Election of Mukhiya and Up-Mukhiya — (1) A Mukhiya of the Gram

Panchayat shall be directly elected by the voters enrolled in the voters’ list of that Gram Panchayat.

1. (2) In the event of vacancy caused by reason of death, resignation, disqualification, removal or otherwise of the Mukhiya, the Gram Panchayat shall elect another Mukhiya as soon as possible as per the provisions of sub-section (1) : Provided that if the vacancy in the office of Mukhiya is for less than six months, there shall be no election.
2. (3) (i) After election every Gram Panchayat shall under the direction, control and supervision of State Election Commission, elect in its first meeting one Up-Mukhiya from amongst the members elected under the provisions of clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 12 of the Act, by a majority of votes.
   • (ii) The Mukhiya of the Gram Panchayat shall be a voter in the election of Up-Mukhiya.
   • (iii) In the case of equality of votes in the election of Up-Mukhiya, the result shall be decided by draw of lots.
3. (4) (i) In the event of the offices of the Mukhiya and Up-Mukhiya falling

vacant simultaneously in any Gram Panchayat, the Executive Officer of the concerned Panchayat Samiti shall call a meeting for election of Up-Mukhiya within fifteen days of such an eventuality for which a notice of at least seven clear days shall be given to the members.

1. (ii) The Executive Officer of the concerned Panchayat Samiti shall preside over such meeting but he shall not have the right to vote.
2. (iii) In the case of equality of votes, the result shall be decided by draw of lots.

1. (5) Reservation of seats —(i) For the post of Mukhiya, as nearly as but not exceeding fifty percent of the total seats of Mukhiya within every

Panchayat Samiti shall be reserved for :–

1. (a) Scheduled Castes;
2. (b) Scheduled Tribes; and
3. (c) Backward Classes. Within every Panchayat Samiti, seats shall be reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for the posts of Mukhiya and the number of seats so reserved shall bear as nearly as possible the same proportion to the total number of seats of Mukhiya within the said Panchayat Samiti as the population of the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes bears to the proportion of the total population of that area and such seats shall be allotted by rotation to different Gram Panchayats within the Panchayat Samiti by the District Magistrate under the direction, control and supervision of the State Election Commission in the prescribed manner.

After reservation of seats of Mukhiya for the Scheduled Castes and the

Scheduled Tribes, the number of seats to be reserved for the Backward Classes shall be as nearly as possible but not exceeding twenty percent of the total seats and within the overall limit of fifty percent reservation for the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the Backward Classes and shall be allotted to the remaining Gram Panchayats by the District Magistrate in the prescribed manner. Such seats shall be allotted by rotation to different Gram Panchayats within a Panchayat Samiti by the District Magistrate during subsequent elections under the direction, control and supervision of the State Election Commission in the manner prescribed by it.

1. (ii) As nearly as but not exceeding fifty percent of the total number of seats so reserved under Sub-section (i) shall be reserved for women belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes as the case may be.
2. (iii) As nearly as but not exceeding fifty percent of the total number of seats not reserved for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes shall be reserved for women.
3. (iv) Such total number of seats reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes, the Backward Classes and unreserved category shall be allotted by rotation by the District Magistrate under the direction, control and supervision of the State Election Commission to different constituencies in a Gram Panchayat in such manner as may be prescribed by the State Election Commission. Explanation - For the removal of doubts it is hereby declared that the principle of rotation for the purposes of reservation of offices for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes under this sub-section shall commence from the first election held after the commencement of the