Upon a petition signed by not less than three coal operators, or 10 coal miners, or by the Director of the Office of Mines and Minerals, setting forth that any State Mine Inspector neglects his duties, or that he is incompetent, or that he is guilty of malfeasance, or guilty of any act tending to the unlawful injury of miners or operators of mines, the Mining Board shall issue a citation to the State Mine Inspector to appear before it within a period of 15 days on a day fixed for a hearing, when the Mining Board shall investigate the allegations of the petitioners. In the event of a citation, as referred to above, the Mining Board in its discretion may immediately remove the State Mine Inspector involved from service pending the hearing aforesaid mentioned. If the Mining Board finds that the State Mine Inspector has neglected his duty or is incompetent or that he is guilty of malfeasance or guilty of any act tending to the injury of miners or operators of mines, the Mining Board shall declare the position of said State Mine Inspector vacant, and a properly qualified person shall be duly appointed, in the manner provided for in this Act, to fill the vacancy.
225 ILCS 705/4.24