55. [ Officiation in case of vacancy in the office of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson. [Substituted vide O.A. 6 of 2007, O.G.E. No. 1338 dated 1.8.2007.]
(1)When the office of the Chairperson is vacant or the Chairperson has been temporarily absent including absence on leave availed under Section 51 or is incapacitated and also there is a vacancy in the Office of the Vice-Chairperson the Vice-Chairperson has been temporarily absent including absence on leave availed under Section 51 or is incapacitated, the powers and functions of the Chairperson shall devolve on a councilor of the Municipality from out of a panel of three such councilors in order of priority nominated by the Chairperson in that behalf who shall be the officiating Chairperson and shall exercise the powers and perform the functions of the Chairperson, subject to such restrictions and conditions as may be prescribed, until the Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson assumes office on being duly elected or as the case may be, takes charge of his office.(2)The Chairperson shall nominate the panel as referred to in Subsection (1) within a period of one month from the date of the first meeting of the Municipality, failing which the Municipality shall nominate the panel in its first meeting held after the expiry of the aforesaid period of one month.(3)Where the Chairperson of a Municipality existing immediately before the commencement of the Orissa Municipal (Amendment) Act, 2007 has not nominated the panel, he shall nominate it within a period of one month from the date of commencement of the said amendment Act, failing which the Municipality shall nominate the panel in its first meeting held after the expiry of the aforesaid period of one month.]
