Section 196(1) in Karnataka Panchayat Raj Act, 1993
(1)The Government shall appoint an officer not below the rank of the Deputy Commissioner of a district as Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Panchayat:[Provided that if a suitable officer not below the rank of the Deputy Commissioner of a District is not available for appointment as Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Panchayat, the Government may for a period of three years from the date of commencement of the Karnataka Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Act, 1998 appoint an officer of the Karnataka Administrative Service (Selection Grade) or an officer belonging to the Development and Local Government Branch of the Karnataka General Services holding a post in a Grade equal to that of the Karnataka Administrative Service (Selection Grade) as Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Panchayat.] [Inserted by Act 29 of 1998 w.e.f. 24.11.1998.]
