Standing Committees of a Panchayat

(1) Every Panchayat shall constitute standing committee, one each for the following group of subjects, namely:-

(a) Administration and Establishment;

(b) Finance and Taxation;

(c) development and production programmes, including those relating to agriculture, animal husbandry, minor irrigation, co-operation, cottage industries and other allied subjects;

(d) education; and

(e) social services and social justice including rural water supply, health and sanitation, gramdan, communication, welfare of weaker sections and allied subjects.

(2)A Panchayat may constitute a sixth Standing Committee for any of the subjects not enumerated in any group or groups mentioned in Sub-sec. (1). (3) The Standing Committee shall be so constituted that each member finds place in at least one such committee.

(4) Every Standing Committee shall consist of five members elected from amongst the elected members of the Panchayat in the prescribed manner.

(5) The Sarpanch shall be the ex-officio member and chairman of the Standing Committee for the group of subjects specified in Clause (a) of Sub-sec. (1) and Chairpersons of other Standing Committees shall be ex-offio members of the administration and establishment committee.

(6) The Up-Sarpanch, if he is elected a member of any standing committee of which the Sarpanch is not a member, shall be ex-offio Chairman thereof.

(7) The Chairman for every other standing committee of which there is no ex-officio Chairman shall be elected in the prescribed manner.

(8) A Standing Committee, of which there is an ex-officio or elected Chairman, shall, at each meeting thereof at which such Chairman does not attend, elect from amongst its members a Chairman for such meeting.

(9) Every standing committee shall, in relation to the subject assigned to it, exercise such powers and perform such functions of the Panchayat as it may from time to time delegate to such Standing Committee.

(10)If a member of a standing committee absent himself, without the previous permission of the chairman thereof, from five consecutive meetings of the Standing Committee of which he had due notice, his seat on the Standing Committee shall be liable to be declared vacant: (d) education; and (e) social services and social justice including rural water supply, health and sanitation, gramdan, communication, welfare of weaker sections and allied subjects. (2)A Panchayat may constitute a sixth Standing Committee for any of the subjects not enumerated in any group or groups mentioned in Sub-sec. (1). (3) The Standing Committee shall be so constituted that each member finds place in at least one such committee. (4) Every Standing Committee shall consist of five members elected from amongst the elected members of the Panchayat in the prescribed manner. (5) The Sarpanch shall be the ex-officio member and chairman of the Standing Committee for the group of subjects specified in Clause (a) of Sub-sec. (1) and Chairpersons of other Standing Committees shall be ex-offio members of the administration and establishment committee. (6) The Up-Sarpanch, if he is elected a member of any standing committee of which the Sarpanch is not a member, shall be ex-offio Chairman thereof. (7) The Chairman for every other standing committee of which there is no ex-officio Chairman shall be elected in the prescribed manner. (8) A Standing Committee, of which there is an ex-officio or elected Chairman, shall, at each meeting thereof at which such Chairman does not attend, elect from amongst its members a Chairman for such meeting. (9) Every standing committee shall, in relation to the subject assigned to it, exercise such powers and perform such functions of the Panchayat as it may from time to time delegate to such Standing Committee. (10)If a member of a standing committee absent himself, without the previous permission of the chairman thereof, from five consecutive meetings of the Standing Committee of which he had due notice, his seat on the Standing Committee shall be liable to be declared vacant: Provided that, if the Chairman himself is so absent, he shall obtain the approval of the Sarpanch for such absence or, if the Chairman is himself the Sarpanch the approval of the Panchayat thereto shall be obtained. (11)For the purpose of Sub-sec. (10), the member of the Standing Committee, who so absents, himself from such four consecutive meetings thereof, shall be served immediately after the termination of the fourth meeting with a notice specifying the particulars of the meetings which he failed to attend and informing him that, upon his failure to attend the next meeting his seat on the standing committee shall be declared vacant, and, if such member does not so attend the fifth meeting or does not show cause to the contrary, a declaration shall be made accordingly by the competent Authority.