71. Removal from office. - (1) The competent authority' may remove from office any member of a panchayat or any President or Vice-President thereof after giving him an opportunity of being heard and giving due notice in that behalf to the panchayat and after such inquiry as it deems necessary, if such member, President or Vice-President has been guilty or misconduct in the discharge of his duties or of any disgraceful conduct or abuse of powers or makes persistent default in the performance of his duties and functions under this Act or has become incapable of performing his duties under this Act. The President or as the case may be, the Vice-President so removed may at the discretion of the competent authority also be removed from the membership of the panchayat.
(2)The competent authority may, after following the procedure laid down in subsection (1), disqualify for a period not exceeding five years, any person who has resigned his office as a member, President or Vice-President or otherwise ceased to hold any such office and has been guilty of misconduct specified in sub-section (1) or has been incapable of performing his duties.Provided that an action shall be taken within six months from the date on which the person resigns, or ceases to hold, any' such office.(3)Any person aggrieved by an order of the competent authority under sub-section (1) or (2) may within a period of thirty days from the date of the communication of such order appeal to the prescribed authority.
