Council of State Agricultural Universities

(1) There shall be a Council of State Agricultural Universities consisting of the following members, namely:-- (a) the Minister for Agriculture, Government of Gujarat, ex-officio, (b) the Secretary to the Government of Gujarat, General Administration Department, ex-officio, (c) the Secretary to the Government of Gujarat, Finance Department, ex-officio, (d) the Secretary to the Government of Gujarat, Agriculture and Co-operation Department, ex-officio, (e) the Vice-Chancellor of each of the Universities, ex-officio, (f) the Director of Agriculture, Gujarat State, ex-officio, (g) the Director of Animal Husbandry, Gujarat State, ex-officio, (h) the Director of Horticulture, Gujarat State, ex-officio: Provided that when a proclamation made under article 356 of the Constitution is in force in the State, the Central Government may appoint one person in place of the Minister for Agriculture to be the Chairman and the person so appointed shall vacate his office upon the revocation or cesser of operation of such proclamation. (2) (a) The Minister shall be the Chairman of the Council and shall preside over its meetings: Provided that when the Minister is unable to preside over any meeting, he may nominate the Deputy Minister for Agriculture to preside over the meeting. (b) The Joint Secretary or the Deputy Secretary to the Government of Gujarat, Agriculture and Co-operation Department, in-charge of the subject matter of Agricultural Universities, shall be the Member-Secretary of the Council. (3) The Headquarters of the Council shall be at Gandhinagar. (4) The Council shall meet at least twice in a year. (5) Subject to sub-section (4), the Council shall meet at such time and such place as the Chairman may appoint in this behalf and observe such rules of procedure in regard to transaction of its business at its meetings as may be determined by it. (6) Four members shall form a quorum and all questions at a meeting of the Council shall be decided by a majority of the members present and voting. (7) The Council shall perform the following functions, namely:-- (a) to review the functioning of the Universities twice in a year and make a report to the State Government and the Chancellor, (b) to advise the State Government on any matter relating to functioning of the Universities on a reference made to it in that behalf by the State Government, (c) to assess the requirement of finance by the Universities and recommend the grants to be given to the Universities by the State Government, (d) to review the annual plan of activities and annual financial estimates of the Universities before they are passed by the Boards of the Universities, (e) to assess requirements of Universities of having new faculties, disciplines or departments, (f) to co-ordinate education in agriculture and allied sciences imparted by the Universities and the agricultural research activities and agricultural extension educational activities carried on by the Universities and matters related thereto, (g) to supervise and co-ordinate the centralised admissions to various degree courses in Universities, (h) to arrange programmes to upgrade capability of teachers of faculties in their respective disciplines according to the requirements of the University, (i) such other functions as may be specified by the State Government by notification in the Official Gazette. (8) For the purpose of performing its functions, the Council may call for, from the Universities, such reports, returns and information, as may be necessary and the Universities shall furnish such reports, returns and information.