Chapter III Powers and FunCtions oF Commission

The functions of the Commission shall be as follows, namely:— (a) to investigate and monitor all matters relating to the safeguards provided for the Scheduled Tribes under the Constitution of India or any other law for the time being in force or under any order of the Government and to evaluate the working of such safeguards; (b) to inquire into specific complaints with respects to the deprivation of rights and safeguards of the Scheduled Tribes; (c) to participate and advise on the planning process of socio-economic development of the Scheduled Tribes and to evaluate the progress of their development in the State; (d) to present to the Government, annually and at such other time as the Commission may deem fit, reports upon the working of those safeguards; (e) to make recommendations as to the measures that shall be taken by the State Government for the effective implementation of the safeguards and other measures for the protection, welfare and socio-economic development of the Scheduled Tribes; (f) to discharge such other functions in relation to protection, welfare and development and advancement of the Scheduled Tribes, as may be prescribed; (g) to conduct studies, research into the problems of Scheduled Tribes and report the same to the Government for appropriate action; (h) to review, from time to time, the existing provisions of the laws affecting Scheduled Tribes, and recommend amendments thereto so as to suggest remedial legislative measures to meet any lacunae, inadequacies or shortcomings in such laws; (i) to undertake review of the implementation of the policies pursued by the Union and State Government with respect to Scheduled Tribes ; (j) to suggest appropriate welfare measures in respect of Scheduled Tribes to be undertaken by the State Government : Provided that, if any matter specified in this section is undertaken by the National Commission for Schedule Tribes established under article 338 A of the Constitution of India, the Maharashtra State Commission for Scheduled Tribes shall cease to have jurisdiction on such matter.

The Government shall consult the Commission on the major policy matters affecting Scheduled Tribes.

(1) The State Government shall, after due appropriation made by the State Legislature by law in this behalf, pay to the Commission by way of grants from the Consolidated Fund of the State, such sums of money as the State Government may think fit for being utilized for the purposes of this Act. (2) The Commission may spend such sums as deemed necessary for performing the functions under this Act, and such sums shall be treated as expenditure payable out of the grants referred to in sub-section (1).

(1) The Commission shall maintain proper accounts and other relevant records and prepare an annual statement of accounts, in such form, as may be prescribed by the State Government in consultation with the Accountant General. (2) The accounts of the Commission shall be audited by the Accountant General at such intervals as may be specified by him and any expenditure incurred in connection with such audit shall be payable by the Commission to the Accountant General. (3) The Accountant General and any person appointed by him in connection with the audit of the accounts of the Commission under this Act shall have the same rights, privileges and authority in connection with such audit as the Accountant General generally has in connection with the audit of the Government accounts and, in particular, shall have the right to demand the production of books, accounts, connected vouchers and other documents and to inspect any of the offices of the Commission. (4) The account of the Commission as certified by the Account General or any other person duly appointed or authorized by him in this behalf alongwith the audit report thereon shall be forwarded annually to the State Government by the Commission.