Section 21(4) in The Orissa Grama Panchayats Act, 1964
(4)When the office of the Sarpanch is vacant or the Sarpanch has been continuously absent from the Grama for more than fifteen days or is incapacitated for more than fifteen days and there is either a vacancy in the office of the Naib-Sarpanch or the Naib-Sarpanch has been continuously absent from the Grama for more than fifteen days or is incapacitated for more than fifteen days, the powers and functions of the Sarpanch shall devolve on a member of the Grama Panchayat from out of a panel of three such members in order of priority elected in the prescribed manner by the Grama Panchayat in that behalf, who shall be the officiating Sarpanch and shall exercise the powers and perform the functions of the Sarpanch subject to such restrictions and conditions, If any, as may be prescribed until a Sarpanch or Naib-Sarpanch assumes office, on being duly elected or, as the case may be, takes charge of his office :Provided that in the absence of any such panel or in the case of nonavailability of the members on such panel the Sub-Divisional Officer may nominate one of the members of the Grama Panchayat to officiate as the Sarpanch and to exercise the powers and perform the functions of the Sarpanch in accordance with the provisions of this sub-section.
