(1)Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, or in any other law for the time being in force, the Government may, by notification, if necessary, appoint special officers to exercise the powers and discharge the functions of the Village Panchayats, the Panchayat Union Councils, or the District Panchayats, as the case may be, until the day on which the first meetings of the Village Panchayats, Panchayat Union Councils, or the District Panchayats, as the case may be, are held after ordinary elections to the said Panchayats after the commencement of this Act.(2)[ The Special Officers appointed under sub-section (1) in respect of the Village Panchayats specified in Schedule V shall hold office up to the [24th day of October 2006] [Substituted by Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Third Amendment) Act, 2003 (Tamil Nadu Act 36 of 2003) w.e.f. 17-10-2003.]or for such shorter period as the Government may, by notification, specify in this behalf]
