Establishment of Tribunal for the maintenance of parents and dependants

(1) For the purpose of exercising the jurisdiction and powers conferred on a Tribunal for maintenance of parents and dependants by this Act, Government shall, as soon as may be, after the commencement of this Act, establish, in every district, as many Tribunal for maintenance of parents and dependants and at such places, as the State Government may, by notification specify.

1. (2) The Presiding Officer who shall not be lower in rank of the Sub- Divisional Officer (Civil) of such Tribunal shall be appointed by the state Government.
2. (3) The Presiding Officer of the Tribunal shall vacate his office where-
   • (a) he resigns ; or
   • (b) where he has been appointed by virtue of holding any office, he ceases to hold that office.
3. (4) where a person ceases to be the Presiding Officer of the Tribunal, the State Government shall, as soon as is reasonably practicable, take steps to fill the vacancy but the existence of any vacancy in the Tribunal shall not invalidate the acts of the Tribunal.
4. (5) If the Presiding Officer of the tribunal is for the time being unable to perform the duties of his office, either generally or in relation to any particular proceedings, the State Government may appoint some other person to discharge the duties of the Presiding Officer for any period, not exceeding six months at one time, or as the case may be, in relation to those proceedings ; and a person so appointed shall, during that period or in relation to those proceedings, have the same powers as the person in whose place he is appointed.
5. (6) The Presiding Officer of the Tribunal when and so long as he is serving on the Tribunal shall be deemed to be a public servant within the meaning of the Indian Penal Code and the proceedings of the Tribunal shall be deemed to be judicial proceeding.