Chapter II Chapter II

As soon as may be, after the commencement of this Act, the State Government shall, by notification in the Official Gazette, establish for the purposes of carrying out the functions assigned to it under this Act, a Board to be called the Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Board.

(1) The Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Board established under Section 3 shall consist of a Chairman, Vice Chairman, a Member-Secretary and the following other members, namely :- (a) not more than twelve ex officio members to be nominated by the State Government from amongst the Ministers including the Minister-in-charge of Housing and Urban Development and Local Government and the Secretaries to Government of Punjab including Secretary to Government of Punjab, Department of Local Government and other officers of the State Government; and (b) not more than three non-official members to be nominated by the State Government from amongst the persons having special knowledge or practical experience in matters relating to housing, engineering, regional and town planning, development and management thereof. (2) The Chief Minister, Punjab, and the Minister-in-Charge of Housing and Urban Development shall be respectively the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman of the Board: Provided that in the absence of the Chairman, and the Vice-Chairman any member of the Board to be nominated by the Chairman shall preside over the meeting of the Board. (3) The Secretary to Government of Punjab, holding the charge of Housing and Urban Development shall be the Member-Secretary of the Board. (4) The appointment of members nominated under clauses (a) and (b) of sub- section (1) of this section shall be notified by the State Government in the Official Gazette and they shall be entitled to receive such remuneration or allowances or both as the State Government may prescribe. (5) The members of the Board shall hold office at the pleasure of the State Government.

(i) A person shall be disqualified for being nominated as and for being a member of the Board, if he - (a) has been convicted by a criminal court at any time after the 26th day of January, 1950 for an offence involving moral turpitude, unless such conviction has been set aside; (b) is an undischarged insolvent; (c) is of unsound mind. (2) If any question, dispute or doubt arises as to whether or not any person is eligible for membership of the Board or has incurred any of the disqualifications specified under sub-section (1) whether before or after becoming a member, it shall be determined by the State Government whose decision shall be final and binding.

If a member of the Board nominated under clause (b) of sub-section (1) of Section 4 - (a) becomes subject to any disqualification referred to in Section 5; or

If the State Government is of opinion that any member nominated under clause (b) of sub-section (1) of Section 4 is guilty of misconduct in the discharge of his duties, or is incompetent or has become incapable of performing his duties as such member, or that he should for any other good and sufficient reason be removed the State Government may, after giving the member an opportunity of showing cause against his removal, remove him from office.

Any member nominated under clause (b) of sub-section (1) of Section 4 may resign from the membership of the Board by giving notice in writing to the State Government and on such resignation being accepted by the State Government, he shall cease to be a member of Board.

In the event of a vacancy in the office of any member nominated under clause (a) or clause (b) of sub-section (1) of Section 4, the vacancy shall be filled by the State Government in the manner laid down in the aforesaid clause (a) or clause (b), as the case may be.

The Board shall have its headquarters at such place as may be notified by the State Government from time to time.

(1) The Board shall meet at such times and places as the Chairman may determine and shall, subject to the provisions of sub-sections (2) and (3), observe such procedure in regard to the transaction of business at its meetings as may be laid down by it in the regulations. (2) All questions at a meeting of the Board shall be decided, by a majority of the votes of the members present and voting and in case of equality of votes, the person presiding shall have a second or casting vote. (3) Five members shall form quorum at a meeting of the Board: Provided that if a meeting is adjourned for want of quorum, no quorum shall be necessary at the next meeting for transacting the same business: Provided further that a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be sent to all the members of the Board. (4) Minutes of the names of the members present and of the proceedings at each meeting shall be kept in a book to be maintained for this purpose which shall be signed at the next ensuing meeting by the person presiding at such meeting. (5) A copy of the proceedings of every meeting of the Board shall be sent by the Member-Secretary of the Board to the State Government within fifteen days after the meeting is held. (6) No act done or proceedings taken under the Act by the Board shall be invalid merely on the ground of existence of any vacancy amongst its members, or by reason of defect or irregularity in its constitution or any irregularity in procedure not affecting the merits of the case.

The Member-Secretary of the Board shall arrange for transaction of business of the Board, authenticate orders and decisions of the Board and discharge such other functions of the Board as may be assigned to him by the Board under its regulations.

The State Government on the request of the Board, may make available to the Board such staff as may be necessary for the performance of functions conferred on the Board under this Act.

(1) Subject to the provisions of the Act and rules framed thereunder, the functions of the Board shall be to advise the State Government on the matters relating to the planning, development and use of urban and rural land in the State, and to perform such other functions as the State Government, from time to time, assign to it.

(1) The Board may associate with itself in such manner and for such purpose as may be prescribed any person whose assistance or advice it may require in performing any of its functions under this Act. (2) Any person associated with it by the Board under sub-section (1) for any purpose shall have a right to take part in the discussion of the Board relevant to that purpose but shall not have a right to vote at a meeting.

Subject to any rules in this behalf, the Board may from time to time appoint one or more Committees for the purpose of securing efficient discharge of its functions.