(1)Subject to the general or special orders of the Government, the Deputy Commissioner, if, in his opinion, it is expedient to declare any area comprising a village or group of villages having a population of [not less than five thousand and not more than seven thousand] [Substituted by Act 11 of 2000 w.e.f. 25.4.2000.] to be a panchayat area, may, after pervious publication, declare such area as a panchayat area for the purposes of this Act and also specify its headquarter:Provided that the Government may order that an area with a population of [not less than two thousand five hundred] [Substituted by Act 11 of 2000 w.e.f. 25.4.2000.] may be so declared as a panchayat area in such areas of the districts of Belgum, Chickmagalur, Dakshina Kannada, Dharwar, Hassan, Kodagu, Shimoga , [Udupi , Haveri] [Inserted by Act 29 of 1997 w.e.f. 20.10.1997.] and Uttara Kannada as may be specified by the Government:Provided further that irrespective of population, wherever it is found necessary, the Government, as a special case, may, order that an area within [a radius of five kilometers (diameter of ten kilometers)] [Substituted by Act 11 of 2000 w.e.f. 25.4.2000.] from the centre of a village may be so declared as a panchayat area in such areas of the districts of Belgaum, Chickmagalur, Dakshina Kannada, Dharwar, Hassan, Kodagu, Shimoga [Udupi , Haveri] [Inserted by Act 29 of 1997 w.e.f. 20.10.1997.] and Uttara Kannada as may be specified by the Government:Provided also that the Deputy Commissioner may, with, the previous permission of the Government declare any area comprising a village or group of villages having a population of [either less than five thousand or more than seven thousand] [Substituted by Act 11 of 2000 w.e.f. 25.4.2000.] to be a panchayat area.
