The Sahyadri Heritage Development Authority Act, 2011

KARNATAKA ACT NO. 21 OF 2012

THE SAHYADRI HERITAGE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ACT, 2011

(1) This Act may be called the Sahyadri Heritage Development Authority Act, 2011. (2) It shall come into force on such date as the State Government may, by notification, appoint.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,- (a) "Authority" means, the Sahyadri Heritage area Development Authority constituted under section 3; (b) "Sahyadri Heritage Area’"means areas comprising of the districts of Shimoga, Chikkamagalur and Uttara Kannada;s (c) "Chairman" means, the Chairman of the Authority; (d) "Department" means, all departments of the State Government, including any body or corporation established by the State Government by or under any law or any institution or Body receiving financial aid from the State Government; (e) "Member" means, a member of the Authority; (f) "Projects and programmes" means, the annual projects and programmes prepared by the Authority for development of Sahyadri Heritage; (g) "Secretary" means, Secretary of the Authority; (h) "Regulation" means, regulations made under this Act.

(1) As soon as may be, after the commencement of this Act the State Government shall constitute by notification, an Authority for development of Sahyadri Heritage to be called the Sahyadri Heritage Development Authority with its head-quarters at Shimoga consisting of such number of members specified in section 4. (2) The Authority shall be a body corporate by the name aforesaid having perpetual succession and a common seal to contract and shall by the said name sue and be sued.

The authority shall consist of the Hon’ble Chief Minister as the Chairman and other following members specified below, namely:- I. Pertaining to the Sahyadri Heritage Area,- (a) Ministers incharge of the Districts - Vice-Chairman (b) The Deputy Commissioners - Ex-officio Member (c) Presidents of Zilla Panchayats - Members (d) The Conservators of Forest - Ex-officio Member (e) The Superintendent of Police - Ex-officio Members II. Other members,- (f) The Secretary to Government, Department of Kannada and Culture - Ex-Officio Member (g) One Deputy Director, Department of Tourism - Member (h) The Superintending Archaeologist, Archaeological Survey of India, Bangalore and Dharwad Circle - Member (i) The Commissioner, Department of Archaeology and Museums and Heritage - Member (j) The Director, Department of Archaeology and Museums, Mysore - Member (k) The Vice-Chancellor, Kuvempu and Dharwad University - Member (l) The Chief Engineer, Sharavathi Project and Bhadra Reservior Project, KECL - Member (m) The Director, Department of Kannada & Culture - Member (n) Six persons nominated by the State Government having special knowledge in the field of History and Culture - Member (o) Secretary of the Authority - Member- Secretary

(1) Subject to the pleasure of the State Government, non official members nominated by the State Government shall hold office for a period of three years. This shall not apply in case of official member. (2) The Chairman or a member other than an ex-officio member may resign his office by writing under his hand addressed to the State Government but shall continue in office until his resignation is accepted. (3) A causal vacancy in the office of non-official member shall be filled by the State Government by nominating another person and the person so nominated shall hold office for the unexpired portion of the term of the office of his predecessor. (4) The Chairman and other members shall receive such allowances as may be prescribed. (5) The allowances payable to the Chairman and other members shall be defrayed out of the Fund of the Authority. (6) No act or proceedings of the Authority shall be invalid by reason only of the existence of any vacancy or defect in the constitution of the Authority.

(1) A person shall be disqualified for being appointed as and for being a member, if he,- (a) has been convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for an offence which in the opinion of the State Government involves moral turpitude; or (b) is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent court; or (c) is an undischarged insolvent ; or (d) has been removed or dismissed from service of the Central Government or a State Government or a body or corporation owned or controlled by the Central Government or a State Government; or (e) has directly or indirectly by himself or his partner any share or interest in any work done by the order of the Authority or in any contract or employment with or under or by or on behalf of the Authority; (f) is employed as a paid legal practitioner on behalf of the Authority or accepts employment of legal practitioner against the Authority. (2) A person shall not be disqualified under clause (e) of sub-section (1) or be deemed to have any share or interest in any contract or employment within the meaning of the said clause by reason only of his having a share or interest in any newspaper in which any advertisements relating to the affairs of the Authority is inserted.

(1) The State Government shall remove a non-official member if,- (a) he becomes subject to any of the disqualifications mentioned in section 6: Provided that, no non-official member shall be removed on the ground that he has become subject to the disqualification mentioned in clause (e) of sub-section (1) of that section, unless he has been given an opportunity of making his representation against the proposal ; or (b) he refuses to act or becomes incapable of acting; or (c) he without obtaining leave of absence from the Authority absents from three consecutive meetings of the Authority ; or (d) in the opinion of the State Government he has so abused his position as to render his continuance in office detrimental to the public interest: Provided that no member shall be removed under this clause unless he has been given an opportunity of making his representation against the proposal.

(1) The State Government shall appoint an officer not below the rank of Group A officer to be the Secretary of the Authority. The Secretary shall receive such salary and other allowances as the State Government may determine from time to time. (2) The State Government may grant from time to time leave of absence to the Secretary. (3) The Secretary shall be the Chief Executive of the Authority and shall,- (a) be responsible for implementing the projects and programmes approved by the Authority; (b) operate the fund of the Authority; (c) cause to be maintained accounts of the Authority; (d) discharge such other functions which are conferred on him by or under this Act or any other law for the time being in force; and (e) be responsible for presentation of records of the office during inspection of Chairman.

(1) Subject to such rules as may be prescribed, the State Government or such other officer as the State Government may authorise, may appoint or depute such officers and employees of the authority as it may deem necessary for the efficient discharge of its functions. (2) The recruitment and terms and conditions of service of the officers and servants specified above shall be such as may be prescribed.

(1) The meetings of the Authority shall be convened by the Chairman or by the Secretary with the prior approval of the Chairman and shall be held at any place within the jurisdiction of the Authority. (2) The Authority shall meet at least once in every two months. (3) The Chairman or the Secretary with the prior approval of the Chairman shall convene a special meeting if the Chairman feels it necessary. (4) The Authority shall observe such rules of procedure in regard to the transaction of business at its meeting as may be provided by regulations. (5) Every meeting shall be presided over by the Chairman and if for any reason, the Chairman is unable to attend any meeting any other member chosen by the members present at the meeting shall preside at the meeting. (6) Nine members shall form the quorum.

No disqualification of or defect in the appointment of any person acting as Chairman or member shall be deemed to vitiate any act or proceeding of the Authority if such act or proceeding is otherwise in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

The Authority may for any specific purpose constitute a Sub-Committee consisting of such members not exceeding nine members from amongst its members, the Chairman of the Authority shall also be the Chairman of the Sub-Committee.

(1) The Sub-Committee shall exercise such of the powers and perform such duties of the Authority which are delegated to it by the Authority. (2) The Sub-Committee shall meet at least once in a month. (3) The Sub-Committee shall take decisions on urgent matters to review the prompt implementation of the decision of the Authority and suggest on urgent matter for action by the State Government. (4) The Sub-Committee shall observe such rules of procedure in regard to the transaction of business at its meetings as may be provided by regulations.

(1) In order to carry out the purposes of the Act, the Authority if necessary, may obtain the services or assistance of the experts in such manner as it may deems fit. (2) Honorarium and allowances payable to such experts for the services or assistance so rendered shall be of such an amount as may be prescribed.

The Authority shall every year prepare projects and programmes for the development of Sahyadri Heritage and forward it to the State Government for approval. The State Government may approve the project and programmes with or without modification.

(1) preserve and promote historical, traditional and folk tradition and values of Sahyadri Heritage Area; (2) fulfill the cultural requirements by organizing cultural activities at Sahyadri Heritage Area; (3) organize utsavs in the Sahyadri heritage area, construction of Museum which depicts the Sahyadri heritage area and organize programmes which explore the full knowledge of Sahyadri heritage; (4) organise the programme which are supplemental to the above functions; and (5) perform such other functions as may be prescribed.

The Authority may for the purpose of this Act seek and obtain information relating to the development of Sahyadri Heritage Development Authority from any officer of the State Government and such officer shall be bound to furnish the information sought by the Authority.

The Authority, in order to carryout the purposes of this Act, shall advise the State Government regarding implementation of its projects and programmes.

The Authority in order to carryout the purposes of the Act, shall record, any violation by the officers and officials of the State Government and local bodies of any order, issued by the Government from time to time or of any order, which is already in force as dereliction of duty and shall advise to the appointing authority for necessary action.

(1) There shall be a fund called the Authority Fund. (2) The following shall form part of, or be paid into the Authority Fund, namely:- (i) all grants, subventions, donations and gifts made by the Central Government, State Government, any local authority, any body whether in-corporated or not or any persons; and (ii) all other sums received by or on behalf of the Authority from any source whatsoever. (3) Except as otherwise directed by the State Government all money credited to the Fund shall be invested in any Scheduled bank. (4) The administrative expenses to the Authority including the salaries, allowances and pensions payable to the Secretary and other officers and employees of the Authority shall be defrayed out of the Fund of the Authority.

The State Government may every year make a grant to the Authority of a sum equivalent to the administrative expenses of the Authority.

(1) Accounts of the income and expenditure of the Authority Fund shall be kept in accordance with such rules as may be prescribed. (2) The Authority shall prepare an annual statement of accounts in such form as may be prescribed. (3) The accounts of the Authority shall be audited annually by such auditor as the State Government may appoint. (4) The auditor shall for the purposes of the audit, have access to all the accounts and other records of the Authority. (5) The Authority shall pay from its fund such charges for the audit as may be prescribed. (6) As soon as may be after the receipt of the report of the auditor, the Authority shall send a copy of the annual statement of accounts, together with a copy of the report of the auditor to the State Government and shall cause to be published the annual statement of accounts in such manner as may be prescribed. (7) The State Government may after perusal of the report of the auditor give such directions as it thinks fit to the Authority and the Authority shall comply with such directions.

The Authority shall before such dates, in such form and at such interval as may be prescribed submit the prescribed report to the State Government.

The Authority shall prepare every year on such date and in such form as may be prescribed a budget estimate of its income and expenditure for the financial year to commence on the first day of April next following and shall forward it to the State Government.

(1) The State Government may, after previous publication by notification make rules to carryout the purposes of this Act. (2) Every rule made under this Act shall be laid as soon as may be after it is made before each House of the State Legislature while it is in session for a total period of thirty days, which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions and if, before the expiry of the session in which it is so laid or the session immediately following both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule or decide that any rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be, so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule.

The Authority may subject to the provisions of this Act and the rules made under section 25 and with the previous sanction of the State Government, by notification, make regulations to carry-out the purposes of this Act.