Composition of Village Panchayat

(1) Every Village Panchayat shall consist of elected members equal to the number of seats notified under sub-section (1) of section 6. (2) All the seats in a Village Panchayat shall be filled by persons chosen by direct election in accordance with the provisions of this Act. (2)In every Village Panchayat, seats shall be reserved for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. (3)The number of seats reserved under sub-section (3) shall be determined by the Government and the number of seats so determined shall bear, as early as may be, the same proportion to the total number of seats in that Panchayat as the population of the Scheduled Castes in that Panchayat area or, as the case may be, of the Scheduled Tribes in that Panchayat area bears to the total Population of the Panchayat area, and such seats shall be allotted to the [State Election Commission] or an Officer authorised by it **under sub-section (1B) of section 10 by rotation to different constituencies in that Panchayat area; Provided that where the Population of the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes in a Panchayat area is not sufficient enough to make them eligible for reservation of any seat, one seat shall be reserved in that Panchayat, for the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes having higher population. (4)One-third of the total number of seats reserved under sub-section (4) shall be reserved by the Government for women belonging to the Scheduled castes or the Scheduled Tribes as the case may be: 6 7 Substituted by Second Amendmet Act 5 of 2005 Substituted by Act 13 of 1999. ^Substituted by Act 3 of 2005 Provided that if the number of seats reserved for Scheduled Castes or, as the case may be, the Scheduled Tribes, under sub-section (4) is one, that seat shall not be reserved for women, belonging to Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes, as the case may be (5)One-third [including the seats reserved under sub-section (5)] of the total number of seats in a Village Panchayat shall be reserved by the Government for women and such seats shall be allotted by the State Election Commission or the Officer authorised by it ** under sub-section (1B) of section 10 by rotation to different constituencies in the Village Panchayat area. (6)Nothing contained in sub-sections (3) to (6) shall be deemed so prevent members of the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes or the women from standing for election to the non- reserved seats in a Village Panchayat. (7)A Village Panchayat shall have a President and a Vice President elected by the members of the village Panchayat from among themselves.

1. (2) All the seats in a Village Panchayat shall be filled by persons chosen by direct election in accordance with the provisions of this Act. (2)In every Village Panchayat, seats shall be reserved for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. (3)The number of seats reserved under sub-section (3) shall be determined by the Government and the number of seats so determined shall bear, as early as may be, the same proportion to the total number of seats in that Panchayat as the population of the Scheduled Castes in that Panchayat area or, as the case may be, of the Scheduled Tribes in that Panchayat area bears to the total Population of the Panchayat area, and such seats shall be allotted to the [State Election Commission] or an Officer authorised by it **under sub-section (1B) of section 10 by rotation to different constituencies in that Panchayat area; Provided that where the Population of the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes in a Panchayat area is not sufficient enough to make them eligible for reservation of any seat, one seat shall be reserved in that Panchayat, for the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes having higher population. (4)One-third of the total number of seats reserved under sub-section (4) shall be reserved by the Government for women belonging to the Scheduled castes or the Scheduled Tribes as the case may be: 6 7

Substituted by Second Amendmet Act

5 of 2005 Substituted by Act 13 of 1999. ^Substituted by Act 3 of 2005

Provided that if the number of seats reserved for Scheduled Castes or, as the case may be, the Scheduled Tribes, under sub-section (4) is one, that seat shall not be reserved for women, belonging to Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes, as the case may be (5)One-third [including the seats reserved under sub-section (5)] of the total number of seats in a Village Panchayat shall be reserved by the Government for women and such seats shall be allotted by the State Election Commission or the Officer authorised by it ** under sub-section (1B) of section 10 by rotation to different constituencies in the Village Panchayat area. (6)Nothing contained in sub-sections (3) to (6) shall be deemed so prevent members of the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes or the women from standing for election to the non- reserved seats in a Village Panchayat. (7)A Village Panchayat shall have a President and a Vice President elected by the members of the village Panchayat from among themselves.