Section 20A in The Orissa Panchayat Samiti Act, 1959
20A. [ Powers and functions of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Samiti. [Inserted vide Orissa Act No. 24 of 1961.]
(1)The Chairman of the Samiti shall-(a)convene and conduct the meetings of the Samiti; and(b)have power to inspect and supervise all works undertaken by the Samiti.(2)The Vice Chairman of the Samiti shall exercise such powers and perform such functions as the Chairman may, from time to time, delegate to him in writing and the Chairman may, in like manner, withdraw all or any of the powers and functions so delegated.(3)When the office of the Chairman is vacant the Vice-Chairman of the Samiti shall for all the purposes of this Act exercise the powers and perform the functions of the Chairman until a new Chairman is elected.(4)The Chairman and in his absence the Vice-Chairman shall preside over the meetings of the Samiti and in the absence of both at the meeting any other non-official member of the Samiti present may be elected to preside over the meeting.(5)When the office of the Chairman is vacant or the Chairman has been continuously absent from the block for more than fifteen days or is incapacitated for more than fifteen days and there is either a vacancy in the office of the Vice-Chairman or the Vice-Chairman has been continuously absent from the Block for more than fifteen days or is incapacitated for more than fifteen days, the powers and functions of the Chairman shall devolve on a member of the Samiti from out of a panel of three such members in order of priority nominated by the Chairman in that behalf who shall be the officiating Chairman and shall exercise the powers and perform the functions of the Chairman, subject to such restrictions and conditions as may be prescribed, until a Chairman or Vice-Chairman assumed office on being duty-elected or, as the case may be taken charge of his office.] [Inserted vide Orissa Act No. 16 of 1997 (O.G.E. No. 1565 dated 22.12.1997).](6)[ The Chairman shall nominate the panel as referred to in Subsection (5) within a period of one month from the date of the first meeting of the Samiti, failing which the Samiti shall nominate the panel in its first meeting held after the expiry of the aforesaid period of one month.(7)Where the Chairman of a Samiti existing immediately before the commencement of the Orissa Panchayat Samiti (Amendment) Act, 1986, has not nominated the panel, he shall nominate it within a period of one month from the date of commencement of the said Amendment Act, failing which the Samiti shall nominate the panel in its first meeting held after the expiry of the aforesaid period of one month.] [Inserted vide Orissa Act No. 19 of 1986.]
