State Act

The Maharashtra Village Panchayats Act.

3[30A-1A. Direct election of Sarpanch.— (1) After the date of commencement of 4[the Maharashtra Village Panchayats (Amendment) Act, 2022 (XLII of 2022)] in respect of the panchayat to which the general election is to be held, subject to provisions of sub-sections (4), (5) and (6) of section 30, every panchayat shall have a Sarpanch who shall be elected by the persons whose names are included in the list of voters for village under section 12. (2) Election of the Sarpanch shall be held simultaneously with the general election of the panchayat and the procedure regarding holding of elections to the panchayat shall, mutatis mutandis, apply to such election. (3) If at an election, no Sarpanch is elected, a fresh election shall be held to elect a Sarpanch, and if there is a failure to elect a Sarpanch at the fresh election, such vacancy may, notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, be filled by election by the elected members from amongst themselves and the term of Sarpanch elected under this sub-section shall be co-terminus with the term of members of the panchayat. (4) Any person elected under sub-section (3) shall be deemed to be duly elected at an election under this section. (5) If, in the election of the Sarpanch, there is an equality of votes, the result of the election shall be decided by lots to be drawn by the State Election Commissioner or the officer appointed by him for the purpose. (6) In case of a dispute regarding election of the Sarpanch, the provisions of section 15 shall, mutatis mutandis, apply.]