Company : Sol Infotech Pvt. Ltd. Website : www.courtkutchehry.com MAHARASHTRA VILLAGE PANCHAYATS (INSPECTION, COPIES AND SEARCH OF RECORDS) RULES, 1963 CONTENTS 1. Short title 2. Definitions 3. Inspection of Records 4. Certified copies of documents 5. Search of documents 6. Fees MAHARASHTRA VILLAGE PANCHAYATS (INSPECTION, COPIES AND SEARCH OF RECORDS) RULES, 1963 In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (xlvii) of sub-section (2) of Section 176 of the Bombay Village Panchayats Act, 1958 (Bom.III of 1959) and of all other powers enabling it in this behalf, and in supersession of all rules made in this behalf under any of the enactments repealed by Section 185 of the said Act and in force in any part of the State, the Government of Maharashtra hereby makes the following rules, the same having been previously published as required by sub-section (4) of the said Section 176, namely :- 1. Short title :- These rules may be called the Maharashtra Village Panchayats (Inspection, Copies and Search of Records) Rules, 1963 . 2. Definitions :- In these rules, unless the context otherwise, requires, - (1) "Act" means the Bombay Village Panchayats Act, 1958 ; (ii) "document" means document forming part of the records of a panchayat; (iii) "record of a panchayat" means the records pertaining to the affairs of a panchayat , whether or not deposited in the office of the panchayat, but do not include documents of a confidential nature and official correspondence containing expression of views and opinions of officers, and records pertaining to suits and cases of a Nyaya Panchayat. 3. Inspection of Records :- (1)Inspection of records of a panchayat may be had in the office of the panchayat on working days during office-hours. (2) Any record of a panchayat may, with the permission of the Sarpanch be inspected by a party thereto free of charge. (3) Any other person desiring to inspect such record, shall obtain the permission of the Sarpanch stating therein the nature of the interest in relation to which inspection of the record is sought. On permission being granted, the record may be inspected on payment of the inspection fee specified in rule 6 in that behalf. (4) The inspection of records shall be so made as not to damage or spoil in any way the record including the making of any mark thereon. 4. Certified copies of documents :- (1) Any person desiring to obtain a certified copy of or extract from, any document in the records of a panchayat may make an application to the Sarpanch in that behalf. The application shall state the nature of the document, with its clear description and the number and date, if any, of which a copy is required, and shall be accompanied by the fee specified in rule 6: Provided that a person employed by a panchayat, who has been fined, reduced, suspended, or dismissed or otherwise punished by the panchayat shall be entitled to receive a certified copy of every order passed against him without payment of any such fees. (2) On receipt of the application, the Sarpanch may cause the copy or extract, as the case may be, to be made and compared with the original, and after the Secretary has affixed his signature thereon in token of the exact correspondence of the copy of as the case may be, extract to the original thereof shall certify the same to be a true copy, endorse his signature thereon, and affix thereto the seal of the panchayat and then deliver it to the applicant. 5. Search of documents :- Where an application for inspection of any such document or copy ereof or extract therefrom is made, and the application does not distinctly describe the nature of the document by its number and date, if any, or the description of the document given in the application is inadequate, and consequently the records of the panchayat have to be searched to locate the document, there shall be charge for such search a fee specified in rule 6, irrespective of the fact whether or not inspection or copy of the document or of extract therefrom for which the application was made, was granted. 6. Fees :- There shall be levied fees as specified in column 2 of the Table hereto on the documents mentioned opposite thereto in column 1 thereof.