(i)Every meeting of the Gram Sabha shall be presided over by the Mukhia of the concerned gram Panchayat and in his absence by the up-Mukhia;(ii)In case of absence of both the Mukhia and the Up-Mukhia in the meeting, the meeting of the Gram Sabha shall be presided over by such member of the Gram Sabha who would be elected for the purpose by a majority of votes of the member present;(iii)Presiding over of meetings of Gram Sabhas in scheduled area -Meeting of Gram Sabha in scheduled did area shall be presided over by such, a member of the scheduled tribes who is not the Mukhia, Up- Mukhia or member of the Panchyat, and such meeting shall be presided over by a respected person according to the custom usage traditionally prevalent in that area such as Gram Pradhan, Manjhee, Munda, Pahan, Mahto or one Known by any other name, or by a person proposed by them or unanimously by nominated/supported by the members present in the meeting.[Provided also that in a Gram Sabha in which there is a respected person according to the custom and usage prevalent from traditions who is the Gram Pradhan (Head of the village) and called as Manjhi, Munda, Pahan, or by such other name and is a member of the Scheduled tribe, then a meeting of the Gram Sabha in the Scheduled areas shall be presided over by him, or if there be any member of the Scheduled tribe in the said area, then by such person on being proposed by the Gram Pradhan or nominated/ supported by a majority of votes of the members present in the meeting, and if there be no members of the Scheduled tribe then, by a person not belonging to the Scheduled tribe, who is proposed or nominated / supported therfor.] [Added by Jharkhand Act No. 12 of 2003 dated 6.12.2003.]
