(1)If, at any time, the Central Government is of opinion-(a)that on account of grave emergency, the Commissioners are unable to perform the duties imposed on them by or under the provisions of this Act or of any other law, or(b)that the Commissioners have persistently made default in the performance of the duties imposed on them by or under the provisions of this Act or of any other law and as a result of such default the financial position of the Commissioners or the administrations of the Port has greatly deteriorated.the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, supersede the Commissioners for such period not exceeding six months at a time, as may be specified in the notification:Provided that before issuing a notification under this sub-section for reasons mentioned in clause (b), the Central Government shall give a reasonable time of not less than three months to the Commissioners to show cause why they should not be superseded and shall consider the explanations and objections, if any, of the Commissioners.(2)Upon the publication of a notification under sub-section (1) superseding the Commissioners, the following consequences shall ensue:-(a)all the Commissioners shall, as from the date of supersession, vacate their offices as such Commissioners;(b)all the powers and duties which may, by or under the provisions of this Act or of any other law, be exercised or performed by or on behalf of the Commissioners, shall, until the Commissioners are reconstituted under clause (b) or clause (c) of sub-section (3), be exercised and performed by such person or persons as the Central Government may direct;(c)all property vested in the Commissioners shall, until the Commissioners are reconstituted under clause (b) or clause (c) of sub-section (3), vest in the Central Government.(3)On the expiration of the period of supersession specified in the notification issued under sub-section (1), the Central Government may-(a)extend the period of supersession for such further term, not exceeding six months, as it may consider necessary; or(b)reconstitute the Commissioners by fresh appointment and fresh election, and in such case any persons who vacated their offices under clause (a) of sub-section (2) shall not be deemed disqualified for appointment or election, as the case may be; or(c)reconstitute the Commissioners by appointment only for such period as it may consider necessary and in such a case, the persons who vacated their offices under clause (a) of sub-section (2) shall not be deemed disqualified for such appointment merely because they were Commissioners at the time of supersession:Provided that the Central Government may, at any time before the expiration of the period of supersession, whether as originally specified under sub-section (1) or as extended under this sub-section, take action under clause (b) or clause (c) of this sub-section.(4)The Central Government shall cause a notification issued under sub-section (1) and a full report of any action taken under this section and the circumstances leading to such action to be laid before Parliament at the earliest possible opportunity.
