Powers, Functions and Duties of Sarpanch and Up-Sarpanch

(1) The Sarpanch Shall- (a) be responsible for convening the meetings of the Gram Sabha and preside over such meetings. (b) be responsible for convening the meetings of the Panchayat and shall preside over and regulate such meetings; (c) be responsible for the maintenance of records, of the Panchayat; (d) have the general responsibility for the financial and executive administration of the Panchayat; (e) exercise administrative supervision and control over the work of the staff of the Panchayat and the officers and employees whose services may be placed at the disposal of the Panchayat by any other authority; (f) for the transaction of business connected with this Act or for the purpose of making any order authorised thereby, exercise such powers, perform such functions and discharge such duties as may be exercised, performed or discharged by the Panchayat under this Act or the rules made there under

(g) furnish to the State Government or the officer incharge of Panchayats such reports, returns and record, whether periodical or otherwise, as may be prescribed or as may from time to time to be called for; and (h) exercise such other powers, perform such other functions and discharge such other duties as the Panchayat may, by a resolution, direct or as the Government may, by rules made in this behalf, prescribe. (2) The Up-Sarpanch shall- a) exercise such of the powers, perform such of the functions and discharge such of the duties of Sarpanch as the Sarpanch may, from time to time, subject to rules made in this behalf by the Government, delegate to him by order in writing; b) in the absence of the Sarpanch, due either to his office remaining vacant or otherwise, exercise all the powers, perform all the functions and discharge all the duties of the Sarpanch; and c) exercise such other powers, perform such other functions and discharge such other duties as the Panchayat may, by resolution, direct or the Government may, by rules made in this behalf, perscribe. (3) In the absence of both the Sarpanch and the Up-Sarpanch due either to their offices remaining vacant or otherwise the powers, functions and duties of the Sarpanch shall be exercised, performed and discharged by such elected member of the Panchayat and in such manner as the competent authority may direct 1 Provided that- (i) the Sarpanch shall exercise powers and perform functions and duties under Clause (d) to (h); or (ii) the Up-Sarpanch shall exercise powers and perform functions and duties in accordance with Sub-sec. (2); or (iii) an elected member of the Panchayat empowered to act in accordance with Sub-sec. (3); shall exercise powers and perform functions and duties of a Sarpanch; only after seeking prior approval of the Administration (g) furnish to the State Government or the officer incharge of Panchayats such reports, returns and record, whether periodical or otherwise, as may be prescribed or as may from time to time to be called for; and

(h) exercise such other powers, perform such other functions and discharge such other duties as the Panchayat may, by a resolution, direct or as the Government may, by rules made in this behalf, prescribe.

(2) The Up-Sarpanch shall-

a) exercise such of the powers, perform such of the functions and discharge such of the duties of Sarpanch as the Sarpanch may, from time to time, subject to rules made in this behalf by the Government, delegate to him by order in writing;

b) in the absence of the Sarpanch, due either to his office remaining vacant or otherwise, exercise all the powers, perform all the functions and discharge all the duties of the Sarpanch; and

c) exercise such other powers, perform such other functions and discharge such other duties as the Panchayat may, by resolution, direct or the Government may, by rules made in this behalf, perscribe.

(3) In the absence of both the Sarpanch and the Up-Sarpanch due either to their offices remaining vacant or otherwise the powers, functions and duties of the Sarpanch shall be exercised, performed and discharged by such elected member of the Panchayat and in such manner as the competent authority may direct 1

Provided that-

(i) the Sarpanch shall exercise powers and perform functions and duties under Clause (d) to (h); or

(ii) the Up-Sarpanch shall exercise powers and perform functions and duties in accordance with Sub-sec. (2); or

(iii) an elected member of the Panchayat empowered to act in accordance with Sub-sec. (3); shall exercise powers and perform functions and duties of a Sarpanch; only after seeking prior approval of the Administration and Establishment Committee constituted under Sec. 55-A if the State Government so directs by notification in the Official Gazette.