(1)Seats shall be reserved for the Scheduled Castes in every Gram Panchayat and the number of seats so reserved shall bear, as nearly as may be, the same proportion to the total number of seats to be filled by election in that Panchayat as the population of the Scheduled Castes in the Panchayat area bears to the total population of that area and such seats may be allotted to such wards having maximum population of persons belonging to Scheduled Castes.(2)Not less than one-third of the total number of seats reserved under sub- section (1) shall be reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes and such seats may be allotted by rotation and by lots to different wards reserved under sub-section (1).(3)Not less than one-third (including the number of seats reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes) of the total number of seats to be filled by direct election in every Panchayat, shall be reserved for women and such seats may be allotted by rotation and by lots to different wards in a Panchayat except those falling under sub-sections (1) and (2).(4)The offices of the Sarpanches in the Gram Panchayat in a block shall be reserved for the Scheduled Castes and Women:Provided that the number of offices of Sarpanches reserved for the Scheduled Castes in the Block shall bear, as may be, the same proportion to the total number of such offices in the Block as the population of the Scheduled Castes in the State bears to the total population of the State:Provided further that not less than one-third of the total number of offices of Sarpanches in the Block shall be reserved for women including one-third offices of women Sarpanches from Scheduled Castes :Provided further that the number of offices of Sarpanches reserved under this sub-section shall be rotated to different Gram Panchayats first having the largest maximum population of Scheduled Castes and secondly having the second largest maximum population of such classes and so on.(5)The reservation of the seats under sub-sections (1) and (2) and the reservation of offices of Sarpanches (other than the reservation of women) under sub-section (4) shall cease to have effect on the expiration of the period specified in Article 334 of the Constitution of India.(6)Every Panchayat shall have one panch belonging to Backward Classes if their population is two percentum or more of the total population of the sabha area and such seat shall be allotted to such ward having maximum population of persons belonging to Backward Classes.(7)Reservation of seats as mentioned in aforesaid sub-sections shall be reviewed after every decennial census.
