Chapter IV Chapter IV

Staff of Panchayats

1. (1) Every Panchayat shall have a whole time Secretary who shall be an officer of the Government, and shall draw his salary and allowances from the Panchayat Fund.
2. (2) The Secretary shall perform all the duties and exercise all the powers imposed or conferred upon him by or under this Act or any rules or bye-laws made thereunder. 95[113-A. Duties, powers and responsibilities of Panchayat Secretary.— Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act and the rules framed thereunder, the Panchayat Secretary shall also exercise and perform the below mentioned duties and shall be responsible for omissions in such duties:-
   • (i) attend every meeting of the Panchayat including Gram Sabha meeting, unless he is precluded from attending the meeting due to unavoidable circumstance;
   • (ii) write the proceeding of every meeting in the minutes book;
   • (iii) place all the correspondence received by him, specially various schemes of the Government, instructions issued by the Director and other authorities (except those of confidential nature) before the Sarpanch and also for the information of all members during the meeting;
   • (iv) receive all correspondence, scrutinize the same and dispose off after having satisfied that the same are complete in all respects;
   • (v) finalize the agenda of every meeting in consultation with the Sarpanch;
   • (vi) report within seven days to the Block Development Officer any vacancy in the office of the Sarpanch or Deputy Sarpanch or a member caused due to death, resignation or continuous absence for more than three consecutive ordinary meeting of the Panchayat;
   • (vii) report to the Block Development Officer any illegal act or misconduct or misuse or abuse of powers any infringement of the provisions of this Act by the Sarpanch or Deputy Sarpanch or the members of the Panchayat as soon as the same comes to his knowledge;
   • (viii) report, as soon as possible, to the Block Development Officer, if any member of the Panchayat attracts disqualification under section 10 of this Act;
   • (ix) maintain all the registers prescribed under various Rules and other Registers as may be directed by the Block Development Officer;
   • (x) responsible for safe custody of Panchayat funds, assets of Panchayat and all the Registers maintained by the Panchayat;
   • (xi) comply with the instruction issued by the Block Development Officers and superior authorities from time to time;
   • (xii) maintain cordial relations with the elected representative;
   • (xiii) ensure that the grants released by the Government under Grant-in-Aid for specific purpose is not spent by the Panchayat for any purpose other than the purpose for which it is sanctioned. 113-B. Duties and functions of Gram Sevak.— The Gram Sevak shall perform the duties and functions entrusted to him from time to time by the Block Development Officer or the Director.”].

The Government may, by order, specify the staffing pattern, the scales of pay and mode of recruitment of staff of Panchayats.

1. (1) Subject to the provisions of section 113 and 114, the Panchayat may, with the prior approval of the Chief Executive Officer, appoint other employees of the Panchayat and pay their salaries from the Panchayat Fund: Provided that in making appointments, the appointing authority shall reserve posts for the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and other socially and educationally Backward Classes of citizens in the same manner and to the same extent as is applicable for the recruitment to posts in the State Civil Services.
2. (2) The Secretary may, with the approval of the Panchayat by order, fine, suspend or withhold, the increment of any employee appointed by the Panchayat.
3. (3) The Panchayat may reduce in rank, remove or dismiss any employee appointed by it.
4. (4) An appeal shall lie against an order passed by the Secretary under sub-section (2) and against an order passed by the Panchayat under sub-section (3), to the Chief Executive Officer whose decision shall be final.