1. This is a petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India challenging the order dated 26.4.1996 (Annexure P-5) of the Sub-Divisional Officer, Betul (the Prescribed Authority) by which the petitioner has been removed from the office of Surpanch of Shahpur Gram Panchayat under Section 40 of the M.P. Panchayat Raj Adhiniyam, 1993 (hereinafter to be referred to as the Act). He has also assailed the appellate order dated 18.3.1997 passed by the Additional Collector and the revisional order dated 24.11.1997 passed by the Commissioner by which the impugned order of the SDO has been upheld.

2. The petitioner was Surpanch of Gram Panchayat, Shahpur. He was directly elected to this office in the year 1994. A show cause notice was issued to him by respondent No.4 the Sub-Divisional Officer, Betul on 30.10.1995 in which fifteen charges were levelled against him. That is annexure P-1. He submitted his reply to the show-cause notice on 10.11.1995 giving his explanation on each charge. He also requested for time to produce some more documents and adduce oral evidence. That reply is Annexure P-2. He submitted another application on the same date for permitting him to examine witness