Chapter IX SUPERVISION AND CONTROL OF STATE GOVERNMENT

(1) As soon as may be after the first day of April in every year and not later than such date as may be fixed in this behalf by the State Government, the Board shall submit to the State Government a detailed report of the adiministration of the ports during the preceding year ending on the thirty-first day of March, in form as the State Government may direct. (2) The State Government shall cause such report to be laid for not less than thirty days before the State Legislature as soon as may be after such report is received by the Government.

(1) The Board shall annually, or often or if directed by the State Government so to do, submit statements of its income and expenditure in such form and at such time as that Government may direct. (2) A copy of all such statement shall be open to inspection of the public at the office of the Board during office hours on payment of such fee for each inspection as may from time to time be fixed by the Board.

(1) If, at any time, the State Government is of opinion— (a) that on account of a grave emergency, the Board is unable to perform the duties imposed on it by or under the provisions of this Act or of any other law, or (b) that the Board has persistently made default in the performance of the duties imposed upon it by or under the provisions of this Act or of any other law and as a result of such default, the financial position of the Board or the administration of the ports has greatly deteriorated, the State Government may by notification in the Official Gazette, supersede the Board for such period, not exceeding six months at a time, as may be specified in the notification: Provided that before issuing a notification under this sub-section for the reasons mentioned in clause (b), the State Government shall give a reasonable opportunity to the Board to show cause why it should not be superseded and shall consider the explanations and objections, if any, of the Board. (2) Upon the publication of notification under sub-section (1) superseding the Board- (a) all the members of the Board shall, as from the date of supersession, vacate their offices as such members of the Board; (b) all the powers and duties which may, be or under the provisions of this Act or of any other law, be exercised or performed by or on behalf of the Board, shall until the Board, is reconstituted under clause (b) or clause (c) of sub-section (3) be exercised and performed by such person or as persons the State Government may direct; (c) all property vested in the Board shall, until the Board is reconstituted under clause (b) or clause (c) of sub-section (3), vest in the State Government. (3) On the expiration of the period of supersession specified in the notification issued under sub-section (1), the State Government may— (a) extend the period of supersession for such further term, not exceeding six months, as it may consider necessary, or (b) reconstitute the Board by fresh appointment and in such case, any persons who vacated their offices under clause (a) of sub-section (2) shall not be deemed disqualified for appointment, or (c) reconsitute the Board by appointment only for such period as it may consider necessary and in such a case the persons who vacated their offices under clause (a) of sub section (2) shall not be deemed disqualified for such appointment merely because they were members of the Board when the Board was superseded:

(1) Without prejudice to the foregoing provisions of this Chapter, the Board shall in the discharge of its functions under this Act, be bound by such directions on question of policy, as the State Government may give in writing to it from time to time: Provided that the Board shall be given opportunity to express its view before any direction is given under this sub-section. (2) The decision of the State Government where a question is one of policy or not shall be final.