20. Removal of members of Gram Panchayat and appeal.
(1)The prescribed authority may, after giving an opportunity to a member of a Gram Panchayat to show cause against the action proposed to be taken against him, remove him from office -(a)on the ground of misconduct in the discharge of his duties; or(b)if he refuses to act or becomes incapable of acting as such member; or(c)if after his election he is convicted by a criminal court of an offence involving moral turpitude and punishable with imprisonment for a period of more than six months; or(d)if he is absent from meetings of the Gram Panchayat for three consecutive meetings without the leave of the Gram Panchayat; or(e)if he is in arrears from more than on year in payment of rates, tolls, fees or taxes to the Anchal Panchayat; or(f)if he was disqualified to be a member of the Gram Panchayat at the time of his election or appointment; or(g)if he incurs any of the disqualifications mentioned in clauses (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) of sub-section (1) of section 15, after his election as a member of the Gram Panchayat.(2)Any member of a Gram Panchayat who is removed from his office by the prescribed authority on any of the grounds mentioned in clauses (a), (b), (d), (e), (f) and (g) of sub-section (1), may, within thirty days from the date, of the order, appeal to the Commissioner of the Division within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the Gram Panchayat is situate, and thereupon the Commissioner of the Division may stay the operation of the order till the disposal of the appeal and he may, after giving notice of the appeal to the prescribed authority, and after giving the appellant an opportunity of being heard, modify, set aside or confirm the order. The order passed by the Commissioner of the Division on such appeal shall be final.
