Chapter II Chapter II

The Commission

1. (1) The State Government shall, by notification in the Official Gazette, constitute a body known as the “Goa State Commission for Women”, to exercise the powers conferred on and to perform the functions assigned to it, under this Act.
2. (2) The Commission shall consist of,— –3–
   • (a) a Chairperson, who shall be an eminent Goan woman by birth or by marriage committed to the cause of women, to be nominated by the State Government, and shall possess such qualification as may be prescribed: Provided that, before nominating the Chairperson, the State Government shall consult women’s organisations registered within the State of Goa;
   • (b) not more than six non-official members, preferably women, to be nominated by the State Government from amongst persons of ability, integrity and standing who have served the cause of women or have sufficient knowledge and experience in law or legislation, trade unionism, management of an industry or organisation committed to increasing the employment, potential of women, women’s voluntary organisations (including women activists), administration, economic development, health, education or social welfare, provided that, at least one member shall be from amongst persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes or Other Backward Classes;
   • (c) any woman member elected by the Goa Legislative Assembly, from amongst its members;
   • (d) a Member-Secretary, to be nominated by the State Government who shall be an officer of the Civil Service of the State with appropriate experience, not below the rank of Joint Secretary in the Government.

1. (1) The Chairperson and every non-official member shall hold office for a period of three years provided that the member specified at clause (c) of sub-section (2) of section 4 shall cease to hold office as soon as she ceases to be a member of the State Legislative Assembly.
2. (2) The Chairperson or a non-official member may, at any time, by writing under her hand and addressed to the State Government, resign from the office of the Chairperson or the office of the member, as the case may be.
3. (3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the State Government may remove a person from the office of the Chairperson or member, if that person—
   • (a) becomes an undischarged insolvent; or
   • (b) is convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for an offence which in the opinion of the State Government involved moral turpitude; or
   • (c) becomes of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent Court; or
   • (d) refuses to act or becomes incapable of acting; or
   • (e) is, without obtaining leave of absence from the Commission, absent from three consecutive meetings of the Commission; or
   • (f) in the opinion of the State Government, has so abused the position of the Chairperson or member, as to render that person’s continuance in office detrimental to the public interest or is otherwise unfit or unsuitable to continue as such Chairperson or member: Provided that, no person shall be removed under this sub-section unless that person has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard in the matter.
4. (4) A vacancy caused under sub-section (2) or (3) or in any other manner, shall be filled in within 30 days by a fresh nomination by the State Government and the person so nominated –4– shall hold office for the remainder of the term of office of the person in whose vacancy such person has been nominated: Provided that, if the vacancy of a member other than that of the Chairperson occurs within three months preceding the date on which the term of office of the member expires, the vacancy shall not be filled in.
5. (5) The honorarium, if any, and allowances payable to, and the other terms and conditions of holding the office of the Chairperson and the members shall be such as may be prescribed.

1[(1) The State Government shall

State Government may be necessary for the efficient performance of the functions of the Commission under this Act.]; (2)

2[Omitted]

The Honorarium and allowances payable to the Chairperson and members, salaries payable to the Member Secretary and officers as well as the administrative expenses shall be paid out of grants referred to in section 17.]

No act or proceeding of the Commission shall be questioned or shall be invalid on the ground merely of the existence of any vacancy in, or defect in the nomination of a person acting as the

Chairperson or a member or any irregularity in the procedure of the Commission, including in issuing of notice of holding a meeting, not affecting merits of the matter.

1. (1) The Commission may appoint such committees as may be necessary for the efficient performance, exercise and discharge of its functions, powers and duties and also 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 appoint one or more persons, as it may think fit, on any Committee appointed under sub-section (1), and such person or persons, who are not members of the Commission, shall have the right to attend the meetings of the Committee and take part in the proceedings but shall not have the right to vote.
3. (3) The person so appointed shall be entitled to receive such allowances towards expenses for attending the meeting or any other task of the Committee, as may be prescribed.
4. (4) The Commission may invite any representative of the National Commission for Women to any of its meetings, or may associate with itself, in such manner and for such purposes as it may deem necessary, any person whose assistance or advice it may need in complying with any of the provisions of this Act or in carrying out its functions under this Act, and a person so invited or associated, shall have the right to take part in the discussions of the Commission relevant to the purpose for which such representative or person has been invited or associated, but shall not have the right to vote. –5–

1. (1) The Commission or a Committee

thereof shall meet at least once a month and as and when necessary and shall meet at such time and place, as the Chairperson may deem fit.

1. (2) The Commission shall regulate its own procedure and the procedure of the Committees thereof.
2. (3) All orders and decisions of the Commission shall be authenticated by the Member-- Secretary in this behalf.