Disqualification of officers and employees of Government, local authorities etc.

(1)Officer or employee in the service of the State or Central Government or of a local authority or a corporation controlled by the State or Central Government or of a local authority or any company in which the State or Central Government or a local authority has 26(not less than fifty one percent share) or of a statutory Board or of any University in the state shall be qualified, for election or for holding office as a member of a panchayat at any level. 27[Explanation - For the purpose of this section, company means a Government company as defined in section 617 of the Companies Act, 1956 (Central Act 1 of 1956) and includes a co-operative society registered or deemed to be registered under the Kerala Co-operative Societies Act, 1969 (21 of 1969)]. (2)Any Officer or employee referred to in sub-section (1) who has been dismissed for corruption or disloyalty shall be disqualified for a period of five years from the date of such dismissal for election or for holding office as a member of a panchayat at any level.