Chapter II Chapter II

Constitution and Governance of Ward Development Committee

3. (1) There shall be a Ward Development Committee for each Ward in a Municipality to be constituted by the State Government immediately after the constitution of the Municipality.

1. (2) Each Ward Development Committee shall consist of, (a) the Councillor of the Ward, who shall be the Chairperson of the Ward Development Committee;
   • (b) two persons to be elected from the Ward;
   • (c) two persons representing the civil society from the Ward, nominated by the State Government. Explanation. - For the purposes of this section, 'civil society' means any non-government organisation or association or persons, established, constituted, or registered under any law for the time being in force and working for social welfare, and includes any community-based organization, professional institution and civic, health, educational, social or cultural body or any trade or industrial organization and such other association or body as the State Government may decide.
2. (3) A person shall be disqualified to continue as such member, if under the provisions of this Act or any other law for the time being in force, he would be disqualified for being elected as a member of a Municipality.
3. (4) The Executive Officer shall be entitled to take part in the meetings and deliberations of the Ward Development Committee. The Chairman of the Ward Development Committee may request the representatives of concerned municipal departments as special invitees to participate in the meetings whenever problems respecting their departments are to be discussed.
4. (5) Any official of the Municipality nominated by the Executive Officer of the Municipality shall be the Secretary of the Ward Development Committee. All minutes of the proceedings of the meeting of the Ward Development Committee shall be recorded by the Secretary and copy of minutes of the proceedings of each meeting shall be forwarded by him to the Municipality.
5. (6) The term of office of the Ward Development Committee shall be co-extensive with the duration of the Municipality.

4.(1) A person shall be disqualified for being chosen as, and for being a member of the Ward Development Committee if he is so disqualified for the purpose of election to the Municipality: Provided that no person shall be disqualified on the ground that he is less than twenty five years of age, if he has attained the age of eighteen years.

1. (2) If any question arises as to whether a person has become subject to any of the disqualifications mentioned in sub-section (1), the question shall be referred for the decision of the Election Tribunal in such manner as may be prescribed.

5.(1) Election to the office of the members of the Ward Development Committee shall be held in accordance with the rules made by the State Government in this behalf. The elections to the office of the members of the Ward Development Committee shall be held simultaneously with the election to the Municipality.

1. (2) The election to the office of the Ward Development Committee shall be conducted under the aegis of the State Election Commission.

6. The member of the Ward Development Committee shall ordinarily hold office for a duration that is co-terminus with that of the Municipality concerned: Provided that no person shall continue to hold office as a member of the Ward Development Committee if, at any time during his tenure, he incurs any of the disqualifications prescribed by or under any law for the time being in force for the purpose of elections to the Legislature of the State concerned: Provided further that no person shall be entitled, or continue to be entitled, to hold office as a member of the Ward Development Committee of the Ward in which he is not ordinarily resident.