(1)Every Gram Panchayat shall hold a meeting at least once in a month [in the office of the Gram Panchayat. Such meeting shall be held on such date and at such hour as the Gram Panchayat may fix at the immediately preceding meeting:] [Words substituted for the words 'at such time and at such place within the local limits of the Gram concerned as the Gram Panchayat may fix at the immediately preceding meeting;' by W.B. Act 37 of 1984.]Provided that the first meeting of a newly-constituted Gram Panchayat shall be held [on such date and at such hour and] [Words inserted by W.B. Act 37 of 1984.] at such place within the local limits of the Gram concerned as the prescribed authority may fix:Provided further that the Pradhan when required in writing by [one-third] [Words substituted for the words 'one-third' by W.B. Act 37 of 1984.] of the members of the Gram Panchayat subject to a minimum of [three members] [ Words substituted for the words 'four members' by W.B. Act 37 of 1984.] to call a meeting [shall do so fixing the date and hour of such meeting [to be held] [Words substituted for the words 'shall do within seven days,' by W.B. Act 37 of 1984.] within fifteen days after giving intimation to the prescribed authority and seven days' notice to the members of the Gram Panchayat,] failing which the members aforesaid may call a meeting [to be held] [Words inserted by W.B. Act 15 of 1997.] [within thirty-five days] [Words inserted by W.B. Act 17 of 1992.] after giving intimation to the prescribed authority and seven clear days' notice to the Pradhan and other members of the Gram Panchayat. Such meeting shall be held [in the office of the Gram Panchayat on such date and at such hour] [Words substituted for the words 'at such time and at such place within the local limits of the Gram concerned' by W.B. Act 37 of 1984.] as the members calling the meeting may decide. [The prescribed authority may appoint an observer for such meeting who shall submit to the prescribed authority a report in writing duly signed by him within a week of the meeting on the proceedings of the meeting. The prescribed authority shall, on receipt of the report, lake such action thereon as it may deem fit:] [Words inserted by W.B. Act 37 of 1984.][***] [Omitted 'proviso' by W.B. Act No. 8 of 2010, dated 13.5.2010.][Provided also that if the Gram Panchayat does not fix at any meeting the date and the hour of the next meeting or if any meeting of the Gram Panchayat is not held on the date and the hour fixed at the immediately preceding meeting, the Pradhan shall call a meeting of the Gram Panchayat on such date and at such hour as he thinks fit.] [Proviso inserted by W.B. Act 37 of 1984.](2)The Pradhan or in his absence the Upa-Pradhan shall preside at the meeting of the Gram Panchayat; and in the absence of the both [or on the refusal of any or both to preside at a meeting] [Words inserted by W.B. Act 2 of 1995, w.e.f. 28.12.1994.], the members present shall elect one of them to be the President of the meeting.(3)[One-third] [Words substituted for the word 'one-fourth' by W.B. Act 37 of 1984.] of the total number of members subject to a minimum of [three] [Words substituted for the word 'four' by W.B. Act 37 of 1984.] members shall form a quorum for a meeting of a Gram Panchayat:Provided that no quorum shall be necessary for an adjourned meeting.(4)All questions coming before a Gram Panchayat shall be decided by a majority of votes:Provided that in case of equality of votes the person presiding shall have a second or casting vote:[Provided further that in case of any requisitioned meeting the person presiding shall have no second or casting vote.] [Substituted by W.B. Act No. 8 of 2010, dated 13.5.2010.]
