5. Power to appoint panchayat on application of villagers. - Whenever the majority in number of the adult male residents in any village [* * * *] shall by writing signed by them, apply to the [District Magistrate] for the appointment of a panchayat in such village [* *], it shall be lawful for him to appoint a panchayat under this Act in such village a [* *] without regard to the number of houses therein contained, and all the provisions of this Act shall apply to such panchayat and to such village [* *].
[6. Successor member of panchayat. - Whenever any member of a panchayat shall die or cease to be a member of such panchayat, the [District Magistrate] shall, by writing under his hand, call on the remaining members of the panchayat to nominate within thirty days a fit and proper person to be appointed as member of the panchayat in the room of such member so dying or ceasing to be a member, and the Now see [District Magistrate] shall, unless he considers such nomination improper, appoint the person so nominated to be a member of the panchayat:Provided that if no person shall have been so nominated, or if in the opinion of the [District Magistrate] the person nominated is, for reasons to be recorded by him in writing, unfit to be appointed a member of the panchayat, the [District Magistrate] shall appoint fit and proper person to be a member of the panchayat.]
