61. Filling up of vacancies. - (1) Any vacancy in the office of a Sarpanch, or Upa-Sarpanch, or member of a panchayat of which notice has been given to the competent authority in the prescribed manner shall be filed by the election of a Sarpanch, Upa-sarpanch or as the case may be, member, who shall hold office so long only as the Sarpanch, Upa-Sarpanch or member, in whose place he has been elected, would have held office if the vacancy had not occurred:
Provided that if vacancy of a member occurs within four months preceding the date on which the duration of the pancayat expires under section 13, it shall not be filled.(2)The meeting for the election of the Sarpanch or Upa-Sarpanch of a village panchayat under sub-section (1) shall be convened by the competent authority on such date as it may fix and the election shall be held in the same manner in which the election of a Sarpanch or Upa-Sarpanch is held under section 51 and the provisions of that section shall, so far as may be, apply in respect of such election.
