Establishment of Village

ESTABLISHMENT OF VILLAGE. CONSTITUTTON OF VIttAcE COLTNCII, BLOCK AND DISTRICT DEVETOPMENT COMMITTEE

1. (1) The State Government shall have the power to notify a village or a sub-village or give recognition to settlement sites as such, which have been in existence for considerable period of time, by notification in the Official Gazette from time to time as it deems necessary, Provided that the notification shall specify the name of the village by which it shall be known and shall also specify the local limit of that village Provided further that the State Government shall also have the power to alter the name, boundary and area of a village, including name of streets, roads, community assets, monuments, etc. therein.
2. (2) There shall be an institution of Local Self Government at the village level called the Village Council constituted by the State Government comprising one or more villages as the State Government may by notification in the Official Gazette, decide to be formed in the manner hereinafter given: Provided that:
   • (a) The State Government may constitute more than one village council in a village or notified town where municipality is not yet instituted;
   • (b) Except in the case of bifurcation or rationalisation of the existing Village Council, no new Village Council shall be established in a village having a population less than five hundred.
   • (c) A village once notified as a constituent of a Village Council is liable to be denotified at any time if the village becomes vacant or if its population is reduced to less than five hundred or if a situation arises demanding such alteration for a reasonable ground of administrative developmental or security reasons as the State Government may decide.
3. (3) The Government may abolish a Village Council if the population of the village has become too small to have Village Council of its own or if in its opinion, there is an exigency to amalgamate two or more Village Councils on the ground of administrative convenience, in such a situation the village may be integrated into the nearest village having a Village Council under sub-section () or as arranged by the Government.
4. (4) The State Government shall publish list of villages and Village Councils in the Official Gazette from time to time.
5. (5) If deemed necessary, villages having two or more Village Councils may constitute a Joint Village Council Committee with the approval of the State Government. The manner in which such committee is constituted, its composition and functions may be prescribed by the State Government by notification in the Official Gazette.