Power of State Government to supersed Board.

(1) If, at any time, the State Government is of opinion— (a) that on account of a grave emergency, the Board is unable to perform the duties imposed on it by or under the provisions of this Act or of any other law, or (b) that the Board has persistently made default in the performance of the duties imposed upon it 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 Board or the administration of the ports has greatly deteriorated, the State Government may by notification in the Official Gazette, supersede the Board 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 the reasons mentioned in clause (b), the State Government shall give a reasonable opportunity to the Board to show cause why it should not be superseded and shall consider the explanations and objections, if any, of the Board. (2) Upon the publication of notification under sub-section (1) superseding the Board- (a) all the members of the Board shall, as from the date of supersession, vacate their offices as such members of the Board; (b) all the powers and duties which may, be or under the provisions of this Act or of any other law, be exercised or performed by or on behalf of the Board, shall until the Board, is reconstituted under clause (b) or clause (c) of sub-section (3) be exercised and performed by such person or as persons the State Government may direct; (c) all property vested in the Board shall, until the Board is reconstituted under clause (b) or clause (c) of sub-section (3), vest in the State Government. (3) On the expiration of the period of supersession specified in the notification issued under sub-section (1), the State 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 Board by fresh appointment 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 (c) reconsitute the Board 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shall not be deemed disqualified for such appointment merely because they were members of the Board when the Board was superseded: