Section 7 in The Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj Act, 1994
7. Functions of Gram Sabha.
(1)The Gram Sabha shall perform the following functions, namely:-(a)mobilise voluntary labour and contribution in kind and cash for the Community Welfare Programmes;(b)identification of beneficiaries for the implementation of developmental schemes pertaining to the village;(c)rendering assistance in the implementation of developmental schemes pertaining to the village;(ca)approve plans, programmes and budget, prepared by the Gram Panchayat, for economic development and social justice;(cb)authorise, after being satisfied, issuance of utilization certificate of funds spent on the implementation of the plans, projects and programmes of the Gram Panchayat;(d)promotion of unity and harmony among all sections of society in the Sabha area;(e)seek clarifications from the Pradhan, Up-Pradhan and members of the Gram Panchayat about any particular activity, scheme, income and expenditure: and(f)such other maters as may be prescribed.(2)The Grain Sabha, shall consider the following matters, and make recommendations and suggestions to the Gram Panchayat, namely:-(a)the annual statement of accounts of the Gram Panchayat, the report of the administration of the preceding financial year and the last audit note and replies, if any, made thereto;(b)the report in respect of development programmes of the Gram Panchayat relating to the preceding year and development programmes proposed to be undertaken during the current year;(c)the promotion of unity and harmony among all sections of society in the village;(d)the programme of adult education within the village;(e)any other matter which the Panchayat Samiti, Zila Parishad, the Deputy Commissioner or any other officer authorised in this behalf may require to be placed before the Gram Sabha; and(f)such other matters as may be prescribed.(3)The Gram Panchayat shall give due consideration to the recommendations and suggestions of the Gram Sabha.(4)The Gram Sabha may also form one or more vigilance committee(s) consisting of not less than five persons, who are not members of the Gram Panchayat, to supervise the Gram Panchayat works, schemes and other activities and to put up reports concerning them in its meeting and shall also send a copy of the said report to such an authority as may be prescribed for this purpose:Provided that a person shall be disqualified for being chosen as, and for being a member of the vigilance committee if he has incurred any of the disqualification mentioned in sub-section (1) of section 122, except the disqualification mentioned under clause (g).(5)The village level functionaries of the Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Primary Education, Forest, Health and Family Welfare, Horticulture, Irrigation and Public health, Revenue and Welfare Departments shall attend the meetings of the Gram Sabha in whose jurisdiction they are posted, and if such village level functionaries fail to attend the meetings, the Gram Sabha shall report the matter to their controlling officer through the Gram Panchayat, who shall take disciplinary action against such functionaries within one month from the date of receipt of the report and shall intimate the action taken on such report to the Gram Sabha through the Gram Panchayat.
