(1)Every Gram Panchayat shall hold a meeting for transaction of its business at least twice in every month at the office of the Gram Panchayat or at such place within the local limits the Gram Panchayat concerned and at such times as the Sabhapati of the Gram Panchayat may decide.(2)The Sabhapati may, whenever he thinks fit, in the public interest or shall upon receipt of a written requisition of not less then one-half of the total no of members of the Gram Panchayat or if directed by the secretary of the Rural Development Department or District Development Officer-cum-Panchayat Officer or the District Collector of the concerned district, call a special meeting of the Gram Panchayat within a period of ten days from the date of receipt or the requisition or direction , as the case may be;Provided that if the Sabhapati fails to call us such special meeting with the specified period from the date or receipt of the requisition or direction, as the case my be, the Secretary of the Rural Development Department or District Development Officer-cum-Panchayat Officer or the District collector or the concerned district may direct the Sachiva or any member of the Gram Panchayat to call such meeting at such times and at such place within the local limits of the Gram Panchayat concerned as the Sachiva or the member directed to call the meeting may, decide.(3)Two-third of the total numbers of members constituting the Gram Panchayat shall form a quorum for a meeting of the Gram Panchayat;Provided that no quorum shall be necessary for an adjourned meeting.(4)The Sabhapati or in his absence, the Up-Sabhapati shall preside at the meeting of the Gram Panchayat and in the absence of both, the member present shall elect one from amongst themselves to preside at the meeting.(5)All questions coming before a Gram Panchayat shall, unless other wise specifically provided under this Act decided by majority of votes of the members present and voting;Provided that in case of equality of votes the persons presiding shall have a second or a casting vote.(6)No member shall vote on, and take part in the discuss any question coming up for consideration at a meeting of a Gram Panchayat if the question is one in which he has any direct or indirect pecuniary interest other than an interest as a member of public.(7)If it appears to any member present at a meeting that the person presiding at the meeting has any such pecuniary interest in any matter before the meeting for discussion or any question coming up for consideration as referred to in sub-section (6) and a motion brought by him to that effect is carried, such a person shall not preside at such meeting and shall not take part therein, and for the purpose of subsection (4) such person shall be deemed to be absent during the discussion or consideration of the particular matter.
