The Haryana Panchayati Raj Act, 1994

Keywords : Assembly, Backward Classes, Block Development and Panchayat Officer, General Election, Gram Fund, Gram Panchayat, Gram Sabha, Gram Sachiv, Panch, Panchayat Area, Panchayat Samiti, Population, Sarpanch, Zila Parishad
Amendment appended: 22 of 2007, 10 of 2012, 26 of 2013

THE HARYANA PANCHAYATI RAJ ACT, 1994
(HARYANA ACT NO. 11 OF 1994)
1
[ Received the assent of the President of India on the 21st April, 1994, and first published
for general information in the Haryana Government Gazette (Extra- ordinary), Legislative
Supplement Part I of the 22nd April, 1994 ]
1 2 3 4
Year No. Short title Whether repealed or otherwise affected
by legislation
1994 11 The Haryana Panchayati Raj
Act, 1994
Amended by Haryana Act 19 of 2
[1995
Amended by Haryana Act 8 of 3
[1997
Amended by Haryana Act 10 of 4
[1999
Amended by Haryana Act 11 of 5
[2000
Amended by Haryana Act 16 of 6
[2000
Amended by Haryana Act 17 of 7
[2000
Amended by Haryana Act 17 of 8
[2002
Amended by Haryana Act 14 of 9
[2003
Amended by Haryana Act 19 of 10[2004
Amended by Haryana Act 26 of 11[2004
Amended by Haryana Act 7 of 12[2006
1 For Statement of Objects and Reasons see Haryana Government Gazette (Extraordinary), dated 11th March, 1994
Page 613.
2 For Statement of Objects and Reasons see Haryana Government Gazette (Extraordinary), dated 8th September,
1995 Page 1578.
3 For Statement of Objects and Reasons see Haryana Government Gazette (Extraordinary), dated 21st February,
1997 Page 426. 4
For Statement of Objects and Reasons see Haryana Government Gazette (Extraordinary), dated 2nd February,
1999 Page 137
5
For Statement of Objects and Reasons see Haryana Government Gazette (Extraordinary), dated 8th March, 2000 Page
469.
6
For Statement of Objects and Reasons see Haryana Government Gazette (Extraordinary ), dated 2nd September,
2000 Page 1649. 7
For Statement of Objects and Reasons see Haryana Government Gazette (Extraordinary ), dated 6th November, 2001
Page 1527.
8
For Statement of Objects and Reasons see Haryana Government Gazette (Extraordinary ), dated 14th November,
1999 Page 2583.
9
For Statement of Objects and Reasons see Haryana Government Gazette (Extraordinary ), dated 3rd March, 2003
Page 649.
10 For Statement of Objects and Reasons see Haryana Government Gazette (Extraordinary ), dated 4th February,
2004 Page 217. 11 For Statement of Objects and Reasons see Haryana Government Gazette (Extraordinary). Dated 22nd
September, 2004, page 2785.
12 For Statement of Objects and Reasons see Haryana Government Gazette (Extraordinary), dated 9th
December, 2005 page 4527.
AN
ACT
Short title,
extent
and
commence
ment.
to provide for the constitution of Gram Panchayats, Panchayat Samitis
and Zila Parishads for better administration of the rural areas
and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
BE it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Haryana in the Forty-fifth Year of the
Republic of India as follows :—
PART I
Definitions. CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY

1. (1) This Act may be called the Haryana Panchayati Raj Act, 1994.
   (2) It extends to the whole of the State of Haryana.
   (3) It shall come into force on such date as State Government may, by notification, in
   the Official Gazette, appoint.
2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—
   (i) ”Additional Director” means an officer appointed by the Government to perform
   the functions of an Additional Director under this Act;
   (ii) ”Adult” means a person, male or female, who has attained the age of eighteen
   years;
   (iii) ”Assembly” means the Haryana Legislative Assembly;
   (iv) ”Backward Classes” means such classes of citizens as may be specified by the
   Government from time to time;
   (v) ”block” means such local area in a district as may be declared by the
   Government, by notification in the Official Gazette, to be a block at intermediate
   level;
   (vi) ”Block Development and Panchayat Officer” means an officer appointed as such
   by the Government;
   (vii) “building” means any shop, house, hut, out-house, shed or stable whether used
   for the purpose of human habitation or otherwise and whether of masonary,
   bricks, wood, mud, thatch, metal or any other material whatsoever and includes a
   wall and a well ;
   (viii) “business” includes any trade, commerce or manufacture or an adventure or
   concern in the nature of trade, commerce or
   manufacture ;
   (ix) “bye-laws” means the bye-laws made by a Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti or
   Zila Pasrishad under this Act;
   (x) “casual vacancy” means a vacancy occuring otherwise than by efflux of time;
   (xi) “cattle” means and includes bulls, bullocks, heifers, cows and their youngs,
   elephants, camels, buffaloes, horses, mares, ponies, colts, mules, asses, swine,
   sheep, ewes, rams, lambs, goats and kids ;
   (xii) “Chairman” means a Chairman of Panchayat Samiti elected under this Act;
   (xiii) “Chief Executive Officer” means the Chief Executive Officer of a Zila Parishad ;
   (xiv) “Collector” means the Collector of a district in which the village is situated and
   includes any officer appointed by the Government to perform the functions of a
   Collector under this Act;
   (xv) “Committee” means any Standing Committee or local Committee or SubCommittee constituted under this Act ;
   (xvi) “common land” means land which is not in the exclusive use of any individual and
   has, by usage, custom or prescription been reserved for the common purposes of
   village community or has been acquired for such purposes ;
   (xvii) “competent authority” means such Government officer or authority as the
   Government may , by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint to perform the
   functions of a competent authority under this Act ;
   (xviii) “Deputy Commissioner” means the Deputy Commissioner of a district and
   includes any officer not below the rank of an Assistant Commissioner appointed
   by the Government to perform the functions of a Deputy Commissioner under this
   Act ;
   (xix) “Director” means the Director of Panchayats appointed under this Act ;
   (xx) “District” means a revenue district in the State of Haryana ;
   (xxi) “District Development and Panchayat Officer” means an officer appointed by the
   Government to perform the functions of a District Development and Panchayat
   Officer under this Act ;
   (xxii) “erection or re-erection or enlargement” of any building includes—
   (a) any material alteration or enlargement of any building;
   (b) the conversion, by structural alteration, into a place of human habitation of any
   building not originally
   constructed for human habitation ;
   (c) the conversion of two or more places of human habitation into a lesser
   number of such places ;
   (d) the conversion of one or more places of human habitation into a greater
   number of such places ;
   (e) such alteration of a building as would effect a change in the drainage of
   sanitary arrangements or materially affect its security ;
   (f) the addition of any rooms, buildings, out-houses or their structures to any
   building ;
   (g) the conversion, by any structural alteration into a place of religious worship
   or into a building used for a sacred purpose or any place or building not
   original meant or constituted for such purposes ;
   (h) roofing or covering an even space between walls or buildings, in respect of
   the structure which is formed by roofing or covering such space ;
   (i) conversion into a stall, shop, warehouse or godown of any building not
   originally constructed for use as such or vice versa ; and
   (j) construction of a door in a wall adjoining any street or land not vested in
   the owner of the wall and opening on such street or land ;
   (xxiii) “Executive Officer” means an Executive Officer of a Panchayat Samiti ;
   (xxiv) “Factory” means a Factory as defined in the Factories Act, 1948 (Act 13 of 1948)
   ;
   (xxv) “Finance Commission” means the Finance Commission constituted under clause
   (I) of article 243-1 of the Constitution of India ;
   (xxvi) “general election” means the election held under this Act for the constitution or
   reconstitution of a Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti or Zila Parishad, as the
   case may be, after the expiry of its term or otherwise ;
   (xxvii) “Government” means the Government of the State of Haryana ;
   (xxviii) “Gram Fund” means Gram Fund provided under this Act ;
   (xxix) Gram Panchayat” means the Panchayat constituted at village level under this Act
   ;
   (xxx) “Gram Sabha” means a body consisting of persons registered as voters in the
   electoral rolls of a village comprised within the area of the Panchayat at the
   village level ;
   (xxxi) “Gram Sachiv” means a Gram Sachiv of a Gram Panchayat or group of Gram
   Panchayats appointed by the Government ;
   (xxxii) ”Joint Director” means an officer appointed by the Government to perform the
   functions of a Joint Director under this Act;
   (xxxiii) ”Local Authority” means a Municipal Corporation, Municipal Council, Municipal
   Committee, Cooperative Society, Market Society, Improvement Trust,
   Cantonment Board, Urban Development Authority, Gram Panchayat, Panchayat
   Samiti, Zila Parishad, a Board or Company or Corporation financed or aided by
   Central or State Government :
   (xxxiv) “market” means a place for the sale or purchase of goods or
   animals ;
   (xxxv) “member” means a member of Panchayat Samiti or Zila Parishad, as the case
   may be ;
   (xxxvi) “municipality” means municipality as defined in the Haryana Municipal Act, 1973 ;
   (xxxvii) “nuisanace” includes any act, omission, place or thing which causes or is likely to
   cause injury, danger, annoyance or offence to the sense of sight, smell or hearing or
   disturbance to rest or sleep or which is or may be dangerous to life or injurious to the
   health or property of the public, or of the people in general, who dwell in the vicinity
   or of persons who may have occasion to exercise a public right ;
   (xxxviii) “octroi or octroi duty” means a tax on the entry of goods into Panchayat, Panchayat
   Samiti or Zila Parishad area, for consumption, use or sale therein ;
   (xxxix) “offensive or dangerous trade” means any trade, business or industry dangerous to
   life, health or property or likely to cause nuisance, and which is so notified by the
   Government ;
   (xl) “owner” includes the person for the time being receiving the rent of any land or
   building or part thereof, whether on his own account or as agent, receiver or trustee
   or who would receive rent if the land or building or part thereof were let to a tenant ;
   (xli) “Panch” means a member of a Gram Panchayat elected under this Act 1[* * *] ;
   (xlii) “Panchayat area” means the territorial area of a Gram Panchayat ;
   (xliii) “Panchayat Samiti” means a Panchayat Samiti constituted for a block under this Act
   and having jurisdiction over the block area as notified in the Official Gazette ;
   (xliv) “population” means the population as ascertained at the last preceding census of
   which the relevant figures have been published ;
   (xlv) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act ;
   (xlvi) “prescribed authority” means such authority as may be prescribed by rules made
   under this Act ;
   (xlvii) “President” means a President of a Zila Parishad elected under this Act ;
   (xlviii) “private market’ means a market other than a public market ;
   (xlix) “public market” means any market owned by a Gram Panchayt at Panchayat Samiti
   or Zila Parishad acquired, constructed, maintained or managed by a Gram
   Panchayat or Panchayat Samiti or Zila Parishad ;
3. Omitted by Haryana Act No. 10 of 1999.
   (xlviii) “private market’ means a market other than a public market ;
   (xlix) “public market” means any market owned by a Gram Panchayat at Panchayat Samiti
   or Zila Parishad acquired, constructed, maintained or managed by a Gram
   Panchayat or Panchayat Samiti or Zila Parishad ;
   (l) “public place” means any place, building or structure situated within the jurisdiction of
   a Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, Zila Parishad area to which the public has
   free access or which is open to be used for enjoyment of the public, whether such
   place is vested in a
   Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, Zila Parishad or not ;
   (li) “public servant” means a public servant as defined in section 21 of the Indian Penal
   Code, 1860 (Central Act 45 of 1860) and shall include a Panch, 1[* * *] Sarpanch,
   member of Panchayat Samiti or Zila Parishad, Chairman or Vice Chairman and
   President or Vice-President;
   (lii) “public street” means a pathway, road, street, bridge-land, square, court, alley or
   passage, in a village, which the public has a right to use and includes the drains or
   gutters on either side and the land upto the defined boundary of any abutting
   property, notwithstanding any projection over such land of any verandah or other
   superstructure ;
   (liii) “qualifying date” means the 1st day of January the year in which the list of voters for
   the purposes of the general election of members for constituting or reconstituting a
   Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti or Zila Parishad as the case may be is prepared
   or revised under the provisions of this Act ;
   (liv) “Sabha area” means an area declared to be Sabha area under this Act ;
   (lv) “Samiti Fund” means the Panchayat Samiti Fund under this Act ;
   (lvi) “Sarpanch” means a Sarpanch of Gram Panchayat elected under this
   Act ;
   (lvii) “Schedule” means the Schedule appended to this Act ;
   (lviii) “Scheduled Castes” means such castes, races or tribes or parts of or groups within,
   such castes, races or tribes as are deemed to be
   Scheduled Castes in relation to the State of Haryana under article 341 of the
   Constitution of India ;
   (lix) “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Zila Parishad ;
   (lx) “Social Education and Panchayat Officer” means a Social Education and Panchayat
   Officer and includes an officer appointed by the Government to perform the
   functions of a Social Education and Panchayat Officer under this Act ;
   1.Omitted by Haryana Act No. 10 of 1999.
   (lxi) “State Election Commission” means the State Election Commission constituted
   under article 243 K of the Constitution of India ;
   (lxii) “street” means any road, footway, square, court, alley or passage accessible
   whether permanently or temporarily to the public whether a thoroughfare or not ;
   (lxiii) “Sub-Divisional Officer” means an officer-in-charge of a Sub-Division of a district
   constituted for revenue and general purposes ;
   (lxiv) “tax” includes a cess, duty, fee, rate, toll or other impost leviable under this Act ;
   (lxv) “territorial constituency” means a ward in which a village or group of villages or a
   Block or a District is divided for the purposes of election of Gram Panchayat,
   Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad ;
   (lxvi) “vehicle” means a vehicle as defined in the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and includes a
   bicycle, tricycle, motor car and every wheeled conveyance which is used or capable
   of being used on a public street ;
   (lxvii) “Vice-Chairman” means a Vice-Chairman of a Panchayat Samiti elected under this
   Act ;
   (lxviii) “Vice-President” means a Vice-President of a Zila Parishad elected under this Act ;
   (lxix) “village” means a revenue estate in the revenue records of a district in which it is
   situated or a village as may be specified, by notification in the Official Gazette, by the
   Government ;
   (lxx) “village level functionary” means any person performing his official duties in the
   sabha area and includes patwari, school teacher, secretary of a co-operative society,
   forest guard, village extension worker, agriculture development officer, multi-health
   purpose workers, anganwari workers and supervisors, auxiliary nurse, midwife, tube
   well operator of Public Health Department, employees of civil and veterinary
   dispensaries, craft-teacher, gramsevika, lineman of Electricity Board etc ;
   (lxxi) “watercourse” means any channel which is maintained at the cost of the irrigators
   and is supplied with water from any canal to which the Haryana Canal and Drainage
   Act, 1974(Haryana Act 29 of 1974), the Punjab Minor Canals Act, 1905 (Punjab Act
   3 of 1905), or any other Act for the time being in force applies and includes all
   subsidiary works connected with such channel except the sluice or outlet through
   which water is supplied to such channel ;
   (lxxii) “Zila Parishad” means a Zila Parishad constituted at district level under this Act.;
   (lxxiii) “Zila Parishad Fund” means the Zila Parishad Fund under this Act.
   (lxxiii)“Zila Parishad Fund” means the Zila Parishad Fund under this Act.
   CHAPTER II
   General provisions applicable to Gram Panchayats, Panchayat Samitis and
   Zila Parishads
4. (1) Every Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad unless sooner
   dissloved under any law for the time being in force, shall continue for five years from the date
   appointed for its first meeting and no longer :
   Provided that all the Gram Panchayats and Panchayat Samitis existing immediately
   on the commencement of the Constitution (Seventy-third Amendment) Act, 1992 shall continue till
   the expiration of their duration, unless sooner dissolved by a resolution passed to that affect by
   the Assembly.
   (2) An election to constitute a Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad,
   as the case may be, shall be completed—
   (a) before the expiry of its duration specified in sub-section (1) ;
   (b) before the expiry of a period of six months from the date of its dissolution :
   Provided that where the remainder of the period for which the dissolved
   Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti or Zila Parishad, as the case may be, would have continued
   is less than six months, it shall not be necessary to hold any election for constituting the Gram
   Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti or Zila Parishad for such period, as the case may be.
   (3) A Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti or Zila Parishad constituted upon the
   dissolution of a Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti or Zila Parishad before the expiration of its
   duration shall continue only for the remainder of the period for which the dissolved Gram
   panchayat, Panchayat Samiti or Zila Parishad, as the case may be would have continued under
   sub-section (1) had it not been so dissolved. 1
   [(4) If a Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti or Zila Parishad, as the case may be, is
   not reconstituted before the expiration of its duration laid down in
   sub-section (1), it shall be deemed to have been dissolved on the expiry of the said duration and,
   thereupon, provisions of sub-section (2) of section 52, sub-section (1) of section 111 or subsection (4) of section 158, as the case may be, shall be
   applicable. ]
   Oath. 4. (1) Before entering upon the duties of their offices as Panches, Sarpanches,
   members, Chairmen, Vice Chairmen, Presidents or Vice Presidents, as the case may be, they
   shall taken an oath of allegiance or make affirmation in the Form specified in Schedule 1.
   (2) If any person mentioned in sub-section (1) refuses to take or make oath or
   affirmation, his election shall be deemed to be invalid and a fresh election shall be held.
   (3) No person whose election is deemed to be invalid under this section, shall be
   eligible for election to any Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti or Zila Parishad, as the case may
   be, for a period of two years from the date on which he ought to have taken or made oath or
   affirmation.
   Resignation. 5. A Panch, Sarpanch, member, Chairman ,Vice-Chairman, President or
   Vice-President, as the case may be, may resign his office by giving in writing his intention to do

1
Omitted by Haryana Act No. No 10 of 1999
so to the Director and on such resignation being accepted he shall be deemed to have vacated
his office.
Filling of
casual vacancy.

6. (1) Whether a vacancy occurs by death, resignation, removal or otherwise of a
   Panch, Sarpanch, member, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, President or Vice-President, as the case
   may be, a new Panch, Sarpanch, member, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, President or VicePresident, as the case may be, shall be elected in the manner as may be prescribed.
   (2) Any person elected to fill up a vacancy under this section shall hold office for the
   unexpired portion of the term for which the person in whose place he is elected would have
   otherwise continued in office.
   PART II
   CHAPTER III
   SABHA AREA ESTABLISHMENT AND CONSTITUTION OF
   GRAM SABHA AND GRAM PANCHAYATS
7. (1) The Government may, by notification, declare any village or a part of a village or
   group of contiguous villages with a population of not less than
   five hundred to constitute one or more sabha areas :
   Provided that Government may in exceptional cases, by reasons to be recorded in writing,
   relax the limit of population of 500 :
   Provided further that neither the whole or any part of a —
   (a) municipality constituted under the Haryana Municipal
   Act, 1973 ;
   Duration of
   sabha area.
   (b) cantonment,
   shall be included in a sabha area unless the majority of voters in any municipality desire the
   establishment of a Gram Panchayat in which case the assets and liabilities, if any, of the
   municipality shall vest in the Gram Panchayat and the municipality shall cease to exist.
   (2) The population shall be ascertained on basis of last preceding decennial census
   of which the relevant figures have been published.
   (3) Government may, by notification, include an area in or exclude any area from the
   sabha area.
   (4) If the whole of the sabha area is included in a municipality or a cantonment, the
   Gram Panchayat shall cease to exist and the assets and liabilities of it shall vest in the
   municipality or cantonment, as the case may be.
   (5) If the whole of the sabha area is included in the Faridabad Complex under the
   Faridabad Complex (Regulation and Development ) Act, 1971, the
   Gram Panchayat shall cease to exist and its assets and liabilities shall vest in the Faridabad
   Complex.
   Establishment
   and
   constitution
   of Gram
   Panchayat.
8. (1) The Government may, by notification, establish a Gram Panchayat by name in
   every sabha area.
   (2) Every Gram Panchayat shall consist of—
   (a) Sarpanch who shall be elected by the Gram Sabha from amongst its voters,
   by secret ballot ;
   (b) six to twenty Panches from wards in a Panchayat area in the manner
   prescribed; 1[ (c) * * * * * * ]
   (3) All the above seats referred to in clause (b) of sub-section (2) shall be filled in by
   persons chosen by direct election from the wards in the Panchayat area and for this purpose
   each Panchayat area shall be divided into wards in such manner that the ratio between the
   population of each ward and the number of the seats of Panches allotted to it shall, so far as
   possible, be the same throughout the Panchayat area.
9. (1) Seats shall be reserved for the Scheduled Castes in every
   Gram Panchayat 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 by election in that Panchayat as the
   population of the Scheduled Castes in the Panchayat area bears to the total population of that
   area and such seats may be allotted to such wards having maximum population of persons
   belonging to Scheduled Castes.
   Reservation
   of seats in
   Gram
   Panchayat.
   (2) Not less than one-third of the total number of seats reserved under sub-section
   (1) shall be reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes and such seats may be
   allotted by rotation and by lots to different wards reserved under sub-section (1).
   (3) Not less than one-third (including the numbers of seats reserved for women
   belonging to the Scheduled Castes) of the total number of seats to be filled by direct election in
   every Panchayat, shall be reserved for women and such seats may be allotted by rotation and by
   lots to different wards in a Panchayat except those falling under sub-section (1) and (2) .
   (4) The offices of the Sarpanches in the Gram Panchayat in a block shall be
   reserved for the Scheduled Castes and Women :
   Provided that the number of offices of Sarpanches reserved for the Scheduled Castes in
   the Block shall bear, as may be, the same proportion to the total number of such offices in the
   Block as the population of the Scheduled Castes in the State bears to the total population of the
   State :
   Provided further that not less than one-third of the total number of offices of Sarpanches in
   the block shall be reserved for women including one-third offices of women Sarpanches from
   Scheduled Castes :
   Provided further that the number of offices of Sarpanches reserved under this sub-section
   shall be rotated to different Gram Panchayats first having the largest maximum population of
   Scheduled Castes and secondly having the second largest maximum population of such classes
   and so on.
   (5) The reservation of the seats under sub-section (1) and (2) and the reservation of
   office of Sarpanches (other than the reservation of women) under sub-section (4) shall cease to
   have effect on the expiration of the period specified in
   article 334 of the Constitution of India.
   (6) Every Panchayat shall have one Panch belonging to Backward Classes if their
   population is two percentum or more of the total population of the sabha area and such seat shall
   be allotted to such ward having maximum population of persons belonging to Backward Classes.
   (7) Reservation of seats as mentioned in aforesaid sub-sections shall be
   reviewed after every decennial census.
   1[10. The term of office of Sarpanch shall be five years unless removed otherwise.]
   11.2[ (1) Every Gram Sabha shall hold two general meetings one during the period
   commencing on the 15th day of May and ending with the 15th day of June and the other during
   the period commencing on the 15th day of November and ending with the 15th day of December
   each year at such dates and times as may be fixed by the Block Development and Panchayat
   Officer concerned.]
   Meeting and
   Quorum of Gram
   Sabha .
   Term of office.
   (2) In the event of the Sarpanch failing to hold two consecutive general meetings of the
   Gram Sabha on the dates fixed 3[ * * * *] under sub-section (1), he shall automatically cease to
   hold office from the date on which the second meeting was to be held. The Block Development
   and Panchayat Officer shall immediately intimate the happening of such cessation to the Director
   who shall accordingly notify this fact to the Zila Parishad, Panchayat Samiti, Gram Panchayat and
   the Sarpanch.
   1.Substituted by Haryana Act 10 of 1999.
10. Substituted by Haryana Act 10 of 1999 and further substituted by Haryana Act,
    16 of 2000.
11. Omitted by Haryana Act 10 of 1999.
    (3) The Director may reinstate the Sarpanch on his showing sufficient cause for the
    default within a period of thirty days from the date of the notification of his cessation as Sarpanch.
    (4) The Sarpanch may, at any time and where a requisition in writing of the
    Panchayat Samiti or of not less than 1
    [one tenth] of the total number of members of the Gram
    Sabha has been received by him, shall within thirty days from the receipt of such requisition, call
    an extra-ordinary general meeting of the Gram Sabha.
    (5) If a general meeting as required by sub-section (1), or an extra-ordinary general
    meeting as required by sub-section (4), is not called, the Block Development and Panchayat
    Officer shall call such meeting.
    (6) The meetings of the Gram Sabha shall be conducted and the time and palce of
    such meeting shall be published in such manner as may be prescribed.
    (7) 1[For any extraordinary meeting of the Gram Sabha one-tenth of the total number
    of its members shall form a quorum.]
    (8) The Block Development and Panchayat Officer or the Gram Sachiv, as the case
    may be, of a Gram Panchayat shall attend every general meeting of the Gram Sabha ; and if for
    any reason beyond his control the Block Development and Panchayat Officer is unable to attend
    any meeting, the Social Education and Panchayat Officer or such Block Extension Officer as may
    be deputed by the Block Development and Panchayat Officer shall attend the meeting. The Gram
    Panchayat may call every village level functionary serving in the sabha area to attend such a
    meeting and tender advice in respect of any matter coming up before it.
    1[(9) Save in the circumstances beyond human control, every Panch shall attend the
    Gram Sabha meetings.]
12. The Gram Sabha shall exercise and perform the following powers and functions
    :– Powers and
    functions of
    Gram Sabha. (i) it shall consider the budget prepared by the Gram Panchayat and the future
    development programmes and the plans for the sabha area at its Sawani
    meeting. The Gram Sabha at its Hari meeting shall review the general progress
    of the development plans ;
    (ii) it will consider the actual income and expenditure of the Panchayat concerning
    last financial year ;
    (iii) it will consider and scrutinise the existing schemes and all kinds of activities of
    Panchayat ;
    (iv) it shall maintain a complete register for all development works undertaken by
    Gram Panchayat or by and other Government department specifying the costs,
    date of completion of work name of assets etc. ;
    (v) it will scrutinise the completed works and all kinds of activities of the Gram
    Panchayat ;
    (vi) it can ask questions to the Sarpanch and Panches of the
    Gram Panchayat to clarify the particular activity, income expenditure scheme and
    other matters and Sarpanch and Panch of the
    Gram Panchayat shall be responsible to it ;
    (vii) it shall locate the places of schemes and other works ;
    (viii) it shall consider audit reports and thier compliances ;
    (ix) it shall consider the progress report of every kind of Gram Panchayat works ; and
    (x) it shall exercise and perform such other powers and functions as may be
    prescribed.
13. Added by Act No. 10 of 1999.
    2.Substituted by Haryana Act No. 10 of 1999,
    CHAPTER IV
    GRAM PANCHAYATS, CONDUCT OF BUSINESS, DUTIES,
    FUNCTIONS AND POWERS
    Meeting of
    Gram Panchayat
    and quorum.
14. 2[(1) The meeting of a Gram Panchayat shall be public and shall be held atleast
    twice a month at a public place within the sabha area for which it is established, whenever called
    by the Sarpanch or during the vacancy of his office by Gram Sachiv :
    Provided that the Sarpanch, when required in writing by majority of the Panches
    to call a meeting, shall do so within three days, failing which Panches shall, with the previous
    approval of the prescribed authority, be entitled to call a meeting after giving a week’s notice to
    the Sarpanch and other Panches. Save as otherwise provided by or under this Act, at every
    meeting of Gram Panchayat , the Sarpanch shall preside over the meeting or in his absence the
    members present shall choose one from amongst themselves to preside over the meeting].
    (2) Majority of Panches including Sarpanch, for the time being holding office shall
    form a quorum. If at the time appointed for the meeting, there is no quorum, the presiding
    authority shall wait for one hour and if within such period there is no quorum, the presiding
    authority shall adjourn the meeting to such time on the following day or such future day as he
    may decide. The business which could have been brought before the original meeting if there has
    been a quorum, shall be brought before, and transacted at the adjourned meeting.
    1[ (* * * * *) ]
    (3) The decisions of Gram Panchayat shall be by majority and when the voting is
    equal, the presiding authority shall have an additional or casting vote.
    2[14. There shall be a Gram Sachiv for every Gram Panchayat or group of
    Gram Panchayats who shall be appointed by Government.
    Appointment of
    Gram Sachivs.
    Duties of
    Gram Sachivs. 15. (1) It shall be the duty of the Gram Sachiv to—
    (i) maintain accurate and up-to-date entries in accounts record and other property of
    the Gram Panchayat under the general supervision of the Sarpanch and to assist
    the Gram Panchayat in the discharge of its duties and functions under this Act or
    under any other law for the time being in force ;
    (ii) assist in carrying out the resolutions of the Gram Panchayats; and
    (iii) perform such other duties as may be prescribed.
    (2) A Gram Sachiv, subject to the control of the Sarpanch–
    (a) after recording the proceedings, shall append his signatures in the proceeding
    book ;
    (b) shall prepare the replies of audit notes and submit the same to the Block
    Development and Panchayat Officer after approval of the Gram Sabha, within
    one month of the receipt of such notes ; and
    (c) shall sign daily balances in cash book.]
    1.Omitted by Haryana Act 10 of 1999
    2.Subs. by H.A. 14 of 2003 and further substituted by H.A. 7 of 2006.
15. (1) Subject to such rules as may be made in this behalf and with the previous
    approval of the Panchayat Samiti, a Gram Panchayat may employ such other servants other than
    the Gram Sachiv as are considered necessary for carrying out the duties imposed on it by this
    Act and may suspend, dismiss or otherwise punish such servants.
    Employment of
    other Servant.
    (2) Gram Panchayat shall pay the remuneration, provident fund and gratuity as may
    be prescribed to such servants out of the Gram Fund. Modification or
    cancellation of
    resolution.
16. No resolution of a Gram Panchayat shall be modified, amended, varied or cancelled
    by a Gram Panchayat within a period of three months from the date of the passing thereof except
    by a resolution supported by three-fourth of the total number of Panches of such Gram Panchayat
    Cu . stody of Gram
    Panchayat record
    property and
    liability to hand
    them over.
17. (1) 1[The Sarpanch and in his absence the Panch] elected by the
    Gram Panchayat or authorised by the Block Development and Panchayat Officer in this behalf
    shall be responsible for the custody and charge of such movable or immovable property of the
    Gram Panchayat and such of its records as may be prescribed.
    (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the Block Development
    and Panchayat Officer may, within a period of seven days prior to the publication of election
    programme of the Gram Panchayat or in the event of suspension or removal of 1[a Sarpanch or
    Panch, as the case may be, require, by a general or special order, a Sarpanch or a Panch, as the
    case may be,] to handover the records, registers
    and other property referred to in the said sub-section to the Social Education and Panchayat
    Officer or Gram Sachiv, who shall hold them in his custody on behalf of the
    Gram Panchayat and shall hand over the same to the person authorised for the custody of the
    record and property.
    (3) If on a requisition made in this behalf by the Block Development and Panchayat
    Officer, any person within a period of ten days of such requisition2[ or within seven days of the
    publication of the election Schedule, whichever is earlier,] fails under sub-section (1) or subsection (2), as the case may be, to hand over the prescribed records and registers and other
    property belonging to or vested in the Gram Panchayat to the Sarpanch 3[ * * * ] or Panch
    referred to in sub-section (1) or to the Social Education and Panchayat Officer or Gram Sachiv
    referred to in sub-section (2) 2[and to get a certificate to that effect from the concerned Block
    Development and Panchayat Officer, the Block Development and Panchayat Officer shall apply to
    an Executive Magistrate within whose jurisdiction the sabha area is situated for securing from
    such person such records, registers and other property.
    (4) On receiving an application under sub-section (3) the Executive Magistrate may,
    by a warrant, authorise any police officer not below the rank of a Sub-Inspector to enter and
    search any place where such records and registers and other property are kept or are believed to
    be kept and to seize them and the records, registers and other property as seized shall be
    handed over to the Sarpanch 3[ * * * ] or Panch authorised by the Block Development and
    Panchayat Officer referred to in sub-section (1) or the Social Education and Panchayat Officer or
    Gram Sachiv referred to in sub-section (2), as the case may be.
    (5) Whoever,wilfully evades under this section the handing over of the prescribed
    records and registers or other property belonging to or vested in the Gram Panchayat, shall on
    conviction by the Judicial Magistrate be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to six
    months, or with fine or with both notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Act.
    (6) The Judicial Magistrate shall not take cognizance of an offence under this section
    save on a complaint made by the Block Development and Panchayat Officer or such other officer
    as may be authorised in writing in this behalf by the Block Development and Panchayat Officer.
    1.Substituted by Haryana Act 10 of 1999.
    2.Inserted by Haryana Act No. 10 of 1999.
    3.Omitted by Haryana Act 10 of 1999.
    4.Omitted by Haryana Act No. 10 of 1999
18. (1) The Sarpanch shall–
    Powers,
    functions and
    duties of
    Sarpanch.
    1[* * * *]
    (i) convene meetings of Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat ;
    (ii) preside over the meetings of Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat ;
    (iii) have the general responsibility for the executive and financial administration of
    the Gram Panchayat ;
    (iv) exercise administrative supervision and control over the work of the staff of the
    Gram Panchayat and the officers and employees whose services may be placed
    at the disposal of the Gram Panchayat by any other authority ; and
    (v) for the transaction of business connected with this Act or for the purpose of
    making any order authorised thereby, exercise such powers, perform such
    functions and discharge such duties as may be exercised, performed or
    discharged by the Gram Panchayat under this Act or the rules made there under ;
    (vi) exercise such other powers, perform such other functions and discharge such
    other duties as the Gram Panchayat may, by general or special resolution, direct
    or as the Government may, by rules made in this behalf, prescribe.
    1[(2) * * * * *]
19. (1) The Gram Panchayat shall prepare in the prescribed manner a report on the
    work done during the previous year and the work proposed to be done during the following year
    and submit to the prescribed authority and to the Panchayat Samiti concerned within the
    prescribed time.
    Report on
    work of
    Gram
    Panchayat. (2) The Gram Panchayat shall in the months of December and June every year,
    prepare a half yearly report showing the amount received by the Gram Panchayat during the
    previous half year from different sources including the pending balance and the amount actually
    spent on different items of work and a list of functionaries.
    (3) The Gram Panchayat shall immediately after the preparation of the report and the
    list referred to in sub-section (2), publish the same in the prescribed manner in the office of the
    Gram Panchayat for the information of the general public.
    Functions and
    duties of Gram
    Panchayat.
20. Subject to such rules as may be made, it shall be the duty of the Gram Panchayat
    within the limits of the funds at its disposal to make arrangements for carrying out the
    requirements of sabha area in respect of the following matters including all subsidiary works and
    buildings connected therewith :–
    I. General Functions :—
    (1) Every resolution adopted in a meeting of the Gram Sabha shall be duly
    considered by the Gram Panchayat and the decision and action taken by
    the Gram Panchayat shall form part of the report of Panchayat of the
    following year.
    (2) Preparation of annual plans for the development of the Panchayat area.
    (3) Preparation of annual budget and submission thereof to Gram Sabha in its
    Sawani meeting for consideration.
    (4) Power for mobilising reliefs in natural calamities.
    (5) Removal of encroachments on public place .
    (6) Organising voluntary labour and contribution for community works.
    (7) Maintenance of essential statistics of village (s)
    II. Agriculture, including Agriculture Extension—
    (1) Promotion and Development of agriculture and horticulture.
    (2) Development of waste lands.
    (3) Development and maintenance of grazing lands and preventing their
    unauthorised alienation and use.
    III. Animal Husbandry, Dairtying and Poultry—
    (1) Improvement of breed of cattle, poultry and other livestock .
    (2) Promotion of dairy farming, poultry and piggery.
    (3) Grassland development.
    IV. Fisheries— Development of Fishes in the Village (s).
    V. Social and Farm Forestry, Minor—Forest Produce, Fuel Fodder—
    (1) Planting and preservation of trees on the sides of roads and other public
    lands under its control.
    (2) Fuel plantation and fodder development.
    (3) Promotion of farm forestry.
    (4) Development of social forestry.
    VI. Khadi, Village and Cottage Industries —
    (1) Promotion of rural and cottage industries.
    (2) Organisation of awareness camps, seminars and training programmes,
    agricultural and industrial exhibitions for the benefit of the rural areas.
    VII. Rural Housing—
    (1) Distribution of house sites within its jurisdiction.
    (2) Maintenance of records relating to the houses, site and other private and
    public properties.
    VIII. Drinking Water—
    (1) Construction, repairs and maintenance of drinking water wells, tanks and
    ponds.
    (2) Prevention and control of water pollution.
    (3) Maintenance of rural water supply schemes.
    IX. Buildings, Water ways—
    (1) Maintenance of buildings under its control or transferred to it by the
    Government or any public authority.
    (2) Maintenance of boats, ferries and waterways.
    X. Rural Electrification including distribution of Electricity providing for and maintenance
    of lighting of public streets and other public places.
    XI. Non-conventional Energy Sources —
    (1) Promotion and Development of non- conventional energy schemes.
    (2) Maintenance of community non- conventional energy devices, including
    bio-gas plants and windmills.
    (3) Propagation of improved chulhas and other efficient devices.
    XII. Poverty Alleviation Programme—
    (1) Promotion of public awareness and participation in poverty alleviation
    programmes for full employment and creation of productive assets
    including employment assurance scheme.
    (2) Selection of beneficiaries under various programmes throughout Gram
    Sabhas.
    (3) Participation in effective implementation and monitoring.
    XIII. Education including Primary and Secondary Schools—
    (1) Promotion of public awareness and participation in primary and secondary
    education.
    (2) Ensuring full enrolment and attendance in Primary and Middle
    Schools and its management.
    XIV. Adult and non-formal Education—
    Promotion of Adult Literacy.
    XV. Libraries—
    Village Library and reading rooms.
    XVI. Cultural Activities—
    Promotion of social and cultural activities.
    XVII. Markets and fairs—
    Regulation of fairs excluding cattle fairs and festivals other than religious.
    XVIII. Rural Sanitation—
    (1) Maintenance of general sanitation.
    (2) Cleaning of Public roads, drains, tanks, wells and other
    public places.
    (3) Maintenance and regulation of cremation and burial grounds.
    (4) Construction and maintenance of public latrines.
    (5) Disposal and unclaimed and carcasses.
    (6) Management and control of washing and bathing ghats.
    XIX. Public Health and Family Welfare—
    (1) Implementation of family welfare programme.
    (2) Prevention and remedial measures against epidemics.
    (3) Regulation of sale of meat, fish and other perishable food articles.
    (4) Participation in programmed of human and animal vaccination.
    (5) Licensing of eating and entertainment establishment.
    (6) Destruction of stray dogs.
    (7) Regulation of curing, tanning and dyeing of skins and hides.
    (8) Regulation of offensive and dangerous trades.
    XX. Women and child development—
    (1) Participation in the implementation of women and child welfare
    programme.
    (2) Promotion of child health and nutrition programmes.
    XXI. Social Welfare including Welfare of the Handicapped and Mentally Retarded—
    (1) Participation in the implementation of the social welfare programmes
    including welfare of the handicapped, mentally retarded and destitute.
    (2) Monitoring of the old age and widows pension scheme.
    XXII. Welfare of the Weaker Sections and in particular the Schedule Castes–Promotion
    of Public awareness with regard to Welfare of Scheduled Castes and other Weaker
    Sections.
    XXIII. Public Distribution System—
    (1) Promotion of public awareness with regard to the distribution of essential
    commodities.
    (2) Monitoring the public distribution system.
    XXIV. Maintenance of Community Assets.
    XXV. Construction and Maintenance of Dharmshalas and similar Institutions.
    XXVI. Construction and Maintenance of Cattle Sheds, Ponds and Cart Stands.
    XXVII. Construction and Maintenance of Slaughter-house.
    XXVIII. Maintenance of Public Parks, Play Grounds etc.
    XXIX. Regulation of Manure Pits in Public Places.

1.Substituted by Haryana Act 10 of 1999.
XXX.Other Functions–
Such other functions as may be entrusted by the Government or any Local
Authority. Sub-committee
and Local

22. Committees. (1) Every Gram Panchayat shall constitute the following sub- committees, namely :-
    (i) Production sub-committee for performing functions relating to agriculture
    production, animal husbandry, rural industries and proverty alleviation
    programmes ;
    (ii) Social justice sub-committee for performing functions relating
    to—
    (a) promotion of education, economic, social, cultural, sports, games and other
    interests of the Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes and other weaker
    sections ;
    (b) protection of such castes and classes from social injustice and any form of
    exploitation ;
    (c) promotion of welfare of women and children ;
    (iii) Amenities sub-committee in respect of education, public health, public works and
    other functions of sub-committees of the Gram Panchayat ;
    (iv) Where a Gram Panchayat is constituted for more than one village, it shall have a
    local committee comprising of Panches of the village concerned and appointed
    members from amongst Gram Sabha members ;
    (v) Any other committee the Gram Panchayat may deem fit to constitute.
    1[ (2) Each sub- committee and local committee shall consist of not less than five
    members, including Sarpanch. The Sarpanch shall be the ex-officio member and Chairman of
    Production Committee and Amenities Committee. Panch nominated by the Gram Panchayat by
    majority shall be the ex-officio member and Chairman of Social Justice Committee :
    Provided that the Social Justice Committee shall consist of atleast one woman
    member and one member belonging to the Scheduled Caste].
    (3) Each Committee shall be competent to appoint in such manner as may be
    prescribed, members of farmers clubs, mahila mandals, yuvak mandals, and other similar
    bodies. A representative of cooperative societies in the panchayat area shall be appointed in the
    Production Committee. The rights and liabilities of the appointed members shall be such as may
    be prescribed.
    (a) Each sub-committee shall perform the functions referred to in sub-section (1) to
    the extent the powers are delegated to them by the Gram Panchayat.
    Functions of
    Panchayat Samiti
    which may be
    delegated to Gram
    Panchayat.
23. The Panchayat Samiti may and shall, if so required by Government delegate any
    of the following functions and duties to the Gram Panchayat, namely :—
    (a) any matter under the direct administrative control of the Panchayat Samiti ;
    (b) the maintenance or improvement of any property under the control or
    management of the Panchayat Samiti ; and
    (c) the control and management of cattle pond which are under the control of the
    Panchayat Samiti :
    Provided that funds necessary for the performance of the functions and duties so
    delegated shall be placed by the Panchayat Samiti at the disposal of the Gram Panchayat and in
    case of default, the Government may , by order in writing, direct the persons having the custody
    of the Panchayat Samiti Funds to place the funds at the disposal of the Gram Panchayat.
    Power to require
    removal of
    encroachment
    and nuisance.
24. (1) A Gram Panchayat either suo motu or on receiving a report or other
    informaiton and on taking such evidence, if any, as it thinks fit, may make a conditional order
    requiring within a time to be fixed in the order —
    (a) the owner or the occupier of any building or land —
    (i) to remove any encroachment on a public street, place or drain ;
    (ii) to close, remove, alter, repair, clean, disinfect or put in good order any
    latrine, urinal, water closet, drain, cesspool or other receptacle for filth,
    sullage water, rubbish or refuse or to remove or alter any door or trap or
    construct any drain for any such latrine, urinal or water closet, by a
    sufficient roof and wall or fence from the view of persons passing by or
    dwelling in the neighborhood ;
    (iii) to cleanse, repair, cover, fill up, drain off, deepen or to remove water from
    a private well, reservoir, pool, pit , ditch , depression or excavation therein
    which may appear to the Gram Panchayat to be injurious to health or
    offensive to the neighborhood ;
    (iv) to remove any dirt, dung, night soil manure or any noxious or offensive
    matter there from and to cleanse the land or building;
    (b) the owner of any wall or building which is deemed by the Gram Panchayat to be
    dangerous in any way to remove or repair any such wall or building ;
    (c) the owner or occupier of any building or property to keep his building or property
    in a sanitary condition ;
    (d) the owner of any dog or other animal suffering or reasonably suspected to be
    suffering from rabbies or which is dangerous to destroy, confined or cause to be
    confined such dog or animal ;
    (e) the owner or occupier of any agricultural land to destroy Pohli or any other such
    harmful weed from such land ;
    (f) the owner or occupier concerned to reclaim an unhealthy place ;
    (g) the owner or occupier of any building or land to maintain in proper repair the level
    and surface of any road or street passing in front of the building or through his
    land ;
    (h) the owner or person incharge of a private ‘Khal’ to keep it in a state of reasonable
    repair, or if he objects so to do, to appear before it at a time and place to be fixed
    by the order and to move to have the order set aside or modified in the manner
    hereinafter provided. If he does not perform such act or appear and show cause,
    the order shall be made absolute. If he appears and show cause against the
    order the Gram Panchayat shall take evidence and if it is satisfied that the order
    is not reasonable and proper no further proceedings shall be taken in the case. If
    it is not satisfied the order shall be made absolute.
    (2) If any of the act mentioned in sub-section (1) is not performed within the time
    fixed, the Gram Panchayat may cause it to be performed and may recover the costs of
    performing it from such person.
    1[(3) No street or pavement in a village shall be dug, altered or damaged in any
    manner whatsoever by any person for any purpose except with prior permission of the Sarpanch
    or Block Development and Panchayat Officer concerned. No such permission shall be granted by
    the Sarpanch or Block Development and Panchayat Officer unless the person seeking permission
    has deposited with the Gram Panchayat or Block Development and Panchayat Officer an amount
    as may be prescribed, to restore the street or pavement to its original state.
    (4) Any person whoever contravenes any provision contained in sub-section (3) shall
    be punishable with a fine which may extend to one thousand rupees and in addition to this an
    expenditure incurred by the Gram Panchayat in restoring the street or pavement to its original
    state, shall also be recoverable from him.]
25. Added by Haryana Act 10 of 1999.
    Power to
    make
    general
    orders.
26. A Gram Panchayat may, by general order to be published in the manner prescribed,—
    (a) prohibit the use of water of a well, pond or other excavation suspected to be
    dangerous to the public health ;
    (b) regulate or prohibit the use of water by cattle or for bathing or washing at or near
    wells, ponds or other excavations reserved for drinking purposes ;
    (c) regulate or prohibit the dyeing or tanning of skins within four hundred and forty
    metres of the residential area of a village :
    Provided that where the dyeing or tanning of skins was so practiced at the time when the
    Gram Panchayat under the Punjab Village Panchayat Act, 1939 (Punjab Act XI of 1939 ) or the
    Punjab Village Panchayat Act, 1922 (Act III of 1922) or any other Act was in force, its working
    shall not be prohibited unless the Gram Panchayat provide reasonable facilities of practicing it
    outside the four hundred and forty metres limits ;
    (d) regulate or prohibit the excavation of earth or stone or other material within two
    hundred and twenty metres of residential area of a
    village :
    Provided that nothing shall be done under this clause to prevent excavation
    meant to be filled in by the foundation of buildings or other structure;
    (e) regulate or prohibit the establishment of brick kilns and charcoal kilns within eight
    hundred and eighty metres and pottery kilns within two hundred and twenty
    metres of the limits of residential area of a village :
    Provided that where a pottery kiln was working at the time when Gram Panchayat
    under the Punjab Village Panchayat Act, 1939 (Punjab Act XI of
    1939 ) and the Punjab Village Panchayat Act, 1922 (Punjab Act III of 1922 ) or any other Act was
    in force, its working shall not be prohibited unless the Gram Panchayat provides reasonable
    facilities for its working outside the two hundred and twenty metres limits ;
    (f) direct the carrier of the carcasses of all animals dying within the village except the
    carcasses of animals slaughtered for consumption, shall not be disposed of
    within a radius of four hundred and forty metres of the limits of the residential
    area of the village ;
    (g) regulate the construction of new building or the extension or alteration of any
    existing building in the abadi ;
    (h) regulate with the previous permission of the Government the parking of public
    vehicles ;
    (i) regulate such matters as may be necessary for the general protection of standing
    crops and trees on common land and the planting of such trees ;
    (j) regulate the conditions of sanitation and taking curative and preventive measures
    to remove and prevent the spread of
    epidemics ;
    (k) regulate the maintenance of water courses meant for irrigation purposes;
    (l) regulate the killing or stray dogs ;
    (m) regulate the slaughter of animals ;
    (n) prohibit beggary ;
    (o) direct the taking of measures for the prevention of water logging ;
    (p) regulate the flaying and disposal of dead animals ;
    (q) prohibit the sale of harmful eatables within the sabha area ;
    (r) regulate the offensive and dangerous trades or practices ;
    (s) prohibit the playing of obscene gramophone records.
    Preparation
    of map of
    abadi deh.
27. (1) The Gram Panchayat shall cause to be prepared in the manner hereinafter
    appearing, a map of abadi deh in the sabha area showing therein the boundaries of the buildings,
    public streets and other public open spaces .
    (2) After preparation of the map, the Gram Panchayat shall publish, in the manner
    prescribed, a notice stating therein —
    (i) that the map of the abadi deh has been prepared ;
    (ii) the place at which the map may be inspected by the public ; and
    (iii) that the objections may be filed by any person within a period of thirty days of the
    date of publication of such notice in respect of the said map.
    (3) After the expiry of the period specified in sub-section (2) the Gram Panchayat
    shall consider the objections or representations, if any, received by it and after giving a
    reasonable opportunity to the persons who have filed any objection or representation, shall
    finalise the map after making such modifications therein as it may consider necessary.
    (4) The final map so prepared under sub-section (3), shall then be authenticated by
    the Gram Panchayat and the copies of this map shall be kept in the offices of Gram Panchayat,
    Block Development and Panchayat Officer, Chief Executive Officer for inspection by the public. A
    notice to the effect that the map has been finalised shall be published in the manner prescribed .
    (5) Any person desiring to inspect the map may do so on payment of a fee of five
    rupees. A copy of final map may also be obtained by making a separate application and on
    payment of such fee as may be prescribed.
28. Any person who disobeys an order passed under sections 24 and 25 by the Gram
    Panchayat, shall be liable to a penalty which may extend to one hundred rupees and if the breach
    is continuos with a further penalty which may extend to ten rupees for everyday after the first
    during which the breach continues :
    Provided that the penalty for recurring breach shall not exceed the sum of one
    thousand rupees.
    Penalty for
    disobedience of a
    special or general
    order of Gram
    Panchayat.
29. Any person aggrieved by an order of the Gram Panchayat made under sections 24,
    25 and 27 may within a period of thirty days of such order, prefer an appeal to the Director whose
    decision shall be final and shall not be liable to be questioned in any court of law.
    Appeal.
    Power to
    enquire and
    make report
    about
    misconduct of
    petty officials.
30. (1) On a complaint being made to the Gram Panchayat by any person that a peon,
    bailiff, constable, chowkidar, patrol of the Irrigation Department, forest guard, patwari, vaccinator,
    canal overseer, head constable, game watcher or any other class of public servants to which
    Government may, by notification, extend the provisions of this section has misconduct himself in
    his official capacity, the Gram Panchayat may enquire into the matter and submit a report, along
    with the prima facie evidence to the superior officer whom it may concern or to the Chief
    Executive Officer, as the case may be. The authority shall after such further enquiry as may be
    required, take suitable action and inform the Gram Panchayat accordingly :
    Power over
    waterways etc.
    Provided that nothing in this section shall be construed as empowering the Gram
    Panchayat to summon any official or to exercise control or to take disciplinary action against such
    official or otherwise.
    (2) On the report being made by any person that a patwari or chowkidar has failed to
    perform any duty imposed upon him by any law or rules, the Gram Panchayat may, by notice
    fixing a reasonable period, require him to perform the said duty and on his failure to do so, shall
    report the matter to the superior officer whom it may concern, or to the Chief Executive Officer,
    as the case may be. Result of the action taken thereon shall be communicated to Gram
    Panchayat.
    Power to
    introduce
    prohibition.
    Power to contract
    for collection of
    taxes and other
    dues.
31. A Gram Panchayat may, notwithstanding any law to the contrary, in respect of any
    area within its jurisdiction, enter into contract with Government or a Local Authority to collect land
    revenue or any taxes or dues payable to Government or a Local Authority on being allowed such
    collection charges as may be prescribed.
32. (1) A Gram Panchayat may , at any time, during the period commencing on the 1st
    day of April and ending with the 30th day of September of any year by resolution passed by
    majority of Panches holding office for the time being, direct that intoxicating liquor may not be
    sold at any licensed shop within the local area of the Gram Panchayat.
    (2) When a resolution has been passed under sub-section (1) and is received in the
    office of the Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Haryana, on or before the 31st day of October, it
    shall take effect from the 1st day of April of the year next after such resolution.
    (3) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Punjab Excise Act, 1914 (Punjab Act 1
    of 1914 ) or any other Act for the time being in force and the rules made there under with regard
    to the powers and functions of the Collector under the said Act, such a resolution will be binding
    upon the Excise and Taxation Commissioner :
    Provided that if the Excise and Taxation Commissioner is of the opinion for reasons to be
    recorded in writing that within such local area illicit distillation or smuggling of alcohol has been
    carried on or connived at, within two years preceding the date of the passing of such resolution in
    such local area, such resolution shall not be binding upon him, unless the Government orders
    that it shall be so binding.
    Entry and
    inspection.
33. The Sarpanch, if authorised in writing in this behalf by the Gram Panchayat or any
    Panch, may enter into or upon any building or land, with or without assistants or workmen, in
    order to make an inspection or survey or to execute a work which a Gram Panchayat is
    authorised by this Act or by rules or bye-laws made there under to make or execute, or which it is
    necessary for a Gram Panchayat for any of the purposes or in pursuance of any of the provisions
    of this Act or of rules or bye- laws to make or execute :
    Provided that :–
    (a) except when it is otherwise expressly provided for under this Act, no such entry
    shall be made between sunset and sunrise ;
    (b) sufficient notice, shall in every instance be given even when any premises can
    otherwise be entered without notice to enable the inmates of an apartment
    occupied by women to remove themselves to some part of the premises where
    privacy shall not be disturbed ; and
    (c) due regard shall always be had to the social and religious usages of the
    occupants of the premises entered.
34. The Gram Panchayat may, with the consent of Panchayat Samiti manage, start and
    regulate new fairs and markets with such conditions as to the share of income accruing the
    refrom as may be mutually agreed upon.
    Power to manage
    fairs and markets.
35. A Gram Panchayat shall have control of all public streets, waterways other than
    canals as defined in clause (1) of section 2 of the Haryana Canal and Drainage Act, 1974
    (Haryana Act 29 of 1974 ), or any other Act for the time being in force situated within its
    jurisdiction not being a private street or waterways and not being under the control of
    Government or Panchayat Samiti or any other authority specified by Government and may do all
    things necessary for the maintenance and repair thereof, and may—
    (a) construct new bridges or culverts ;
    (b) divert, discontinue or close any public street, culvert or bridge;
    (c) widen, open, enlarge or otherwise improve any public street, culvert or bridge
    with minimum damage to the neighboring fields ;
    (d) deepen or otherwise improve waterways ;
    (e) with the sanction of the prescribed authority and where a canal exists under the
    Haryana Canal and Drainage Act, 1974 or any other Act for the time being in
    force with the sanction also of such officer of the Irrigation Department as the
    Government may appoint to undertake small irrigation projects ;
    (f) cut any hedge or branch of any tree projecting on a public street;and
    (g) notify the setting apart of any public watercourse for drinking or culinary
    purposes, and prohibit bathing, washing of clothes and animals or doing of other
    acts likely to pollute the course so set
    apart :
    Provided that nothing shall be done under clause (g) which may affect a canal
    covered by the Haryana Canal and Drainage Act, 1974, or any other Act for the time being in
    force, without the prior permission of the authority prescribed by Government in this behalf.
    Power regarding
    naming of streets
    and numbering of
    buildings.
36. (1) A Gram Panchayat may–
    (a) cause a name to be given to a street by fixing it to or painting it on any building or
    otherwise in such a position or manner as it may think fit ; and
    (b) cause a number to be fixed to or painted on any building in such a position or
    manner as it may think fit.
    (2) The Gram Panchayat may require the owner or occupier of any building to paint
    thereon a number or itself cause such a number to be painted on any building.
    (3) Any person destroying, pulling down, defacing or altering any name plate of a
    street or number affixed to or painted on a building under sub-sections (1) and (2) or affixing to or
    painting on a building a different name or number other than that affixed or painted by or under
    the order of the Gram Panchayat, shall, on conviction by the Gram Panchayat, be liable to a fine
    which may extend to fifty rupees.
    Power of
    taxation and
    fees.
37. Subject to rules made under this Act and the conditions agreed upon in writing, a
    Gram Panchayat may receive from any person any property vested in him, or the management of
    any institution, or the execution or maintenance of any work, or the performance of any duty,
    within its area :
    Power to take
    over
    management
    of Institutions
    etc. Provided that no work costing more than five thousand rupees shall be entrusted to, or
    undertaken by a Gram Panchayat except with the previous approval of the Director.
38. (1) The Gram Panchayat shall, subject to such terms and conditions, as may be
    prescribed, give help to the educational institutions, hospitals and dispensaries in or near its
    jurisdiction for their maintenance, improvement or efficient running.
    (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, a Gram Panchayat may
    contribute funds to — Help in
    maintenance
    and
    improvement of
    schools and
    hospitals or
    dispensaries.
    (a) any charitable or national cause or any work or scheme for removing distress and
    ameliorating the conditions of the people in the rural area in the State sponsored
    or approved by Government ; or
    (b) the execution of any other scheme which, in the opinion of Gram Panchayat is
    likely to be beneficial to the inhabitants of the Sabha area :
    Provided that no contribution shall be made under clause (b) without the previous
    approval of the Government .
    Establishme
    nt of Primary
    Schools,
    Hospitals or
    a dispensary
    for a group
    of Gram
    Panchayats.
39. Where a group of neighboring Gram Panchayats areas have no primary school,
    hospital or Ayurvedic or Unani Dispensary, the Gram Panchayat thereof shall, if so directed by
    the prescribed authority, combine to help in establishing such a school, hospital or Ayurvedic or
    Unani Dispensary and it shall be managed in the manner prescribed :
    Provided that Government or the Panchayat Samiti or Zila Parishad shall place funds as
    may be necessary for the purpose, at the disposal of the Gram Panchayats concerned.

CHAPTER V
FINANCE AND TAXATION Power to
exempt from
taxes and write
off
irrecoverable
amounts.

39. There shall be a Gram Fund for each Gram Panchayat and the same shall be utilised
    for carrying out the duties and obligations imposed on the Gram Panchayat or any Committee
    thereof by this or any other Act and for such other purposes of the Gram Panchayat as the
    Government may prescribe.
    Gram Fund.
40. The following moneys shall be credited to the Gram Fund—
    (a) all grants from the Government or other Local Authorities as may be specified ;
    (b) the balances, if any, standing at the credit of the Gram Panchayat at the
    commencement of this Act ;
    Sources of
    Gram Fund.
    (c) the balances and proceeds of all funds which, in the opinion of the Block
    Development and Panchayat Officer, were or are being collected for common,
    secular purposes of the village or the villages comprised in the sabha area ;
    (d) all-donations ;
    (e) all taxes, duties, cesses, fines and fees imposed and realized under this Act ;
    (f) the sale proceeds of all dust, dirt, dung or refuge collected by the servants of the
    Gram Panchayats and dead bodies of animals not claimed by any person in
    accordance with any custom or usage and the trees and other produce of the
    land vested in the Gram
    Panchayat ;
    Special tax and
    community
    service.
    (g) income derived from the fisheries which are under the management of Gram
    Panchayat ; and
    (h) income derived from common lands vested in the Gram Panchayat under any
    law for the time being in force .
41. (1) Subject to rules made under this Act or any order made by Government in this
    behalf, a Gram Panchayat shall impose —
    (a) a house tax payable by the occupier or, where a house is vacant by the owner :
    Provided that if any house —
    (i) remains vacant for a period of one year or more ; or
    (ii) is owned or occupied by a person who was dependent of the member of
    the Armed Forces of the Union of India killed in action during the 1962,
    1965 or 1971 war, it shall be exempted from payment of the house tax ;
    (b) if so authorised by the Government, a duty on transfer of property in the form of a
    surcharge on the duty imposed by the Indian Stamp Act, 1899, on instruments of
    sale, gift and mortgage with possession of immovable property situated in the
    sabha area at such rate as may be fixed by the Government not exceeding two
    per centum, as the case may be, the amount of the consideration, the value of
    the property or the amount secured by the mortgagee, as set forth in the
    instrument ;
    (c) if so authorised by the Government, any other tax, duty or cess which the
    Legislature of the State has power to impose :
    Provided that if the Gram Panchayat fails to impose the tax, duty or cess, the Government
    may take necessary steps to impose it and the tax, duty or cess so imposed shall be
    deemed it and the tax, duty or cess so imposed shall be deemed to have been imposed by
    the Gram Panchayat :
    Provided further that the Government may, at any time withdraw the authorisation under
    clause (b) or clause (c) whereupon the tax, duty or cess to be levied.
    (2) The following fees may be levied by the Gram panchayat—
    (i) teh-bazari from the shopkeepers in fairs other than cattle fairs ;
    (ii) service fee including fee on cleaning of streets and lighting of streets and
    sanitation ;
    (iii) fees for registration of animals sold in the sabha area ; and
    (iv) water rates where water is supplied by the Gram Panchayat .
42. Subject to such restrictions and control as may prescribed a Gram Panchayat may
    write off any tax, fee or other amount whatsoever, due to it, whether under a contract or otherwise
    or any sum payable in connection therewith, if in its opinion such tax, fee, amount or sum is
    irrecoverable.
43. (1) Accounts of the receipts and expenditure of every Gram Panchayat shall be
    made up in such form as may be prescribed and the Gram Panchayat shall make arrangements
    for the examination and audit of the accounts by such persons as the Government may appoint in
    this behalf .
    (2) Every Gram Panchayat shall cause a copy of its budget considered under
    section 12 and of account made up under sub-section (1) to be kept at its
    office ; and any member of sabha area may, at all reasonable times, inspect any such budget or
    account on payment of fee as may be prescribed.
    Audits of
    accounts,
    inspection of
    budget and
    accounts and
    publication of
    abstract of
    accounts.
    (3) A statement of the accounts of the Gram Panchayat for each financial year,
    showing the income of the Gram Panchayat under each head of receipt, the charges for
    establishment, the works undertaken, the sums expended on each work and the balance, if any,
    of the Fund remaining unspent at the end of the year, shall be prepared by the Gram Sachiv in
    such form as may be prescribed and in such manner as the Gram Panchayat may direct. Expenses of
    Gram
    Panchayat.
44. The expenses of the Gram Panchayat shall be charged to the Gram Fund in such
    proportion as may be determined by the prescribed authority.
45. A Gram Panchayat may, with the previous permission of the Director, impose a
    special tax on the adult male members of the sabha area for construction of any public work of
    general utility for inhabitants of the said area provided that it may exempt any member from
    payment of this tax in lieu of doing voluntary labour or having it done by another person on his
    behalf :
    Provided that in the case of an emergency manual labour may be compulsorily imposed
    without payment and if any person does not perform such labour without sufficient cause, he shall
    be liable to be punished by the Gram Panchayat with a fine which may extend to fifty rupees.
    CHAPTER VI
    CONTROL
46. (1) A Gram Panchayat shall at all reasonable times permit any office or other person
    whom the Director or Chief Executive Officer, as the case may be, may authorize in this behalf to
    have access to all its books, proceedings and records and to enter on and inspect any immovable
    property occupied by, or any work in progress under the orders of or any institution controlled by
    it.
    Access to
    records of
    Gram
    Panchayat.
    (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the Block Development and
    Panchayat Officer or the Social Education and Panchayat Officer may for the purpose of this Act,
    require in writing, a Gram Panchayat to produce before him any book, proceedings or record
    and may inspect and examine the same and if he has reasonable grounds that anything
    necessary for the purpose of an investigation may be found in any book proceedings or record,
    he may seize such book, proceedings or record. The officer seizing the book, proceedings or
    record shall forthwith issue a receipt for the same .
    (3) Nothing contained in sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) shall affect the right of
    parties to any proceedings pending before a Gram Panchayat to inspect the records of those
    proceedings, in the manner prescribed .
    Powers to
    suspend action
    of Gram
    Panchayat.
47. (1) The District Development and Panchayat Officer or Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil),
    as the case may be, by written order, suspend the execution of any resolution or order of the
    Gram Panchayat or prohibit the doing of any act which is about to be done or is being done
    under the provision of this Act. However, in
    special circumstances if in the opinion of the Director, the Gram Panchayat has committed gross
    negligence to perform its duties and functions, the Director may
    suo motu or on a complaint or report of the District Development and Panchayat Officer or SubDivisional Officer (Civil), as the case may be, received in this behalf, and after giving a
    reasonable opportunity to explain to the Gram Panchayat concerned, may take necessary action
    and pass such orders as he may deem fit.
    1.Omitted by Haryana Act 10 of 1999.
    2.Sub. by ibid
    (2) In case the resolution or order is suspended by the District Development and
    Panchayat Officer or Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil), as the case may be, he shall forthwith send a
    copy of the order passed by him in this behalf with a statement of reasons and with such
    explanation as the Gram Panchayat may offer, to the Director and the Director may thereupon
    confirm, modify or rescind the order.
    (3) Any Gram Panchayat aggrieved by an order passed under this section, may
    within a period of thirty days from the date of communication of the order, prefer an appeal to the
    Government.
    Control and
    subordination.
    48.In all matters arising under this Act, and unless otherwise provided, the Gram
    Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, Zila Parishad and the Director shall be subject to such authority
    and control as the Government may direct.
48. (1) If a Gram Panchayat makes default in the performance of any duty imposed upon
    it by or under this Act, or under any other law for the time being in force, the Director after such
    enquiry as it may deem fit, fix a period for the performance thereof, and in case of default may
    appoint any person to perform it and may direct that the expenses arising from, and incidental to,
    its performance, shall be paid by the Gram Panchayat within the time fixed .
    Default of
    duties.
    (2) If, in the opinion of the Government, a Gram Panchayat has failed or is
    otherwise, incompetent to administer its property, movable, or immovable in the best interest of
    the inhabitants of the sabha area, the Government shall appoint a person to administer such
    property for and on behalf of Gram Panchayat :
    Provided that the Government may at any time terminate such arrangement and there on
    the administration of such property shall be resumed by the
    Gram Panchayat .
    (3) The person appointed under sub-section (2) shall exercise all such powers of a
    Gram Panchayat under this Act, or under any law for the time being in force, as may be
    necessary for the management of the property and shall be entitled to receive such remuneration
    as may be fixed by the Government .
    (4) The income from the management of the property shall be credited to the Gram
    Fund and all expenses arising from and incidental to the administration of such property,
    including the remuneration payable to the person appointed under sub-section (2), shall be met
    out of the Gram Fund.
    (5) If the expenses referred to sub- section (1) or sub-section (4) are not paid, the
    Government may make an order directing the person having custody of the Gram Fund to make
    the pay ment in whole or in part as may be possible from such balance and if such person does
    not comply with the order, recover the amount from him, in the manner prescribed .
    Power to take
    over
    management
    of land.
49. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 49, if in the opinion of
    Government, it is necessary to take over, in public interest or to secure proper management of
    any land held or managed by the Gram Panchayat, the Government may, by notification in the
    Official Gazette, take over the management of such land for a period not exceeding the duration
    of the Gram Panchayat :
    Provided that the land which has already been leased out shall not be taken over before
    the expriy of the lease.
    (2) The land taken over under sub-section (1) shall be managed in the manner
    prescribed and the income derived there from, after meeting all expenses on its management,
    shall be credited to the Gram Fund .
    1.Omitted by Haryana Act 10 of 1999.
    2.Sub. by ibid.
50. (1) The Director or the Deputy Commissioner concerned may, suspend any
    Sarpanch 1[* * * * ] or Panch, as the case may be,–
    (a) where a case against him in respect of any criminal offence is under
    investigation, enquiry or trial, if in the opinion of the Director or Deputy
    Commissioners concerned the charge made or proceeding taken against him, is
    Suspension
    and removal of
    a Sarpanch
    1[* * * * ]
    or Panch.
    likely to embarrass him in the discharge of his duties or involves moral-turpitude
    or defect of character ;
    (b) during the course of an enquiry for any of the reasons for which he can be
    removed, after giving him adequate opportunity to explain.
    2[(2) Any Sarpanch or Panch, as the case may be, suspended under sub-section (1)
    , shall not take part in any act or proceeding of the Gram Panchayat during the period of his
    suspension and shall hand over the records, money or any other property of the Gram Panchayat
    in his possession or under his control —
    (i) if he is a Sarpanch to a Panch commanding majority in the Gram Panchayat ;
    (ii) if he is a Panch to Sarpanch :
    Provided that the suspension period of a Panch or a Sarpanch, as the case may be , shall
    not exceed one year from the date of handing over the charge in pursuance of the suspension
    order except in criminal cases involving moral turpitude.]
    (3) The Director or the Deputy Commissioner concerned may, after such enquiry as
    he may deem fit and after giving an opportunity of being heard to a Sarpanch or 1[* * * * * ] a
    Panch, as the case may be, ask him to show cause against the action proposed to be taken
    against him, and by order remove him from his office —
    (a) if after his election he is convicted by a criminal court for an offence involving
    moral turpitude and punishable with imprisonment for a period exceeding six
    months ;
    (b) if he was disqualified to be a member of the Gram Panchayat at the time of his
    election ;
    (c) if he incurrs any of the disqualifications mentioned in section 175 after his
    election as member of the Gram Panchayat ;
    (d) if he is absent from five consecutive meetings of the Gram Panchayat without
    prior permission or leave of Gram Panchayat ; and
    (e) if he has been guilty of misconduct in the discharge of his duties and his
    continuance in the office is undesirable in the public
    interest .
    (4) A person who has been removed under sub-section (3) may be disqualified for
    re-election for such period as may be mentioned in the order but not exceeding the period of six
    years .
    (5) Any person aggrieved by an order passed under sub-sections (1) , (3) and (4),
    may within a period of thirty days from the communication of the order, perfer an appeal to the
    Government.
    2[(6) Any Sarpanch or Panch , as the case may be, removed under sub-section (3),
    shall hand over the records, money or any other property of the Gram Panchayat in his
    possession or under his control —
    (i) if he is Sarpanch to a Panch commanding majority in the Gram Panchayat ; and
    (ii) if he is a Panch to Sarpanch .]
    1.Omitted by Haryana Act 10 of 1999.
    2Omitted by Haryana Act 10 of 1999.
    3Substituted by ibid
    Dissolution of
    Gram
    Panchayat,
51. (1) If, in the opinion of the Government, a Gram Panchayat abuses its powers or is
    not competent to perform or makes persistent defaults in the performance of its duties under this
    Act or willfully disregards any instructions given or directions issued by the Panchayat Samiti or
    Zila Parishad or any instructions issued by competent authority arising out of the audit of
    accounts of the Gram Panchayat or inspection of the work, the Government may, after giving the
    gram Panchayat an opportunity to render explanation, by an order published, with the reasons
    thereof , in the Official Gazette, dissolve such Gram Panchayat .
    (2) When a Gram Panchayat is dissolved under sub-section (1) —
    (i) Sarpanch 1[* * * * * *] and all Panches shall vacate their office forthwith ;
    (ii) all powers and duties of the Gram Panchayat during its dissolution, shall
    be exercised and performed by such person or persons as the
    Government may appoint in this behalf ; and
    (iii) all property in the possession of the Gram Panchayat shall be held by
    Government .
    (3) Upon dissolution of Gram Panchayat under sub-section (1), the Government shall
    reconstitute a Gram Panchayat as specified under section 8 and election to reconstitute such
    Gram Panchayat shall be completed before the expiration of a period of six months from the date
    of dissolution :
    Provided that where the remainder of the period for which the dissolved Gram
    Panchayat would have continued is less than six months, it shall not be necessary to hold any
    election under this sub-section for reconstituting the Gram Panchayat for such period.
    (4) A Gram Panchayat reconstituted upon the dissolution of the existing Gram
    Panchayat before the expiration of its duration, shall continue only for the remainder of the peiod
    for which the dissolved Gram Panchayat would have continued under section 3 had it not been
    so dissolved .
52. (1) Every Sarpanch 1[* * * * * * ] or a Panch of a Gram Panchayat shall be liable for the loss, waste or mis-application of Gram Fund or property belonging to that Gram Panchayat if such loss, waste of mis-application is a consequence of his neglect or misconduct while working as Sarpanch 1[ * * * * * ] or a Panch, as the case may be. (2) The Block Development and Panchayat Officer concerned may, on the application of a Gram Panchayat or otherwise, for loss, waste or mis-application of Gram Fund or property belonging to that Gram Panchayat and after giving adequate opportunity to Sarpanch 1[ * * * * * ] or Panch, as the case may be, to explain, assess by order in writing the amount due from him on account of such loss, waste or mis-application of such Gram Fund or property and take necessary steps for its recovery. Liability of Sarpanch 1[**} or a Panch. (3) Any person aggrieved by an order under sub-section (2) may, within one month of the date of such order apply to the Director to have it set aside and the Director may suspend, vary or rescind such order upon such terms as to costs, payment into court or otherwise, as he thinks fit, but subject to the result of such application, if any, the order shall be conclusive proof of the amount due. (4) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (3) the Government may, either on its own motion at any time or an application received in this behalf within a period of sixty days from the date of the order, call for the records of any proceedings in which the Director has passed an order under sub-section (3) for the purpose of satisfying itself as to the legality or propriety of such order and may pass such order in relation thereto as it thinks fit : 1.Substituted by Haryana Act 19 of 1995. 2.Omitted by ibid. Provided that the Government shall not pass an order under this sub-section prejudicial to any person without giving him a reasonable opportunity of being heard. (5) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section no person shall be called upon to explain why he should not be required to make good any loss, after the expiry of six years from the occurrence of the loss, waste or mis-application or after the expiry of two years from his ceasing to be a Sarpanch 1[ * * * * ] or Panch, as the case may be, whichever is earlier.
    (6) The amount assessed as due from Sarpanch 1[* * * * * *] or Panch, as the
    case may be, may after his death be recovered from his legal heirs to the extent of property
    inherited by them .
53. 2[(1) Whoever, save as otherwise provided in section 24— ] Penalty for
    tempering with the
    property.
    (i) removes, displaces or makes any alteration in or interferes with any pavement,
    gutter, public street, fence, wall or post thereof, lamp-post or bracket thereof,
    direction-post, stand-post hydrant or other property of Gram Panchayat ;
    (ii) causes any damage to the property of a Gram Panchayat ;
    (iii) interferes with any right, title or interest in the land vesting in the Gram
    Panchayat without written sanction of the Gram Panchayat or other lawful
    authority shall be punishable with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees
    and shall also be liable to pay damages equivalent to the loss caused to the
    Gram Panchayat .
    (2) The Block Development and Panchayat Officer may suo motu or on the
    application of the Gram Panchayat, and after giving the person concerned an opportunity to
    explain, assess by order in writing the amount of loss caused to the Gram Panchayat .
    (3) Any person aggrieved by an order made under sub-sections (1) and (2) may
    within thirty days of the date of such order file an appeal to the Director whose orders shall be
    final .