Under the proviso to Section 9(2)(a), a fellow found guilty of misconduct under the Second Schedule and whose name is removed (or who is fined) is ineligible to contest a Council election for what period after completion of removal or payment of fine?

The proviso to Section 9(2)(a) prescribes cooling-off periods for fellows found guilty of misconduct. For misconduct falling under the First Schedule the ineligibility period is four years, and for misconduct falling under the Second Schedule it is eight years, computed from the completion of the period of removal of name from the Register or from payment of the fine, as the case may be. The 2022 Amendment increased these from three and six years respectively. Since the question concerns the Second Schedule, the correct answer is eight years.