Chapter XIII GENERAL PROVISIONS REGARDING ELECTIONS

in the conduct of an election or part of an election including the counting of votes or to be responsible after an election for the used ballot papers and other documents in connection with such election, but the expression ‘Official duty’ shall not include any duty imposed otherwise than by or under this Act.

If at a general election or bye-election no person is elected to fill the vacancy a fresh election shall be held within three months after the general election or bye-election, as the case may be, for such vacancy on such day as the State Election

Appointment of 52 53 Special officer or administrative committee or on failure to constitute a Panchayat. - (1) A Panchayat at nay level shall be deemed to be constituted only when the majority of the members are duty elected.

53[(2) Where the term of a panchayat has expired and a new panchayat has not been constituted or where panchayat has been dissolved under section 193, the Government may, by notification in the Gazette appoint a Special Officer or an Administrative Committee consisting of not less than three officers of the Government as members for the administration of the panchayat.] (3) 54 55 56 57 [****] Administrative Committee or the special officer shall hold office for such period not exceeding six months as the Government may specify in the notification under sub-section (2).

55[3 (a) x x]

56[(4) Where a special officer has been appointed under sub-section (2), all powers functions and duties of the Panchayat concerned, the President, and the various committees of the panchayat, shall be exercised and performed by the special officer and where an Administrative Committee has been appointed, the powers, functions and duties of the panchayat shall be exercise and performed by such committee and the powers, duties and functions of the President and the Vice President shall be exercised and performed by the member of the committee authorised by the Government. Provided that, the Special Officer or the Administrative Committee appointed shall exercise the powers and perform the functions subject to the general or specific directions issued by the Government.] (5)The administrative committee or special officers shall be deemed to be a duly constituted panchayat for the purposes of this Act; [provided that the term of office of the special officer or of the administrative committee shall, not withstanding that the term as specified in the notification under sub-section (2) has not expired, be deemed to have expired with effect from the date of reconstitutions of the panchayat.] Inserted by Act 13 of 1999. Inserted by Act 13 of 13 1999. Omitted by Act 13 of 1999. Omitted by Act 13 Inserted by Act 13 of 1999. Inserted by Act 13 of 1999.