State Act

The Maharashtra Village Panchayats Act.

144. Default in performance of duty.— (1) If at any time, it appears to the 4[Standing Committee] that a panchayat has made default in the performance of 5[any duty under section 45], it may order the duty to be performed within a specified period, and if the duty is not performed within the period specified, the 6[Standing Committee] may appoint a person to perform it, and direct that the expense of performances shall be paid by the defaulting panchayat within such period as the 7[Standing Committee] may fix. (2) If the expenses is not so paid, the 8[Standing Committee] may direct the person in custody of the village fund to pay such expenses, or so much thereof as is possible, from the balance of such fund in his hands and such person shall pay such expense or part thereof accordingly. 9[(2A) If at any time it appears to the Standing Committee, that a panchayat has failed to contribute or pay in any financial year the amount as required by sub-section (3) of section 62 or has committed default in payment of any instalment towards repayment of the loan taken by the panchayat from the District Village Development Fund, in accordance with the rules made for the purpose in pursuance of the provisions of section 133, the 10[Standing Committee] may, by an order in writing direct the person in custody of the village fund to pay to the credit of the District Village Development Fund such sums as may be due to it as such intervals and in such instalments as it may, regard being had to the finances of the panchayat, direct and the panchayat shall comply with such directions.] (3) If at any time it appears to the State Government or any officer authorised by the State Government in this behalf, that a panchayat has made default in the performance of 11[any duty under section 45] 12[or in the payment of any amount to the credit of the District Village Development Fund under sub-section (2A)] and that the 13[Standing Committee] has failed or neglected to take action under sub-section (1) 14[or under sub-section (2A)], the State Government or the officer authorised, as the case may be, may take such action as could have been taken by the 15[Standing Committee] 16[under sub-sections (1), (2) and (2A)]. (4) The 17[Standing Committee] or the officer authorised, as the case may be, shall forthwith report to the Commissioner every case occuring under this section and the Commissioner may revise or modify any order made therein, and make in respect thereof, any other order which 18[Standing Committee] could have made.