35Resignation, removal and suspension of Chairperson and other Member or Director

(1) The Chairperson or any Member of the Board other than ex officio Members of the Board or Director may, by notice in writing under his hand addressed to the President of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, resign his office:

Provided that the Chairperson or such Member or Director shall, unless he is permitted by the President of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research to relinquish his office sooner, continue to hold office until the expiry of three months from the date of receipt of such notice or until a person duly appointed as his successor enters upon his office or until the expiry of his term of office, whichever is the earliest.

(2) The President of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research may remove from office the Chairperson or any Member of the Board or the Director, who--

(a) has been adjudged an insolvent; or

(b) being the Director has engaged at any time, during his term of office, in any paid employment; or

(c) has been convicted of an offence which, in the opinion of the Central Government, involves moral turpitude; or

(d) has become physically or mentally incapable of acting as such Chairperson or Member or Director; or

(e) is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent court; or

(f) has acquired such financial or other interest as is likely to affect prejudicially the exercise of his functions as such Chairperson or Member or Director; or

(g) has so abused his position as to render his continuance in office prejudicial to the public interest; or

(h) has been guilty of proved misbehavior; or

(i) has such other disqualifications as may be prescribed.

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the Chairperson or a Member of the Board or the Director shall not be removed from his office on the grounds specified in clause (f) or clause (g) or clause (h) of sub-section (1), except by an order made by the President of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research after an inquiry made in this behalf in which such Chairperson or Member or Director has been informed of the charges against him and given a reasonable opportunity of being heard in respect of those charges.

(4) In the event of inquiry instituted under sub-section (2), the President of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research may suspend such Chairperson or Member or Director against whom inquiry has been instituted for a period not exceeding six months if it is considered necessary in public interest.

(5) The President of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research may, by rules, regulate the procedure for the inquiry referred to in sub-section (2).

(6) In case any nominated member under clause (k) of sub-section (1) of section 11 in the Board incurs any of the disqualifications under clauses (a) to (i) of sub-section (1), such nominated member shall not be eligible to be nominated as such and his nomination as nominated member shall be revoked by those who nominated such member.