Provided that the prescribed authority may direct the constitution of the Panchayati Adalat for a smaller number of such Panchayats, but the number of members thereof shall not be less than five.

Composition of Panchayati Adalats Composition of Panchayati Adalats.--(1) Every Panchayati Adalat shall be composed of a panel of members equal in number to the number of Panchayats for which it is constituted.

1. (2) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (3), every Panchayat shall elect in the prescribed manner one member to the Panchayati Adalat constituted for its Panchayat from amongst its own members: Provided that in respect of a Panchayati Adalat constituted for a smaller number of Panchayats the members thereof shall be elected in such manner as may be prescribed.
2. (3) No person shall be qualified for being elected as, or for continuing to be a member of a Panchayati Adalat--
   • (i) if he is below twenty-five years of age; or
   • (ii) if he is not literate; or
   • (iii) if he is or becomes subject to any of the disqualifications mentioned in section 8; or
   • (iv) if he is a Sarpanch, Naib-Sarpanch or Panch of a Panchayat or the member of any House of the State Legislature or Parliament: Provided that a person holding any of the offices mentioned in clause
   • (iv) shall be eligible for election and for continuing to be member of the Panchayati Adalat if he resigns such office.
3. (4) If, a member of a Panchayati Adalat is, subsequent to his election as such elected to any such office as is referred to in clause
   • (iv) of sub-section (3), he shall forthwith cease to be such member.
4. (5) The provisions of sections 6, 10, 11(1), 12, 23 and 24 shall apply mutatis mutandis to a Panchayati Adalat or its members in the same manner as they apply to a Panchayat or Panches thereof.