Chapter II ANDHRA PRADESH STATE COMMISSION FOR SCHEDULED CASTES AND SCHEDULED TRIBES

1. (1) The Government may, By notification, constitute a body to be known as the Andhra Pradesh State Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to exercise the powers conferred on, and to perform functions assigned to it under the Act.
2. (2) The Commission shall be a body corporate having perpetual succession and a common seal, with power, subject to the provisions of this Act and rules made thereunder, to acquire, hold and dispose of property and to enter into contracts and shall in the said name sue and be sued.
3. (3) The Headquarters of the Commission shall be at Hyderabad and the Government may, by notification, specify such other place to be the Headquarters of the Commission as may be necessary from time to time.

1. (1) The Commission shall hold ordinary meetings at such places and at such intervals as may be prescribed and meetings may be convened by the Chairman at any time for the transaction of any urgent business;
2. (2) Number of Members necessary to constitute a quorum of meeting and the procedure to be followed therein shall be such as may be prescribed.

1. (1) The Commission shall consist of the following members:-
   • (a) a Chairman shall be an eminent person belonging to Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe to be appointed by the Government; and
   • (b) not more than five members to be appointed by the Government from amongst persons of ability, integrity and having outstanding record of selfless service to the cause of justice for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes out of which one woman member shall be appointed by the Government.
2. (2) The Secretary shall convene the meetings of the Commission from time to time.

1. (1) The Chairman or the Members shall, unless otherwise disqualified for continuing as such under the rules, hold office for a term of three years from the date he assumes office and shall be eligible for re-appointment for a second term only.
2. (2) The Chairman or a Member may by writing under his hand addressed to the Government resign from the office, but he shall continue in office till his resignation is accepted by the Government or his successor is appointed.
3. (3) The successors so appointed under sub-section
4. (2) shall hold office for the remainder of the term of his predecessor.
5. (4) The Government may remove a person from the office of Member, if that person,-
   • (a) becomes an undischarged insolvent;
   • (b) is convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for an offence which in the opinion of the Government involves moral turpitude;
   • (c) becomes of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent court;
   • (d) refuses to act or becomes incapable of acting;
   • (e) without obtaining leave of absence from the Commission, absents himself from three consecutive meetings of the Commission;
   • (f) has in the opinion of the Government, so abused the position of the Member as to render that person's continuance in office detrimental to the interest of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the State or the public interest:

Appointment of Officers and other employees of Commission

1. (1) The Government may appoint the Secretary who shall be an Officer of the Government not below the rank of Joint Secretary to Government and such other Officers and employees as may be necessary for the efficient performance of the functions of the Commission.
2. (2) The salaries and allowances payable and other terms and conditions of service of the Secretary, Officers and other employees appointed for the purpose of the Commission shall be such as may be prescribed.
3. (3) The Secretary shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Commission and shall exercise such powers and perform such functions as may be prescribed.

The salaries and allowances payable to the Chairman and members should be commensurate to the status and dignity of the office and the administrative expenses including salaries, allowances and pensions, payable to the officers and other employees referred to in section 7 shall be paid out of the grants referred to in sub-section

1. (1) of section 15.

No act or proceedings of the Commission shall be invalid on the ground merely of the existence of any vacancy or defect in the constitution of the Commission.

1. (1) The Commission shall meet as and when necessary at such time and place as the Chairman may think fit.
2. (2) The Commission shall regulate its own procedure.
3. (3) All orders and decisions of the Commission shall be authenticated by the signature of the Secretary or any other officer of the Commission authorised by the Secretary in this behalf.