Section 17 in The West Bengal Panchayat Elections Act, 2003
17. Reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes [Backward Classes] [Inserted by Act No. 23 of 2012, dated 24.8.2012.] and Woman candidates.
(1)Seats shall be reserved for the Scheduled Castes in every Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, Zilla Parishad or the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad in such manner as may be prescribed and the number of the seats so reserved shall bear as nearly as may be, the same proportion with the total number of seats to be filled by direct election to the Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, Zilla Parishad or the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad, as the case may be, as the population of the Scheduled Castes in the area of the Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, Zilla Parishad or the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad, as the case may be, bears with the total population of that area, and such seats may be allotted by rotation to different constituencies of that Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, Zilla Parishad or the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad in such manner as may be prescribed.(2)Seats shall be reserved for the Scheduled Tribes in every Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, Zilla Parishad or the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad in such manner as may be prescribed and the number of seats so reserved shall bear as nearly as may be, the same proportion with the total number of seats to be filled by direct election to the Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, Zilla Parishad or the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad, as the case may be, as the population of the Scheduled Tribes in the area of the Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, Zilla Parishad or the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad, as the case may be, bears with the total population of that area, and such seats may be allotted by rotation to different constituencies of that Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, Zilla Parishad or the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad in such manner as may be prescribed.(2A)[ Seats shall be reserved for the Backward Classes in every Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, Zilla Parishad or the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad in sucb manner as may be prescribed and the number of seats so reserved shall bear as nearly as may be, the same proportion with the total number of seats to be filled by direct election to the Gram Panchayat, the Panchayat Samiti, the Zilla Parishad or the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad, as the case may be, as the population of the Backward Classes in the area of the Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, Zilla Parishad or the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad, as the case may be, bears with the total population of that area, and such seats may be allotted by rotation to different constituencies of that Gram Panchayat, Panchayar Samiti, Zilla Parishad or the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad in such manner as may be prescribed.] [Inserted by Act No. 23 of 2012, dated 24.8.2012.](3)[ As nearly as practicable one-half but not exceeding one-half of the total number of seats reserved under sub-section (I), sub-section (2) and SUD-section (2A), shall be reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes or the Backward Classes, as the case may be, in such manner as may be prescribed.] [Substituted 'Not less than one-third of the total number of seats reserved under sub-section (1) and sub-section (2) shall be reserved for Women belonging to the Scheduled Castes, or the Scheduled Tribes, as the case may be, in such manner as may be prescribed.' by Act No. 23 of 2012, dated 24.8.2012.](4)[ As nearly as practicable one-half but not exceeding one-half of the total number of seats, including the seats reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the Backward Classes under sub-section (3), to be filled by direct election to a Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, Zilla Parishad or the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad shall be reserved for the women, and such seats may be allotted by rotation to different constituencies of the Gram Panchayat. Panchayat Samiti, Zilla Parishad or the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad, as the case may be, in such manner as may be prescribed.Explanation. - A member of the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes or the Backward Classes or Women shall not be disqualified to hold a seat not reserved for members of the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes or the Backward Classes or Women if such member is otherwise qualified to hold such seat under this Act.] [Substituted by Act No. 23 of 2012, dated 24.8.2012.]
