(1)Any member of a village panchayat who during his term of office-(a)is absent for more than three consecutive months from the village unless leave not exceeding four months so to absent himself has been granted by the panchayat; or(b)absent himself for four consecutive months from the meetings of the panchayat without the leave of the said panchayat;shall cease to be a member and his office shall be vacant and thereupon the panchayat shall as soon as may be inform him that the vacancy has occurred.(2)Any dispute as to whether a vacancy has or has not occurred under this section shall be referred for decision to the competent authority, whose decision shall be final;Provided that such reference, shall not be entertained if it is made after the expiry of fifteen days from the date on which the panchayat informs under sub-section (1) the member as to the vacancy.(3)Whenever leave is granted under sub-section (1) to a member who is an Upa-Sarpanch, another member shall, subject to the conditions to which the election of the Upa-Sarpanch so absenting himself was subject, be elected to perform all the duties and exercise all the powers of an Upa-Sarpanch during the period for which such leave is granted
