Chapter V BOARD OF TRUSTEES

(1) There shall be a Board of Trustees for the administration and management of the Palace, consisting of the following:- (1) The Chief Secretary to Government of Karnataka ... Chairman (2) The Secretary to Government, Finance Department ... Member (3) The Secretary to Government Department of Law ... Member (4) The Secretary to Government, Public Works Department ... Member (5) The Secretary to Government incharge of Muzarai Institutions in the Revenue Department ... Member (6) The Commissioner for Archaeology Museum and Heritage Department . … Member (7) Sri Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadeyar. ... Member. (8) A person to represent the State Lalitha Kala Academy to be nominated by the State Government. ... Member. (9) Three persons of eminence in the field of law, public administration, art or culture to be nominated by the State Government ... Member. (10) The Executive Officer ... Member-Secretary (2) Subject to the pleasure of the State Government, the persons nominated under clauses (8) and (9) shall hold office for a period of three years and they shall be eligible for renomination. (3) The members of the Board shall receive such allowances as may be prescribed. (4) The Board shall meet at such time, at such place and shall conduct its business in such manner as may be prescribed.

Subject to the rules made under this Act, the powers and duties of the Board shall be,- (a) to administer and manage the Palace; (b) to protect the Palace building and its surroundings as monuments; (c) to maintain parks, gardens and to preserve tree growth in the land surrounding the Palace; (d) to utilise the land surrounding the Palace for developing it as a Horticultural Garden; (e) to protect and preserve the Royal Treasure, including the Royal Thrones, Royal Crowns, Howdah, Royal Wear and Ornaments and all other pieces of art, regalia, paintings, sculptures, and furniture; (f) to levy, subject to such condition as the State Government may impose, fees for entry into the Palace, museum, art gallery, park and garden; and (g) to do such other acts as may be prescribed and as are incidental or conducive to the efficient administration of the Palace.

(1) The State Government shall appoint an Executive Officer to the Board and such number of other officers as it considers necessary to assist him. (2) The salary and other allowances payable to the Executive Officer and other officers appointed under sub-section (1), shall be met out of the fund of the Board. (3) The Executive Officer and other officers appointed by the State Government shall be deemed to be public servants within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

(1) Subject to such restrictions and conditions as may be laid down by the State Government in the rules or in any general or special order and subject to the general control of the Board, the Executive Officer,- (a) shall have power to manage the affairs of the Board; (b) shall be responsible for the proper custody of all properties, records, moneys, paintings, funds and other valuables belonging to the Board; and (c) shall arrange for the proper collection of the income and for the incurring of the expenditure of the Board. (2) The Executive Officer may, in case of emergency direct execution of any work or doing of any act which is not provided for in the budget of the year and the immediate execution of the doing of which is, in his opinion necessary for the preservation of the properties of the Board and may direct that the expenses of executing such work or the doing of such act shall be paid from the fund of the Board: Provided that the Executive Officer shall report forthwith to the Board any action taken by him under this sub-section and reasons therefor. (3) The Executive Officer may delegate any of the powers conferred or duties imposed on him by or under this Act to any officer appointed under section 26 to assist him, subject to such restriction and control as the Board may, by general or special order, lay down and also subject to such limitation and conditions, if any, as may be specified in the order of delegation. (4) The Board may delegate to the Executive Officer such of its powers, duties or functions as may be prescribed.

In all suits or other legal proceedings by or against the Board the pleadings shall be signed and verified by the Executive officer and in such suits and proceedings notice shall be issued to or served on the Executive Officer.

(1) There shall be a fund called the Board Fund which shall be administered by the Board. (2) The following shall form part of or be paid into the Board Fund, namely:- (i) the income from Palace or proceeds of any property vested in the Board; (ii) all fees and charges paid to or levied by or on behalf of the Board under this Act; (iii) all grants, and contributions made by the State Government or any other authority; (iv) all contributions and donations made by any person; (v) sums raised by way of loan by the Board with the previous sanction of the State Government; and (vi) any other sums.

The Board may, with the previous sanction of the State Government and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed borrow any sum for the purposes of this Act.

The Fund may be utilised for all or any of the following purposes, namely:- (i) maintenance, management and administration of the Palace; (ii) maintenance and improvement of park and garden in the premises of the Palace; (iii) preservation of tree growth in the premises of the Palace; (iv) development of Museum and Horticultural garden in the Palace premises; (v) payment of salaries and allowances of the Executive Officer and other officers appointed under section 26; (vi) any other purpose as may be prescribed.

(1) The State Government shall appoint annually an Auditor to audit the accounts of the Board and fix the remuneration which shall be paid to such Auditor from the Board Fund. The Auditor shall send his report to the State Government. (2) The State Government shall send a copy of the audit report to the Board and it shall be the duty of the Board to remedy, within such time as may be specified by the State Government any defects or irregularities pointed out by the auditor and report the same to the State Government.

(1) The Executive Officer shall every year prepare within such time and in such form as may be prescribed a budget and an estimate of receipt and expenditure of the Board for the following year and place it before the Board which may approve it without modification or with such modification as it deems fit. (2) A copy of the budget passed by the Board shall be forwarded to the State Government not less than two months before the end of the year previous to that for which the budget is prepared.