Constitution Section 243F — Disqualifications for membership

Part IX — THE PANCHAYATS

Constitutional

Summary

A person cannot become or remain a member of a Panchayat if they are disqualified under any law that applies to elections for the state legislature. However, no one can be disqualified just because they are under 25 years old, as long as they are at least 21. A person can also be disqualified under any law made by the state legislature. If there is any question about whether a Panchayat member has become disqualified, that question must be decided by the authority and in the way that the state legislature decides by law.

Official Text

(1) A person shall be disqualified for being chosen as, and for being, a member of a Panchayat—

(a) if he is so disqualified by or under any law for the time being in force for the purposes of elections to the Legislature of the State concerned:Provided that no person shall be disqualified on the ground that he is less than twenty-five years of age, if he has attained the age of twenty-one years;

(b) if he is so disqualified by or under any law made by the Legislature of the State.

(2) If any question arises as to whether a member of a Panchayat has become subject to any of the disqualifications mentioned in clause (1), the question shall be referred for the decision of such authority and in such manner as the Legislature of a State may, by law, provide.