Duration of panchayats, etc

*13. Duration of panchayats, etc. –

1. (1) Every panchayat, unless sooner dissolved under any law for the time being in force, shall continue for five years from the date appointed for its first meeting and no longer.
2. (2) An election to constitute a panchayat shall be completed ---
   • (a) before the expiry of its duration specified in sub-section (1); and
   • (b) before the expiration of a period of six months from the date of its dissolution: Provided that where the remainder of the period for which the dissolved panchayat would have continued is less than six months, it shall not be necessary to hold any election under this sub-section for constituting the panchayat for such period.
3. (3) A panchayat constituted upon the dissolution of a panchayat before the expiration of its duration shall continue only for the remainder of the period for which the dissolved panchayat would have continued under sub-section (1) had it not been so dissolved.
4. (4) Every casual vacancy of an elected member of a panchayat shall be filled, subject to sub-section (2), as soon as possible.