Vidhi Codex

Delhi Panchayat Raj Act, 1954 Complete Act - Bare Act

The Delhi Panchayat Raj Act, 1954

Infrastructure1954290 sections

This Act establishes local self-government institutions in the rural areas of Delhi, including Gaon Sabhas and Circle Panchayats. It provides the legal framework for their formation, membership, and functions, covering public land management, local rules, and dispute resolution through village courts. The law applies to rural residents and landholders, ensuring communities have a voice in managing their affairs. By empowering these grassroots bodies, the Act aims to promote rural development and democratic participation in the Union Territory of Delhi.

Start reading →Read full ActSections
  1. 1. Short title, extent and commencement
  2. 2. Definitions
  3. 3. Changes in Gaon Sabha Area
  4. 4. Membership of Gaon Sabha
  5. 5. [Repealed]
  6. 6. [Repealed]
  7. 7. Pradhan and Up-Pradhan of a Gaon Panchayat to be the Pradhan and Up-Pradhan of the Gaon Sabha
  8. 8. Disqualification or defect on appointment or nomination not to vitiate act or proceeding
  9. 9. [Repealed]
  10. 10. Removal of difficulty in establishment of Gaon Sabha and in the working of a Gaon Panchayat
  11. 11. Meetings and functions of Gaon Sabha
  12. 12. Report of Business submitted by Pradhan
  13. 13. Gaon Panchayat
  14. 14. Term of Office of a Pradhan or Up-Pradhan
  15. 15. Removal of Pradhan or Up-Pradhan
  16. 16. Patwari to assist in the performance of Land Management work of a Gaon Panchayat
  17. 17. Register of the Members of Gaon Panchayat and its Functionaries
  18. 18. Duties and Functions
  19. 19. Discretionary Functions
  20. 20. Power of Gaon Panchayat as to Public Streets, waterways and other matters
  21. 21. Section 21
  22. 22. Section 22
  23. 23. Section 23
  24. 24. Assistance to Government Servants
  25. 25. Representations by Gaon Panchayats
  26. 26. Power to enquire and report about the misconduct of certain officers
  27. 27. Power to contract for collection of taxes and other dues
  28. 28. Right of individual members
  29. 29. Penalty for causing loss, waste or misappropriation of money or property of the Gaon Sabha
  30. 30. Members and servants to be public servants
  31. 31. Committee
  32. 32. Delegation
  33. 33. Gaon Sabha Area Fund
  34. 34. Power to acquire Land
  35. 35. Property vested in Gaon Sabha
  36. 36. Disposal of claims
  37. 37. Power to borrow
  38. 38. Voluntary contribution of physical labour by Gaon Sabha members
  39. 39. Imposition of taxes
  40. 40. Collection, recovery, remission and suspension of taxes and dues
  41. 41. Expenses and realization made by Panchayati Adalat
  42. 42. Audit
  43. 43. Budget
  44. 44. Circle Panchayat, Sarpanch and Naib Sarpanch
  45. 45. Functions of a Circle Panchayat
  46. 46. Term of Panches of a Circle Panchayat
  47. 47. Oath of Office
  48. 48. Resignation
  49. 49. Removal
  50. 50. Panchayati Adalat and trial in a suit or proceeding
  51. 51. Absence of a Panch from the bench
  52. 52. Filling of casual vacancies
  53. 53. Forum
  54. 53A. Offences triable by Panchayati Adalats
  55. 53B. Penalties
  56. 53C. Certain persons not to be tried by Panchayati Adalat
  57. 53D. Summary disposal of Complaint
  58. 53E. Compensation to complainants
  59. 53F. Compensation to the accused
  60. 53G. Enquiry into cases forwarded by Magistrates
  61. 53H. Recovery of fines and compensation
  62. 53I. Contempt of Panchayati Adalat
  63. 53J. Conviction of a Panchayati Adalat not a previous conviction
  64. 54. Revenue cases
  65. 55. Extent of jurisdiction
  66. 56. Extention of jurisdiction by agreement of parties
  67. 57. Exclusion of Circle Panchayat jurisdiction
  68. 58. Suits to include the whole claim
  69. 59. Limitation
  70. 60. Effect of decision by a Panchayati Adalat
  71. 61. Revision
  72. 62. Res-Judicata
  73. 63. Concurrent jurisdiction
  74. 64. Institution of suits, criminal case and proceedings
  75. 65. Substance of the application to be recorded in register
  76. 66. Manner of procedure
  77. 67. Disposal of suits etc. in the absence of the party concerned
  78. 68. Panchayati Adalat not to revise or alter its decision
  79. 69. Legal practitioner not to appear before Panchayati Adalat
  80. 70. Appearance in person or by representative
  81. 71. Special jurisdiction in matters compromised
  82. 72. Procedure and power to ascertain truth
  83. 73. Majority to prevail
  84. 74. Transfer application
  85. 75. Transfer of suit, criminal case or proceeding
  86. 75A. Transfer of cases by the Panchayati Adalat
  87. 76. Revision
  88. 77. Issue of summons to witnesses
  89. 78. Penalties for failing to appear before a Panchayati Adalat
  90. 79. Dismissal of suit etc
  91. 80. Summons of defendant or accused person
  92. 81. Issue of warrant
  93. 82. Payment or adjustment of decree to be recorded
  94. 83. Execution of decrees
  95. 83A. Suspension of power
  96. 84. Supervision
  97. 85. Prohibition of certain proceedings
  98. 86. Default in the performance of duty
  99. 87. Appointment in case of default in filling up vacancies on a Circle Panchayat or of a Sarpanch or Naib Sarpanch
  100. 88. Supersession of a Gaon Sabha or a Gaon Panchayat or Circle Panchayat or a Panchayati Adalat
  101. 89. Delegation of power by the Chief Commissioner
  102. 90. Penalties for infringement of the provisions of the Act
  103. 91. Infringement of rules and bye-laws
  104. 92. Penalty for tampering with the Gaon Sabha 's property
  105. 93. Disobedience to notice issued
  106. 94. Notice not to be invalid
  107. 95. Appeals
  108. 96. Suspension of prosecution in certain cases
  109. 97. Power to compound offences
  110. 98. Entry and inspection
  111. 99. Suits against Gaon Sabha, Gaon Panchayat or Circle Panchayat or its officers
  112. 100. Protection to Gaon Sabha, Gaon Panchayat, Circle Panchayat and Panchayati Adalat
  113. 101. Dispute between Gaon Panchayats inter se or with other bodies
  114. 102. Power to make rules
  115. 103. The Prescribed authority to make bye-laws
  116. 104. Power to Gaon Panchayat to frame bye-laws
  117. 105. Repeal and transitory provision
  118. 106. Interpretation
  119. 107. Register and record to be maintained by Gaon Panchayat
  120. 108. Registers to be maintained by Circle Panchayat
  121. 109. Additional Registers
  122. 110. Place of retention
  123. 111. Section 111
  124. 112. Annual report and its contents
  125. 113. Quarterly returns of Panchayati Adalat
  126. 114. Inspection of Panchayat Office
  127. 115. Inspection of work institution or the records of a Gaon Panchayat or Circle Panchayat
  128. 116. Holding an enquiry
  129. 117. Proceedings and records open to inspection
  130. 118. Inspection of Judicial records
  131. 119. Inspection of deposited records
  132. 120. Fee
  133. 121. Place and time for inspections
  134. 122. Maintenance of Inspection Book
  135. 123. General Prohibition and directions for inspections
  136. 124. Inspection of Administrative proceedings
  137. 125. Election of Sarpanch and Naib Sarpanch
  138. 126. Revision of Deputy Commissioner's order under sub-section (5) of Section 44 of the Act
  139. 127. Constitution of Bench and appointment of Chairman
  140. 128. Constitution of a Special Bench
  141. 129. Oaths of Office
  142. 130. Procedure for Panchayati Adalat
  143. 131. Procedure for Panchayati Adalat
  144. 132. Limitation of period for disposal of a case
  145. 133. Sittings to be notified
  146. 134. Weekly List of cases to be notified
  147. 135. No fee for enquiry of date of hearing
  148. 136. Application under Section 64
  149. 137. Issue of Summons or notices to Parties
  150. 138. Examination of parties and their witnesses
  151. 139. Application for Revision
  152. 140. Restoration or Revision application after dismissal in default
  153. 141. Procedure in deciding proceedings under Delhi Land Revenue Act
  154. 142. Inquiry into question of title or right
  155. 143. Return of documents
  156. 144. Examination of Women of Commission
  157. 145. Judgment order or decree
  158. 146. Suit or proceedings not to abate at the death of either party
  159. 147. Payment of Finance or Compensation
  160. 148. Language of Adalat
  161. 149. Seal of the Adalat
  162. 150. Court fee
  163. 151. Fee on certificate of execution
  164. 152. Application for copy of records and fee therein
  165. 153. Copying Fee
  166. 154. Advance cost
  167. 155. Preparation and delivery of the copy
  168. 156. Credit and disbursement of fees
  169. 157. Summons to a person to attend or produce a document
  170. 158. Summons to produce a document
  171. 159. Persons exempted from attendance in court not to be summoned
  172. 160. Service of summons
  173. 161. Service Fee
  174. 162. Person charged with process serving
  175. 163. Method of service within jurisdiction
  176. 164. Diet Money
  177. 165. Method of service outside jurisdiction
  178. 166. Procedure of summons issued under Rule 165
  179. 167. Diet money from Panchayati Adalat Fund
  180. 168. Refusal to summon a witness
  181. 169. Diet Money defined
  182. 170. Rates of daily and travelling allowances
  183. 171. Register of diet money and issue of receipts
  184. 172. Powers of investigation
  185. 173. Execution of application
  186. 174. Fee for calling up records to be deposited by party at whose instance records are called for
  187. 175. Acquisition of land
  188. 176. Transfer of immovable property vested in the Gaon Panchayat
  189. 177. Scale map of land
  190. 178. Lease without premium
  191. 179. Lease by auction or tender
  192. 180. Approval of Deputy Commissioner or Chief Commissioner
  193. 181. Nazul land
  194. 182. Register of immovable property
  195. 183. Separate register for different kinds of property
  196. 184. Periodical examination of register
  197. 185. Transfer
  198. 186. Contract for work or supply and inviting of tenders
  199. 187. Registration of births and deaths
  200. 188. Reports of births, deaths and marriages
  201. 189. Chowkidar to report births, deaths and marriages
  202. 190. Preparation of lists of officers and establishment their salaries, allowances and duties
  203. 191. Sanction of the Director
  204. 192. Appointment, leave and dismissal etc., of Secretary
  205. 193. Qualifications of Panchayat Secretary
  206. 194. Duties of Secretary
  207. 195. Qualification for other staff
  208. 196. Appeal against punishment order
  209. 197. Charge-sheet and explanation before punishment
  210. 198. Delegation of powers to Secretary and appeal against his orders
  211. 199. Determination of the period of office of a servant
  212. 200. Leave and officiating arrangement
  213. 201. Retention and Retirement employees
  214. 202. Provident Fund
  215. 203. Maintenance of Gaon Sabha Area Fund and its transactions
  216. 204. Maintenance of Gaon Sabha Area Fund and its transactions
  217. 205. Sanction to expenditure from Panchayat Fund
  218. 206. Requisition for withdrawal
  219. 207. Instruction for maintenance of accounts
  220. 208. Person debarred from collection or book-keeping
  221. 209. Language of accounts and care of account books
  222. 210. Attestation of corrections
  223. 211. Periodical audit of accounts
  224. 212. Steps for disposal of audit notes
  225. 213. Treatment of embezzlement
  226. 214. Pay bills of establishment
  227. 215. Security from employee entrusted with custody of money or property
  228. 216. Service Books and Character Rolls
  229. 217. Nature and accounting of contingent charges
  230. 218. Permanent Advances
  231. 219. Annual Acknowledgement
  232. 220. Recoupment of Advance
  233. 221. Payment and adjustment of advance
  234. 222. Payments of Bills, Vouchers and Claims, etc.
  235. 223. Payment of claim and receipt therefore
  236. 224. Maintenance of general Cash Book
  237. 225. Maintenance of Register to tools and plants
  238. 226. Maintenance of Deposit Register
  239. 227. Maintenance and verification of Stock Book
  240. 228. Office Order Book
  241. 229. Treatment and maintenance of vouchers
  242. 230. Retention, weeding and destruction of vouchers etc.
  243. 231. Prescribed Forms
  244. 232. Maintenance of register of public works
  245. 233. Bill for Works
  246. 234. Details of completion Certificate
  247. 235. Muster Rolls for daily labour
  248. 236. Stock Book of lighting articles
  249. 237. When the lighting of the Panchayat is done by contract, the contract deed shall in addition to any other provisions required by law specify
  250. 238. Estimates
  251. 239. Actual and anticipated
  252. 240. Contents of Panchayat Budget
  253. 241. Income and expenditure of Panchayati Adalat
  254. 242. Minimum cash balance of Gaon Panchayat
  255. 243. Panchayat expenditure on different heads
  256. 244. Channel of communication between Sabha and Panchayat
  257. 245. Method of imposition
  258. 246. Mode of Assessment of taxes
  259. 247. Appeal against assessment
  260. 248. Power of revision
  261. 249. Register of Tax and its periodical collection
  262. 250. List of defaulters
  263. 251. Writing off of taxes
  264. 252. Refund of taxes
  265. 253. Penalty
  266. 254. Establishment of libraries and reading rooms
  267. 255. Inspection and Superintendence
  268. 256. Village Volunteer Force
  269. 257. Function of the Force
  270. 258. Chief Officer of the Volunteer Force and his duties
  271. 259. Publication of draft bye-laws
  272. 260. Enforcement of bye-laws
  273. 261. Making of bye-laws by the Director and their publication
  274. Schedule 1. Description of suits
  275. Rule1. Short title and commencement
  276. Rule2. Definition
  277. Rule3. Transfer of assets etc., on abolition of village Panchayat or Gaon Sabhas
  278. Rule4. Members of Gaon Sabha
  279. Rule5. Custody of the Register
  280. Rule6. Term of Office or Pradhan etc.
  281. Rule7. Superintendence Control and direction of conduct of Elections
  282. Rule8. Notification of Election and fixing of date
  283. Rule9. Functions of Returning Officer
  284. Rule10. Assistant Returning Officer
  285. Rule11. Appointment of Presiding Officers for Polling Stations
  286. Rule12. Appointment of agents
  287. Rule13. Polling Station
  288. Rule14. Publication of List of Symbols
  289. Rule15. Presentation of nomination papers
  290. N/A-1. Excerpts from Ballot counting procedures

PDF: pending for this language.