S.1 SHORT TITLE

       This Act may be called the Bombay Village Panchayats Act, 1958.

S.2 EXTENT AND COMMENCEMENT

       (1) It extends to the whole of the 1 [State of Maharashtra], except the areas within the limits of a municipal corporation, municipality or cantonment established by or under any law for the time being in force.
       (2) It shall come into force on such date 2[as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint].

S.3 Definitions.-

       In this Act unless the context otherwise requires,—
       3[* * * ]
       (a-2) "Auditor" means an Auditor as defined in the Bombay Local Fund Audit Act, 1930 4[and in relation to a panchayat having an annual income (including grant received from the State Government) of less than Rs. 5,000, also includes an Extension Officer duly authorised in writing by the Chief Executive Officer];
       5[(a-3) "Backward Class of citizens" means such classes or parts of or groups within such classes as are declared, from time to time, by the State Government to be Other Backward Classes and Vimukta Jatis and Nomadic Tribes;]
       (1) "building" includes a hut, shed, or other enclosure, whether used as a human dwelling or for any other purpose whatsoever and also includes w

S.4 DECLARATION OF VILLAGE

       (l)4[Every village specified in the notification issued under clause (g) of Article 243 of the Constitution of India shall be known by the name of that village specified in that notification : ]
       5[Provided that, where a group of revenue villages or hamlets or other such administrative unit or part thereof is 6[specified in that notification] to be a village, the village shall be known by the name of the revenue village, hamlet or as the case may be, administrative unit or part thereof, having the largest population.]
       (2) 7[Where the circumstances so require to include or exclude any local area from the local area of a village to or alter the limits of a village or that a local area shall cease to be a village, then the notification issued in the like manner after consultation with the Standing Committee and the Panchaya

S.6 Establishment of panchayats.

       In every village there shall be a panchayat.
       1[(6)* * *]

S.7 MEETINGS OF GRAM SABHA

       (1) There shall be held at least 2[Four meetings] of the Gram Sabha 3[every financial year] on such date, at such 4[time and place, and in such manner], as may be prescribed 5[and if the Sarpanch or in his absence the Upa-Sarpanch fails without sufficient cause, to 6[hold 7[any of such four meetings]], he shall be disqualified for continuing as Sarpanch or, as the case may be, Upa-Sarpanch or for being chosen as such for the remainder of
       1. Section 6 was deleted by Mah. 21 of 1994, s. 4.
       2. These words were substituted for the words "two meetings" by Mah. 21 of 2000, s. 2(a).
       3. These words were substituted for the words "every year" by Mah. 36 of 1965, s. 4(a).
       4. These words were substituted for the words "time and place" by Mah. 2

S.8 PANCHAYAT TO PLACE BEFORE GRAM SABHA STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS ETC., AND DUTIES OF GRAM SABHA

       (1) The first meeting of the Gram
       
       1. These words were substituted for the words "of the panchayat" by Mah. 21 of 2000, s. 2(d). (w.e.f. 17.4.2000).
       2. This proviso was substituted for the original by Mah. 36 of 1965, s. 4(b).
       3. These words were substituted for the word "Collector" ibid.
       
       Sabha in 1[every financial year] shall be held within two months from the commencement of that year, and the panchayat shall place before such meeting -
       (i) the annual statement of accounts;
       (ii) the report of the administration of the preceding financial year;
 &n

S.9 INCORPORATION OF PANCHAYATS

       Every panchayat shall be a body corporate by the name of "the Village Panchayat of", having perpetual succession and a common seal, with power to acquire and hold property, both moveable and immoveable, whether within or without the limits of the village over which it has authority and may in its corporate name sue and be sued.

S.10 CONSTITUTION OF PANCHAYATS.

       (1) 1[* * *]
       2[(a) A panchayat shall consist of,—
       (i) such number of members not being less than seven and not more than 3[seventeen as the 4[State Government may prescribe]], who shall be elected in accordance with Section 11:
       5[Provided that, the ratio between the population of the territorial area of a panchayat and the number of seats in such panchayat to be filled by election shall, so far as practicable, be the same throughout the State.]
       6[(ii) * * *]
       This portion was deleted by Mah. 52 of 1994, s. 2 (w.e.f. 16.12.1994).
       Clause (a) was substituted for the original by Mah. 6 of 1975, s. 50, Sch.
       These wo

S.10(a) STATE ELECTION COMMISSION

       (1) The superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of the electoral rolls for, and the conduct of, all elections to the panchayats shall vest in the State Election Commissioner.
       The State Election Commissioner may, by order, delegate any of his powers and functions to any officer of the Commission or any officer of the State Government not below the rank of Tahsildar.
       All the officers and members of the staff appointed or deployed for preparation of electoral rolls and conduct of election of panchayats under this Act or the Rules shall function under the superintendence, direction and control of the State Election Commissioner.
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act and the Rules, the Commission may issue such special or general orders or directions which may not be inconsistent with the provisions of the Act fo