(1) A conciliator shall be excluded from performing his or her duties, if:
1. The conciliator or his or her current or former spouse becomes a party to a dispute;
2. The conciliator is a current or former relative of a party to a dispute;
3. The conciliator has made a statement, provided appraisal services or legal advice, with respect to a dispute;
4. The conciliator is or was involved in a dispute as an agent of a party to the dispute.
(2) Where any ground for exclusion arises with respect to a conciliator in charge of a case, the conciliation committee shall, ex officio or upon request of a party, make a decision to exclude the conciliator.
(3) If any ground arises making it impracticable to expect the impartial performance of duties of a conciliator in charge of a case, a party to the case may file a request to challenge the conciliator, with the conciliation committee.
(4) A determination on a request for challenge shall be made by a conciliation committee, and neither the relevant conciliator nor the parties shall file any objection to such determination.
(5) Where a request for challenge is filed under paragraph (3), a conciliation committee shall suspend conciliation until the determination is made on the request.
(6) If paragraph (1) or (3) applies to a conciliator, the conciliator may abstain from the performance of his or her duties with respect to the relevant dispute, without permission from the conciliation committee.[This Article Added on May 29, 2016]