Section 12. Filling of casual vacancies in councillorship.

(1) When a casual vacancy occurs in the office of a councillor the 1[Election Commission] shall, soon as may be after the occurrence of such vacancy and subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), by a notification in the Official Gazette, call upon the ward concerned to elect a person for the purpose of filling the vacancy in accordance with the provisions of this Act and the rules and orders made thereunder before such date as may be specified in the notification: Provided that no election shall be held to fill a casual vacancy occurring within 2[six months] prior to the holding of a general election under section 11. (2) If the vacancy be a vacancy in a seat reserved for the Scheduled Castes the notification issued under sub-section (1) shall specify that the person to fill that seat shall belong to one of the Scheduled Castes. 3[(3) If the vacancy be a vacancy in a seat reserved for women the notification issued under subsection (1) shall specify that the person to fill that seat shall be a woman.]