(1)The directly elected members of every Zilla Parishad shall, at its first meeting at which a quorum is present, elect in the prescribed manner, one of its directly elected members to be the Sabhadhipati and another member to be the Sahakari Sabhadhipati of the Zilla Parishad :Provided that a member shall not be eligible for such election unless he declares in writing that on being elected he shall be a whole time functionary of his office and that during the period for which he holds or is continuing to hold such office he shall not hold any office of profit and shall not carry on or be associated with any business, profession or calling in such manner that shall , or is likely to, interfere with due exercise of his powers, due performance of his functions or due discharge of his duties.(2)The meeting to be held under sub-section (1) shall be convened by the prescribed authority in the prescribed manner.(3)The Sabhadhipati and Sahakari Sabhadhipati, subject to the provision of Section 135 and to their continuing as members, shall hold office for a period of five years.(4)On expiry of five years or on ceasing to be members, whichever is earlier, the Sabhadhipati and the Sahakari Sabhadhipati shall handover the charge to the prescribed authority.(5)When-(a)the office of the Sabhadhipati falls vacant by reason of death, resignation, removal or otherwise ; or(b)the Sabhadhipati is absent by reason of leave, illness or other cause, the Sahakari Sabhadhipati shall exercise the powers, perform the functions and discharge the duties of the Sabhadhipati until a new sabhadhipati is elected and assumes office or until the Sabhadhipati resumes his duties as the case may be.(6)When-(a)the office of the Sahakari Sabhadhipati falls vacant by reason of death, resignation, removal or otherwise ; or(b)the Sahakari Sabhadhipati is absent by reason of leave, illness or other cause, the Sabhadhipati shall exercise the powers, perform the functions and discharge the duties of the Sahakari Sabhadhipati until a new Sahakari Sabhadhipati is elected and assumes office or until the Sahakari Sabhadhipati resumes his duties as the case may be ;Provided that no election shall be held if the vacancy is for a period of less than one month under this sub-section or under sub-section (5).(7)When the office of the Sabhadhipati and Sahakari Sabhadhipati are both vacant or Sabhadhipati and Sahakari Sabhadhipati are temporarily unable to act, the prescribed authority may appoint a Sabhadhipati and Sahakari Sabhadhipati from among the members of the Zilla Parishad to act as such until a Sabhadhipati or a Sahakari Sabhadhipati is elected and assumes office or until the Sabhadhipati or Sahakari Sabhadhipati resumes duties, as the case may be.(8)The Sabhadhipati and the Sahakari Sabhadhipati of a Zilla Parishad shall be entitled to leave of absence for such period as may be prescribed.
