Amendment status not verified — confirm the current text below against the official source.
(1) The term of office of members of a village Panchayat, a Block Panchayat or a District Panchayat shall be five years from the date fixed for convening the first meeting of that Panchayat. (2) Ordinary vacancies in the office of members of Panchayat at any level shall be filled at general elections which shall be fixed by the Government to take place on such day or days within three months before the occurrence of the vacancies as they think fit. 38EA[Provided that if the context so requires, general election may be conducted, within six months before the occurrence of vacancies as required by the State Election Commission, so as to facilitate conduct of general elections to different levels of Panchayats simultaneously.] (3) A casual vacancy in the office of a member of Panchayat at any level shall be filled by the State Election Commission, within #[six months] after the occurrence of the vacancy, through a by-election. (4) No by-election shall be held to fill a vacancy occurring within six months before the ordinary date of retirement by efflux of time. 38F[(4a). A casual vacancy of a member of the Panchayat at any level shall be reported directly by the Secretary concerned, to the State Election Commission within seven days of the occurrence of such vacancy and the Secretary who defaults in reporting the vacancy to the Commission within the said period without reasonable cause, shall be punishable with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees and for this purpose the State Election Commission shall have the power to initiate prosecution proceedings.] (5) A member of a Panchayat at any level elected at a by-election shall enter upon office forthwith, but shall hold office only so long as the member in whose place he is elected would have been entitled to hold office if the vacancy had not occurred. Substituted by Act 7 of 1996. Proviso inserted by Act 34 of 2014 (w.e.f. 14/06/2010). Sub-section (4A) added by Act 13 of 2000, w.e.f. 18/01/2000.