57. Removal from office. - (1) The competent authority may remove from office any member of the panchayat, the Sarpanch or, as the case may be, the Upa-Sarpanch 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, Sarpanch or, as the case may be, Upa-Sarpanch has been guilty of misconduct in the discharge of his duties or of any disgraceful conduct or abuses his powers or makes persistent default in the performance of his duties and functions under this Act or has become incapable of performing his duties and functions under this Act. The Sarpanch or, as the case may be, the Upa-Sarpanch, 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, Sarpanch or Upa-Sarpanch, or otherwise ceased to hold any such officer and has been guilty of misconduct specified in sub-section (1) or has been incapable of performing his duties and functions:Provided that an action under this sub-section 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 State Government.
