Disqualification of members of Gram Panchayat

A person shall be disqualified for being chosen as and for being, a member of a Gram Panchayat- (a) if he is so disqualified by or under any law for the time being in force for the purpose of elections to the Legislative Assembly of Sikkim: Provided that no person shall be disqualified on the ground that he is less than twenty-five years of age, if he has attained the age of twenty-one years; or (b) if he is a member of a Nagar Panchayat established under the law relating to constitution of such Nagar Panchayat for the time being in force; or (c) if he holds any office of profit under a local authority or a co-operative society or a Government company or a Corporation owned or controlled by the Central or the State Government; or (d) has been dismissed from the service of a State Government or the Central Government or a local authority or a Co-operative Society or a Government company or a Corporation owned or controlled by the Central or the State Government for misconduct; or (e) if he is of unsound mind and is so declared by a competent court; or (f) if he is an undischarged insolvent; or (g) if he is suffering from a variety of leprosy which is infectious; or (h) if he is convicted of an election offence; or (i) if he has been convicted by a court of an offence involving moral turpitude and sentenced to imprisonment for a term exceeding six months; or (j) if he has not paid any arrear in respect of any tax or rate or fee payable to a Gram Panchayat or a Zilla Panchayat or a Nagar Panchayat or the State Government: Provided that the disqualification under this clause shall cease upon payment of the rate or tax or fee; or (k) if he has directly or indirectly by himself or by his partner or employer or an employee, hold any share or interest in any contract with, by or on behalf of a Zilla Panchayat or a Gram Panchayat: Provided that a person shall not be deemed to have incurred disqualification by reason of his having a share or interest in any public company or registered co-operative society which has a contract with or is employed by a Gram Panchayat or a Zilla Panchayat of the district.