- For every Panchayat for every election to fill a seat or seats in the Panchayat, the State Election Commission, shall, consultation with the Government, designate or nominate [one or more returning Officer who shall be an Officer of the government or of a local Self Government Institutions:] [Substituted by Act 13 of 1999.]Provided that nothing in the section shall prevent the State Election Commission from designating or nominating the same person to be the returning Officer for more than one Panchayats lying adjacent.
