Gujarat Police Act, 1951
(1) For the protection of persons, the security of property and the public safety in villages, the District Superintendent may constitute voluntary bodies, hereinafter in this section called, "village defence parties", for any villages within his jurisdiction, as he deems fit. (2) Subject to any general or special order which the State Government may make in this behalf, every person between the ages of 20 and 30 and residing in a village and who in the opinion of the District Superintendent is a fit and proper person having regard to the nature of duties and functions to be performed under the provisions of this section shall be eligible for appointment as a member of the village defence party constituted for his village. (3) The District Superintendent may by a written order signed by himself, and sealed with his own seal, appoint any person eligible under sub-section (2) to be a member of a village defence party. (4) For each village defence party the District Superintendent shall appoint a person eligible under sub-section (2) to be an honorary commandant, called the Kotwal. (5) For the direction and supervision of village defence parties in a taluka, the District Superintendent may appoint a police officer, not below the rank of Head Constable, to be a Taluka Village Defence Officer, and any person who is willing to serve and in the opinion of the District Superintendent is fit, to be a Joint Taluka Village Defence Officer. (6) For the direction and supervision of village defence parties in a district, the District Superintendent may appoint a police officer, not below the rank of sub-Inspector to be a District Village Defence Officer, and any person who is willing to serve and in the opinion of the District Superintendent is fit, to be a Joint District Village Defence Officer. (7) Members of village defence parties and officers, appointed under the section shall be under the direction and control of the District Superintendent and shall receive such training and discharge such duties, as may be determined by the District Superintendent.