19. Oath of allegiance to be taken by Councillors.
(1)Notwithstanding anything contained in the Indian Oaths Act 1873, every person who is elected as a councillor shall, before taking his seat, make and subscribe at a meeting of the Council an oath or affirmation of his allegiance to the Constitution of India before the Divisional Commissioner or any officer authorized in this behalf by the State Government in the case of Municipal Corporation; or before the Deputy Commissioner or any officer authorized in this behalf by the State Government in the case of Municipal Council or Nagar Panchayat in the following form, namely;The Oath shall be in the following form:"I, ....... having been elected as a Councillor of the municipal area of ........ do swear in the name of the God/solemnly affirm, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established, that I will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India and I will faithfully discharge the duty upon which I am about to enter".(2)Any councillor who having been elected as councillor, fails to make, within three months of the date on which his term of office commences, the oath or affirmation laid down in sub-section (1), shall cease to hold his office and his seat shall be deemed to have become vacant:Provided that the State Government may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, extend in each case or class of cases the period of three months as aforesaid by such period as it thinks fit.
