The duties of the panchayat are as follows:-(a)To report vacancies among their own membership and to nominate successors to them.(b)To report vacancies in the appointment of dafadar, or among the chaukidars of the Union, and to nominate successors to them.(c)To appoint one of their members as a collecting member under Section 22 of the Act, and to communicate to the District Magistrate or Sub-Divisional Officer, as the case may be, the name of the person so appointed.(d)To exercise a general control over the dafadars and the chaukidars in the Union, with the object of ensuring the regular performance of the duties of watch and ward by them, and the regular reporting of all occurrences and facts of which information is required from the chaukidars by law and rule.Chaukidars who habitually neglect their duties should be reported to the District Magistrate or Sub-Divisional Officer, as the case may be.(e)If aware or informed, of the commission within the Union of any of the following offences, forthwith to cause the same to be reported by the chaukidar to the thana, and on failure of the chaukidar to do so, to themselves report the same, or cause the same to be reported, with the least possible delay-murder, culpable homicide, rape, dacoity robbery, theft, kidnapping mischief by fire, house-breaking, counterfeiting coins, causing grievous hurt, riot, administering stupefying drugs, and all attempts and preparation to commit, and abatement of the said offences.No member of the panchayat shall personally record any details of the information given, other than the name of the informant and the date of the information. Neither he shall make any inquiry into the facts of the case nor record any statement of the accused.In the event of the commission of a cognizable offence other than those specified above within the Union, of which any member of the panchayat is aware that no information has been given, he shall communicate the facts to Police.(f)To communicate to thana with the least possible delay, information of the existence of disputes likely to lead to riot or serious affray and of an arrest made by chaukidar or private person.(g)In the event of any likelihood of a breach of the peace, to proceed to the post, and to endeavour to prevent a disturbance.(h)In their capacity of village headmen, under Section 45 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, to forthwith communicate to nearest Magistrate or thana an information obtained concerning any village or village lands of the Union respecting-(i)the permanent or temporary residence of any notorious receiver or vendor of stolen property;(ii)the resort to any place within, or the passage through, any village of the Union of any person whom they know, or reasonably suspect, to be a thug, robber, escaped convict, or proclaimed offender;(iii)the commission of, or intention to commit, any non-bailable offence;(iv)the occurrence of any sudden or unnatural death, or of any death under suspicious circumstances.(i)To conduct the assessment and collection of the chaukidari tax according to law and rule.(j)To assist in maintaining the peace and good administration of the Union, and to communicate freely to the District Magistrate or Sub-Divisional Officer, as the case may be, any information of importance regarding it, or an requirements of the Union in respect of roads, sanitation, water-supply, education, medical or veterinary attendance, or any other such matter.(k)To maintain a record of their proceedings in a minute book to be kept in a plain paper register.
