means the Finance Commission constituted under Article 243-1 of the Constitution;

(hhh) "Kshettra Panchayat" shall have the meaning assigned to it under Clause (6) of Section 2 of the Uttar Pradesh Kshettra Panchayats and Zila Panchayats Adhiniyam, 1961.]

(i) [* * *]

(j) [omitted]

(k) "Munsif" and "Judicial Magistrate", with reference to a Nyaya Panchayat, mean the Munsif or the Magistrate, as the case may be, having local jurisdiction in respect of civil or criminal cases respectively, in the circle of such Nyaya Panchayat;

[(kk) "State Election Commission" means the State Election Commission referred to in Article 243-K of the Constitution];

[(kkk) "Mukhya Nirvachan Adhikari (Panchayat)" means an Officer of the State Government appointed, designated or nominated as such by the State Election Commission in consultation with the State Government];

(l) "Population" means the population as ascertained at the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published;

[(ll) "Panchayat area" means the territorial area of a Gram Panchayat declared as such under sub-section (1) of Section 11-F];

(m) [* * *]

(mm) "Public Property" and "Public Land" means any public building, park or garden or other place to which for the time being the public have or are permitted to have access whether on payment or otherwise;

(n) "Public Servant" means public servant as defined in Section 21 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860;

(o) "Public Street" means any road, street, bridge, lane, square, court, alley or passage which the public has right to pass along and includes on either side the drains or gutters and the land up to the defined boundaries of any abutting property, notwithstanding any projection over such land or any verandah or other superstructure but does not include any such road, street, bridge, lane, square, court, alley or passage owned, maintained or repaired by the State Government or any other local authority;

(p) "Prescribed" means prescribed by this Act or rules made thereunder;

[(q) "Prescribed Authority" means -

(i) for the purposes of the provisions of this Act mentioned in Schedule III of the [Uttar Pradesh Kshettra Panchayats and Zila Panchayats Adhiniyam, 1961], the [Zila Panchayats] or the [Kshettra Panchayats], as may be specified in column 3 of that Schedule; and

(ii) in respect of any other provisions of this Act, the authority notified as such by the State Government whether generally or for any particular purpose;]

(r) [* * *]

(s) "Civil Case" means a civil suit triable by a Nyaya Panchayat;

[(ss) "Sub-Divisional Officer" includes an Additional Sub-Divisional Officer designated or appointed as such by the appropriate authority];

(t) "Village" means any local area, recorded as a village in the revenue records of the district in which it is situate, and includes any area which the State Government may, by general or special order, declare to be a village for the purposes of this Act;

(u) [* * *]

(v) [* * *]

(w) [* * *]

(x) ["Bhumi Prabandhak Samiti" means a Bhumi Prabandhak Samiti established or deemed to be established under Section 28-A]

CHAPTER II

Establishment And Constitution Of [Gram Sabhas]

[3. Gram Sabha. - The State Government shall, by notification in the Official Gazette, establish a Gram Sabha for a village or group of villages by such name as may be specified:

Provided that where a Gram Sabha is established for a group of villages, the name of the village having the largest population shall be specified as the name of the Gram Sabha.]

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[CHAPTER II-A

Disqualifications Of Members Of Gram Panchayat And Electoral Rolls, Etc.]

[5A. Disqualification for membership. - A person shall be disqualified for being chosen as, and for being, [the Pradhan or] a member of a Gram Panchayat, if he -

(a) is so disqualified by or under any law for the time being in force for the purposes of elections to the State Legislature:

Provided that no person shall be disqualified on the ground that he is less than twenty-five years of age, if he has attained the age of twenty-one years;

(b) is a salaried servant of the Gram Panchayat or a Nyaya Panchayat;

(c) holds any office of profit under a State Government or the Central Government or a [local authority, other than a Gram Panchayat or Nyaya Panchayat; or a Board, Body or Corporation owned or controlled by a State Government or the Central Government;]

(d) has been dismissed from the service of State Government, the Central Government or a local authority or a Nyaya Panchayat for misconduct;

(e) is in arrears of any tax, fee, rate or any other dues payable by him to the Gram Panchayat, Kshettra Panchayat or Zila Panchayat for such period as may be prescribed, or has, in spite of being required to do so by the Gram Panchayat, Nyaya Panchayat, Kshettra Panchayat or Zila Panchayat failed to deliver to it any record or property belonging to it which had come into his possession by virtue of his holding any office under it;

(f) is an undischarged insolvent;

(g) has been convicted of an offence involving moral turpitude;

(h) has been sentenced to imprisonment for a term exceeding three months for contravention of any order made under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955;

(i) has beep sentenced to imprisonment for a term exceeding six months or to transportation for contravention of any order made under the Essential Supplies (Temporary Powers) Act, 1946 or the U.P. Control of Supplies (Temporary Powers) Act, 1947;

(j) has been sentenced to imprisonment for a term exceeding three months under the U.P. Excise Act, 1910;

(k) has been convicted of an offence under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985;

(l) has been convicted of an election offence;

(m) has been convicted of an offence under the U.P. Removal of Social Disabilities Act, 1947 or the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955; or

(n) has been, removed from office under sub-clause (iii) or (iv) of clause (g) of sub-section (1) of Section 95 unless such period, as has been provided in that behalf in the said section or such lesser period as the State Government may have ordered in any particular case, has elapsed:

Provided that the period of disqualification under clauses (d), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k), (l) or (m) shall be five years from such date as may be prescribed: Provided further that the disqualification under clause (e) shall cease upon payment of arrears or delivery of the record or property, as the case may be:

Provided also that a disqualification under any of the clauses referred to in the first proviso may, in the manner prescribed, be removed by the State Government.]

5B [* * *]

Cessation of Membership. - (1) A [member of a Gram Panchayat]shall cease to be such member if the entry relating to that member is deleted from the electoral [roll for a territorial constituency of Gram Panchayat].

(2) Where any person ceases to be a member of a [Gram Panchayat] under sub-section (1) he shall also cease to hold any office to which he may have been elected, nominated or appointed by reason of his being a member thereof.

[6A. Decision on question as to disqualification - If any question arises as to whether a person has become subject to any disqualification mentioned in Section 5-A or in sub-section (1) of Section 6, the question shall be referred to the prescribed authority for his decision and his decision shall, subject to the result of any appeal as may be prescribed, be final.]

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Effect of change in population or inclusion of the area of a [Gram Panchayat]in Municipalities, etc. - If the whole of the area of [Gram Panchayat]is included in a city, municipality, cantonment, notified area, or [Nagar Panchayat] the [Gram Panchayat] shall cease, and its assets and liabilities shall be disposed of in the manner prescribed. If a part of such area is so included, its Jurisdiction shall be reduced by that part.

[9. Electoral roll for each territorial constituency. - (1) For each territorial constituency of a Gram Panchayat, an electoral roll shall be prepared, in accordance with the provisions of this Act [and the rules made thereunder] under the superintendence, direction and control of the State Election Commission.]

[(1A) Subject to the superintendence, direction and control of the State Election Commission, the Mukhya Nirvachan Adhikari (Panchayat) shall supervise and perform all functions relating to the preparation, revision and correction of the electoral rolls in the State in accordance with this Act and the rules made thereunder.

(1B) The preparation, revision and correction of the electoral rolls shall be done by such persons, and in such manner, as may be prescribed.]

(2) The electoral roll referred to in sub-section (1) shall be published in the prescribed manner and upon its publication it shall, subject to any alteration, addition or modification made [in accordance with this Act and the rules made thereunder] be the electoral roll for that territorial constituency prepared in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

(3) Subject to the provisions of sub-sections (4), (5), (6) and (7) every person who has attained the age of 18 years on the first day of January of the year in which the electoral roll is prepared or revised and who is ordinarily resident in the territorial constituency of a Gram Panchayat shall be entitled to be registered in the electoral roll for that territorial constituency.

Explanation. -

(i) A person shall be deemed to be ordinarily resident in the territorial constituency on the ground only that he owns, or is in possession of, a dwelling house therein.

(ii) A person absenting himself temporarily from his place of ordinary residence shall not by reason thereof cease to be ordinarily resident therein.

(iii) A member of Parliament or of the Legislature of the State shall not, during the term of his office, cease to be ordinarily resident in the territorial constituency merely by reason of his absence from that area in connection with his duties as such member.

(iv) Any other factor that may be prescribed shall be taken into consideration for deciding as to what persons may or may not be deemed to be ordinarily residents of a particular area at any relevant time.

(v) If in any case a question arises as to where a person is ordinarily resident at any relevant time, the question shall be determined with reference to all the facts of the case.

(4) A person shall be disqualified for registration in an electoral roll, if he -

(a) is not a citizen of India; or

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

(c) is for the time being disqualified from voting under the provisions of any law relating to corrupt practices and other offences in connection with elections.

(5) The name of any person who becomes disqualified under sub-section (4) after registration shall forthwith be struck off the electoral roll in which it is included;

Provided that the name of any person struck off the electoral roll by reason of any such disqualification shall forthwith be reinstated in that roll, if such disqualification is, during the period such roll is in force, removed under any law authorising such removal.

(6) No person shall be entitled to be registered in the electoral roll for more than one territorial constituency or more than once in the electoral roll for the same territorial constituency.

(7) No person shall be entitled to be registered in the electoral roll for any territorial constituency if his name is entered in any electoral roll pertaining to any city municipality or cantonment unless he shows that his name has been struck off such electoral roll.

(8) Where the [Electoral Registration officer or Assistant Electoral Registration Officer] is satisfied after making such inquiry as it may deem fit, whether on an application made to it or on its own motion, that any entry in the electoral roll should be corrected or deleted or that the name of any person entitled to get registered should be added in the electoral roll, it shall, subject to the provisions of this Act and rules and orders made thereunder, correct, delete or add the entry, as the case may be:

Provided that no such correction, deletion or addition shall be made after the last date for making nominations for an election in the Gram Panchayat and before the completion of that election:

Provided further that no deletion or correction of any entry in respect of any person affecting his interest adversely shall be made without giving him reasonable opportunity of being heard in respect of the action proposed to be taken in relation to him.

(9) The State Election Commission may, if it thinks it necessary so to do for the purposes of a general or by-election, direct a special revision of the electoral roll for any territorial constituency of a Gram Panchayat in such a manner as it may think fit:

Provided that subject to the other provisions of this Act, the electoral roll for territorial constituency, as in force at the time of issue of any such direction, shall continue to be in force until the completion of the special revision so directed.

(10) [In so far as provision is not made by this Act or the rules, the State Election Commission] may, by order, make provisions in respect of the following matters concerning the electoral roll, namely, -

(a) the date on which the electoral roll prepared under this Act shall come into force and its period of operation;

(b) the correction of any existing entry in the electoral roll on the application of the elector concerned;

(d) the inclusion in the electoral roll of the name of any person -

(i) whose name is included in the Assembly electoral roll for the area relatable to the territorial constituency but is not included in the electoral roll for that territorial constituency or whose name has been wrongly included in the electoral roll for some other territorial constituency, or

(ii) whose name is not so included in the Assembly electoral roll but who is otherwise qualified to be registered in the electoral roll for the territorial constituency?

(e) the custody and preservation of the electoral roll;

(f) fees payable on applications for inclusion or exclusion of names;

(g) generally all matters relating to the preparations and publications of the electoral roll.

(11) Notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing sub-sections, the State Election Commission may, for the purposes of preparation of the electoral roll for a territorial constituency adopt the electoral roll for the Assembly Constituency prepared under the Representation of the People Act, 1950 for the time being in force so far as it relates to the area of that territorial constituency:

Provided that the electoral roll for such territorial constituency shall not include any amendment, alteration or correction made after the last date for making nomination for the election of such constituency and before the completion of such election.

(12) No Civil Court shall have jurisdiction -

(a) to entertain or adjudicate upon the question whether any person is or is not entitled to be registered in an electoral roll for a territorial constituency; or

(b) to question the legality of any action taken by or under the authority of the State Election Commission [or of any decision given by any authority or Officer appointed in this behalf] in respect of preparation and publication of elected rolls.

9A. Right to vote, etc. - Except as otherwise provided by or under this Act, every person whose name is for the time being included in the electoral roll for a territorial constituency [of a Gram Panchayat] shall be entitled to vote at any election and be eligible for election, nomination or appointment to any office in that Gram Panchayat or the concerned Nyaya Panchayat:

Provided that a person who has not completed the age of twenty-one years shall not be qualified to be elected as a member or office-bearer of the Gram Panchayat.

Removal of difficulty in the establishment of [Gram Sabha]and in the working of a [Gram Panchayat]- If, in establishing a [Gram Sabha] or in the working of a [Gram Panchayat] , any dispute or difficulty arises regarding the interpretation of any provision of this Act or any rule made thereunder or any matter arising out of or relating to such interpretation or any matter not provided in this Act, the same shall be referred to the State Government whose decision thereon shall be final and conclusive.

CHAPTER III

The [Gram Sabha]: Its Meetings And Functions

[Meetings and functions of the Gram Sabha.]- (1) Every [Gram Sabha] shall hold two general meetings in each year, one soon after harvesting of the Kharif Crop, hereinafter called the Kharif meeting, and the other soon after harvesting of the Rabi Crop hereinafter called the Rabi meeting[which shall be presided over by the Pradhan of the concerned Gram Panchayat]:

Provided that the Pradhan at any time may, or upon a requisition in writing by the prescribed authority or by not less than one-fifth of the number of the members shall, within 30 days from the receipt of such requisition, call an extraordinary general meeting. The time and place of all the meetings of the [Gram Sabha] shall be published in the prescribed manner:

Provided further that where the Pradhan fails to call a meeting as aforesaid, the prescribed authority may do so within a period to be prescribed.

(2) For any meeting of the [Gram Sabha] one-fifth of the number of members shall form the quorum; provided that no quorum shall be necessary for a meeting adjourned for want of quorum.

[(3) The Gram Sabha shall consider the following matters and may make recommendations and suggestions to the Gram Panchayat, -

(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 report in respect of development programmes of the Gram Panchayat relating to the preceding year and the development programmes proposed to be undertaken during the current financial year;

(d) programmes of adult education within the village;

(e) such other matters as may be prescribed.

(4) The Gram Panchayat shall give due consideration to the recommendations and suggestions of the Gram Sabha.

(5) The Gram Sabha shall perform the following functions namely, -

(a) Mobilising voluntary labour and contributions for the community welfare programmes;

(b) Identification of beneficiaries for the implementation of development schemes pertaining to the village;

[CHAPTER III-A]

Gram Panchayats

[11A. Pradhan [* * *] of Gram Panchayat. - [(1) There shall be a Pradhan of the Gram Panchayat who shall be the Chairperson thereof]

(2) The State Government shall, by order, reserve offices of Pradhans for the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes, and the Backward Classes:

Provided that the number of offices of Pradhan reserved for the Scheduled Tribes and the backward classes in the State shall bear, as nearly as may be, the same proportion to the total number of such offices as the population of the Scheduled Castes in the State or of the Scheduled Tribes in the State or the Backward Classes in the State bears to the total population of the State:

Provided further that the reservation for the Backward Classes shall not exceed twenty-seven per cent of the total number of offices of Pradhans:

[Provided also that if the figures of population of the Backward Classes are not available, their population may be determined by carrying out a survey in the prescribed manner.]

(3) Not less than one-third of the total number of offices of Pradhans reserved under sub-section (2) shall be reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and the Backward Classes.

(4) Not less than one-third of the total number of offices of Pradhans, including the number of offices of Pradhan reserved under sub-section (3), shall be reserved for women.

(5) The offices of the Pradhans reserved under this section shall be allotted by rotation to different Gram Panchayats in such order as may be prescribed.

(6) The reservation of the offices of Pradhans for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes under this section shall cease to have effect on the expiration of the period specified in Article 334 of the Constitution.

Explanation - It is clarified that nothing in this section shall prevent persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes, the Backward Classes and the women from contesting election to unreserved seats.]

[Uttarakhand] Amendment

[In the first proviso of sub-section (2) of Section 11-A of the Principal Act for the words "twenty seven", the word "fourteen" shall be substituted.]

[ 2. Amendment of sub-section (3) and (4) of Section 11-A. - In Section 11-A of the United Provinces Panchayat Raj Act, 1947 (as amended from time to time and as applicable to the State of Uttarakhand) hereinafter referred to as the principal Act) -

"In place of words 'not less then one-third' occurring in sub-section (3) and (4), the word 'not less than one-half shall be substituted."].

[11B. Election of Pradhan. - (1) The Pradhan of the Gram Panchayat shall be elected by the persons registered in the electoral rolls for the territorial constituencies of the Panchayat area from amongst themselves.

(2) If at any general election to a Gram Panchayat, the Pradhan is not elected, and less than two-thirds of the total member of Gram Panchayat are elected, the State Government or an officer authorised by it in this behalf may, by order, either appointor -

(i) An Administrative Committee consisting of such number of persons qualified to be elected as members of the Gram Panchayat, as it may consider proper, or

(ii) An Administrator.

(3) The members of the Administrative Committee of the Administrator shall hold office for such period not exceeding six months as the State Government may-specify in the order referred to in sub-section (2).

(4) On the appointment of an Administrative Committee or an Administrator under sub-section (2), the person, if any, chosen as Pradhan or member of the Gram Panchayat before such appointment shall cease to be such Pradhan or member, as the case may be, and all powers, functions and duties of the Gram Panchayat, its Pradhan and Committees shall vest in, and be exercised, performed and discharged by such Administrative Committee or the Administrator, as the case may be.

(5) The Administrative Committee or the Administrator shall be deemed to be duly constituted Gram Panchayat for the purposes of this Act:

Provided that if at any time after the appointment of the Administrative Committee or the Administrator under sub-section (2) the State Government is satisfied that there is no difficulty in duly constituting the Gram Panchayat, the State Government may, notwithstanding that the period for which the Administrative Committee or the Administrator had been appointed has not expired, direct the State Election Commission for holding the elections for constituting the Gram Panchayat.

(6) Except as otherwise provided in this Act, the term of office of Pradhan shall be coterminous with the term of the 'Gram Panchayat'].

11C. [* * *]

[(3) [* * *]].

[11D. Prohibition of holding certain offices simultaneously. - No person shall simultaneously -

(a) be the Pradhan of a Gram Panchayat and a Panch of the Nyaya Panchayat, or

(b) be a member of a Gram Panchayat for more than one territorial constituency, or

(d) hold any office in more than one Gram Panchayat or Nyaya Panchayat,

and the rules may provide for the vacation of all but one office by any person chosen to fill offices, which he cannot hold simultaneously.]

11E. Further bar on holding two offices simultaneously. - (1) A person shall be disqualified for being elected to or holding the office of Pradhan or member of Gram Panchayat or a Panchayat or a Nyaya Panchayat, if he is -

(a) member of Parliament or State Legislature, or

[(b) member, Pramukh or Up-Pramukh of a Kshettra Panchayat; or

(d) Adhyaksha or Up-Adhyaksha of any co-operative society.

(2) A person shall cease to hold the office of Pradhan or member of the Gram Panchayat or Panch of a Nyaya Panchayat, as the case may be, if subsequently, he is elected to any of the offices mentioned in Clauses (a) to (d) of sub-section (1) with effect from the date of such subsequent election and a casual vacancy shall thereupon occur in the office of such Pradhan or member or Panch, as the case may be.

[(3) Notwithstanding anything in this Act, if in the first elections held after the commencement of the Uttar Pradesh Panchayat Laws (Amendment) Act, 1994 to constitute Panchayats at the village, khand and district levels, a person is chosen member of Panchayats at two or more levels, he shall submit his resignation from all but one of these seats within sixty days of the date of the declaration of the results of elections, or if the declaration of the results of elections in respect of the Panchayat at the said two or more levels has been made on different dates, within sixty days of the last of such dates and in the event of failure to so resign seats in all the Panchayats except the seat in the highest level amongst the Panchayats to which he has been elected shall be deemed vacant.]

[11F. Declaration of Panchayat area. - (1) The State Government may, by notification, declare any area comprising a village or group of villages, having, so far as practicable, a population of one thousand, to be a Panchayat area for the purposes of this Act by such name as may be specified :

Provided that for the purposes of declaration of a Panchayat area no revenue village or any hamlet thereof shall be divided :

[Provided further that in the hill districts of Nainital, Almora, Pithoragarh, Tehri, Pauri, Dehradun, Chamoli or Uttarkashi, the State Government may declare the area of a Gaon Sabha established under Section 3 of this Act as it stood before the commencement of the Uttar Pradesh Panchayat Laws (Amendment) Act, 1994, to be a Panchayat area though such area may have a population of less than one thousand.]

(2) The State Government may, on the request of the Gram Panchayat concerned or otherwise, and after previous publication of the proposal, by notification at any time -

(a) modify the area of any Panchayat area by including therein or excluding therefrom any area of a village or group of villages;

(b) alter the name of the Panchayat area; or

[Uttarakhand] Amendment

[11F. Declaration of Panchayat Area. - (1) For the purposes of this Act the State Government may by notification declare any area comprising a village or group of villages, having, so far as practicable, a population of 300 in hill area and 1000 in plain area to be a Panchayat area for the purpose of this Act by such name as may be specified:

Provided that the population shall not exceed 1000 in hill area and 5000 in plain area of the State as far as practicable:

Further provided that for the purpose of declaration of Panchayat area no revenue village or any hamlet thereof shall be divided:

Also provided that if it is not practicably possible to follow the above provisions then the State Government may relax the aforesaid restrictions by order in the specific and unavoidable circumstances.

(2) The State Government may, on the request of the Gram Panchayat concerned or otherwise, and after previous publication of the proposal, by notification at any time-

(a) modify the area of any Panchayat area by including therein or excluding therefrom any area of a village or group of villages;

(d) alter the name of the Panchayat area; or

[12. Gram Panchayat. - (1)(a) There shall be [constituted] for every Panchayat area, a Gram Panchayat bearing the name of the Panchayat area.

(b) Every Gram Panchayat shall be a body corporate.

(i) [upto one thousand] nine members;

(ii) more than one thousand but not more than two thousand, eleven members;

(iii) more than two thousand but not more than three thousand, thirteen members, or

(iv) more than three thousand, fifteen members.

(d) For the purpose of election of members of Gram Panchayat every Panchayat area shall be divided into territorial constituencies in such manner that the ratio between the population of each constituency and the number of seats allotted to it shall, so far as practicable, be the same throughout the Panchayat area.

(e) Each territorial constituency of a Gram Panchayat shall be represented by one member in the Gram Panchayat.

[(f) The territorial constituencies of a Gram Panchayat may be delimitated in the prescribed manner and, if necessary, rules in this regard may be made with retrospective effect from a date not earlier than the date of commencement of the Uttar Pradesh Panchayat Laws (Amendment) Act, 1994.]

[(2) * * *]

(3) (a) A Gram Panchayat shall, unless sooner dissolved under Clause (f) of sub-section (1) of Section 95, continue for five years from the date appointed for its first meeting and no longer.

(b) An election to constitute a Gram Panchayat shall be completed -

(i) before the expiry of its duration specified in Clause (a);

(ii) before the expiration of a period of six months from the date of its 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 sub-section for constituting the Gram Panchayat.

(c) 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 Clause (a) had it not been so dissolved.

(d) The constitution of a Gram Panchayat shall be notified in such manner as may be prescribed and thereupon the Gram Panchayat shall be deemed to have been duly constituted, any vacancy therein not withstanding:

Provided that the constitution of a Gram Panchayat shall not be so notified till the Pradhan and at least two-thirds of the members of the Gram Panchayat have been elected.

[(3A) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provisions of this Act, where due to unavoidable circumstances or in public interest, it is not practicable to hold an election to constitute a Gram Panchayat before the expiry of its duration, the State Government or an officer authorised by it in this behalf may, by order, appoint an Administrative Committee consisting of such number of persons qualified to be elected as members of the Gram Panchayat, as it may consider proper or an Administrator and the members of the Administrative Committee or the Administrator shall hold office for such period not exceeding six months as may be specified in the said order and all powers, functions and duties of the Gram Panchayat, its Pradhan and Committees shall vest in and be excercised, performed and discharged by such Administrative Committee or the Administrator, as the case may be.]

(4) The term of a member of Gram Panchayat shall, unless otherwise determined under the provisions of this Act, expire with the term of the Gram Panchayat.

(5) (a) In every Gram Panchayat, seats shall be reserved for the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the Backward Classes and the number of seats so reserved shall, as nearly as may be, bear the same proportion to the total number of seats in the Gram Panchayat, as the population of the Scheduled Castes in the Panchayat area or of the Scheduled Tribes in the Panchayat area or of the Backward Classes in the Panchayat area bears to the total population of such area and such seats may be allotted by rotation to different territorial constituencies in a Gram Panchayat in such order as may be prescribed:

Provided that the reservation for the backward classes shall not exceed twenty-seven percent of the total number of seats in the Gram Panchayat:

[Provided further that if the figures of population of the backward classes are not available, their population may be determined by carrying out a survey in the prescribed manner.]

(b) Not less than one-third of the seats reserved under Clause (a) shall be reserved for the women belonging respectively to the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the Backward Classes.

(c) Not less than one-third of the total number of seats in the Gram Panchayat, including the number of seats reserved for women under Clause (b), shall be reserved for women and such seats may be allotted by rotation to different territorial constituencies in a Gram Panchayat in such order as may be prescribed.

(d) The reservation of seats for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes shall cease to have effect on the expiration of the period specified in Article 334 of the Constitution.

Explanation. - It is clarified that nothing in this section shall prevent the persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the Backward Classes and the women from contesting election to unreserved seats.

(6) The Pradhan shall be deemed to be a member of the Gram Panchayat.]

[Uttarakhand] Amendment

[12(1)(c). A Gram Panchayat shall consist of a Pradhan and in the case of a Panchayat area having a population of:

(1) Upto five hundred, five members;

(2) more than five hundred but not more than one thousand, seven members;

(3) more than one thousand but not more than two thousand, nine members, or

(4) more than two thousand but not more than three thousand, eleven members.

(5) more than three thousand but not more than five thousand, thirteen members.

(6) more than five thousand, fifteen members.]

[2. In Section 12 of U.P. Panchayat Raj Adhiniyam, 1947 (U.P. Act No. 26 of 1947), subsection (3-A) shall be amended namely, -

"(3A). Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provisions of this Act, where due to unavoidable circumstances or in public interest, it is not practicable to hold an election to constitute a Gram Panchayat, Kshettra Panchayat and Zila Panchayat before the expiry of its duration and extended term of six months, the State Government or an officer authorised by it in this behalf may, by order, appoint, an Administrator, who shall hold office for such period not exceeding six months as may be specified in the said order and all powers, functions and duties of Gram Panchayat, Kshettra Panchayat and Zila Panchayat respectively, its Pradhan, Pramukh and Adhyaksh and Committees shall vest in and be exercised, performed and discharged by such Administrator.]"

[In the first proviso of clause (a) of sub-section (5) of Section 12 of the Principal Act for the words "twenty seven", the word "fourteen" shall be substituted.]

[3. Amendment of clause (b) and (c) of sub-section (5) of Section 12. - In Section 12 of the principal Act -

"In place of words 'not less than one-third' occurring in clause (b) and (c) of subsection (5), the word 'not less than one-half shall be substituted."].

12A. Manner of election. - The election to the office of a Pradhan or [* * *] [* * *] or a member of a[Gram Panchayat] shall be held by secret ballot in the manner prescribed.

[12AA. Allowances to Pradhan, [* * *] and members. - (1) The Pradhan and [* * *] of the Gram Panchayat shall receive such allowances and honoraria as may be prescribed.

(2) The member of a Gram Panchayat, other than Pradhan and [* * *] shall receive such allowances as may be prescribed.]

[12B. Meetings of Gram Panchayats. - (1) A Gram Panchayat shall ordinarily meet for the transaction of business at least once every month but two months shall not intervene between two consecutive meetings :

Provided that the date to be appointed for the first meeting of a Gram Panchayat, shall be within thirty days from the date of its constitution.

(2) The meetings of the Gram Panchayat shall be held at such place and in such manner as may be prescribed.]

Uttarakhand Amendment

[2. Substitution of Section 12-B. - In the United Provinces Panchayat Raj Act, 1947 (as applicable to the State of Uttarakhand), instead of present Section 12-B, the following section shall be substituted, namely :-

"12B. (1) A Gram Panchayat shall ordinarily meet for the transaction of business at least once in every month but there shall not be a gap of two months between two consecutive meetings:

Provided that the date to be fixed for the first meeting of Gram Panchayat shall be ' within thirty days from the date of its constitution.

(2) The meetings of the Gram Panchayat shall be held at such place and in such manner, as may be prescribed."].

[12BB. Superintendence, etc. of the election. - (1) The superintendence, direction and control of the conduct of the election to the office of Pradhan, [* * *] or a member of a Gram Panchayat shall be vested in the State Election Commission.]

[(2) Subject to the superintendence, direction and control of the State Election Commission, the Mukhya Nirvachan Adhikari (Panchayat) shall supervise and perform all functions relating to the conduct of the election to the office of Pradhan, [* * *] or a member of a Gram Panchayat in the State.]

[(3) The State Government shall, in consultation with the State Election Commission, by notification, appoint the date or dates for general election or bye-election of the Pradhan, [* * *] or members of a Gram Panchayat.]

[12BC. Other provisions relating to holding of elections. - [(1) Subject to the supervision and control of the State Election Commission, the District Magistrate shall supervise the conduct of all elections of the Pradhans, the [* * *] and the members of Gram Panchayats in the District.]

(2) Every local, authority and the management of every educational institution receiving grant-in-aid from the State Government in the district shall, when so required by the District Magistrate make available to him or any other officer appointed by the District Magistrate as Nirvachan Adhikari such staff as may be necessary for the performance of any duties in connection with such election.

(3) [The State Election Commission] may likewise require all or any of the local authorities and the managements of all or any of such institutions as aforesaid in the State to make available to any other officer referred to in subsection (2) such staff as may be necessary for the performance of any duties in connection with such election, and they shall comply with every such requisition.

(4) Where any employees of any local authority or institution referred to in sub-section (2) or sub-section (3) is appointed to perform any duty in connection with such elections he shall be bound to perform such duty.]

[12BCA. Requisitioning of premises, vehicles, etc. for election purposes. - (1) If it appears to the District Magistrate that in connection with an election under this Act to be held within the district -

(a) any premises are needed or are likely to be needed for the purposes of being used as a polling place or for the storage of ballot boxes after a poll has been taken, or

(b) any vehicle, vessel or animal is needed or is likely to be needed for the purpose of transport of ballot boxes to or from any place, or transport of members of the police force for maintaining order during the conduct of such election, or transport of any officer or other person for performances of any duties in connection with such election, he may, by order in writing, requisition such premises, or such vehicle, vessel or animal, as the case may be, and may make such further orders as may appear to it to be necessary or expedient in connection with the requisitioning:

Provided that no vehicle, vessel or animal which is being lawfully used by a candidate or his agent for any purpose connected with the election of such candidate shall be requisitioned under this sub-section until the completion of the poll at such election.

(2) The requisition shall be affected by an order in writing addressed to the person deemed by the District Magistrate to be the owner or person in possession of the property, and such order shall be served in the prescribed manner on the person to whom it is addressed.

(3) Whenever any property is requisitioned under sub-section (1), the period of such requisition shall not extend beyond the period for which such property is required for any of the purposes mentioned in that sub-section.

(4) In this section -

(a) "premises" means any land, building or part of a building and includes a hut, shed or other structure or any part thereof;

(b) "vehicle" means any vehicle used or capable of being used for the purpose of road transport, whether propelled by mechanical power or otherwise.

12BCB. Payment of compensation. - (1) Whenever in pursuance of Section 12-BCA, the District Magistrate requisitions any premises, there shall be paid to the persons interested compensation the amount of which shall be determined by taking into consideration the following, namely:

(i) the rent payable in respect of the premises or if no rent is so payable, the rent payable for similar premises in the locality;

(ii) if in consequence of the requisition of the premises the person interested is compelled to change his residence or place of business, the reasonable expenses (if any) incidental to such change:

Provided that where any person interested being aggrieved by the amount of compensation so determined makes an application within the prescribed time to the District Magistrate for referring the matter to an arbitrator, the amount of compensation to be paid shall be such as the arbitrator appointed in this behalf by the District Magistrate may determine:

Provided further that where there is any dispute as to the title to receive the compensation or as to the apportionment of the amount of compensation it shall be referred by the District Magistrate to an arbitrator appointed in this behalf by him for determination and shall be determined in accordance with the decision of such arbitrator.

Explanation. - In this sub-section, the expression 'person interested' means the person who was in actual possession of the premises requisitioned under Section 12-BCA immediately before the requisition, or where no person was in such actual possession, the owner of such premises.

(2) Whenever in pursuance of Section 12-BCA the District Magistrate requisitions an}' vehicle, vessel or animal, there shall be paid to the owner thereof compensation the amount of which shall be determined by the District Magistrate on the basis of the fares or rates prevailing in the locality for the hire of such vehicle, vessel or animal:

Provided that whether the owner of such vehicle, vessel or animal being aggrieved by the amount of compensation so determined makes an application within the prescribed time to the District Magistrate for referring the matter to an arbitrator, the amount of compensation to be paid shall be such as the arbitrator appointed in this behalf by the District Magistrate may determine:

Provided further that where immediately before the requisitioning, the vehicle or vessel was by virtue of a hire-purchase agreement in the possession of a person other than the owner, the amount determined under this sub-section as total compensation payable in respect of the requisition shall be apportioned between that person and the owner in such manner as they may agree upon, and in default of agreement, in such manner as an arbitrator appointed by the District Magistrate in this behalf may decide.

12BCC. Power to obtain information. - The District Magistrate may, with a view to requisitioning any property under Section 12-BCA or determining the compensation payable under Section 12-BCB by order, require any person to furnish to such authority as may be specified in the order such information in his possession relating to such Property as may be so specified.

12BCD. Powers of entry into and inspection of premises etc. - (1) Any person authorised in this behalf by the District Magistrate may enter into any premises and inspect such premises and any vehicle, vessel or animal therein for the purpose of determining whether, and if so in what manner, an order under Section 12-BCA should be made in relation to such premises vehicle, vessel or animal, or with a view to securing compliance with any order made under that section.

(2) In this section the expressions 'premises' and 'vehicle' have the same meanings as in the Section 12-BCA.

12BCE. Eviction from requisitioned premises. - (1) Any person remaining in possession of any requisitioned premises in contravention of any order made under Section 12-BCA may be summarily evicted from the premises by any Officer empowered by the District Magistrate in this behalf.

(2) Any officer so empowered may, after giving to any woman not appearing in public reasonable warning and facility to withdraw, remove or open any lock or bolts or break open any door of any building or do any other act necessary for effecting such eviction.

12BCF. Release of premises from requisition. - (1) When any premises requisitioned under Section 12-BCA are to be released from requisition, the possession thereof shall be delivered to the person from whom possession was taken at the time when the premises were requisitioned, or if there were no such person to the person deemed by the District Magistrate to be the owner of such premises, and such delivery of possession shall be a full discharge of the District Magistrate from all liabilities in respect of such delivery, but shall not prejudice any rights in respect of the premises which any other person may be entitled by the due process of law to enforce against the person to whom possession of the premises is so delivered.

(2) Where the,person to whom possession of any premises requisitioned under Section 12-BCA is to be given under sub-section (1) cannot be found or is not readily ascertainable or has no agent or any other person empowered to accept delivery on his behalf, the District Magistrate shall cause a notice declaring that such premises are released from requisition to be affixed on some conspicuous part of such premises and publish the notice in the Official Gazette.

(3) When a notice referred to in sub-section (2) is published in the Official Gazette, the premises specified in such notice shall cease to be subject to requisition on and from the date of such publication and be deemed to have been delivered to the person entitled to possession thereof and the District Magistrate shall not be liable for any compensation or other claim in respect of such premises for any period after the said date.]

[12BD. Breaches of official duty in connection with elections. - (1) If any person to whom this section applies is without reasonable cause guilty of any act or omission in breach of his official duty, he shall be punishable with fine, which may extend to five hundred rupees.

(2) An offence punishable under sub-section (1) shall be cognizable.

(3) No suit or other legal proceedings shall lie against any other person for damages in respect of any such act or omission as aforesaid.

(4) The persons to whom this section applies are the Nirvachan Adhikaris, Sahayak Nirvachan Adhikaris, Matdan Adhyakashas, Matdan Adhikaris and any other person appointed to perform any duty in connection with the receipt of nomination or withdrawal of candidature or the recording or counting of votes at an election, and the expression 'official duty' shall for the purpose of this section be construed accordingly, but shall not include duties imposed otherwise than by or under this Act.]

12C. Application for questioning the elections. - (1) The election of a person as Pradhan [* * *] or as member of a Gram Panchayat including the election of a person appointed as the Panch of a Nyaya Panchayat under Section 43 shall not be called in question except by an application presented to such authority within such time and in such manner as may be prescribed on the ground that -

(a) the election has not been a free election by reason that the corrupt practice of bribery or undue influence has extensively prevailed at the election, or

(b) that the result of the election has been materially affected -

(i) by the improper acceptance or rejection of any nomination; or

(ii) by gross failure to comply with the provisions of this Act or the rules framed thereunder.

(2) The following shall be deemed to be corrupt practices of bribery or undue influence for the purposes of this Act -

(A) Bribery, that is to say, any gift, offer or promise by a candidate or by any other person with the connivance of a candidate of any gratification to any person whomsoever, with the object, directly or indirectly of inducing -

(a) a person to stand or not to stand as, or withdraw from being a candidate at any election; or

(b) an elector to vote or refrain from voting at an election; or as a reward to -

(i) a person for having so stood or not stood or having withdrawn his candidature; or

(ii) an elector for having voted or refrained from voting.

(B) Undue influence, that is to say, any direct or indirect interference or attempt to interfere on the part of a candidate or of any other person with the connivance of the candidate with the free exercise of any electoral right:

Provided that without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of this clause any such person as is referred to therein who -

(i) threatens any candidate, or any elector, or any person in whom a candidate or any elector is interested, with injury of any kind including social ostracism and ex-communication or expulsion from any cast or community; or

(ii) induces or attempts to induce a candidate or an elector to believe that he or any person in whom he is interested will become or will be rendered an object of divine displeasure or spiritual censure, shall be deemed to interfere with the free exercise of the electoral right of such candidate or elector within the meaning of this clause.

(3) The application under sub-section (1) may be presented by any candidate at the election or any elector and shall contain such particulars as may be prescribed.

Explanation. - Any person, who filed a nomination paper at the election whether such nomination paper was accepted or rejected, shall be deemed to be a candidate at the election.

(4) The authority to whom the application under sub-section (1) is made shall, in the matter of -

(i) hearing of the application and the procedure to be followed at such hearing.

(ii) setting aside the election, or declaring the election to be void or declaring the applicant to be duly elected or any other relief that may be granted to the petitioner, have such powers and authority as may be prescribed.

(5) Without prejudice to the generality of the powers to be prescribed under sub-section (4) the rules may provide for summary hearing and disposal of an application under sub-section (1).

[(6) Any party aggrieved by an order of the prescribed authority upon an application under sub-section (1) may, within thirty days from the date of the order, apply to the District Judge, for revision of such order on any one or more of the following grounds, namely :-

(a) that the prescribed authority has exercised a jurisdiction not vested in it by law;

(b) that the prescribed authority has failed to execute a jurisdiction so vested;

(7) The District Judge may dispose of the application for revision himself or may assign it for disposal to any Additional District Judge, Civil Judge or Additional Civil Judge under his administrative control and may recall it from any such officer or transfer it to any other such officer.

(8) The revising authority mentioned in sub-section (7) shall follow such procedure as may be prescribed, and may confirm, vary or rescind the order of the prescribed authority or remand the case to the prescribed authority for re-hearing and pending its decision pass such interim orders as may appear to it to be just and convenient.

(9) The decision of the prescribed authority, subject to any order passed by the revising authority under this section, and every decision of the revising authority passed under the section, shall be final.]

12D. The provisions of Section 12-C shall mutatis mutandis apply to the election of person as [* * *]of a [Gram Panchayat], Sarpanch or Sahayak Sarpanch of a Nyaya Panchayat.

12E. Oath of office. - (1) [Every person] shall, before entering upon any office referred to in Sections 11-A, 12, 43 or 44 make and subscribe before such authority as may be prescribed on oath or affirmation in the form to be prescribed.

(2) Any member who declines or otherwise refuses to make and subscribe such oath or affirmation as aforesaid shall be deemed to have vacated the office forthwith.

12F. Resignation. - A Pradhan, [* * *] or a member of a [Gram Panchayat] may, by writing under his hand addressed to such authority as may be prescribed, resign his office and his office shall thereupon become vacant.

12G. [* * *].

[12H. Casual Vacancy. - If a vacancy in the office of the Pradhan, [* * *] or a member of a Gram Panchayat arises by reason of his death, removal, resignation, voidance of his election or refusal to take oath of office, it shall be filled before the expiration of a period of six months from the date of such vacancy, for the remainder of his term in the manner, as far as may be, provided in Sections 11-B, 11-C or 12, as the case may be:

Provided that if on the date of occurrence of such vacancy the residue of the term of the Gram Panchayat is less than six months, the vacancy shall not be filled.]

12I. Jurisdiction of Civil Courts in election matters barred. - No Civil Court shall have jurisdiction to question the legality of any action taken or any decision given by an officer or authority appointed under this Act in connection with the conduct of elections thereunder.

OLD LAW 6

12J. Temporary arrangement in certain cases. - Where the office of Pradhan is vacant by reason of death, removal, resignation or otherwise or where the Pradhan incapable to act by reason of absence, illness or for any reason whatsoever, the prescribed authority shall nominate a member of the Gram Panchayat, to discharge the duties and exercise the powers of Pradhan until such vanancy in the office of the Pradhan is filled in, or until such incapacity of Pradhan is removed.]

12K. [* * *]

[* * *]

[14. Removal of Pradhan.] - [(1) The Gram Sabha may at a meeting specially convened for the purpose and of which at least 15 days previous notice shall be given, remove the Pradhan by a majority of two-thirds of the members of the Gram Sabha present and voting.

(1A) Notwithstanding anything contained in Section 11, one-third of the members of the Gram Sabha shall form the quorum for a meeting under subsection (1).]

(2) A meeting for the removal of a Pradhan shall not be convened within [two years] of his election.

(3) If the motion is not taken up for want of quorum or fails for lack of requisite majority at the meeting, no subsequent meeting for the removal of the same Pradhan shall be convened within[one year] of the date of the previous meeting.

(4) Subject to the provisions of this section, the procedure for the removal of a Pradhan including that to be followed at such meeting, shall be such as may be prescribed.

14A. Punishment for failure to hand over records etc. - (1) If any person on ceasing to act as Pradhan, Sarpanch or Sahayak Sarpanch willfully fails, in spite of being required to do so by the prescribed authority, to handover all records, money or other property of [Gram Sabha], [Gram Panchayat] or Nyaya Panchayat, as the case may be, to his successor or to any person authorised in this behalf by the prescribed authority, he shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to three years or with fine or with both.

(2) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (1), any such money may on a certificate issued in that behalf by the prescribed authority be recovered as arrears of land revenue.

14B. [* * *]

CHAPTER IV

Powers, Duties, Functions And Administration Of [Gram Panchayat]

[15. Functions of Gram Panchayat. - Subject to such conditions as may be specified by the State Government, from time to time, a Gram Panchayat shall perform the following functions, namely, -

(i) Agriculture including agricultural extension:

(a) Promotion and development of agriculture and horticulture.

(b) Development of wastelands and grazing lands and preventing their unauthorised alienation and use.

(ii) Land development, land reform implementation, land consolidation and soil conservation:

(a) Assisting the Government and other agencies in land development, land reform and soil conservation.

(b) Assisting in land consolidation.

(iii) Minor irrigation, water management and watershed development:

(a) Managing and assisting in water distribution from minor irrigation projects.

(b) Construction, repair and maintenance of minor irrigation projects, regulation of supply of water for irrigation purpose.

(iv) Animal husbandry, dairying and poultry:

(a) Improving breed of cattle, poultry, and other livestock.

(b) Promotion of dairying, poultry, piggery, etc.

(v) Fisheries:

Development of fisheries in the villages.

(vi) Social and farm forestry:

(a) Planting and preserving trees on the sides of roads and public lands.

(b) Development and promotion of social and farm forestry and sericulture.

(vii) Minor forest produce:

Promotion and development of minor forest produce.

(vii) Small industries:

(a) Assisting the development of small industries.

(b) Promotion of local trades.

(ix) Cottage and village industries:

(a) Assisting in the development of agricultural and commercial industries.

(b) Promotion of cottage industries.

(x) Rural housing:

(a) Implementation of rural housing programmes.

(b) Distributing house-sites and maintenance of records relating to

(xi) Drinking water:

Construction, repair and maintenance of public wells, tanks and ponds for supply of water for drinking, washing, bathing purposes and regulation of sources of water supply for drinking purposes.

(xii) Fuel and fodder land:

(a) Development of grass and plants relating to fuel and fodder land.

(b) Control on irregular transfer of fodder-land.

(xiii) Roads, culverts, bridges, ferries, water-ways and other means of communication:

(a) Construction and maintenance of village roads, bridges, ferries and culverts.

(b) Maintenance of water ways.

(xiv) Rural electrification:

Provision for and maintenance of lighting of public streets and other places.

(xv) Non-conventional energy source:

Promotion and development of programmes of non-conventional energy source and its maintenance in villages.

(xvi) Poverty alleviation programmes:

Promotion and implementation of poverty alleviation programmes.

(xvii) Education including primary and secondary schools:

Public awareness about education.

(xviii) Technical training and vocational education:

Promotion of rural art artisans.

(xix) Adult and informal education:

Promotion of adult literacy.

(xx) Library:

Establishment and maintenance of libraries and reading rooms.

(xxi) Sports and cultural affairs:

(a) Promotion of social and cultural activities.

(b) Organising cultural seminars on different festivals.

(xxii) Markets and fairs:

Regulation of melas, markets and hats in Panchayat areas.

(xxiii) Medical and sanitation:

(a) Promoting rural sanitation.

(b) Prevention against epidemics.

(d) Preventive actions against stray cattle and live-stock.

(e) Registering births, deaths, and marriages.

(xxiv) Family welfare:

Promotion and implementation of family welfare programmes.

(xxv) Plan for economic development:

Preparation of plan for economic development of the area of the Gram Panchayat.

(xxvi) Maternity and child development:

(a) Participation in the implementation of women and child welfare programmes at Gram Panchayat level.

(b) Promoting child health and nutrition programmes.

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

(a) Assisting in old age and widow pension schemes.

(b) Participation in the social welfare programmes including welfare of the handicapped and the mentally retarded.

(xxviii) Welfare of the weaker sections and in particular of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes:

(a) Participation in the implementation of the specific programmes for the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and other weaker sections of the society.

(b) Preparation and implementation of schemes for social justice.

(xxix) Public distribution system: .

(a) Promotion of public awareness with regard to the distribution of essential commodities.

(b) Monitoring the public distribution system.

(xxx) Maintenance of community assets:

Preservation and maintenance of community assets.]

[15A. Preparation of plan. - A Gram Panchayat shall prepare every year a development plan for the Panchayat area and submit it to the Kshettra Panchayat concerned before such date and in such form and manner as may be prescribed.

Functions that may be assigned to Gram Panchayats. - The State Government may, by notification, and subject to such conditions as may be specified therein, assign to Gram Panchayats any or all of the following functions, namely :-

(a) management and maintenance of a forest situated in the Panchayat area;

(b) management of wastelands, pasture lands or vacant lands belonging to the Government situated within the Panchayat area;

16A. Power to make contributions for organisations, etc., outside jurisdiction - A [Gram Panchayat] may contribute such amounts for such organisations, institutions and functions outside the jurisdiction of the [Gram Panchayat] as the State Government may by general or special order permit.

Powers of [Gram Panchayats] as to public streets, waterways and other matters. - A[Gram Panchayat] shall have control of all public streets, water-ways, other than canals as defined in sub-section (1) of Section 3 of the Northern India Canal and Drainage Act, 1873, situate within its jurisdiction not being a private street or water-ways and not being under the control of the State Government or the [Zila Panchayat] or any other authority specified by the State Government and may do all things necessary for the maintenance and repair thereof, and may -

(a) construct new bridges and culverts;

(b) divert, discontinue or close any public street, culvert or bridge;

(c) widen, open, enlarge or otherwise improve any public street,culvert or bridge with minimum damage to the neighbouring fields;

(d) deepen or otherwise improve water-ways;

(e) with the sanction of the prescribed authority and where a canal exists under the Northern India Canal arid Drainage Act, 1873, with the sanction also of such officer of the Irrigation Department as the State Government may prescribe, undertake small irrigation projects in addition to those specified by order under clause (u) of Section 15;

(f) cut any hedge or branch of any tree projecting on a public street;

(g) notify the setting apart of any public watercourse for drinking or culinary purposes, and prohibit bathing, washing of clothes and animals or doing of other acts likely to pollute the course so set apart:

Provided that nothing shall be done under clause (g) which may affect a canal governed by the Northern India Canal and Drainage Act, 1873, without the prior permission of the authority prescribed by the State Government in this behalf.

Improvement of sanitation. - For the improvement of sanitation, a [Gram Panchayat] may, by notice, direct the owner or occupier of any land or building, taking into consideration his financial position and giving him reasonable time for compliance thereof -

(a) to close, remove, alter, repair, cleanse, disinfect or put in good order any latrine, urinal, water-closet, drain, cesspool or other receptacle for filth, sullage-water, rubbish or refuse pertaining to such land or building or to remove or alter any door or trap or construct any drain for any such latrine, urinal or water-closet which opens on to a street or drain or to shut off such latrine, urinal or water-closet by a sufficient roof and wall or fence from the view of persons passing by or dwelling in the neighbourhood;

(b) to cleanse, repair, cover, fill up, drain off, deepen, or to remove water from a private well, tank, reservoir, pool, pit, depression or excavation therein which may appear to the [Gram Panchayat] to be injurious to health or offensive to the neighbourhood;

(d) to remove any dirt, dung, night-soil, manure or any noxious or offensive matter therefrom and to cleanse the land or building:

Provided that a person on whom a notice under clause (b) is served may within 30 days of the receipt of notice appeal to the District Medical Officer of Health against the said notice who may vary, set aside, or confirm it.

Maintenance and improvement of Schools and Hospitals. - (1) A [Gram Panchayat] -

(a) shall, subject to such rules as may be prescribed regarding the curriculum, employment and qualification of teachers and supervision of a school maintain any existing primary school including the buildings and furniture thereof and be responsible for its proper working and may similarly establish and maintain a new school or improve any existing school;

(b) shall, subject to such rules as may be prescribed regarding the establishment maintenance and supervision, maintain any existing Ayurvedic, Homoeopathic or Unani hospital or dispensary including the building and equipments thereof and may similarly establish and maintain a new hospital or dispensary for one or more of the systems of medicine mentioned above.

(2) The [Zila Panchayat] and the State Government shall make such grants for such schools, hospitals or dispensary as may be prescribed.

19A. [* * *]

Establishment of primary school, hospital, dispensary, road or bridge for a group of[Gram Panchayats]. - Where a group of neighbouring [Gram Panchayats] had no primary school or Ayurvedic, Homeopathic or Unani hospital or dispensary, or it needs a road or bridge for its common benefit, the [Gram Panchayats] thereof shall, if so directed by the prescribed authority, combine to establish and maintain such a school, hospital or dispensary, or to construct and maintain such a road or bridge, and it shall be managed and financed in the manner prescribed. The State Government and the [Zila Panchayat] shall make such grants for such School, hospital, dispensary, road or bridge as may be prescribed.
Assistance to Government servants. - A [Gram Panchayat] shall, if so prescribed by the State Government and so far as practicable, assist any Government Servant in the performance of his duties within its area.
Representations and recommendation by [Gram Panchayat] - A [Gram Panchayat] may make to the proper authority -

(a) any representation concerning the welfare of the persons residing within its jurisdiction, and

(b) any recommendation as to the appointment, transfer or dismissal of patrol of the Irrigation Department, Patwari (or Lekhpal, village chowkidar) or Mukhia serving in any area within the jurisdiction of such [Gram Panchayat]

Power to enquire and report about the misconduct of certain officials. - On receiving a complaint from any person, residing within the jurisdiction of a [Gram Panchayat] about any misconduct in the discharge of (his) official duties by any amin, process-server, vaccinator, constable, (village chowkidar), patwari, Patrol and Tube-well operator of the Irrigation Department, forest-guard, forest chowkidar, teacher of a primary school, poundkeeper, village stockman or peon of any Government Department, such Panchayat may, if there be prima facie evidence, forward the complaint to the proper authority with its own report. The authority shall, after such further enquiry which may be required, take suitable action and inform the [Gram Panchayat]
Power to contract for collection of taxes and other dues for proprietors. - A [Gram Panchayat] may, as prescribed and in respect of any area within its jurisdiction enter into a contract -

(a) with the State Government or any local authority to collect any taxes or dues payable to State or to such local authority upon payment of such collection charges as may be prescribed; or

(b) with the State Government or any local authority for carrying out any work on such terms as may be agreed upon.

[25. Staff. - (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provisions of this Act, any Uttar Pradesh Act, rules, regulations, or bye-laws or in any judgment, decree or order of any court, -

(a) the State Government may, by general or special order, transfer any employee or class of employees serving in connection with the affairs of the State to serve under Gram Panchayats with such designation as may be specified in the order and thereupon posting of such employee or employees in Gram Panchayats of a district shall be. made by such authority in such a manner as may be notified by the State Government;

(b) the employee or employees on being so transferred and posted in a Gram Panchayat, shall serve under the supervision and control of the Gram Panchayat on the same terms and conditions and with the same rights and privileges as to retirement benefits and other matters including promotion as would have been applicable to him immediately before such transfer and shall perform such duties as may be specified from time to time by the State Government.

(2) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (1), a Gram Panchayat may, after prior approval of the prescribed authority, appoint from time to time such employees as may be considered necessary for efficient discharge of its functions under this Act in accordance with such procedure as may be prescribed:

Provided that the Gram Panchayat shall not create any post except with the previous approval of the prescribed authority.

(3) The Gram Panchayat shall have power to impose punishment of any description upon the employees appointed under sub-section (2) subject to such conditions and restrictions and in accordance with such procedure as may be prescribed.

(4) The Gram Panchayat may delegate to the Pradhan or to any of its Committees, subject to such conditions and restrictions as may be prescribed, the power to impose any minor punishment upon the employees appointed under sub-section (2).

(5) An appeal from an order imposing any punishment on an employee under sub-section (3) shall lie to such officer or committee as may be specified by the State Government by notification.

(6) The prescribed authority may, subject to such conditions as may be prescribed, transfer any employee referred to in clause (b) of sub-section (1) from one Gram Panchayat to any other Gram Panchayat within the same district and the State Government or such other officer as may be empowered in this behalf by the State Government may similarly transfer any such employee from one district to another.

(7) A Nyaya Panchayat may, with the previous approval of the prescribed authority, appoint any person on its staff in the manner prescribed. The person so appointed shall be under the administrative control of the prescribed authority who shall have power to transfer, punish, suspend, discharge or dismiss him.

(8) Appeal shall lie from an order of the prescribed authority punishing, suspending, discharging or dismissing a person under sub-section (7) to an authority appointed in this behalf by the State Government.]

[25A. Secretary. - The State Government or such officer or authority as may be empowered by it in this behalf shall appoint a Secretary from amongst the employees referred in clause (b) of sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) of Section 25, who shall act as Secretary of such Gram Panchayat or Gram Panchayats, the Gram Sabhas concerned and the Nyaya Panchayats within whose territorial limits such Gram Panchayats are situated and perform such other duties as may be specified by the State Government or such officer or authority as may be empowered in this behalf by the State Government.]

Right of individual members. - A member of a [Gram Panchayat] may at any meeting, move any resolution and put question to the Pradhan and [* * *] on matters connected with the administration of the [Gram Panchayat] in the manner prescribed.
Surcharge. - (1) Every Pradhan or [* * *] of a [Gram Panchayat], every member of a [Gram Panchayat] or of a Joint Committee or any other committee constituted under this Act and every Sarpanch, Sahayak Sarpanch or Panch of a Nyaya Panchayat shall be liable to surcharge for the loss, waste or misapplication of money or property [belonging to the Gram Panchayat or Nyaya Panchayat] as the case may be, if such loss, waste or misapplication is direct consequence of his neglect or misconduct while he was such Pradhan, [* * *] Member, Sarpanch, Sahayak Sarpanch or Panch:

Provided that such liability shall cease to exist after the expiration of ten years from the occurrence of such loss, waste or misapplication, or five years from the date on which the person liable ceases to hold his office, whichever is later.

(2) The prescribed authority shall fix the amount of the surcharge according to the procedure that may be prescribed and shall certify the amount to the collector who shall, on being satisfied that the amount is due, realise it as if it were an arrear of land revenue.

(3) Any person aggrieved by the order of the prescribed authority fixing the amount of surcharge may, within thirty days of such order, appeal against the order of the State Government or such other appellate authority as may be prescribed.

(4) Where no proceeding for fixation and realisation of surcharge as specified in sub-section (2) is taken the State Government may institute suit for compensation for such loss, waste or misapplication, against the person liable for the same.

Members and servants to be public servants. - Every member or servant of a Nyaya Panchayat, a [Gram Panchayat], a joint committee or any other committee constituted under this Act shall be deemed to be a public servant within the meaning of Section 21 of the Indian Penal Code.

28A. Bhumi Prabandhak Samiti. - (1) The [Gram Panchayat] [* * *] shall also be the Bhumi Prabandhak Samiti and as such discharge the duties of upkeep, protection and supervision of all property belonging to or vested in or held by the [Gram Panchayat] under Section 117 of the Uttar Pradesh Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1950, or under any other provision of that Act.

[(2) The Pradhan shall be the Chairperson of the Bhumi Prabandhak Samiti and the Lekhpal of the area comprised in the jurisdiction of the Gram Panchayat shall be its Secretary].

28B. Functions of the Bhumi Prabandhak Samiti. - (1) The Bhumi Prabandhak Samiti,shall for and on behalf of the [Gram Panchayat] be charged with the general management and control of all property referred to in Section 28-A including -

(a) the settling and management of land but not including the transfer of any property for the time being vested in the [Gram Panchayat] under Section 117 of the Uttar Pradesh Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1950, or under any other provision of that Act;

(b) the preservation, maintenance and development of forests and trees;

(d) the management and development of hats, bazars and melas;

(e) the maintenance and development of fisheries and tanks;

(f) the rendering of assistance in the consolidation of holdings;

(g) the conduct and prosecution of suits and proceedings by or against the [Gram Panchayat]relating to or arising out of the functions of Samiti;

(h) the performance of functions specifically assigned to the Bhumi Prabandhak Samiti under the U.P. Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1950 or any other enactment; and

(i) any other matter relating to such management, preservation and control as may be prescribed;

and may exercise all powers of the [Gram Panchayat] necessary for or incidental to the discharge of such duties.

(2) The Bhumi Prabandhak Samiti shall function subject to the provisions of the U.P. Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1950.

28C. Members and officers not to acquire interest in contracts, etc., with Bhumi Prabandhak Samiti. - (1) No member or office bearer of [Gram Panchayat] or Bhumi Prabandhak Samiti shall, otherwise than with the permission in writing of the Collector, knowingly acquire or attempt to acquire or stipulate for or agree to receive or continue to have himself or through a partner or otherwise any share or interest in any licence, lease, sale, exchange, contract or employment with, by, or on behalf of the Samiti concerned:

Provided that a person shall not be deemed to acquire or attempt to acquire or continue to have or stipulate for or agree to receive any share or interest in any contract or employment by reason only of his -

(a) having acquired any interest before he became a member or office bearer;

(b) having a share in a joint stock company which makes the contract; and

(c) having a share or interest in the occasional sale through the Samiti concerned of an article in which he regularly trades up to a value not exceeding Rs. 50 in any one year.

(2) No Court or other authority shall enforce at the instance of any person a claim based upon a transaction in contravention of the provisions of subsection (1).

[29. Committees. - (1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any other provisions of this Act or the Rules made thereunder, every Gram Panchayat shall constitute such committee or committees as may be notified by the State Government from time to time, to assist the Gram Panchayat in the performance of all or any of its functions and may delegate to such committee or committees such of its powers or functions as it may deem fit.

(2) Every committee constituted under sub-section (1) shall consist of a Chairman and six other members, who shall be elected by the members oi the Gram Panchayat from amongst themselves in the prescribed manner:

Provided that in each such committee there shall be atleast one woman member, one member belonging to the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes and one member belonging to Backward Classes:

Provided further that the State Government may, by notification, direct that the Pradhan or [* * *] or any other member of Gram Panchayat shall be the Chairman of any such committee.]

[Uttarakhand] Amendment

[Section 29 of the Principal Act shall be amended as follows namely:

(1) The words "six other members" of sub-section (2) of Section 29 of the Principal Act shall be substituted by the words "four other members".

The following proviso shall be inserted:

"Provided further that the State Government may designate any Government Servant as co-secretary to a committee related to any particular subject"

(2) After sub-section (2) a new sub-section (3) shall be inserted as follows, namely:

"(3) The State Government may, if and when so required, constitute a sub-committee for a particular subject to assist the main committee by notification".]

Joint Committee. - (1) Subject to such rules as may be prescribed, two or more [Gram Panchayats] may combine by means of a written instrument to appoint a joint committee consisting of other representatives, for the purpose of transacting any business in which they are jointly interested and may -

(a) delegate to such Committee power, with such conditions as they may think proper to impose, to frame any scheme binding on each [Gram Panchayat] as to the construction and maintenance of any joint work and as to the power which may be exercised by any such [Gram Panchayat] in relation to such scheme; and

(b) frame or modify rules regarding the continuation of such committee and the term of office of members thereof and the method of conducting proceedings and correspondence.

(2) If any difference of opinion arises between the [Gram Panchayat] acting under this section, it shall be referred to the prescribed authority whose decision thereon shall be final.

(3) Where the Prescribed Authority so directs, two or more [Gram Panchayats] shall appoint a joint committee under this section for the joint discharge of any of the functions specified in Sections 15 and 16.

Delegation. - [* * *]

CHAPTER V

Acquisition Of Land, Gaon Fund And Property

Gaon Fund - (1) There shall be a [Gaon Fund for each Gram Panchayat] and the same shall, subject to the provisions of the annual estimate of income and expenditure passed under Section 41, be utilised for carrying out the duties or obligations imposed upon the [Gram Sabha] or the[Gram Panchayat] or any committee thereof by this or any other enactment:

Provided that such amount upto the total of all sums credited to the Gaon Fund under the Uttar Pradesh Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1950, minus the amount credited to the Consolidated Gaon Fund under Section 125-A of that Act as may be required by the Bhumi Prabandhak Samiti for being utilised in carrying out its duties or obligations shall be made available out of Gaon Fund to the Bhumi Prabandhak Samiti every year:

Provided further that in the event of any difference between the Bhumi Prabandhak Samiti on the one hand and the [Gram Panchayat] or [Gram Sabha] on the other about the requirements of funds by the Bhumi Prabandhak Samiti the matter shall be referred by the Pradhan to the prescribed authority whose decision shall be binding.

(2) The following shall be credited to the Gaon Fund:

(a) The proceeds of any tax imposed under this Act.

(b) All sums handed over by the State Government to the [Gram Panchayat],

(c) The balance, if any, standing to the credit of the village Panchayat previously in existence under the Village Panchayat Act.

(d) All sums ordered by a Court [or required under any law] to be placed to the credit of the Gaon Fund.

(e) All sums received under Section 104.

(f) The sale proceeds of all dust, dirt, dung or refuse including the dead bodies of animals collected by the servants of the [Gram Panchayat].

(g) Such portion of th6 rent or other proceeds of nazul property as the State Government may direct to be placed to the credit of the Gaon Fund.

(h) Sums contributed to the Gaon Fund by any [Zila Panchayat] or other local authority.

(i) All sums received by way of loan or gift.

(j) Such other sums as may be assigned to the Gaon Fund by any special or general order of the State Government.

(k) All sums received by the [Gram Panchayat] from any individual or corporation or the State Government under Section 24 or any other law.

[(l) All sums received by way of grants-in-aid from the Consolidated Fund of the State.]

(3) Nothing in this Act shall affect any obligation of a [Gram Panchayat] arising from a trust legally imposed upon or accepted by it.

[(4) All withdrawal of moneys from the Gaon Fund and disbursement thereof shall be made jointly by the Pradhan and the Secretary of the Gram Panchayat.]

[32A. Finance Commission. - (1) The Governor shall, as soon as may be, within one year from the commencement of the Constitution (Seventy-third Amendment) Act, 1992 and thereafter at the expiration of every fifth year, constitute a Finance Commission to review the financial position of the Gram Panchayat, Kshettra Panchayat and Zila Panchayat and to make recommendations to the Governor as to -

(a) the principles which should govern -

(i) the distribution between the State and the Gram Panchayats, Kshettra Panchayats and Zila Panchayats of the net proceeds of the taxes, duties, tolls and fees leviable by the State which may be divided between them and the allocation between the Gram Panchayats, Kshettra Panchayats and Zila Panchayats 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 Gram Panchayats, Kshettra Panchayats and Zila Panchayats;

(iii) the grants-in-aid to the Gram Panchayats, Kshettra Panchayats and Zila Panchayats;

(b) the measures needed to improve the financial position of the Gram Panchayats, Kshettra Panchayats and Zila Panchayats.

(c) any other matter referred to the Finance Commission by the Governor in the interest of sound finance of the Gram Panchayats, Kshettra Panchayats and Zila Panchayats.

(2) The Finance Commission shall consist of a Chairman and two members who shall possess such qualifications and shall be selected in such manner as may be prescribed.

(3) The Finance Commission shall determine their procedure.

(4) The Chairman or a member of the Finance Commission may resign his office by writing under his hand addressed to the Governor but shall continue in his office till the resignation is accepted.

(5) A casual vacancy in the office of the Chairman or a member of the Finance Commission may be filled for the remainder of the period of his predecessor.

(6) The Finance commission shall have the following powers for the performance of its functions, namely, -

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

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

(7) 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 both the Houses of the State Legislature.]

Power to acquire land. - Where a [Gram Panchayat] or a number of [Gram Panchayats] which have combined under the provisions of Section 20 or 30 require any land to carry out any purpose of this Act, it or they shall first try to have the land by private negotiation and if the parties concerned fail to arrive at an agreement, such [Gram Panchayat] or [Gram Panchayats] may make any application in the prescribed form to the Collector to acquire the land and the Collector may acquire such land for such [Gram Panchayat] or [Gram Panchayats].

Explanation. - In this chapter the expression "land" includes benefits to arise out of land and things attached to the earth or permanently fastened to anything attached to the earth.

Property vested in the [Gram Panchayat]. - (1) Subject to any special reservation made by the State Government, all public property situated within the jurisdiction of a [Gram Panchayat] shall vest in and belong to the [Gram Panchayat] and shall, with all other property which may become vested in the [Gram Panchayat], be under its direction, management and control.

(2) All markets and fairs or such portion thereof as are held upon public land shall be managed and regulated by the [Gram Panchayat] and the [Gram Panchayat] shall receive to the credit of the Gaon Fund all dues levied or imposed in respect thereof.

Disposal of claims. - Where any dispute arises as regards the ownership of any property mentioned in Section 34 between a [Gram Panchayat] and any, person, the [Gram Panchayat] shall give such person a reasonable opportunity of being heard and then decide whether to treat the said property as the property of the [Gram Panchayat]
Power to borrow. - A [Gram Panchayat] may borrow money from the State Government or with the prior sanction of the Prescribed Authority and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed from any financial corporation established by law or any scheduled bank or the Uttar Pradesh Co-operative Bank or a District Co-operative Bank or from any other [Gram Panchayat] to carry out any of the purposes of this Act.
Imposition of taxes and fees. - (1) A [Gram Panchayat] shall levy the taxes described in clauses (a) and (b) and may levy all or any of the taxes, fees and rates described in clauses (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j) and (k), hereinafter appearing namely :-

(a) in areas where the right, title and interest of intermediaries have been acquired under the Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1950, the Jaunsar Bawar Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1956 or Kumaun and Uttarakhand Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1960, a tax, on land [not less than twenty-five paise but not exceeding fifty paise] in a rupee on the amount of land revenue payable or deemed to be payable therefor:

Provided that where the land is in actual cultivation of a person other than the person by whom the land revenue therefor is payable or deemed to be payable, the tax shall be payable by the person in actual cultivation;

(b) in areas other than those referred to in clause (a), a tax on land revenue [not less than twenty five paise but not exceeding fifty paise] in a rupee on the amount of land revenue payable by a tenant, by whatever name called, under the law in force relating to land tenures:

Provided that where the land is in the actual cultivation of the person other than the person liable to pay land revenue therefor, the tax shall be payable by the person in actual cultivation of such land.

(c) [a tax on theatre, cinema or similar entertainment temporarily stationed in the area of the[Gram Panchayat] not exceeding five rupees per diem:]

Provided that in the case of theatre, cinema or similar entertainment temporarily stationed in the area of the [Gram Panchayat], a tax not exceeding five rupees per diem may be levied;

(d) a tax payable by the owner thereof on animals and vehicles other than mechanically propelled vehicles kept within the area of the Gram Panchayats applied for hire, at the rate -

(i) in the case of animals, not exceeding three rupees per animal per annum;

(ii) in the case of vehicles, not exceeding six rupees per vehicle per annum;

(e) a tax on persons, not being persons assessed to tax under clause (c) exposing goods for sale in markets, hats, or melas belonging to or under the control of the [Gram Panchayat]concerned;

(f) fees on the registration of animals sold in any market or place belonging to or under the control of the [Gram Panchayat];

(g) fees for the use of slaughterhouses and encamping grounds;

(h) a water rate where water for domestic consumption is supplied by the [Gram Panchayat];

(i) a tax for cleaning private latrines and drains payable by the owners or occupiers of the houses to which the private latrine or drain is attached", where such cleaning is done through the agency of the [Gram Panchayat];

(j) a tax for cleaning and lighting of streets and sanitation; and

(k) an irrigation rate where water tor irrigation purposes is supplied by the [Gram Panchayat]from any small irrigation project constructed or maintained by it.

[(l) any other tax which the State Legislature has the power under the Constitution, including Article 277 thereof, to impose in the State I and of which imposition by the Gram Panchayat has been authorised by the State Government.]

(2) The taxes, rates and fees under sub-section (1) shall be imposed, assessed and realised in such manner and at such times as may be I prescribed.

37A. Appeal against levy of tax, rate or fee. - (1) An appeal against the levy of a tax, rate or fee by the [Gram Panchayat] shall lie to the prescribed authority.

(2) Where it is brought to the notice of the prescribed authority, that a tax, rate or fee has not been imposed on any person on whom it should have been imposed, it may direct the [Gram Panchayat]to impose it on that person or persons and the [Gram Panchayat] shall thereupon act accordingly.

37B. Taxes and dues recoverable as arrears of land revenue. - All dues on account of the taxes imposed and other sums payable to a [Gram Panchayat] under this Act shall be recovered as arrears of land revenue if the [Gram Panchayat] concerned passes a resolution to that effect within three months from the date of assessment:

Provided that where a [Gram Panchayat] fails to pass such a resolution within the said period of three months the prescribed authority shall authorise the recovery of the arrears of taxes as arrears of land revenue.

37C. Revision of tax, rate or fees. - (1) The State Government may remit the whole or part of any tax, rate or fee levied by a [Gram Panchayat] in respect of a period whether before or after the commencement of the U.P. Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Act, 1954.

(2) The power exercisable by the State Government under sub-section (1) shall also be exercisable either generally or in any specified area by the prescribed authority under such circumstances as the State Government may prescribe.

(3) A [Gram Panchayat] also may by resolution and under such circumstances as may be prescribed remit the whole or part of any such tax, rate or fee imposed or levied by it, provided that no such resolution shall take effect unless it is approved by the prescribed authority.

(4) Where any tax, rate or fee has been remitted under sub-section (1) to (3), any sum realised from the assessee on account of the tax, rate or fee so remitted shall be refunded to him by the [Gram Panchayat].

Realisation of dues, custody of funds and accounts. - The [Gram Panchayat] shall, as prescribed, arrange for the realisation of Panchayat taxes and dues, custody of its funds and maintenance of accounts.
Expenses of Nyaya Panchayat to be a charge on Gaon Fund. - (1) The expenses of Nyaya Panchayat shall be charged to the Gaon Fund or Gaon Funds of the [Gram Panchayats] comprised in the circle in such proportion as may be determined by the prescribed authority.

(2) All sums realised by way of court-fees or fines in a case triable under this Act shall be credited to the State Government, but the State Government shall out of the sums so realised pay by way of grant such portion not exceeding fifty per centum as it may fix to the [Gram Panchayat] concerned for defraying the expenses of Nyaya Panchayat.

Audit - The accounts of every [Gram Panchayat] and Nyaya Panchayat shall be audited [every year] in such manner and on payment of such fee as may be prescribed.

[41. Budget of Gram Panchayat. - Every Gram Panchayat shall, within such period and in such manner as may be prescribed, prepare a statement of the estimated receipts and expenditure of the Gram Panchayat for the financial year commencing on the first day of April next following which shall be passed by the Gram Panchayat by a simple majority of the members present and voting at a meeting of the Gram Panchayat and the quorum for such a meeting shall, be more than half of the total number of the members of the Gram Panchayat.]

CHAPTER VI

The Nyaya Panchayat

Establishment of Nyaya Panchayat. - (1) The State Government or the prescribed authority shall divide a district into circles, each circle comprising as many areas subject to the jurisdiction of the [Gram Panchayat] as may be expedient, and establish a Nyaya Panchayat for each such circle:

Provided that the areas of [Gram Panchayats] within each circle shall, as far as possible be continuous.

(2) Subject to a minimum of ten and a maximum of twenty-five, every Nyaya Panchayat shall have such number of members as may be prescribed but shall be lawful for a Nyaya Panchayat to function notwithstanding any vacancy therein: Provided the number of Panches therein is not less than two-thirds of the prescribed strength.

Appointment of Panches and their term. - (1) There shall be appointed by the prescribed authority out of the members of a [Gram Panchayat] such number of persons, as may be prescribed to the Panches of the Nyaya Panchayat and thereupon the members so appointed shall cease to be members of the Gram Panchayat and their seats in the Gram Panchayat shall be filled, as far as may be, in the manner provided in Section 12:

Provided that if the requisite number of members of a [Gram Panchayat] are not available for being Panches of the Nyaya Panchayat, it shall be lawful for the Prescribed Authority to fill in any seat so remaining vacant by nomination from amongst other members of the [Gram Sabha].

(2) No person may be appointed as a Panch of the Nyaya Panchayat unless he has the qualifications that may be prescribed:

Provided that where suitable persons having the prescribed qualifications are not available for such appointment any or all of such qualifications may, by an order in writing, be relaxed by the prescribed authority.

Election of Sarpanch or Sahayak Sarpanch. - The Panches appointed under Section 43 shall, in the manner and within the period to be prescribed, elect from amongst them two persons who are to record proceedings, one as the Sarpanch and the other as the Sahayak Sarpanch:

Provided that if the Panches fail to elect the Sarpanch or the Sahayak Sarpanch as aforesaid the prescribed authority may appoint the Sarpanch or the Sahayak Sarpanch.

Term of a Panch. - The term of every Panch of a Nyaya Panchayat shall commence on the date of his appointment as such, and, unless otherwise determined under the provisions of this Act, shall expire with the [Gram Panchayat], from which he was appointed:

Provided that the Sarpanch and the Sahayak Sarpanch shall continue in office until their respective successors are elected or appointed.

[* * *]
Resignation of Panches. - A Panch, a Sarpanch or Sahayak Sarpanch may resign his office as such by writing under his hand addressed to such authority as may be prescribed and his office thereupon become vacant.
[* * *]
Bench of Nyaya Panchayat. - (1) The Sarpanch shall form Benches consisting of Five Panches each for the disposal of cases and inquiries coming up before the Nyaya' Panchayat.

(2) The formation of Benches, the period for which they will work including the hearing of part heard cases, the method of distribution, transfer or re-transfer of work among the Benches and procedure generally to be followed by them in cases and enquiries shall be governed by rules.

(3) No Panch, Sarpanch or Sahayak Sarpanch shall take part in the trial of or inquiry in any case to which he or any relation, employer, employee, debtor, creditor or partner of his is a party or in which any of them is personally interested.

(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, the State Government may prescribe the constitution of Special Benches for the trial of any class or classes of cases:

Provided that the State Government may at any time order for the reconstitution of such a Special Bench.

(5) Any dispute relating to the formation of Benches or method of their working, shall be referred to the prescribed authority whose decision shall be final.

Filling of casual vacancies. - (1) If a vacancy in the office of a Panch arises by reason of his death, removal or resignation it shall, subject to the provisions of Section 45, be filled for the unexpired part of his term by the prescribed authority by appointing a person from amongst the member for the time being of the [Gram Panchayat], and if the Panch vacating the office was also the Sarpanch or Sahayak Sarpanch, a new Sarpanch or Sahayak Sarpanch, as the case may be, shall be elected in the manner provided in Section 44.

(2) Any person appointed as Panch under sub-section (1), shall cease to be a member of the [Gram Panchayat] from the date of his appointment and the vacancy so caused in the [Gram Panchayat]shall be deemed to be a casual vacancy for purpose of Section 12-H.

[50A. Power of Sahayak Sarpanch. - The Sahayak Sarpanch shall exercise such powers of the Sarpanch as may be prescribed.]

Territorial Jurisdiction. - (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 every criminal case triable by a Nyaya Panchayat shall be instituted before the Sarpanch of the Nyaya Panchayat of the circle in which the offence is committed.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Civil Procedure Code, 1908, every case instituted under this Act shall be instituted before the Sarpanch of the Nyaya Panchayat of the circle in which the defendant or, where there are more than one, all the defendants ordinarily reside or carry on business at the time of the institution of the civil case irrespective of the place where the cause of action arose.

Offences cognizable by Nyaya Panchayat. - (1) The following offences as well as abetments of and attempts to commit such offences, if committed within the jurisdiction of a Nyaya Panchayat shall be cognizable by such Nyaya Panchayat :

(a) offences under Section 140, 160, 172, 174, 179, 269, 277, 283, 285, 289, 290, 294, 324, 334, 341, 352, 357, 358, 374, 379, 403, 411 (where the value of the stolen or misappropriated property in cases under Sections 379, 403 and 411 does not exceed fifty rupees), 426, 428, 430, 431, 447, 448, 504, 506, 509 and 510 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860;

(b) offences under Sections 24 and 26 of the Cattle Trespass Act, 1871;

(d) offences under Sections 3, 4, 7 and 13 of the Public Gambling Act, 1867;

(e) any other offence under aforesaid enactments or any other enactment as may, by notification in the Official Gazette, be declared by the State Government to be cognizable by a Nyaya Panchayat; and

(f) any offence under this Act or any rule made thereunder.

(1A) The State' Government may by order published in the Official Gazette empower any Nyaya Panchayat to take cognizance of offences under Section 279, 286, 336 and 356, of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and may likewise withdraw any offence referred to in clause (a) to (d) of sub-section (1) from the cognizance of Nyaya Panchayat generally or such Nyaya Panchayats as may be specified.

(2) Any criminal case relating to an offence under Sections 143, 145, 151 or 153 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, pending before any court may be transferred for trial to the Nyaya Panchayat if in the opinion of such court the offence is not serious.

Security for keeping the peace. - (1) Wherever the Sarpanch of a Nyaya Panchayat has reason to apprehend that any person is likely to commit a breach of peace or disturb public tranquillity, he may call upon such person to show cause why he should not execute a bond for an amount not exceeding Rs. 100 with or without sureties for keeping the peace for a period not exceeding 15 days.

(2) The Sarpanch shall after issue of such notice report the matter to a Bench. The Bench may either confirm the order or discharge the notice after hearing such person and such witnesses, as he may desire to produce.

(3) If the person required to execute a bond as aforesaid under subsection (2) fails to do so, he shall be liable to pay a penalty up to five rupees as the Bench may fix for every day the default continues during the period fixed in the order.

Penalties - (1) No Nyaya Panchayat shall inflict a substantive sentence of imprisonment.

(2) A Nyaya Panchayat may impose a fine not exceeding [two hundred and fifty rupees]. But no imprisonment may be awarded in default of payment:

Provided that no accused shall be tried for more than three offences in the same criminal case and the fine that may be imposed on any one accused in a criminal case shall not in the aggregate exceed [two hundred and fifty rupees],

Cognizance of cases. - (1) After a Nyaya Panchayat has been established for any area, no Court except as otherwise provided in this Act shall take cognizance of any case triable by such Nyaya Panchayat.

(2) When a Nyaya Panchayat is suspended, superseded or dissolved under Section 95, or for any other reason ceases to function, all cases pending before it shall stand transferred to the Court of competent jurisdiction which shall dispose them of according to law :

Provided that the trial of all such cases in Court shall commence de novo :

Provided further that a Nyaya Panchayat shall not be deemed to cease to function merely for the reason that its Panches have to be re-elected.

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in Section 52 and sub-sections (1) of this section any Court may take cognizance under Sections 431 and 447 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, if it is otherwise competent to do so.

(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in Section 52 and the subsections (1) to (3) of this section but subject always to the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, where any court has taken cognizance of any offence referred to in the said section and a summons or warrant, as the case may be, has been issued for the appearance of the accused in such case, the offence may be enquired into and tried by such Court.

Transfer of cases by Courts to Nyaya Panchayats. - A Court, if it finds that a case is triable by a Nyaya Panchayat, shall except as provided in sub-section (4) of Section 55 transfer the case to the Nyaya Panchayat of competent jurisdiction, which shall thereafter try the same de novo.
Summary dismissal of complaint. - A Nyaya Panchayat may dismiss any complaint if after examining the complainant and taking such evidence as he produces it is satisfied that the complaint is frivolous, vexatious or untrue.
Transfer of cases by Nyaya Panchayat to courts. - If at any time it appears to a Nyaya Panchayat -

(a) that it has no jurisdiction to try any case pending before it.

(b) that the offence involved is one for which it cannot award adequate punishment, or

(c) that the case should otherwise be tried by a Court; it shall transfer the same to the Court of competent jurisdiction and shall give information of such transfer to the parties concerned.

Certain persons not to be tried by Nyaya Panchayat. - No Nyaya Panchayat shall take cognizance of any criminal case against a person where such person -

(a) has been previously convicted of an offence punishable with imprisonment of either description for the term of three years or more.

(d) has been previously fined for theft by any Nyaya Panchayat.

(c) has been found over to be of a good behavior under Section 109 or 110 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 [or of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973].

(d) has been previously convicted under the Public Gambling Act, 1867, or

(e) is a public servant.

Compensation to complainants. - In imposing any fine the Nyaya Panchayat may order any portion or the whole of the fine recovered to be applied -

(a) in defraying the expenses properly incurred in the criminal case by the complainant,

(b) in the payment to any person of compensation for any material loss or injury caused by the offence, or

(c) in compensation any bona fide purchaser of stolen property for loss of the same, where property is restored to the possession of the persons entitled thereto.

Compensation to the accused. - (1) If in any criminal case instituted before a Nyaya Panchayat any person is accused of any offence triable by Nyaya Panchayat and the Nyaya Panchayat acquits the accused and is of the opinion that the accusation against him was false and either frivolous or vexatious, the Nyaya Panchayat may call upon the complainant forthwith to show cause why he should not pay compensation to such accused.

(2) If after hearing the complainant, the Nyaya Panchayat is satisfied that the accusation was false and either frivolous or vexatious, it may direct that compensation not exceeding twenty-five rupees be paid by such complainant to the accused.

Release of offenders on probation. - The powers under Section 4 of the U.P. First Offenders Probation Act, 1938, may be exercised by a Nyaya Panchayat.
Enquiry in cases forwarded by Magistrates. - Notwithstanding anything in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 a Magistrate may direct an enquiry referred to in Section 202 of the Code to be made by a Nyaya Panchayat in a criminal case in which the offence was committed within the territorial jurisdiction of such Nyaya Panchayat and the Nyaya Panchayat shall enquire into the case and submit its report to the said Magistrate. On the receipt of the directions the Sarpanch or Sahayak Sarpanch and in their absence the Panch mentioned in Section 75 shall entrust it to a Bench formed under Section 49.
Extent of jurisdiction in civil cases. - (1) Subject to the provisions of Section 66 a Nyaya Panchayat may take cognizance of any civil case of the following description if its value does not exceed one hundred rupees -

(a) a civil case for money due on contract other than a contract in respect of immovable property;

(b) a civil case for the recovery of movable property or for the value thereof;

(d) a civil case for damages caused by cattle trespass.

(2) The State Government may, by notification, in the Official Gazette, direct that the jurisdiction of any Nyaya Panchayat shall extend to all such civil cases of the value not exceeding five hundred rupees.

Extension of jurisdiction by agreement of parties. - [* * *].
Exclusion of Nyaya Panchayat's jurisdiction. - Subject to the provisions of Section 64, a Nyaya Panchayat, shall have no jurisdiction to take cognizance of the following civil cases :-

(1) a civil case for a balance due on partnership account, except where the balance has been struck by the parties or their agents;

(2) a civil case for a share or part of a share under an intestacy or for a legacy or part of a legacy under a will;

(3) a civil case by or against the State Government or the Central Government or a public servant for acts done in his official capacity;

(4) a civil case by or against a minor or a person of unsound mind; and

(5) a civil case the cognizance of which by a Panchayat established under the U.P. Village Panchayat Act, 1920, is barred by Section 25 of the United Provinces Debt Redemption Act, 1940.

Civil Case to include the whole claim. - (1) Every civil case instituted before a Nyaya Panchayat shall include the whole of the claim, which the plaintiff is entitled to make in respect of the matter in dispute, but he may relinquish any portion of his claim in order to bring the suit within the jurisdiction of the Nyaya Panchayat.

(2) If a plaintiff omits to sue in respect of or relinquishes any portion his claim, he shall not afterwards sue in respect of the portion so omitted relinquished.

Limitation. - Every civil case instituted before a Nyaya Panchay after the period of limitation prescribed therefor in the Schedule shall dismissed, even though limitation has not been set up as defence :

Provided that in computing the period of limitation prescribed for any civil case the time during which the plaintiff has been prosecuting with due diligence another civil case against the defendant in any Court shall be excluded where the other case is founded upon the same cause of action and is prosecuted in good faith in a Court which from defect of jurisdiction or other cause of a like nature is unable to entertain it.

Effect of the decision by Nyaya Panchayat. - (1) The decision of a Nyaya Panchayat on the question of the title, legal character, contract or obligation shall not bind the parties except in respect of the civil case in which such matter is decided.

(2) No conviction ordered by a Nyaya Panchayat shall by itself operate as, or be the basis of any disqualification or penalty under any law for the time being in force.

Proceedings under the U.P. Land Revenue Act. - [* * *]
Revision. - [* * *]
Procedure for cases under Section 70. - [* * *]
Res-judicata and pending cases. - (1) No Nyaya Panchayat shall try any civil case, proceedings or issue in respect of any matter which is pending for decision in, or has been heard or decided by a court of competent jurisdiction in a former civil case between the same parties or between the parties under whom they or any of them claim.

(2) where a criminal case is pending in any court against an accused in respect of any offence, or where an accused has been tried for any offence, no Nyaya Panchayat shall take cognizance of any such offence or on the same facts, of any other offence of which the accused might have been charged or convicted.

Concurrent jurisdiction. - Where a criminal, civil or revenue case is maintainable in more than one Nyaya Panchayat the complainant or the plaintiff as the case may be, may bring the criminal or civil case in any one of such Nyaya Panchayat. Any dispute regarding jurisdiction shall be decided by the Judicial Magistrate or Munsif having jurisdiction as the case may be.

74A. Trial when cause of action in a civil case arises in circles more than one. - Section 10 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, shall apply to trial of civil cases pending before two or more Nyaya Panchayats having jurisdiction.

74B. Trial where scene of offence is uncertain or not in one circle only or where offence is a continuing one or consists of several acts. - Where it is uncertain in which of several circles an offence was committed or where an offence was committed partly in one circle and partly in another or where an offence is a continuing one and continues to be committed in more circles than one or where it consists of several acts done in different circles, it may be enquired into by a Nyaya Panchayat, having jurisdiction in any such circle.

Institution of civil cases and criminal cases. - (1) Any person who wishes to institute a civil case or a criminal case under this Act before a Nyaya Panchayat may make an application orally or in writing to the Sarpanch and in his absence to the Sahayak Sarpanch of the Nyaya Panchayat or in the case of their absence form the circle to such other Panch as may have been appointed by the Sarpanch in this behalf and shall at the same time pay the prescribed fee. The Court Fees Act VII of 1870, shall not apply to Nyaya Panchayats except as may be prescribed. In every civil case the plaintiff shall state its value.

(2) Where a case is instituted orally the Sarpanch, Sahayak Sarpanch or Panch receiving the application shall record without delay the prescribed particulars and the signature or thumb-impression of the applicant shall be taken thereon.

Application to be laid before the Bench. - The Sarpanch, Sahayak Sarpanch or in their absence the Panch mentioned in Section 75, shall thereupon lay the application before a Bench of the Nyaya Panchayat formed under Section 49 for disposal and shall also fix a date for the first hearing of the application before the said Bench and give notice of the date to the applicant, complainant or plaintiff as the case may be and to the members of the Bench.
Chairman of a Bench. - The Bench shall choose one of the members to be the Chairman of that Bench who shall conduct the proceedings:

Provided that where the Sarpanch or the Sahayak Sarpanch is a member of the Bench, he, and where both of them are members of the same Bench, the Sarpanch shall be the Chairman.

77A. Absence of a Panch from the Bench. - (1) If any Panch appointed to a Bench constituted under Section 49 is absent at any hearing, the remaining Panches may, notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, try the case, provided, however, that at least three Panches, including the Chairman, are present, and provided further that at least one of the Panches present is able to record evidence and proceedings.

(2) No trial as aforesaid shall be invalid by reason merely that all the five Panches forming the Bench were not present at any hearing or that the same Panches were not present at all the hearings.

(3) The provision of sub-sections (1) and (2) shall mutatis mutandis apply to an inquiry made by a Nyaya Panchayat under Section 63.

Dismissal of civil cases and criminal cases in the absence of the party concerned. - (1) If the plaintiff or the complainant as the case may be, fails to appear after having been informed of the time and place fixed for hearing, the Nyaya Panchayat may dismiss the case or pass such other order as it may deem fit.

(2) The Nyaya Panchayat may hear and decide a civil or a criminal case in the absence of the defendant or the accused, as the case may be if the summons have been served upon him or if he has been informed of the time and place fixed for hearing.

Nyaya Panchayat not to revise or review its decision. - (1) Except as provided in sub-section (2), or to correct a clerical error, a Nyaya Panchayat shall have no power to cancel, revise or alter any decree or order passed by it.

(2) A Nyaya Panchayat may, for sufficient reasons to be recorded, on application made within one month of the date of the decree or order or knowledge thereof in case personal service of summons has not been effected restore any civil or criminal case which has been dismissed in default or in which a decree or order has been passed ex-parte

Legal Practitioner not to appear before the Nyaya Panchayat. - No legal practitioner shall appear, plead or act on behalf of any party before a Nyaya Panchayat:

Provided that a person who is arrested and is detained in custody shall have the right to consult and be defended by a legal practitioner of his choice.

Appearance in person or by representative. - Subject to the provisions of Sections 80, any party to a civil case or criminal case may appear before the Nyaya Panchayat either in person or by such servant (not being a tout), partner, relation or friend duly authorised in writing by him as the Nyaya Panchayat may admit as a fit person to represent him:

Provided that no stamp duty shall be required to be paid for any power of attorney filed under this section.

Special Jurisdiction in certain matters. - Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or in any other law for the time being in force, it shall be lawful for a Nyaya Panchayat to decide any dispute arising in its local area and not pending in any Court in accordance with any settlement, compromise or oath agreed upon in writing by the parties.
Procedure and power to ascertain truth. - (1) The Nyaya Panchayat shall receive such evidence in a civil case or criminal case as the parties may adduce and may call for such further evidence as, in their opinion, may be necessary for the determination of the points in issue. It shall be the duty of the Nyaya Panchayat to ascertain the facts of every civil case or criminal case before it by every lawful means in its power and thereafter to make such decree or order without costs, as to it may seem just and legal. It may make local investigation in the locality to which the dispute relates. It shall follow the procedure prescribed by or under this Act. The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, and the Limitation Act, 1963, shall not apply to any civil case, criminal case or revenue case in a Nyaya Panchayat except as provided in this Act or as may be prescribed.

(2) Nothing in this sub-section shall entitle any party to compound any offence which is not compoundable under the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, or to compound an offence without the permission of the Bench concerned, if it is compoundable with permission under the provisions of the said Code.

(3) Where in the opinion of the Nyaya Panchayat, any party deliberately delays the disposal of a case it may impose on such party costs not exceeding five rupees payable to the other party.

Majority to prevail. - In the event of any disagreement between the Panches the opinion of the majority shall prevail.
Power of Superior Court to transfer cases from Nyaya Panchayats. - (1) On the application of any of the parties and after notice to the parties and after hearing such of them as desire to be heard or on his own motion without such notice the Judicial Magistrate or the Munsif, according to the case pending before a Nyaya Panchayat in a [criminal or civil case], may, at any stage, withdraw the same and -

(i) try to dispose of the same, or

(ii) transfer to another Bench of the Nyaya Panchayat, or

(iii) transfer the same for trial or disposal to any other [Magistrate or Munsif] competent to try or dispose of the case.

(2) Where any criminal or civil case has been withdrawn under subsection (1), the court, which thereafter tries it, may either retry it or proceed from the stage at which it was withdrawn.

(3) If any application under sub-section (1) is either frivolous or vexatious the applicant may be fined up to fifty rupees by the [Judicial Magistrate or the Munsif,] as the case may be.

Issue of summons to witness. - A Nyaya Panchayat may, if it considers the evidence of, or the production of document by, any person necessary in a civil or criminal case issue and cause to be served in the prescribed manner, a summons on such person to compel his attendance or to produce or cause the production of such documents, and such person shall by bound to comply with the direction contained in the summons.
Penalties for failing to appear before a Nyaya Panchayat. - If any person who is summoned by a Nyaya Panchayat by a written order to appear to give evidence or to produce any document before it, wilfully disobeys such summons or notice or order, the Nyaya Panchayat may make a complaint to the Magistrate having jurisdiction and the said person shall be punishable with fine which may extend to twenty-five rupees:

Provided that no woman shall be compelled to appear in person be the Nyaya Panchayat. She may be examined on commission in the ma prescribed:

Provided also that if a document is produced in obedience to a summons issued under this section, the Nyaya Panchayat shall cause the document be copied, mark the copy, after comparing with the original, to be a true c‘ and return the original document to the person producing the same:

Provided further that where it appears to the Nyaya Panchayat that witness is unable to appear before it by reason of illness or physical infirmity or that his presence cannot be procured without unreasonable delay, expense or inconvenience, it may, subject to such restrictions as may be prescribed issue a commission in the manner prescribed to take the evidence of such witness. The evidence so taken shall form part of the record of the case.

Dismissal of civil cases etc. - A Nyaya Panchayat may dismiss any civil case if after examining the plaintiff or the applicant it is satisfied that the civil case is frivolous, vexatious or untrue.
Revisions. - (1) A Judicial Magistrate or Munsif according as it is a civil or criminal case may either on his own motion or on the application oi any party made within 60 days from the date of the order complained of where personal service of summons had not been effected on the applicant from the date of the knowledge of the order call for the record of any case which has been decided by a Nyaya Panchayat and if it appears to him that injustice or material irregularity has occurred, he may make such order in the case as he thinks fit.

Explanation - Failure to exercise a jurisdiction vested by law or exercise of jurisdiction in excess of that vested by law shall for purposes of this section be deemed to be material irregularity.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provisions, the Judicial Magistrate or Munsif, as the case may be, may -

(a) quash the decree or order passed by the Nyaya Panchayat,

(b) modify the order,

(d) try the case himself or transfer it to another court or officer competent to try the same.

(3) If any application under sub-section (1) is found by the Judicial Magistrate or Munsif as the case may be, to be frivolous or vexatious, he may, for reasons to be recorded, make an order for the payment to the opposite party by the applicant of special costs not exceeding fifty rupees by way of compensation.

(4) Except as aforesaid, a decree or order passed by a Nyaya Panchayat in any civil or criminal case shall not be open to appeal or revision in any court.

(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in Section 95 where any Judicial Magistrate or Munsif records a finding in an order passed under this section that any Panch or Panches (including any Sarpanch) of a Nyaya Panchayat has or have in relation to the case which gave rise to the revision, behaved in a manner unbecoming of his or their office, the prescribed authority may remove such Panch or Panches on the basis of such finding and it shall not be necessary to give him or them any opportunity to show cause against the action proposed.

Summons to defendant or accused persons. - A Nyaya Panchayat after an application is made under Section 75 shall, unless it has been dismissed or otherwise disposed of under the provions of this Act, cause summons in the prescribed form to be served in the prescribed manner on the defendant or the accused person [* * *] requiring him to attend and produce his evidence at such time and place as may be stated in the summons and shall at the same time direct the plaintiff or complainant [* * *] to attend and produce his evidence at such time and place.
Warrant. - [* * *]
Payment or adjustment of decree to be recorded. - If on the application of the decree-holder of the judgment debtor the Nyaya Panchayat which passed the decree finds, after enquiry that the decree has been satisfied wholly or in part, the Nyaya Panchayat shall record the fact in the prescribed register.
Execution of decrees. - (1) A decree or order passed by a Nyaya Panchayat shall be executed by it in such manner as may be prescribed. If the property of the defendant is situated outside the jurisdiction of the Nyaya Panchayat passing the decree or order, it may, in the manner prescribed, transfer the decree or for execution to the Nyaya Panchayat, within whose jurisdiction the property may be situated, and if there be no Nyaya Panchayat then to the court of the Munsif as the case may be within whose jurisdiction it may be situated.

(2) If a Nyaya Panchayat finds any difficulty in executing a decree or order, it may forward the same to the Munsif who shall then execute the same as if it were a decree or order passed by him.

Recovery of fine. - Any fine imposed, or compensation ordered to be paid under Section 61 by a Nyaya Panchayat shall be recoverable in the manner prescribed. But if the Nyaya Panchayat finds any difficulty in its recovery, it may request the Judicial Magistrate within whose jurisdiction the Nyaya Panchayat lies to recover it and he shall recover it as if the sentence of fine had been passed by him.

94A. Contempt of Nyaya Panchayat. - (1) If any person intentionally offers any insult to a Nyaya Panchayat or any member thereof, while it is sitting in any stage of judicial proceedings in its or his view or presence or refuses to take oath duly administered or sign a statement made by the said persons when legally required to do so, the Nyaya Panchayat may at any time before rising on the same day take cognizance of the offence and sentence the offender to fine not exceeding [ten rupees].

(2) The fine imposed under sub-section (1), shall, for the purposes of Section 94 be deemed to be a fine imposed in a criminal case.

CHAPTER VII

External Control

Inspection. - (1) The State Government may -

(a) cause to be inspected an immovable property owned [* * *] used or occupied by a [Gram Panchayat], or a joint committee or a Nyaya Panchayat or any work in progress under the direction of such [Gram Panchayat] or Joint Committee or a Nyaya Panchayat;

(b) by an order in writing call for and inspect a book or document in the possession or under the control of a [Gram Panchayat] or a Joint Committee or a Nyaya Panchayat;

(c) by an order in writing require a [Gram Panchayat] or a Joint Committee or a Nyaya Panchayat to furnish such statement, reports or copies of documents, relating to the proceeding or duties of the [Gram Panchayat] or such committee or a Nyaya Panchayat as it thinks fit;

(d) record in writing for the consideration of a [Gram Panchayat] or Joint Committee any observation which it thinks proper in regard to the proceedings or duties of such Gram Panchayat or Joint Committee;

(e) institute any enquiry in respect of any matter relating to [Gram Sabha], [Gram Panchayat] or Nyaya Panchayat; and

(f) [* * *] or dissolve any [* * *] [Gram Panchayat], Joint Committee, Bhumi Prabandhak Samiti or Nyaya Panchayat if in the opinion of the State Government such [* * *], [Gram Panchayat], Joint Committee, Bhumi Prabandhak Samiti or Nyaya Panchayat has abused its position or has continuously failed to perform the duties imposed upon it by or under this Act or if its continuance is not considered desirable in public interest.

Explanation. - [* * *];

(g) [Remove a Pradhan, [* * *] or member of a Gram Panchayat] or a Joint Committee or Bhumi Prabandhak Samiti, [* * *] or a Panch, Sahayak Sarpanch or Sarpanch of a Nyaya Panchayat if he -

(i) absents himself without sufficient cause for more than three consecutive meetings or sittings,

(ii) refuses to Act or becomes incapable of acting for any reason whatsoever or if he is accused of or charged for an offence involving moral turpitude,

(iii) has abused his position as such or has persistently failed to perform the duties imposed by the Act or rules made thereunder or his continuance as such is not desirable in public interest, or

[(iiia) has taken the benefit of reservation under sub-section (2) of Section11-A or sub-section (5) of Section 12, as the case may be, on the basis of a false declaration subscribed by him stating that he is a member of the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes or the Backward Classes, as the case may be.]

(iv) being a Sahayak Sarpanch or a Sarpanch of the Nyaya Panchayat takes active part in politics, or

(v) suffers from any of the disqualifications mentioned in clauses (a) to (m) of Section 5-A:

[Provided that where, in an enquiry held by such person and in such manner as may be prescribed, a Pradhan or [* * *] is prima facie found to have committed financial and other irregularities such Pradhan or [* * *] shall cease to exercise and perform the financial and administrative powers and functions, which shall, until he is exonerated of the charges in the final enquiry, be exercised and performed by a Committee consisting of three members of Gram Panchayat appointed by the State Government.]

[[* * *]

(h) [* * *]]

Provided that -

(i) no action shall be taken under clause (f), clause (g) [* * *] except after giving to the body or person concerned a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against the action proposed;

(ii) [* * *]

(2) A person removed under sub-clauses (in) and (iv) of clause (g) of subsection (1) of this section shall not be entitled to be re-elected or re-appointed to any office under this Act for a period of five years or such lesser period as the State Government may order in any case.

(3) No order made by the State Government under this section shall be called in question in any Court.

(4) Where any [* * *], [Gram Panchayat], Joint committee or Bhumi Prabandhak Samiti is [dissolved]the State Government may appoint such person or persons to exercise and perform the powers and duties thereof as it may deem fit.

95A. Power of State Government. - (1) If at any time it appears to the State Government that a[Gram Sabha] or a [Gram Panchayat] has made default in performing a duty imposed on it by or under this or any other enactment, the State Government may by order in writing fix a period for the performance of that duty.

(2) If the duty is not performed within the period so fixed, the State Government may direct such authority as may be specified to perform it and may further direct that the expenses, if any, of performing the duty shall be paid from the [Gram Sabha] Fund and thereupon the person having the custody of the fund shall pay the amount from such fund.

Prohibition of certain proceedings. - (1) The prescribed authority or any other officer specially empowered in this behalf by the State Government on information received or on his own initiative, may, by order in writing prohibit the execution or further execution of a resolution or order passed or made under this or any other enactment by a [Gram Sabha], [Gram Panchayat]or a Joint Committee, or any officer or servant thereof if in his opinion such resolution or order is of a nature as to cause or likely to cause obstruction, annoyance or injury to the public or to any class or body of persons lawfully employed, or danger to human life, health or safety, or riot or affray. It may prohibit the doing or continuance by any person of any act in pursuance of or under cover of such resolution or order.

(2) Where an order is made under sub-section (1) a copy thereof with a statement of the reasons for making it shall forthwith be forwarded by the prescribed authority or the aforesaid officer to the State Government, which may after calling for an explanation from the [Gram Sabha], [Gram Panchayat], Joint Committee or the officer or the servant thereof and considering the explanation, if any, made by it, rescind, modify or confirm the order.

(3) Where the execution or further execution of a resolution or order is prohibited by an order under sub-section (1) and continuing in force, it shall be the duty of the [Gram Sabha], [Gram Panchayat]or the joint committee or any officer or servant thereof, if so required by the authority making such order to take any action which it would have been entitled to take, if the resolution or order had never been made or passed and which is necessary for preventing any person from doing or continuing to do anything under cover of the resolution or order, of which the further execution is prohibited.

96A. Delegation of powers by State Government. - The State Government may delegate all or any of its powers under this Act to any officer or authority subordinate to it subject to such conditions and restrictions as it may deem fit to impose.

CHAPTER VIII

Penalties And Procedure

Penalty for infringement of the provisions of the Act. - Whoever contravenes any provision of this Act [except the provisions of Section 12-BCA or Section 12-BCC]shall be punishable, unless otherwise prescribed, with fine, which may extend to [five hundred rupees]and when the breach is a continuing one with a further fine which may extend to [fifty rupees] for every day after the first conviction during which an offender is proved to have persisted in the offence.

[97A. Penalty for contravention of any order regarding requisition. - Whoever contravenes any order made under Section 12-BCA or Section 12-BCC, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term, which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.]

Infringement of rules and bye-laws. - In making a rule the State Government, and in making a bye-law the [Gram Panchayat], with the sanction of prescribed authority, may direct that a breach of it shall be punishable with fine which may extend to [five hundred rupees]and when the breach is a continuing one with a fine which may extend to [fifty rupees]for every day after the date of the first conviction during which the offender is proved to have persisted in the offence.
Penalty for tampering with the [Gram Panchayat's]Property. - (1) Whoever removed, displaces or makes an alteration in or otherwise interferes with any pavement, gutter or other material of a public street, or any fence, wall or post thereof, or a lamp-post or bracket, direction post, stand post, hydrant, or other such [property of the Gram Panchayat without its written sanction]or other lawful authority shall be punishable with fine which may extend to [one thousand rupees].

(2) If through any act, neglect, or default on his part, a person has incurred a penalty imposed by sub-section (1) and has caused any damage to the property of a [Gram Panchayat] the person incurring such penalty, shall be liable to make good such damage as well as to pay such penalty and the damages may be recovered from the offender in the prescribed manner.

Disobedience to notice issued. - If a notice has been given to a person under the provisions of this Act or of any rule or bye-law made thereunder to a person requiring him to execute a work in respect of any property, movable or immovable, public or private or to provide or do or refrain from doing anything within a time specified in the notice, and such person fails to comply with the notice, then -

(a) The [Gram Panchayat] may cause such work to be executed or such thing to be provided or done, and may recover all expenses incurred by it on such account from the said person in the prescribed manner as arrears of land revenue;

(b) Such persons shall also be liable on conviction before the Nyaya Panchayat, to a fine which may extend to [five hundred rupees] and in case of continuing breach to a further fine which may extend to [fifty rupees] for each day after the date of the first conviction during which the offender is proved to have persisted in the offence.

Notice not to be invalid. - No notice shall be invalid on account of any defect or omission in its form.
Appeals. - (1) Any person aggrieved by an order or direction made by a [Gram Panchayat]under the Act or under any rule or byelaw may, unless otherwise prescribed, within 30 days from the date of such direction or order, exclusive of the time requisite for obtaining a copy of thereof appeal to the prescribed authority which may vary, set aside or confirm the said order or direction and may also award costs to or against the person filing the appeal.

(2) The prescribed authority may, if it thinks fit, extend the period allowed by sub-section (1) for appeal.

(3) The decision of the prescribed authority under sub-section (1) shall be final and shall not be questioned in any Court of law.

Suspension of prosecution in certain cases. - When an appeal has been filed against an order or direction in Section 102 any proceeding to enforce such order or direction and any prosecution for the breach thereof may, by order of the prescribed authority, be suspended pending the decision of the appeal, and if such order or direction is set aside on appeal, disobedience thereof shall not be deemed to be an offence.
Power to compound offences. - (1) Subject to any rule made in this behalf a [Gram Panchayat]may, either before or after the institution of any case, compound an offence against this Act or any rule or byelaw made thereunder on payment of such sum in cash to the [Gram Panchayat]as may be prescribed.

(2) When an offence has been compounded the offender, if in custody, shall be discharged and no further proceedings shall be taken against him in respect of the offence so compounded.

All sums paid by way of composition under this section shall be credited to the Gaon Fund.

Entry and inspection. - The Pradhan of the [Gram Panchayat]and, if authorised in this behalf by the [Gram Panchayat], any other member, officer or servant of the [Gram Panchayat]may enter into or upon any building or land, with or without assistants or workmen, in order to make an inspection or survey or to execute a work which a [Gram Panchayat] is authorised by this Act or by rules or bye-laws made thereunder, to make or execute, or which it is necessary for a [Gram Panchayat] for any of the purposes or in pursuance of any of the provisions of this Act or of rules or bye-laws, to make or execute:

Provided that -

(a) except when it is in this Act or rules or bye-laws otherwise expressly provided, no such entry shall be made between sunset and sunrise and

(b) except when it is in this Act or in rules, or bye-laws otherwise expressly provided, no building which is used as a human dwelling shall be so entered except with the consent of the occupier thereof, and without giving the said occupier not less than four hours previous written notice of the intention to make such entry, and

(c) sufficient notice shall in every instance be given even when any premises can otherwise be entered without notice to enable the inmates of an apartment appropriated for females to move to some part of the premises where their privacy shall not be disturbed, and

(d) due regard shall always be had to the social and religious usages of the occupants of the premises entered.

Suits against [Gram Sabhas][Gram Panchayats]their officers, or the officers and servants of Nyaya Panchayats - (1) No suit or other legal proceeding shall be instituted against a[Gram Sabha] or [Gram Panchayat] or Bhumi Prabandhak Samiti or against a member or officer or servant thereof or of Nyaya Panchayat or against any person acting under the direction of any of these bodies or persons for anything done or purporting to have been done in official capacity under this Act, until the expiration of two months next after notice in writing has been, in the case of [Gram Sabha], delivered in or left at the office of the [Gram Panchayat] concerned and in the case of a member, officer or servant of any person acting under his direction or the direction of the [Gram Sabha] or [Gram Panchayat] or Nyaya Panchayat delivered to him or left at his office or place of abode, explicitly stating the cause of action, the nature of the reliefs sought, the amount of compensation, if any claimed and the name and place of abode of the intending plaintiff and the plaint shall contain a statement that such notice has been so delivered or left.

(2) No action such as is described in sub-section (1) shall be commenced otherwise than within six months next after the accrual of the cause of action.

Protection to [Gram Panchayat]and Nyaya Panchayat. - (1) The provisions of the Judicial Officer's Protection Act, 1850, shall apply to the members of Nyaya Panchayat.

(2) No civil case or prosecution shall be entertained in any Court against a [Gram Panchayat] or any member or officer thereof or any person acting under its or his direction in respect of anything in good faith done or intended to be done under this Act or any rule or bye-law made thereunder.

107A. Validity of proceedings. - Except as otherwise provided under this Act a [Gram Sabha], a[Gram Panchayat] or any committee thereof, shall have power to act, notwithstanding any vacancy in the membership or defect or irregularity in the enrolment of a member thereof, and any proceedings in any [Gram Sabha], [Gram Panchayat] or committee shall be valid notwithstanding that there was any defect or irregularity in the enrolment of any member or that some person, who was not entitled so to do, sat or voted of of her wise took part in the proceedings:

Provided, however, that at least two thirds of the persons present at the time of the act being done were not disqualified to be members.

Powers and duties of Police in respect of offences and assistance to Panchayats. - Every police officer shall give immediate information to the [Gram Panchayat]of an offence coming to his knowledge which has been committed against this Act or any rule or bye-law made thereunder and shall assist all members and servants of the [Gram Panchayat]and Nyaya Panchayat in the exercise of their lawful authority.
If any dispute arises as to the jurisdiction of a Nyaya Panchayat or between two or more [Gram Panchayats]or between a [Gram Panchayat] and the [Nagar Panchayat] or a [Municipality] or a [Zila Panchayat] it shall be referred to the prescribed authority whose decision shall be final and shall not be questioned in any court of law.

[109A. Custody and mode of proof of records. - (1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any other provisions of this Act, -

(a) all records of a Gram Panchayat shall be in the custody of its secretary;

(b) the secretary shall give to a person, on an application and on payment of such fee as may be prescribed, a copy of any such records and certify it as a true copy under his signature and seal of the Gram Panchayat.

(2) A duly certified copy of any record of a Gram Panchayat shall be received as prima facieevidence of the existence of the record and shall be admitted as evidence of the matters therein recorded in every case, where and to the same extent as the original record would, if produced, have been admissible to prove such matters.]

[Uttarakhand] Amendment

[Section 109-A of the Principal Act shall be amended as follows : (1) The word 'Secretary' shall be substituted by the word 'Pradhan' in clause (a) of sub-section (1) of Section 109-A of the Principal Act. (2) The word 'Pradhan' shall be inserted between the words 'The' and 'Secretary' in clause (b) of sub-section (1) of Section 109-A of the Principal Act. (3) A new clause (c) shall be inserted after clause (b) of sub-section (1) of Section 109-A of the Principal Act as follows namely : '(c) Secretary of the Gram Panchayat shall be responsible for proper maintenance and making entries in the records.']

CHAPTER IX

Rules, Bye-Laws And Repeals

Power of State Government to make rules. - (1) The State Government may by notification in the Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act.

(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power such rules may provide for -

(i) any matter for which power to make provision is conferred expressly Or by implication on the State Government by this Act;

(ii) the establishment of [Gram Sabha] or Nyaya Panchayat or the constitution of [Gram Panchayat];

(ii-a) qualifications for the [* * *];

(ii-b) distribution of assets and liabilities of [Gram Panchayats] and Nyaya Panchayats consequent upon a change in their circles;

[(ii-c) presentation and disposal of election petitions and applications for revision under Section 12-C];

(ii-d) taking of oath by Pradhan, [* * *], members of [Gram Panchayats], Panch, Sahayak Sarpanch and Sarpanch;

(ii-e) filing of resignation by Pradhan, [* * *], members of [Gram I Panchayat], Panch, Sahayak Sarpanch and Sarpanch;

(ii-f) holding of general elections and bye-elections;

(ii-g) [the appointment of Panches of Nyaya Panchayats];

(ii-h) grant of leave for absence to office-bearers of [Gram Panchayat] and Nyaya Panchayat; and

(ii-i) the carrying out of the duties of the Pradhan and [* * *] in their absence for any cause;

(iii) the time and place of the meetings of [Gram Sabha], [Gram Panchayat] and Nyaya Panchayat, the manner of convening meetings and giving notice thereof;

(iv) the conduct of proceedings including the asking of questions by members at meetings and the adjournment of meetings and also minute books of meetings;

(v) the establishment of committees and the determination of all matters 'relating to the constitution and procedure of such committees;

(vi) the suspension and removal of office-bearers;

(vii) the records and registers that shall be maintained by [Gram Panchayat] and Nyaya Panchayat and the form in which they are to be;

(vii-a) periodical revision and amendment of [Gram Sabha] and [Gram Panchayat] registers;

(viii) the action to be taken on the occurrence of a vacancy in the executive committee, joint committee, any other committee and Nyaya Panchayat;

(ix) the authority by which disputes in relation to appointments to executive committee, joint committee any other committee or Nyaya Panchayat may be decided and the procedure to be followed therein;

(x) the amount and nature of security to be furnished by a servant of the [Gram Panchayat] or Nyaya Panchayat from whom it is deemed expedient to require security;

(xi) appointment, qualifications, supervision, dismissal, discharge, removal or other punishment and other matters, relating to the conditions of service, leave, transfer, pay and privileges of the servants of the [Gram Panchayat] and the Nyaya Panchayat and their rights of appeal;

(xii) management and regulation of provident fund for the servants of [Gram Panchayats] and Nyaya Panchayats if the system of provident fund is adopted by any [Gram Panchayat];

(xiii) the establishment, maintenance and management of primary schools and the construction and repair of buildings thereof;

(xiv) the establishment, administration and control of libraries, reading rooms, dispensaries entrusted to a joint committee, the construction and repairs of buildings connected therewith and the supply of medicine and medical assistance to the poor inhabitants of the [Panchayat-area];

(xv) the discovery, removal and distribution of water hyacinth, grass, weed or other wild growth on any land, premises or water, the construction of fences and barriers for checking its movements and the cost incurred in carrying out such work;

(xvi) action in regard to the sanitation, conservancy, drainage, buildings, public streets and water supply and the prohibition of public nuisance;

(xvi-a) the carrying out of functions and duties of [Gram Panchayat] as mentioned in Sections 15, 16 and l7.

(xvii) the framing of budgets and earmarking of funds for specific purposes;

(xviii) the returns to be submitted by [Gram Panchayats] and Nyaya Panchayats, the form in which they are to be, the authorities to which and the time when they shall be submitted;

(xix) the levy of taxes and licence fees, the authority, by which and the manner in which the taxes may be assessed and the authority to which an appeal from an assessment order may be made;

(xix-a) collection of State and other dues by [Gram Panchayats] and remuneration to be paid therefor;

(xx) the method and time of payment of taxes and other dues, the procedure of recovery and the authority whose assistance may be taken by [Gram Panchayats] in the recovery of taxes and dues;

(xxi) the method of account keeping by [Gram Panchayats] and Nyaya Panchayats;

(xxii) the maintenance of public buildings and nazul land;

(xxiii) the formalities to be observed when transferring any property and the manner in which a 'deed' of contract may be executed by a [Gram Panchayat];

(xxiv) powers of auditors, inspecting and superintending authorities to hold inquiries; summoning and examining witnesses, compelling the production of documents and all other matters connected with audit, inspection and superintendence;

(xxv) the issue, service or execution of summons, notices and other processes of Nyaya Panchayats and issue and service of notices by [Gram Panchayats];

(xxv-a) issue of commissions for examination of witnesses;

(xxv-b) institution of cases where a Sarpanch refuses to entertain;

(xxvi) the transfer by a Nyaya Panchayat of summons and other processes to another Nyaya Panchayat or any court for service or execution;

(xxvii) the fees to be levied by Nyaya Panchayats for institution of civil cases and criminal cases for issue of processes, for obtaining copies of documents and other matters;

(xxviii) the court fees and other fees payable where a Nyaya Panchayat with the consent of parties, entertains a civil case, which is otherwise beyond its jurisdiction;

(xxix) the procedure for execution of decrees, orders and sentence passed by Nyaya Panchayat;

(xxx) the allotment by [Gram Panchayats] of funds for the performance by Nyaya Panchayats of their duties under this Act and the extent to which fees paid to Nyaya Panchayats may be appropriated by [Gram Panchayats];

(xxxi) the powers that may be exercised by [Zila Panchayats] or any prescribed authority in the discharge of their obligations under this Act and the manner in which such powers may be exercised;

(xxxii) the procedure to be observed in the making of bye-laws by prescribed authority for [Gram Panchayats] or by [Gram Panchayats].

(xxxiii) the prescribing and printing of forms and registers generally relating to any matter under this Act or rules made thereunder;

(xxxiv) the submission for approval of plans, designs, specifications and estimates;

(xxxv) the duties, powers and functions of village volunteer force;

(xxxvi) the submission of annual reports by [Gram Panchayats] and Nyaya Panchayat and their review;

(xxxvii) persons, other than members of [Gram Panchayats] who may be present in any advisory capacity in meetings of [Gram Panchayats];

(xxxviii) channel of correspondence between a [Gram Panchayat] and Nyaya Panchayat and other authorities;

(xxxix) disposal of assets and liabilities of [a Gram Sabha or a Gram Panchayat] or Nyaya Panchayat on its abolition;

(xl) the action to be taken on the inclusion of the whole or part of the local area of any [Gram Panchayat] in any city municipality, notified area, or cantonment, and the manner in which the assets and liabilities of the [Gram Panchayat] may be disposed of in such circumstances;

(xli) the condition subject to which sums due to a [Gram Panchayat] may be written off as irrecoverable, and the conditions subject to which the whole or any part of a fee may be remitted; and generally for the guidance of [Gram Panchayats], Nyaya Panchayats, joint committees, other committees, servants of the Government and other authorities in any matter connected with the carrying out of the provisions of this Act;

(xlii) the regulation of the election of the members of the [Gram Panchayat] in order to secure the adequate representation of the Scheduled Castes;

(xliii) assistance to be given by the [Gram Panchayat] to Government servants on any matter affecting the general administration;

(xliv) powers and duties of Sahayak Sarpanch and [* * *];

(xlv) borrowing and lending of money by [Gram Panchayats];

(xlvi) the matters which are to be and may be prescribed; and

(xlvii) any matter in respect of which power is conferred in Section 111 on the prescribed authority to frame a bye-law for a [Gram Panchayat]

(3) [* * *].

Powers of [Zila Panchayats]to frame bye-laws. - The prescribed authority may, and when required by the State Government, shall make bye-laws for a Gram Panchayat within its jurisdiction consistent with the Act and the rules made thereunder for the purpose of promoting or maintaining the health, safety and convenience of persons residing within the jurisdiction of a [Gram Panchayat]and for furtherance of administration of [Gram Panchayats]under this Act.
Powers of [Gram Panchayat]to frame bye-laws. - (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder and the bye-laws, if any, made by the prescribed authority, a [Gram Panchayat]may frame bye-laws :-

(a) to prohibit the removal or use of water for drinking purposes from any source which is likely to cause danger to health and to prohibit the doing of anything likely to contaminate any source of drinking water;

(b) to prohibit or regulate the discharge of water from any drain or premises on a public street or into a river, pond, tank, well or any other place;

(d) to regulate sanction, conservancy and drainage in the area of the [Gram Panchayats].

(e) to prohibit or regulate the use of public streets or other public places by shop-keepers or other individuals or collection of market tolls on public streets;

(f) to regulate the manner in which tanks, ponds and cesspools, pasture land, playground, manu re-pits, land for disposal of dead bodies and bathing places shall be maintained and used;

(g) to regulate any other duties or functions of the [Gram Panchayat] as may be directed by the prescribed authority.

(2) The draft of bye-laws framed by [Gram Panchayats] shall be published in the prescribed manner. Any objections received there to shall he considered at a meeting of the [Gram Panchayat] and bye-laws shall then be submitted together with the objections, if any, received and the decisions taken thereon to the prescribed authority. The bye-laws as sanctioned by the prescribed authority shall come into force after they have been published in the prescribed manner:

Provided that the State Government may at any time rescind or modify any bye-laws so approved.

Repeal and transitory provisions. - (1) [* * *]

[(2) On and from the date of commencement of the Uttar Pradesh Panchayat Laws (Amendment) Act, 1994, any reference to the 'Gaon Sabha' or 'Gaon Panchayat' in any rules, regulations, bye-laws, statutory instruments or any other law for the time being in force or in any document or proceedings shall be construed as a reference to the 'Gram Panchayat'.]

Casual vacancies to be left unfilled in certain cases. - (1) Where a vacancy occurs in any body constituted under this Act by reason of the death, resignation, removal or avoidance of the election of a member or other office bearer and the term of office of that member or other officer bearer would in the ordinary course of events have determined within six months of the occurrence of the vacancy, the prescribed authority may direct that the vacancy be left unfilled until the next general election under this Act.

(2) In the event of [vacancy in the offices of Pradhan] remaining unfilled by virtue of direction made under sub-section (1), the prescribed authority may, by order make such arrangement as it thinks fit for discharge of the functions of the Pradhan till a Pradhan is elected.

[115. Succession to property, assets, rights, liabilities and obligations in certain cases. - (1) On and from the date of commencement of the Uttar Pradesh Panchayat Laws (Amendment) Act, 1994 -

(a) all property, interest in property and assets, including cash balances, wherever situate, which immediately before such date were vested in the Gaon Sabha shall vest in and be held by the Gram Panchayat for the purposes of this Act; and

(b) all rights, liabilities and obligations of the aforesaid Gaon Sabha whether arising out of any contract or otherwise, existing immediately before such date, shall be the rights, liabilities and obligations of the Gram Panchayat.

(2) Where any doubt or dispute arises as to whether any property, interest or asset has vested in a Gram Panchayat under sub-section (1), or any right, liability or obligation has become the right, liability or obligation of a Gram Panchayat such doubt or dispute shall be referred in the manner prescribed to the State Government whose decision shall, unless superseded by any decision of a court of law be final.

Sums due. - All sums due to the Gaon Sabha, whether on account of any tax or any other account, shall be recoverable by the Gram Panchayat, and for the purpose of such recovery, it shall be competent for the Gram Panchayat to take any measure or institute any proceeding which it would have been open to the Gaon Sabha to take or institute, if the Uttar Pradesh Panchayat Laws (Amendment) Act, 1994 had not come into force.
Debts, obligations, contracts and pending proceedings. - (1) All debts and obligations incurred and all contracts made by or on behalf of the Gaon Sabha before the date referred to in sub-section (1) of Section 115 and subsisting on the said date shall be deemed to have been incurred and made by the Gram Panchayat in exercise of the powers conferred on it by this Act and shall continue in operation accordingly.

(2) All proceedings pending before any authority of the said Gaon Sabha on the said date, which under the provisions of this Act, are required to be instituted before or undertaken by the Gram Panchayat shall be transferred to and continued by the Gram Panchayat, and all other such proceedings shall, so far as may be, be transferred to and continued by such authority before or by whom they have to be instituted or undertaken under the provisions of this Act.

(3) All appeal pending before any authority of the said Gaon Sabha on the said date shall so far as may be practicable be disposed of, as if there was a Gram Panchayat when they were filed.

(4) All prosecutions instituted by or on behalf of the said Gaon Sabha and all suits and other legal proceedings instituted by or against the said Gaon Sabha or any officer of the said Gaon Sabha pending on the said date, shall be continued by or against the Gram Panchayat or the officer, as the case may be, as if there was a Gram Panchayat constituted when such prosecution, suit or proceeding was instituted.

Provision until the Constitution of Gram Panchayats. - Notwithstanding anything in this Act, during the period between the commencement of the Uttar Pradesh Panchayat Laws (Amendment) Act, 1994 and the constitution of the Gram Panchayat [for the first time under this Act as amended by the Uttar Pradesh Panchayat Laws (Amendment) Act, 1994], the Gaon Panchayat and its Pradhan, [* * *]and members shall respectively exercise, perform and discharge the powers, functions and duties of the Gram Panchayat and its Pradhan, [* * *]and members and shall be deemed respectively to be the Gram Panchayat and its Pradhan, [* * *] and members.
Power to remove difficulties. - (1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this Act, or by reason of any thing contained in this Act to any other enactment for the time being in force, the State Government may, as occasion requires, by notified order direct that this Act, shall have effect subject to such adaptations, whether by way of modification, addition or omission, as it may deem to be necessary and expedient.

(2) No order under sub-section (1) shall be made after the expiration of the period of two years from the commencement of the Uttar Pradesh Panchayat Laws (Amendment) Act, 1994.

(3) The provisions made by, any order under sub-section (1) shall have effect as if enacted in this Act and any such order may be made so as to be retrospective to any date not earlier than the date of commencement of the Uttar Pradesh Panchayat Laws (Amendment) Act, 1994.

(4) Every order made under sub-section (1) shall be laid, as soon as may be, before both the Houses of State Legislature and the provisions of subsection (1) of Section 23-A of the Uttar Pradesh General Clauses Act, 1904 shall apply as they apply in respect of rules made by the State Government under any Uttar Pradesh Act.]

Schedule

(See Section 68)

	Description of Suits	Period of Limitation	Time from which period begins to run
1.	For money due on a contract.	3 years	When the money became due to the plaintiff
2.	For the recovery of movable property or the value thereof.	3 years	When the plaintiff became entitled to the delivery of the movable property
3.	For compensation for wrongfully taking or injuring a movable property.	3 years	When the movable property was wrongfully taken or when injury was done to it.
4.	For damaged caused by cattle trespass.	6 months	When the damage was caused by the cattle trespass

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Uttar Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act, 1947

Related judgement on Uttar Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act, 1947