Chapter II THE ANDHRA PRADESH WOMEN'S COMMISSION

Constitution of the Commission

1. (1) The Government shall, by notification, constitute a body to be known as the Andhra Pradesh Women's Commission to exercise the powers conferred on, and to perform the functions assigned to it, under this Act.
2. (2) The Commission shall consist of—
   • (a) a Chairperson, who shall be a person of eminence committed to the cause of women, to be nominated by the Government;
   • (b) five members to be nominated by the Government from amongst persons of ability, integrity and standing who have served the cause of women or have had experience in law, practice of medicine, social work, management, economics, health, education or administration: Provided that at least one member shall be from amongst persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes and one member from amongst the Backward Classes;
   • (c) a Member-Secretary to be nominated by the Government who shall be an officer of the Government not below the rank of a Joint Secretary to Government.

Term of office and conditions of service of Chairperson and Members

1. (1) The Chairperson and every member shall hold office for a period of five years from the date on which they assume office.
2. (2) The Chairperson or a member may, by writing under their hand addressed to the Government, resign from the office of Chairperson or, as the case may be, of the member at any time.
3. (3) The Government shall remove a person from the office of Chairperson or 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) is, without obtaining leave of absence from the Commission, absent from three consecutive meetings of the Commission; or
   • (f) has, in the opinion of the Government, so abused the position of Chairperson or member as to render that person's continuance in office detrimental to the public interest: Provided that no person shall be removed under this clause until that person has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard in the matter.
4. (4) A vacancy caused under sub-section
5. (2) or otherwise shall be filled by fresh nomination.
6. (5) The salaries and allowances payable to, and the other terms and conditions of service of the Chairperson and members shall be such as may be prescribed.

Officers and other employees of the Commission

1. (1) The Government shall appoint an officer of the rank of not below the rank of a Deputy Secretary to Government as a Member-Secretary of the Commission.
2. (2) The Government may provide the Commission with such other officers and employees as may be necessary for the efficient performance of the functions of the Commission under this Act.
3. (3) The salaries and allowances payable to, and the other terms and conditions of service of, the Member-Secretary and other officers and employees of the Commission shall be such as may be prescribed.

Salaries and allowances to be paid out of grants The salaries and allowances payable to the Chairperson, Members, Member-Secretary, and other officers and employees of the Commission and the administrative expenses of the Commission shall be paid out of the grants referred to in section 10.

Vacancies etc., not to invalidate proceedings of the Commission. - No act or proceeding of the Commission shall be questioned or shall be invalid merely on the ground of the existence of any vacancy or defect in the constitution of the Commission.

Committees of the Commission. -

1. (1) The Commission may appoint such committees as may be necessary for dealing with such special issues as may be taken up by the Commission from time to time.
2. (2) The Commission shall have the power to co-opt as members of any committee appointed under sub-section
3. (1) such number of persons, who are not members of the Commission, as it may think fit and the persons so co-opted shall have the right to attend the meetings of the committee and take part in its proceedings but shall not have the right to vote.
4. (3) The persons so co-opted shall be entitled to receive such allowances for attending the meetings of the committee as may be prescribed.

Procedure to be regulated by the Commission

1. (1) The Commission shall regulate its own procedure.
2. (2) All orders and decisions of the Commission shall be authenticated by the Member-Secretary or any other officer of the Commission duly authorised by the Member-Secretary in this behalf.