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

1. (1) On the constitution of a district panchayat or on its reconstitution under section 13 or under any other provisions of this Act there shall be called the first meeting thereof for the election of its President and the Vice President from amongst its elected members. (2) (a) The offices of President of District Panchayts in the State shall be reserved by the State Government for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes and the number of offices of President of the District Panchayats in the State so reserved shall bear as nearly as may be, the same proportion to the total number of offices of President of District Panchayats 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 the President of District Panchyats in the State; (b) (i) 1[As nearly as may be one-half] of the total number of offices of President of District Panchayats in the State reserved under clause (a) and- (ii) 1[As nearly as may be one-half] of the total number of offices of President of District Panchayats in the State, not so reserved, shall be reserved by the State Government for women. (3) The number of offices reserved under sub-section (2) shall be allotted by the State Government by rotation to different District Panchayats in the State in the prescribed manner. (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 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. (5) The first meeting 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. (6) No business other than the election of the President and the Vice-President shall be transacted at the meeting. (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 the may determine. (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.

section 13 or under any other provisions of this Act there shall be called the first meeting thereof for the election of its President and the Vice President from amongst its elected members.

1. (2) (a) The offices of President of District Panchayts in the State shall be reserved by the State Government for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes and the number of offices of President of the District Panchayats in the State so reserved shall bear as nearly as may be, the same proportion to the total number of offices of President of District Panchayats 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 the President of District Panchyats in the State;
   • (b) (i) 1[As nearly as may be one-half] of the total number of offices of President of District Panchayats in the State reserved under clause (a) and- (ii) 1[As nearly as may be one-half] of the total number of offices of President of District 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 District 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 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.
4. (5) The first meeting 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.
5. (6) No business other than the election of the President and the Vice-President shall be transacted at the meeting.
6. (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 the may determine.
7. (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.