Rules regarding the proceedings of Panchayats (See Section 94)

Schedule I ("Rules regarding the proceedings of Panchayats (See Section 94)") 1. Place of meeting. - Every meeting of a Panchayat shall be held at its office unless the Chairman or President otherwise directs. 2. Meetings to be public. - Every meeting of a Panchayat shall be held in public; provided that the presiding member may, for reasons to be recorded in the minutes, direct that the public generally or any particular person shall withdraw from the meeting. 3. Chairman or President to preside. - Every meeting of a Panchayat shall be presided over by the Chairman or President, and in his absence, by the Vice-Chairman or Vice-President; and in the absence of both, by a member chosen by the members present at the meeting to preside for the occasion. 4. Quorum. - (1) No business shall be transacted at a meeting of a Panchayat unless there be present at least- (a) one-third of the total number of members of the Panchayat in the case of a Village Panchayat; (b) one-half of the total number of members of the Panchayat in the case of a Panchayat Union Council or a District Panchayat. (2) If at the time appointed for a meeting or within half an hour thereafter, a quorum is not present, the meeting shall stand adjourned to such other day and such other time as the presiding member may fix and a fresh notice for such adjourned meeting shall be sent to all the members. (3) No quorum shall be necessary for a meeting adjourned under sub-rule (2). 5. Decision by majority of votes. - All questions which may come before a Panchayat at any meeting shall be decided by a majority of the votes of the members present and voting. In case of equality of votes, the presiding member shall have and exercise a second or casting vote. 6. Record of proceedings. - (1) No resolution of a Panchayat shall be deemed to have been passed unless it has been moved by a member, seconded by another and carried by a majority of votes. (2) The names of the members voting for and against any resolution and of the members who remain neutral shall be recorded in the minutes of the proceedings. (3) The minutes of the proceedings of the meeting shall be entered in a book to be kept for the purpose and shall be signed by the presiding member and shall be open for inspection by any member of the Panchayat. (4) A copy of the minutes of the proceedings of every meeting of a Panchayat shall, within three days of such meeting, be forwarded to the Inspector in the case of a Village Panchayat and to the Government or such officer as may be authorised by the Government in the case of a Panchayat Union Council or a District Panchayat.