(1) Recruitment to the cadre of village Accountant shah be made by direct recruitment from amongst : (i) persons who have served as Village Offi cers; (ii) local candidates whether in service or not, who have put in a total of not less than one year of service as on 1st January, 1970, if sufficient number of eligible persons are not available under (i); (ii) persons who have been regularly recruited as Panchayat Secretaries in accordance with the rules in force at the time of the re cruitment and working as Panchayat Secretaries who have passed the S.S.L.C. examination or any other examination declared as equivalent thereto by the State Government if sufficient number of eligible persons are not available under (ia) ; (iii) persons who are regularly recruited as Panchayat Secretaries in accordance with the rules in force at the time of recruitment and working as Panchayat Secretaries who (a) have passed the Middle School examination or any other examination declared as equiva lent thereto by the State Government; and (b) have put in not less than 10 years of service as Panchayat Secretaries as the case may be if sufficient number of eligible persons are not available under (ii); 630 (c) are not more than 50 years of age as on 1st April, 1967; (iv) xx xx xx (v) others, if sufficient number of persons are not available under any of the above categories.