Sabhapati and Up-Sabhapati

Every Gram Panchayat shall, at its first meeting at which a quorum is present, elect in the prescribed manner, one of its members to be the Sabhapati and another member to be the Up-Sabhapati of the Gram Panchayat.

(1)

1. (2) The Sabbapati and Up-Sabhapati shall, subject to the provisions of section 20 and to their continuing as members, hold office for a period of five years: Provided that a Sabhapati or an Up-Sabhapati shall continue to hold office after the expiry of the said period until a new Sabhapati or Up-Sabhapati is elected and assumes office or until an authority, or a person or persons is or are appointed under the second proviso to sub-section
   • (I) of section 8.
2. (3) When
   • (a) the office of the Sabhapati falls vacant by reason of death, resignation, removal or otherwise; or
   • (b) the Sabhapati is, by reason of leave, illness or other cause, temporarily unable to act, the Up-Sabhapati shall exercise the powers, perform the functions and discharge the duties of the Sabhapati until a new Sabhapati is elected and assumes office or until the Sabhapati resumes his duties, as the case may be.
3. (4) When
   • (a) the office of the Up-Sabhapati falls vacant by reason of death, resignation, removal or otherwise or
   • (b) the Up-Sabhapati is, by reason of leave, illness or other cause, temporarily unable to act, the Sabhapati shall exercise the powers, perform the functions and discharge the duties of the Up-Sabhapati until a new Up-Sabhapati is elected and assumes office or until the Up-Sabhapati resumes his duties, as the case may be.
4. (5) When the office of the Sabhapati and the Up-Sabhapati are both vacant, or the Sabhapati and the Up-Sabhapati are temporarily unable to act, the prescribed authority, may appoint a Sabhapati and an Up-Sabhapati from among the members of the Gram Panchayat to act as such until a Sabhapati and an Up..Sabhapati are elected and assume office.