West Bengal Zilla Parishads Act, 1963

No: 35 Dated: Dec, 05 1963

THE WEST BENGAL Z1LLA PARISHADS ACT, 1963

West Bengal Act XXXV of 1963

    An Act to provide for the remodelling of Local Government with a view to associating the local authorities with development activities and bringing about democratic decentralisation and people's participation, in planning and development.

    WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for the re-modelling of Local Government with a view to associating the local authorities with development activities and bringing about democratic decentralisaition and people's participation in planning and development;

    It is hereby enacted in the Fourteenth Year of the Republic of India "iy the Legislature of West Bengal, as follows :—

PART I

CHAPTER I 

Preliminary

1. Short title, extent and commencement:- (1) This Act may be called the West Bengal Zilla Parishads Act, 1963.

(2) It extends to the whole of West Bengal, except the areas to which the provisions of the Calcutta Municipal Act, 1951, the Bengal Municipal Act, 1932, the Chandernagore Municipal Act, 1955 and the Cantonments Act, 1924, apply.

2. Definitions:- (1) In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,—

(a) "Adhyaksha" means an Adhyaksha of a Grant Panchayat constituted under the West Bengal Panchayat Act, 1957;

(b) "Anchal" means the area included within the territorial limits of an Anchal Panchayat as notified under section 25 of the West Bengal Panchayat Act, 1957;

(c) "Anchal Panchayat" means an Anchal Panchayat, constituted under the West Bengal Panchayat Act, 1957;

(d) "Anchalik Parishad" means an Anchalik Parishad established under section 51;

(e) "associate member" means an associate member referred to in sections 4 and 52;

(f) "backward community" means a community specified by the State Government by a notification 'under section 94;

(g) "block" means an area referred to in section 50;

(h) "Block Development Officer" means the officer appointed as such by the State Government;

(i) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of a Division;

(j) "District Board" means a District Board established under the Bengal Local Self-Government Act of 1885;

(k) "District Panchayat Officer" means the officer appointed as such under the West Bengal Panchayat Act, 1957;

(l) "District School Board" means a District School Board established under the Bengal (Rural) Primary Education Act, 1930;

(m) "Gram Panchayat" means a Gram Panchayat constituted under the West Bengal Panchayat Act, 1957;

(n) "member" means a member of a Zilla Parishad or an Anchalik Parishad not being an associate member ;

(o) "notification" means a notification published in the Official Gazette;

(p) "Pradhan" means a Pradhan of an Anchal Panchayat;

(q) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act ;

(r) "prescribed authority" means an authority appointed by the State Government, by notification, for all or any of the purposes of this Act;

(s) "Subdivisional Magistrate" includes any other officer appointed by 'the State Government to discharge the functions of the Sub-divisional Magistrate under this Act;

(t) "Union Board" means a Union Board established -under the Bengal Village Self-Government Act, 1919;

(u) "year" means the year beginning on the first day of April;

(v) "Zilla Parishad" means a Zilla Parishad established under section 3.

    (2) The expressions signifying 'residing in the block' or 'having a place of residence in or within the block or district' mean dwelling in the block or district for a period of at least six months in the aggregate during the twelve months immediately preceding the date of appointment or co-option -under this Act, or having a dwelling-place in the block or district in any other case.