liability for loss.

(1) Every member, officer or official of the municipality shall be liable for the loss, waste or misappropriation of any money or other property belonging to a municipality, if such loss, waste is reported by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India or other audit authority empowered by the State Government in this behalf to be a direct consequence of his neglect or misconduct in the performance of his duties while a member, officer or official of the municipality, and he may after being given an opportunity, by notice served in the manner provided for the service of summons in the Civil Procedure Code, to show cause by written or oral representation why he should not be required to make good the loss, be surcharged with the value of such property or the amount of such money by the Director and if the amount is not paid within fourteen days from the expiry of the period of appeal prescribed by sub-section (2) the Collector at the request of the Director, shall proceed forthwith to recover the amount as if it were an arrear of land revenue, and have it credited to the municipal fund. (2) The person against whom an order under sub-section (1) is made, may, within thirty days of such order, appeal to the State Government who shall appoint an officer to hear the appeal and the appellate authority shall have the power of confirming, modifying or disallowing the surcharge: Provided that no person shall under this section be called upon to show cause after the expiry of a period of four years from the occurrence of such loss, waste or misappropriation or after the expiry of one year from the time of his ceasing to be member : Provided further that nothing in this section shall be deemed to debar the aggrieved party from seeking remedy in Civil Court against an order made under sub-section (1). (4) A person shall be disqualified for being nominated as a member of the Ward Committee under sub-section (2) or to continue as such if, under the provisions of this Act or any other law for the time being in force, he is disqualified for being elected as a member of municipality.

(5) The Secretary of the Ward Sabha shall also be the Secretary of the Ward Committee. The minutes of the proceedings of the meetings of the Ward Committee shall be recorded by the Secretary and a copy of minutes of the proceedings of each meeting shall be forwarded by him to the municipality.

(6) The term of office of the member of the Ward Committee shall be two and half years from the date of nomination and shall be eligible for renomination.