(11)Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force, a member of a village defence party or any officer (other than a Police Officer) appointed under this section, shall not be disqualified from being chosen as, or for being a member of-(a)the [Maharashtra] Legislative Assembly or the [Maharashtra] Legislative Council, or(b)any local authority,by reason only of the fact that he is a member of a village defence party or such officer.[(12) In such districts as the State Government may by notification in the Official Gazette specify, the powers, duties and functions of the [Superintendent], District Village Defence Officer and Taluka Village Defence Officer under this section shall be exercised, performed and discharged by such officers of the Home Guards as the Commandant General appointed under the Bombay Home Guards Act, 1947 may direct, and thereupon all the foregoing provisions of this section shall apply but, references therein to the [Superintendent], District Village Defence Officer and Taluka Village Defence Officer shall be deemed to be references to the relevant officers of the Home Guards].
