Power to extend term of office of councillors or members of local authorities.

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any relevant enactment, if the State Government is of the opinion that an emergency has arisen due to which it is not practicable to hold general elections for the purpose of reconstituting any local authority or any class of local authorities, the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, from time to time, extend the term of office of the councillors or, as the case may be, the members of such local authority or class of local authorities, for such period as may be specified in the notification: Provided that the total period of such extension shall not exceed one year. (2) The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, direct that the term of office of the councillors or, as the case may be, the members of any local authority specified in the notification shall be extended for a period specified therein and thereupon the term of such councillors or members shall be deemed to be extended accordingly. (3) On the expiry of the term of office of the councillors or, as the case may be, the members of a local authority extended under this section, such councillors or members shall vacate their office and the local authority shall be reconstituted in accordance with the provisions of the relevant enactment.