3. Membership of Gram Sabha and disqualification.—(1) A Gram Sabha shall, subject to
sub-section (2), consist of all persons whose names are included in electoral rolls referred to in section 15
within the area of the Gram Sabha:
Provided that no person shall be a member of more than one Gram Sabha.
(2) A person shall be disqualified for being a member of the Gram Sabha, if—
(a) he is not a citizen of India; or
(b) he is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent court; or
(c) he is for the time being disqualified from voting under the provision of any law relating to
corrupt practices and other offences in connection with election to State Legislature.
4. Cessation of membership.—(1) A member of Gram Sabha shall cease to be a member, if he has
ceased to be ordinarily resident within the Gram Sabha area.
(2) Where any person ceases to be a member of Gram Sabha under sub-section (1) he shall also cease
to hold any office to which he may have been elected or appointed by virtue of being a member thereof.
5. Periodicity of meetings.—The Gram Sabha shall meet from time to time but six months shall not
intervene between any two meetings.
6. Convening of meetings.—The meeting of the Gram Sabha shall be held in accordance with such
procedure as may be prescribed.
7. Quorum.—(1) The quorum for a meeting of the Gram Sabha shall be one-tenth of its total
membership.
(2) If at the time appointed for the meeting, a quorum is not present, the person presiding shall wait
for thirty minutes, and if within such period, there is no quorum, the person presiding shall adjourn the
meeting to the same time on the same day in the following week. He shall similarly, after waiting for
thirty minutes, adjourn the meeting if at any time after it has begun, attention is drawn to the want of a
quorum. A notice of the meeting so fixed shall be posted in the office of the Gram Panchayat. The
business which could not be considered at the meeting so postponed for want of quorum, shall be brought
before and disposed of at the meeting so fixed or at any subsequent adjourned meeting at which there is a
quorum.
8. Gram Sabha meetings.—Every meeting of the Gram Sabha shall be presided over by the Pradhan
of the concerned Gram Panchayat and in his absence, by the Up-Pradhan, and in the absence of both by a
member of the Gram Panchayat to be chosen from amongst the members of the Panchayat.
7
9. Agenda.—The Gram Panchayat shall prepare the agenda for discussion of the Gram Sabha, such
matters shall relate to the following, namely:—
(a) the annual statement of accounts of the Gram Panchayat, the report of administration of the
preceding financial year and the last audit note and replies if any, made thereto;
(b) the budget of the Gram Panchayat for the next financial year; and
(c) the report in respect of development programmes of the Gram Panchayat relating to the
preceding year and development programmes proposed to be undertaken during the current year.
10. Resolution.—Any resolution relating to the functions entrusted to the Gram Sabha under
section 11, shall have to be passed by a majority of votes of the members present and voting in the
meeting of the Gram Sabha.
11. Functions of Gram Sabha.—A Gram Sabha shall exercise the following functions, namely:—
(a) rendering assistance in the implementation of development schemes pertaining to the village;
(b) identification of beneficiaries for the implementation of development schemes pertaining to
the village:
Provided that in case the Gram Sabha fails to identify the beneficiaries within a reasonable time
the Gram Panchayat can identify the beneficiaries;
(c) mobilising voluntary labour and contributions in kind or cash or both for the community
welfare programmes;
(d) to promote adult education and family welfare within the village;
(e) promotion of unity and harmony among all sections of society in the village;
(f) such other matters as may be prescribed.
12. Vigilance Committee.—The Gram Sabha may also form one or more Vigilance Committees
consisting of persons, who are not members of the Gram Panchayat to supervise the Gram Panchayat
works, schemes and other activities and to put up reports concerning them in its meeting.