(1)Except as is otherwise provided in this Act, members of a Zilla Panchayat elected at general election shall hold office for a term of five years.(2)The term of office of members elected at a general election shall commence on the date appointed for the first meeting of the Zilla Panchayat.(3)The term of office of a member elected to fill a casual vacancy shall commence on the date of publication of his name under section 128.(4)[ As soon as may be after the fist meeting of the Zilla Panchayat, every member thereof shall take the oath of Office before the Director of Panchayats] [Inserted by the Amendment Act No. 10 of 2003.].
