54. Devolution and delegation of Chairman's functions and filling up of vacancies in the office of Chairman.
(1)When the office of Chairman is vacant, the Vice-Chairman shall exercise the functions of the Chairman until a new Chairman assumes office.(2)When the office of Chairman is vacant and there is either a vacancy in the office of Vice-Chairman, or the Vice-Chairman has been continuously absent from jurisdiction for more than thirty days or is incapacitated and until a new Chairman or Vice-Chairman is elected and assumes office, or the Vice-Chairman returns to jurisdiction or recovers from his incapacity, as the case may be, the Revenue Divisional Officer shall, notwithstanding anything contained in the Act, or in the Rules or notifications issued thereunder, be ex officio member and Chairman of the Panchayat Union Council.(3)An out-going Chairman or Vice-Chairman is eligible for re-election.(4)The Chairman may, by an order in writing, delegate any of his functions to the Vice-Chairman:Provided that he shall not delegate any functions which the Panchayat Union Council expressly forbids him to delegate.(5)If the Chairman has been continuously absent from jurisdiction for more than thirty days or is incapacitated, his functions during [such absence or incapacity shall] [See Rules issued in G.O. Ms. No. 140, Rural Development (C4), dated 21st July 1999 at page 561 and published in Part III - Section 1(a), of the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette Extraordinary, dated 23rd July 1999.], except in such circumstances as may be prescribed, devolve on the Vice-Chairman.(6)If the Vice-Chairman also has been continuously absent from jurisdiction for more than thirty days or is incapacitated or if the office of Vice-Chairman is vacant, the Chairman may, by an order in writing, delegate any of his functions to any member of the Panchayat Union Council who shall be called "Chairman Delegate" during the period of delegation:Provided that -(i)when an order of delegation made under this sub-section is in force, no further orders of delegation of any function shall be made in favour of any member other than the member in whose favour the order in force was made;(ii)no delegation under this sub-section shall be made for any period exceeding in the aggregate ninety days in any year without the special sanction of the Panchayat Union Council; and(iii)every order made under this sub-section shall be communicated to the Panchayat Union Council at its next meeting.(7)The exercise or discharge of any functions delegated under this section shall be, subject to such restrictions, limitations and conditions as may be laid down by the Chairman.
