Chapter II GRAM SABHA

1. (1) A Gram Sabha shall, subject to sub-section (2), consist of all persons whose names are included in electoral rolls referred to in section 15 within the area of the Gram Sabha: Provided that no person shall be a member of more than one Gram Sabha.
2. (2) A person shall be disqualified for being a member of the Gram Sabha, if--
   • (a) he is not a citizen of India; or
   • (b) he is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent court; or
   • (c) he is for the time being disqualified from voting under the provision of any law relating to corrupt practices and other offences in connection with election to State Legislature.

1. (1) A member of Gram Sabha shall cease to be a member, if he has ceased to be ordinarily resident within the Gram Sabha area.
2. (2) Where any person ceases to be a member of Gram Sabha under sub-section (1) he shall also cease to hold any office to which he may have been elected or appointed by virtue of being a member thereof.

The Gram Sabha shall meet from time to time but six months shall not intervene between any two meetings.

The meeting of the Gram Sabha shall be held in accordance with such procedure as may be prescribed.

1. (1) The quorum for a meeting of the Gram Sabha shall be one-tenth of its total membership.
2. (2) If at the time appointed for the meeting, a quorum is not present, the person presiding shall wait for thirty minutes, and if within such period, there is no quorum, the person presiding shall adjourn the meeting to the same time on the same day in the following week. He shall similarly, after waiting for thirty minutes, adjourn the meeting if at any time after it has begun, attention is drawn to the want of a quorum. A notice of the meeting so fixed shall be posted in the office of the Gram Panchayat. The business which could not be considered at the meeting so postponed for want of quorum, shall be brought before and disposed of at the meeting so fixed or at any subsequent adjourned meeting at which there is a quorum

Every meeting of the Gram Sabha shall be presided over by the Pradhan of the concerned Gram Panchayat and in his absence, by the Up-Pradhan, and in the absence of both by a member of the Gram Panchayat to be chosen from amongst the members of the Panchayat.

The Gram Panchayat shall prepare the agenda for discussion of the Gram Sabha, such matters shall relate to the following, namely:--

1. (a) the annual statement of accounts of the Gram Panchayat, the report of administration of the preceding financial year and the last audit note and replies if any, made thereto;
2. (b) the budget of the Gram Panchayat for the next financial year; and
3. (c) the report in respect of development programmes of the Gram Panchayat relating to the preceding year and development programmes proposed to be undertaken during the current year.

Any resolution relating to the functions entrusted to the Gram Sabha under section 11, shall have to be passed by a majority of votes of the members present and voting in the meeting of the Gram Sabha

A Gram Sabha shall exercise the following functions, namely:--

1. (a) rendering assistance in the implementation of development schemes pertaining to the village;
2. (b) identification of beneficiaries for the implementation of development schemes pertaining to the village: Provided that in case the Gram Sabha fails to identify the beneficiaries within a reasonable time the Gram Panchayat can identify the beneficiaries;
3. (c) mobilising voluntary labour and contributions in kind or cash or both for the community welfare programmes;
4. (d) to promote adult education and family welfare within the village;
5. (e) promotion of unity and harmony among all sections of society in the village;
6. (f) such other matters as may be prescribed.

The Gram Sabha may also form one or more Vigilance Committees consisting of persons, who are not members of the Gram Panchayat to supervise the Gram Panchayat works, schemes and other activities and to put up reports concerning them in its meeting.