Maintenance of Panchayat records, etc., and liability to hand them over.

(1) The Sarpanch and, in his absence, the Panch elected by the Panchayat for the purpose shall be responsible for the maintenance of all prescribed records, registers and other property belonging to or vested in the Sabha or the Panchayat and, on the vacation of his office, the outgoing Sarpanch or Panch shall hand them over to the Sarpanch or to such other Panch as authorised in this behalf by the Deputy Commissioner.