1[11A. Power of Gram Sabha to enforce prohibition or to regulate or restrict the sale and consumption of any intoxicant.- Notwithstanding anything contained in section 11 or any other provisions of this Act, in respect of any Scheduled Area falling within the jurisdiction of a Gram Sabha and a Panchayat or a Panchayat Samiti or a Zilla Parishad, as the case may be, it shall be competent for such Gram Sabha or a Panchayat or the Panchayat Samiti or the Zilla Parishad to enforce prohibition or to regulate or restrict the sale and consumption of intoxicant in Scheduled areas within its jurisdiction :
Provided that, the decision taken by majority of the Gram Sabhas concerned by passing a resolution in the above matter shall be binding on the concerned Panchayat Samiti or the Zilla Parishad, as the case may be.
Explanation.- For the purpose of this section,-
(i) the expression "Gram Sabha", "Panchayat" and "Scheduled Areas" shall have the meanings, respectively assigned to them in the £Bombay Village Panchayats Act, 1958 (Bom. III of 1959) ;
(ii) the expression "Panchayat Samitis" and "Zilla Parishads" shall have the meanings respectively, assigned to them in the Maharashtra Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis Act, 1961 (Bom. III of 1959).]
Provided that, the decision taken by majority of the Gram Sabhas concerned by passing a resolution in the above matter shall be binding on the concerned Panchayat Samiti or the Zilla Parishad, as the case may be.
Explanation.- For the purpose of this section,-
(i) the expression "Gram Sabha", "Panchayat" and "Scheduled Areas" shall have the meanings, respectively assigned to them in the £Bombay Village Panchayats Act, 1958 (Bom. III of 1959) ;
(ii) the expression "Panchayat Samitis" and "Zilla Parishads" shall have the meanings respectively, assigned to them in the Maharashtra Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis Act, 1961 (Bom. III of 1959).]
1 Section 11A was inserted by Mah. 46 of 1997, s. 13.
2 The short title of this Act has been amended as "the Maharashtra Village Panchayats Act" by Mah. 24 of 2012, s. 2, Sch., Entry 74, w. e. f. 1-5-1960.
3 The words "or extract any portion of such plant from which any intoxicating drug can be manufactured" were deleted by Bom. 22 of 1960, s. 8.