Reservation of seats on committees of certain societies for Scheduled Castes and Tribes and small and marginal farmers.

Reservation of seats on committees of certain societies for Scheduled Castes and Tribes and small and marginal farmers. (1) On the committee of such society or class of societies as the State Government may, by general or special order direct, two seats shall be reserved as follows namely :— (a) one for the persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes or to both the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes as the State Government may, having regard to the population of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in the area of operation of the society, specify, and (b) one for the person who are small farmers and marginal farmers. (2) Where any of such reserved seats is not filled by election or appointment the committee shall fill such seat by co-option of a member on the committee form amongst other members. Explanation.— For the purposes of this section,— (1) the expression “marginal farmer” and “small farmer” shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in clauses (g) and (p) of section 2 of the Gujarat Rural Debtors Relief Act, 1976; (1A) the expression “population” in relation to the area of operation of a society means the population of that areas as ascertained at the last preceding census. (2) the expression “Scheduled Castes” means such castes, races or tribes or parts of, or groups within, such castes, race or tribes as are deemed to be Scheduled Castes in relation to the State of Gujarat under article 341 of the Constitution of India; (3) the expression “Scheduled Tribes” means such tribes or tribal communities or parts of, or groups within, such tribes or tribal communities as are deemed to be Scheduled Tribes in relation to the State of Gujarat under section 342 of the Constitution of India.