Constitution of Panchayats and their Duration
State of Gujarat
Gujarat Panchayats Act, 1993
Village Panchayats
Taluka Panchayats
District Panchayats
9- Constitution of Village Panchayats
(1) A village panchayat shall consist of such number of members as provided in sub-section (4);
(2) The members of a village panchayat shall be elected from amongst the qualified voters of the village;
(3) (a) A village panchayat shall have a Sarpanch and an Upa-Sarpanch.
(b) The Sarpanch shall be elected by ballot by the qualified voters of the village from amongst themselves.
(c) The Upa-Sarpanch shall be elected by the members of the village panchayat from amongst themselves.
(4) A village panchayat of a village having population not exceeding three thousand shall consist of seven members and in case of a village panchayat where the population of the village exceeds three thousand, than for every one thousand or part thereof in excess of three thousand, the said number of seven shall be increased by two.
(5)(a)(i) Seats shall be reserved by the State Government for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in every village panchayat in the State and the number of seats so reserved shall bear, as nearly as may be the same proportion to the total number of seats in that panchayat as the population of the Scheduled Castes in the village or as the case may be of the Scheduled Tribes in that village bears to the total population of that village and such seats shall be allotted by the State Election Commission by location to different wards in that village in the prescribed manner.
(ia) in the case of a village panchayat, the whole local area of which comprises of any of the Scheduled Areas, the number of seats reserved for the Scheduled Tribes under sub-clause (i) shall be increased to such number as is not less than one-half of the total number of seats in the village panchayat.
(ii) where in a village there is in the opinion of the State Government population of socially and educationally backward classes, there shall be reserved by the State Government for the socially and educationally backward classes one tenth of the total number of seats in a village panchayat and such seats shall be allotted by the State Election Commission by rotation to different wards in that village in the prescribed manner.
(b) One third of the total number of seats reserved under clause (a) shall, be reserved by the State Government for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes or, as the case may be, the socially and educationally backward classes.
(c) One third (including the number of seats reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the socially and educationally backward classes) of the total number of seats in a village panchayat shall be reserved by the State Government for women and such seats shall be allotted by the State Election Commission by rotation to different wards in the village in the prescribed manner.
10- Constitution of Taluka Panchayats
(1) A taluka panchayat shall consist of elected members as provided in sub-section (4).
(2) The elected members of a taluka panchayat shall be elected from amongst the qualified voters of the taluka.
(3) A taluka panchayat shall have a president and vice president elected by its elected members from amongst themselves.
(4) A taluka panchayat of a taluka having population not exceeding one lakh shall consist of fifteen members and in case of a taluka panchayat where the population of the taluka exceeds one lakh, then for every twenty-five thousand or part thereof in excess of one lakh, the said number of fifteen shall be increased by two.
(5) (a)(i) Seats shall be reserved by the State Government for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in every taluka panchayat in the State and the number of seats so reserved shall bear, as nearly as may be, the same proportion to the total number of seats to be filled in by direct election in that panchayat as the population of the scheduled Castes in the taluka or as the case may be, of the Scheduled Tribes in the taluka bears to the total population in the taluka and such seats shall be allotted by the State Election Commission by rotation to different territorial constituencies in that taluka in the prescribed manner.
(ia) in the case of a taluka panchayat, the whole local area of which comprises of any of the Scheduled Areas, the number of seats reserved for the Scheduled Tribes under clause (i) shall be increased to such number as is not less than one-half of the total number of seats in the taluka panchayat.
(ii) One tenth of the total number of seats in a taluka panchayat shall be reserved by the State Government for socially and educationally backward classes and such seats shall be allotted by the State Election Commission by rotation to different territorial constituencies in that taluka in the prescribed manner.
(b) One third of the total number of seats reserved under clause (a) shall be reserved by the State Government for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes or as the case may be, socially and educationally backward classes.
(c) One third (including the number of seats reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and socially and educationally backward classes) of the total number of seats to be filled by direct election in a taluka panchayat shall be reserved by the State Government for women and such seats shall be allotted by the State Election Commission by rotation to different territorial constituencies in taluka in the prescribed manner.
(6) Members of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly elected from any constituency in the taluka or a part thereof, shall be permanent invitees to such taluka panchayat, but such invitees shall not have the right to vote in the meetings of the taluka panchayat:
Provided that when a person ceases to be a member of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly, he shall cease to be a permanent invitees to the Taluka Panchayat.
Explanation. – For the removal of doubts, it is hereby clarified that status of a permanent invitee shall not be construed to be that of a member of the Taluka Panchayat referred to in clauses (3) and (4) of article 243C of the Constitution of India.
11- Constitution of District Panchayats
(1) A district panchayat shall consist of elected members as provided in sub-section (4).
(2) The elected members of a district panchayat shall be elected from among the qualified voters of the district.
(3) A district panchayat shall have a president and a vice-president elected by its elected members from amongst themselves.
(4) A district panchayat of a district having population not exceeding four lakhs shall consist of seventeen members and in case of a district panchayat where the population of the district exceeds four lakhs, then for every one lakh or part thereof in excess of four lakhs, the said number of seventeen shall be increased by two.
(5)(a)(i) Seats shall be reserved by the State Government for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in every district panchayat in the State and the number of seats so reserved shall bear, as nearly as may be, the same proportion to the total number of seats to be filled in by direct election in that panchayat as the population of the Scheduled Castes in the district or as the case may be Scheduled Tribes in the district bears to the total population in the district, and such seats shall be allotted by the State Election Commission by rotation to different territorial constituencies in that district in the prescribed manner.
(ia) in the case of a district panchayat, the whole local area of which comprises of any of the Scheduled Areas, the number of seats reserved for the Scheduled Tribes under sub-clause (i) shall be increased to such number as is not less than one-half of the total number of seats in the district panchayat.
(ii) One tenth of the total number of seats in a district panchayat shall be reserved by the State Government for socially and educationally backward classes and such seats shall be allotted by the State Election Commission by rotation to different territorial constituencies in that district in the prescribed manner.
(b) One third of the total number of seats reserved under clause (a) shall, be reserved by the State Government for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes or, as the case may be, the socially and educationally backward classes.
(c) One third (including the number of seats reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and socially and educationally backward classes) of the total number of seats to be filled by direct election in a district panchayat all be reserved by the State Government for women and such seats shall be allotted by the State Election Commission by rotation to different territorial constituencies in the district in the prescribed manner.
(6) Members of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly elected from any constituency in the District or a part thereof shall be permanent invitees to the District Panchayat, but such invitees shall not have the right to vote in the meeting of the District Panchayat:
Provided that when a person ceases to be a Member of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly, he shall cease to be a permanent invitee to the District Panchayat.
Explanation. – For the removal of doubts, it is hereby clarified that status of a permanent invitee shall not be construed to be that of a member of the District Panchayat referred to in clauses (3) and (4) of Article 243 C of the Constitution of India.
11A- Nomination of members of Scheduled Tribes
If for any reason an election does not result in the return of any member of Scheduled Tribes in a taluka panchayat or district panchayat, then the State Government may nominate from amongst members belonging to Scheduled Tribes who are qualified to be elected, such number of members as not to exceed one-tenth of the total members to be elected in that panchayat.
13- Duration of Panchayats and their reconstitution
(1) Every panchayat, unless sooner dissolved under this Act shall continue for five years from the date appointed for its first meeting and no longer.
(2) An election to constitute a panchayat shall be completed-
(a) before the expiry of its duration specified a sub-section (1);
(b) before the expiration of a period of six months from the date of its dissolution;
Provided that where the remainder of the period for which the dissolved panchayat would have continued is less than six months, it shall not be necessary to hold any election under this sub-section for constituting the panchayat for such period.
(3) A panchayat constituted upon the dissolution of a panchayat before the expiration of its duration shall continue only for the remainder of the period for which the dissolved panchayat would have continued under sub-section (1) had it not been so dissolved.
