243C. Composition of Panchayats.—
(1) Subject to the provisions of
this Part, the Legislature of a State may, by law, make provisions with respect
to the composition of Panchayats:
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1. Original Part IX relating to "The territories in Part D of the First Schedule and other
territories not specified in that Schedule" was omitted by the Constitution (Seventh
Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch. (w.e.f. 1-11-1956) and subsequently ins. by the
Constitution (Seventy-third Amendment) Act, 1992, s. 2 (w.e.f. 24-4-1993).
119
120 THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA
(Part IX.—The Panchayats)
Provided that the ratio between the population of the territorial area of a
Panchayat at any level and the number of seats in such Panchayat to be filled
by election shall, so far as practicable, be the same throughout the State.
(2) All the seats in a Panchayat shall be filled by persons chosen by
direct election from territorial constituencies in the Panchayat area and, for this
purpose, each Panchayat area shall be divided into territorial constituencies in
such manner that the ratio between the population of each constituency and the
number of seats allotted to it shall, so far as practicable, be the same throughout
the Panchayat area.
(3) The Legislature of a State may, by law, provide for the
representation—
(a) of the Chairpersons of the Panchayats at the village level, in the
Panchayats at the intermediate level or, in the case of a State not having
Panchayats at the intermediate level, in the Panchayats at the district
level;
(b) of the Chairpersons of the Panchayats at the intermediate level, in
the Panchayats at the district level;
(c) of the members of the House of the People and the members of
the Legislative Assembly of the State representing constituencies which
comprise wholly or partly a Panchayat area at a level other than the
village level, in such Panchayat;
(d) of the members of the Council of States and the members of the
Legislative Council of the State, where they are registered as electors
within—
(i) a Panchayat area at the intermediate level, in Panchayat at the
intermediate level;
(ii) a Panchayat area at the district level, in Panchayat at the
district level.
(4) The Chairperson of a Panchayat and other members of a Panchayat
whether or not chosen by direct election from territorial constituencies in the
Panchayat area shall have the right to vote in the meetings of the Panchayats.
(5) The Chairperson of—
(a) a Panchayat at the village level shall be elected in such manner as
the Legislature of a State may, by law, provide; and
(b) a Panchayat at the intermediate level or district level shall be
elected by, and from amongst, the elected members thereof.
121 THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA
(Part IX.—The Panchayats)
