Extention of jurisdiction by agreement of parties

Notwithstanding anything contained in Section 55, parties may be written agreement refer any suit to a Circle Panchayat for decision by it if the value of such suit does not exceed the pecuniary limits of the appellate jurisdiction of the Senior Sub-Judge and thereupon the Circle Panchayat shall dispose of such in accordance with rules made under this Act. (1) As soon as may be after the publication of the names of members of Gaon Panchayats under Rule 51, the Pradhan or in case of his incapacity for any reason or failure to call a meeting, the Panchayat Inspector shall call a meeting of the Gaon Panchayat to elect an Up-Pradhan. The quorum for such a meeting shall be half the total number of members of the Gaon Panchayat. (2) Any member of Gaon Panchayat may propose in the printed specified form any name from amongst the members of the Gaon Panchayat. (3) The Deputy Director shall arrange for the supply of printed forms at a price of Rs. 1 each. (4) If only one candidate is duly proposed and seconded, he shall be deemed to be elected. In case more than one candidates are proposed and seconded, the candidate who obtains the largest number of votes, shall be deemed to be elected. (5) Every member present in the meeting shall be supplied a ballot paper, a chit duly stamped or signed by the Pradhan or by other Member presiding at the meeting, and he shall cast his vote by writing on such ballot paper or chit the name of the candidate for whom he intends to vote or if he is unable to write, he will indicate his choice by writing the figure or making any other mark which may be allotted to a candidate by the Presiding Officer for this purpose. In case of illiteracy or any other incapacity of the voter to indicate his choice, the Presiding Officer shall record the vote on the ballot paper or chit in accordance with the wishes of the elector. The ballot paper or the chit, as the case may be, shall thereafter be delivered to the Presiding Officer. The elector shall not affix his signature or any other identification mark on the ballot paper or the chit. (6) If any equality of votes is found to exist between any candidates, and the addition of one vote will entitle any of those candidates to be declared elected, the Pradhan of the member presiding at the meeting shall forthwith decide between those candidates by lot and proceed as if the candidate on whom a lot falls had received an additional vote. (7) The term of an Up-Pradhan elected under sub-rule (4) shall begin from the date of his election and be coterminus with the term of the Gaon Panchayat. (8) Whenever a vacancy in the office of Up-Pradhan arises due to death, resignation or removal of an Up-Pradhan, the Gaon Panchayat shall elect an Up-Pradhan in accordance with the provisions of this rule in succession to the outgoing Up-Pradhan and the term of and any such Up-Pradhan so elected shall begin from the date of election and shall be for the unexpired period of the term of the outgoing Up-Pradhan.