The limited question involved in this writ petition is whether a meeting held on 21st February 1991 of the Rajendrapur Gram Panchayet by which the petitioner had been removed from the office of the Pradhan had been properly held. The only ground on which the petitioner has assailed the meeting is that it had been called in violation of the provisions of s. 16 of the West, Bengal Panchayet Act, 1973 (referred to as the Act).

2. Section 16 of the Act in so far as it is relevant provides :––

“(1) Every Gram Panchayat shall hold a meeting at least once in a month in the office of the Gram Panchayat. Such meeting shall be held on such date and at such hour as the Gram Panchayat may fix at the immediately preceding meeting :

Provided that the first meeting of a newly constituted Gram Panchayat shall be held on such date and at such hour and at such place within the local limits of the Gram concerned as the prescribed authority may fix :

Provided further that the Pradhan when required in writing by one third of the members of the Gram Panchayat subject to a minimum of three members to call a meeting shall do so fixing the date and, hour of the meeting within fifteen days after giving int