Reservation of the offices of Chairpersons

(1) The offices of the Sarpanchas, the Pradhans and the Pramukhs shall be reserved for -

a) the Scheduled Castes;

b) the Scheduled Tribes; and

c) the Backward Classes;

as also for women in accordance with the provisions contained in the succeeding sub-sections.

(2) The number of each of such offices reserved for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes shall bear, as nearly as may be, the same proportion to the total number of each of such offices in the State as the population of such Castes, or as the case may be, such Tribes in the State bears to the total population of the State.

(3) Such percentage, not exceeding twenty one of offices of Sarpanch or Pradhan in a Panchayat Samiti or Pramukh in Zila Parishad, as the case may be, shall be reserved for Backward Classes, as the percentage of the combined population of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Panchayat Samiti or Zila Parishad area in relation ot othe population of such Panchayat Samiti or Zila Parishad area, as the case may be,falls short of fifty :

Provided that at least one office of Sarpanch or Pradhan in a Panchayat Samiti or Zila Parishad shall be reserved for Backward Classes where the combined population of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Panchayat Samiti or Zila Parishad area, as the case may be, does not exceed seventy percent of the total population of the Panchayat Samiti or Zila Parishad area.

(4)Twenty one per cent of the total number of offices of Pramukh in the State shall be reserved for the Backward Classes.

(5) Not less than one half of the total number of offices of Sarpanchas, Pradhans and Pramukhs in the State shall be reserved for women.

(6) Offices reserved under this section shall be allotted by rotation to different Panchayats, Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishads in the State in such manner as may be prescribed.

Explanation - If a fraction forms part of the number of seats computed under Sec. 15 or offices computed under this section, the number of seats or offices, as the case may be, shall be increased to the next higher number in case the fraction consists of half or more of a seat or office and the fraction shall be ignored in case it consists of less than half of a seat or office.