Chapter II-THE STA TE COMMISSION FOR BACKWARD CLASSES

(1) The State Government shall constitute a body to be known as the Madhya Pradesh Rajya Pichhada Varg Ayog to exercise the powers conferred on and to perform the functions assigned to it under this Act. (2) The Commission shall consist of the following members,- (a) three non-official members who have special knowledge in the matters relating to backward classes of whom one shall be the Chairperson, to be appointed by the State Government; Provided that atleast one of the members shall be from amongst Backward Classes. (b) Director, Backward Classes Welfare, Madhya Pradesh.

(1) Every non-official member of the Commission shall hold office for a term of three years from the date he assumes charge of his office. (2) A member may, by writing under his hand addressed to the State Government, resign from the office of Chairperson or the case may be, of member at any time. (3) The State Government shall remove a person from the office of member if that person- (a) becomes an undischarged insolvent: (b) is convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for an offence which, in the opinion of the State Government, involves moral turpitude; (c) becomes of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent court; (d) refuses to act or becomes incapable of acting; (e) is without obtaining leave of absence from the Commission, absent from three consecutive meetings of the Commission; or (f) has, in the opinion of the State Government, so abused the position of Chairperson or Member as to render his continuance in office detrimental to the interests of backward classes or the public interest: Provided that no person shall be removed under this clause unless he has been given an opportunity of being heard in the matter. (4) A vacancy caused under sub-section (2) or otherwise shall be filled by fresh nomination and the person so nominated shall hold office for the remainder terms of his predecessor. (5) The salaries and allowance payable to, and the other terms and conditions of service of, the Chairperson and Members shall be such as may be prescribed.

The salaries and allowances payable to the Chairperson and members and the administrative expenses, including salaries, allowances and pensions payable to the Secretary, officers and other employees referred to in Section 5, shall be paid out of the grants referred to in sub-section (1) of Section 12.

No act or proceeding of the Commission shall be invalid on the ground merely of the existence of any vacancy or defect in the constitution or the Commission.

(1) The Commission shall meet as and when necessary at such time and place as the Chairperson may think fit. (2) The Commission shall regulate its own procedure. (3) All orders and decisions of the Commission shall be authenticated by the Secretary or any other officer of the Commission duly authorised by the Secretary in this behalf.

(1) It shall be the function of the Commission,- (a) to act as watch-dog commission for the protection afforded to the members of the backward classes under the Constitution and under any other law for the time being in force. (b) to watch the proper and timely implementation of programmes meant for the Welfare of backward classes and to suggest improvement in such programmes of the State Government or any other body or authority responsible for implementation of such programmes. (c) tender advice regarding reservation for backward classes in public services and for admission in educational institutions. (d) to examine requests for inclusion of any of the citizens as backward classes in the list prepared by State Government from time to time for purposes of making provision for the reservation in appointments in the posts and hear complaints of over-inclusion or under-inclusion of any backward class in such lists and tender such advice to the State Government as it deems appropriate; (e) ascertain the category of person or groups falling under the creamy layer within the backward classes; (f) to perform such other functions as may be assigned to it by the State Government. (2) The advice of the Commission shall, ordinarily be binding upon the State Government; where, however, the Government does not accept the advice, it shall record its reasons therefor.

The Commission shall, while performing its functions under sub-section (1) of Section 9, have all the powers of a Civil Court trying a suit and in particular, in respect of the following matters, namely:- (a) summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person from any part of the State and examining him on oath; (b) requiring the discovery and production of any document; (c) receiving evidence on affidavits; (d) requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any court or office; (e) issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses and documents; and (f) any other matter which may be prescribed.