Vidhi Codex

The Punjab Gram Panchayat Act, 1952

The Punjab Gram Panchayat Act, 1952

Infrastructure1952137 sections

This law establishes the structure for village local self-government by creating and defining the powers of village councils called Gram Panchayats across Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh. It designates specific geographical areas, known as Sabha areas, that fall under these councils and outlines their authority to manage public lands, collect taxes, and enforce rules. By repealing the previous Village Panchayat Act, this legislation updates how rural communities are administered, ensuring that local governance operates under a consistent legal framework while preserving previously completed administrative actions that do not conflict with its new provisions.

Start reading →Read full ActSections
  1. 1. Title and extent
  2. 2. Repeal and saving
  3. 3. Definitions
  4. 4. Demarcation of Sabha areas
  5. 5. Establishment and Constitution of Gram Sabha
  6. 6. Constitution of Gram Panchayats and disqualifications to be members thereof
  7. 7. Powers and jurisdiction of Gram and Adalti Panchayats
  8. 10. Filling of casual vacancies
  9. 11. Failure to hold election or fill vacancies in case of default.
  10. 12. Meeting and quorum of Sabha.
  11. 13. Budget of Sabha.
  12. 13-A. Definition.
  13. 13-B. Election petitions.
  14. 13-E. Dismissal of election petitions.
  15. 13-F. Power of Deputy Commissioner to withdraw and transfer petitions.
  16. 13-H. Appearance before the prescribed authority.
  17. 13-I. Powers of the prescribed authority.
  18. 13-J. Documentary evidence.
  19. 13-K. Secrecy of voting not to be infringed.
  20. 13-M. Expenses of witnesses.
  21. 13-P. Abatement of election petitions.
  22. 13-R. Execution of orders as to costs.
  23. 13-T. Disqualification for membership.
  24. 16. Appointment of a Secretary
  25. 17. Employment of other servants
  26. 18. Provident fund
  27. 19. Administrative duties
  28. 20. Functions of the district board which may be delegated to the Gram Panchayat
  29. 21. Power to require removal and abatement of nuisance
  30. 22. Power to make general orders
  31. 23. Penalty for disobedience of order of the Panchayat
  32. 24. Power to enquire and make report about misconduct of petty officials
  33. 25. Power to contract
  34. 26. Power to introduce prohibition
  35. 27. By-laws
  36. 28. Entry and Inspection
  37. 29. Transfer of forest area or Irrigation Work
  38. 30. Acquisition of land
  39. 31. Power to manage fairs and markets
  40. 32. Power over water-ways
  41. 32-A. Powers regarding naming of streets and numbering of buildings
  42. 33. Functional Sub-Committees and Local Committees
  43. 34. Helping maintenance of schools, hospitals or dispensaries
  44. 35. Establishment of primary school, dispensary for a group of Panchayats
  45. 36. Assistance to Government servants
  46. 37. Subject to rules made for management conditions agreed upon in writing a Gram Panchayat may receive from any person any
  47. 38. Criminal judicial functions
  48. 39. Additional power
  49. 40. Jurisdiction, etc.
  50. 41. Transfers
  51. 42. Exclusion of certain cases
  52. 43. Cognizance of criminal cases
  53. 44. Action on complaint
  54. 45. Power of Panchayats to refuse to entertain case
  55. 46. Proceedings on failure of the accused to appear
  56. 47. Prompt disposal of case
  57. 48. Punishment
  58. 49. If a fine is imposed under this Act, the Panchayat may order compensation.
  59. 50. False, frivolous or vexatious cases
  60. 51. Supervision of criminal proceedings by Chief Judicial Magistrate.
  61. 52. Civil and revenue judicial functions
  62. 53. Panchayat to be civil or revenue court.
  63. 54. Transfer of suits
  64. 55. Exclusion of Panchayats jurisdiction
  65. 56. Limitation
  66. 57. Institution
  67. 58. Wrong institution
  68. 59. Summary dismissal
  69. 60. Necessary parties in suits
  70. 61. Summons
  71. 62. Dismissal in default and restoration
  72. 63. Ex parte decision
  73. 64. Final decision
  74. 65. Revision
  75. 66. General
  76. 67. Bar to personal interest
  77. 68. Compromise
  78. 69. Bar to Legal Practitioners
  79. 70. Appearance of parties
  80. 71. Difficulties
  81. 72. Attendance of witnesses
  82. 73. Processes
  83. 74. Transfer application
  84. 75. Power of proceeds on application for transfer
  85. 76. Payment by instalments
  86. 77. Finality of decision
  87. 78. Res Judicata / Disposal of fees and fines
  88. 79. Custody of money / Contempt of Court / Conjunctive powers
  89. 80. Sabha Fund
  90. 81. Sources of Gram Fund
  91. 82. Power to impose taxes and fees
  92. 83. Power to write off irrecoverable amounts
  93. 84. Expenses of Gram Panchayats
  94. 85. Recovery of arrears
  95. 86. Power to borrow
  96. 87. Special tax
  97. 95. Delegation of Powers
  98. 95-A. Power of Government regarding general election
  99. 13-C(1). Presentation of Petitions.
  100. 13-C(2). Presentation of Petitions.
  101. 13-C(3). Presentation of Petitions.
  102. 13-D(1). Contents of petition.
  103. 13-D(2). Contents of petition.
  104. 13-G(1). Procedure before prescribed authority.
  105. 13-G(2). Procedure before prescribed authority.
  106. 13-L(1). Answering of incriminating questions and certificate of indemnity.
  107. 13-L(2). Answering of incriminating questions and certificate of indemnity.
  108. 13-N(1). Decision of the prescribed authority.
  109. 13-N(2). Decision of the prescribed authority.
  110. 13-O(1). Grounds for setting aside elections.
  111. 13-O(2). Grounds for setting aside elections.
  112. 13-Q(1). Orders as to costs and payment of costs.
  113. 13-Q(2). Orders as to costs and payment of costs.
  114. 13-Q(3). Orders as to costs and payment of costs.
  115. 13-S(1). Restoration to office of certain persons.
  116. 13-S(2). Restoration to office of certain persons.
  117. 13-U(1). Corrupt practices.
  118. 13-U(2). Corrupt practices.
  119. 13-U(3). Corrupt practices.
  120. 13-U(4). Corrupt practices.
  121. 13-U(5). Corrupt practices.
  122. 13-U(6). Corrupt practices.
  123. 14(1). Gram Panchayats—Conduct of Business: Meetings
  124. 14(2). Gram Panchayats—Conduct of Business: Quorum
  125. 15(1). Maintenance of Panchayat records, etc., and liability to hand them over.
  126. 15(2). Maintenance of Panchayat records, etc., and liability to hand them over.
  127. 15(3). Maintenance of Panchayat records, etc., and liability to hand them over.
  128. 15(4). Maintenance of Panchayat records, etc., and liability to hand them over.
  129. 15(5). Maintenance of Panchayat records, etc., and liability to hand them over.
  130. 18(1). Oath and term of office
  131. 18(2). Oath and term of office
  132. 18(2)-proviso2. Oath and term of office
  133. 18(2)-proviso3. Oath and term of office
  134. 138(2). Enhanced Powers
  135. 138(3). Enhanced Powers
  136. 138(4). Enhanced Powers
  137. 138(5). Enhanced Powers

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