- [(1) In accordance with the rules made under this Act, an Irrigation Panchayat shall be established for every village, or chak, and at the discretion of the Collector, for a group of villages in the commanded area of the canal. Such Panchayats shall consist of a Sarpanch and two or more members elected by the permanent holders and occupiers of the land from among themselves. Such election shall be subject to the approval of the Collector, who shall have power to nominate one member to any Panchayat, and, for reasons to be recorded in writing, to dismiss any member and to dissolve any Panchayat subject to an appeal to the Commission.] [Inserted by M.P. Act No. 42 of 1973.](2)Irrigation Panchayats shall-(a)[ x x x] [Omitted by A.O. 1957.];(b)assist the officer of the Irrigation Department in detecting, and preventing encroachments on canal lands, prevent damage to irrigation works, and report any wilful damage caused to irrigation works;(c)assist the officers of the Irrigation Department in arranging for the construction of water-courses, in recording and checking irrigation, and in making measurements and settling disputes;(d)collect irrigation revenue and remit it to the treasury; and(e)arrange for the repair of water courses.(3)[ Irrigation Panchayat shall have power to accept from any person against whom a reasonable suspicion exists that he has committed an offence specified in rules made under this Act, a sum not exceeding fifty rupees for composition of such offence.] [Substituted by M.P. Act No, 42 of 1973.](4)Money collected by a Panchayat under sub-section (3) shall be expended by the Panchayat, subject to the control of the Collector on any work of public utility in the village.(5)A member of such Panchayat shall be deemed to be a public servant for the purposes of the Indian Penal Code.
