In the first appointment of headmen, regard shall be had among other matters to -(a)his hereditary claims;(b)extent of property in the estate possessed by the candidate;(c)service rendered to the state by himself or by his family;(d)his personal influence, character, ability and freedom from indebtedness,(e)the strength and importance of the community from which selection of a headman is to be made;(f)service rendered by himself or by his family in the national movements to secure freedom of India.In the case of ex-headman of an estate or sub-division thereof in the territory now comprising the State of Punjab who had resigned or was dismissed on account of his participation in a national movement before partition and another headman was appointed in his place, the present incumbent of the post shall be removed irrespective of the provisions of rule 16 and the ex-headman would be appointed in his place, if he has not rendered himself unfit for appointment for any of the reasons given in rule 16 except imprisonment for a political offence before 15th August, 1947. In case, the ex-headman is no longer alive, a person of his family who would under the rules have been entitled to be headman if the resignation or dismissal had not intervened, would be appointed a headman. But where no such person exists there would be no need to remove the existing lambardar.
