Section 171(2) in The West Bengal Panchayat Act, 1973
(2)A Sthayee Samiti shall consist of the following members, namely:-(a)the Sabhadhipati [and Sahakari Sabhadhipati] [Words inserted by W.B. Act 17 of 1992.], ex officio;(b)[without prejudice to the provisions in clause (ba),] [Words, letters and brackets inserted by W.B. Act 8 of 2003.] not less than three and not more than five persons to be elected in the prescribed manner by the members of the Zilla Parishad from among themselves;(ba)[ in Artha Sansthd Unnayan O Parikalpana Sthayee Samiti, Karmadhyakshas elected in other Sthayee Samitis as referred to in sub-section (1), shall be members ex officio and no member shall be elected in the manner referred to in clause (b):] [Clauses (ba) to (bc) inserted by W.B. Act 8 of 2003.](bb)[ Leader of the recognized political party in opposition having largest number of members in the Zilla Parishad in comparison with other recognized political parties in opposition, shall be a member of the Artha, Sanstha, Unnayan O Parikalpana Sthayee Samiti] [Clauses (ba) to (bc) inserted by W.B. Act 8 of 2003.];(bc)[ one member from each recognized political party in opposition shall be a member of the Sthayee Samiti other than] [Clauses (ba) to (bc) inserted by W.B. Act 8 of 2003.] [the Artha Sanstha Unnayan O Parikalpana Sthayee Samiti, if no member in opposition is elected in a Sthayee Samiti referred to in clause (b):] [Words substituted for the words 'the Artha, Sanstha, Unnayan O Parikalpana Sthayee Samiti:' by W.B. Act 31 of 2003.]Provided that the members selected from the recognized political party having larger number of members in the Zilla Parishad shall be the member of the Sthayee Samiti placed higher in the consecutive order in sub-section (1):Provided further that if the number of recognized [political] [Word inserted by W.B. Act 31 of 2003.] parties in opposition is less than the number of Sthayee Samitis, the independent candidates in opposition in Zilla Parishad shall be members of the Sthayee Samitis for which no member of the recognized political parties are available and the member senior in age shall be placed as member in the Sthayee Samiti placed higher in the order of sub-section (1):Provided also that if the member of recognized political parties added with number of independent members falls short of the number of Sthayee Samitis, one additional member from each such political party in opposition in the Zilla Parishad, shall be chosen for membership in the Sthayee Samitis where no member in terms of this clause has been provided and the same sequential order shall be followed for placement of a member in a Sthayee Samiti and such process shall be repeated until all Sthayee Samitis have one member under this clause :Provided also that a member in opposition may be a member of more than two Sthayee Samitis if in a term of general election, not more than four members in opposition, either representing a recognized political party or independent, are elected in the Zilla Parishad :Provided also that the members of the recognized political party shall jointly decide and intimate the Executive Officer of the Zilla Parishad by a letter under signature of all such members, the name of the member or members who shall represent the party as member of the Sthayee Samiti and in case of an independent member the Executive Officer shall determine the membership in each Sthayee Samiti:Provided also that the Executive Officer shall place the entire matter of membership under this clause in a meeting of the Zilla Parishad as early as possible in the next meeting.[Explanation. - For the purpose of this clause, a member of the Zilla Parishad shall be considered a member in opposition if in the election of the Sabhadhipati under section 143, he did not cast his vote in favour of the winning candidate or has abstained himself from casting his vote in the said election;] ['Explanation' inserted by W.B. Act 31 of 2003.](c)[ such number of persons being officers of the State Government or of any statutory body or corporation or being eminent persons having specialised knowledge as the State Government may think fit, appointed by the State Government:] [[Clause (c) substituted by W.B. Act 17 of 1992, which was earlier as under:-'(c) not more than five persons, being officers of the State Government, appointed by the State Government :Provided that such officers shall not be eligible for election as Karmadhyaksha of the Sthayee Samiti and shall not have any right to vote.'.]]
