(1) On the constitution of village panchayat or on its reconstitution under

AND MEMBER OF PANCHAYATS.

section 13 or under any other provision of this Act, there shall be called the first meeting thereof for the election of Upa-Srupanch from amongst the members of the panchayat.

1. (2) (a) The offices of Sarpanch of village panchayats in the State shall be reserved by the State Government for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes and the number of the offices of Sarpanch of village panchayats in the State so reserved shall bear as nearly as may be, the same proportion to the total number of offices of Sarpanch of village panchayat in the State as the population of the Scheduled Castes in the State or of the Scheduled Tribes in the State bears to the total population of the State. There shall be reserved by the State Government for socially and educationally backward classes ten percent of the offices of Sarpanch of village panchayats in the State,
   • (b) (i) 2[As nearly as may be one-half] of the total number of offices of Sarpanch of village panchayats in the State reserved under clause (a), and (ii) 2[As nearly as may be one-half] of the total number of offices of Sarpanch of village panchayats in the State, not so reserved, shall be reserved by the State Government, for women.
2. (3) The number of offices reserved under sub-section (2) shall be allotted by the State Government by rotation to different village panchayats in the State in the prescribed manner.
3. (4) The meeting shall be held on such day within four weeks from the date on which the names of members elected at the general election are published

under section 15 as may be fixed by the competent authority:

Provided that where no day is fixed within the aforesaid period of four weeks, the competent authority shall report the fact to the State Government or an officer or authority authorised by the State Government and the meeting shall be held on such day as the State Government or the said officer or authority as the case may be, may specify. 1. In the marginal note, the words “Sarpanch and” were deleted by Guj. 15 of 2015, s. 10.

2. These words were substituted for the words “One third” by Guj. 21 of 2014, s. 10.

Penalty for contravention of any order regarding requisition. First meeting of panchayat and election of

1[* *] Upa -Sarpanch.

22 Gujarat Panchayats Act, 1993. [1993 : Guj. 18

1. (5) In the case of village panchayat, where there has been a failure to elect a Srupanch or where the elected Sarpanch is not willing to take office, the first meeting of such village panchayat shall be presided over by such officer as the competent authority may by order appoint in that behalf.

Such officer shall have such powers and follow such procedure as may be

prescribed but shall not have the right to vote.

1. (6) At the first meeting of the village panchayat no business other than the election of the Upa-Sarpanch shall be transacted.
2. (7) If at the election under this section there is an equality of votes, the result of the election shall be decided by lot drawn in the presence of the presiding officer in such manner as he may determine.
3. (8) In the event of a dispute arising as to the validity of an election under the foregoing provisions of this section, the dispute shall be referred within a period of thirty days from the date of the declaration of the result of the election to the competent authority for decision.