Orissa State Commission For Backward Classes Act, 1993

Section 1

Short Title, extent and commencement (1) This Act may be called the Orissa State Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993. (2) It extends to the whole of the State of Orissa. (3) It shall come into force at once.

Section 2

Definitions – In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires– (a) "backward classes", for the purpose of this Act, means such backward classes of citizens other than the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes as may be specified by the State Government in the lists; (b) "Commission" means the Orissa State Commission for Backward Classes constituted under Section 3; (c) "lists" means lists prepared by the Government of Orissa from time to time for purposes of making provision for the reservation of appointments or posts in favour of backward classes of citizens which, in the opinion of that Government, are not adequately represented in the services under the Government of Orissa and any local or other authority within the territory of Orissa or under the control of the Government of Orissa; (d) "Member" means a Member of the Commission and includes the Chairperson; (e) "Prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act.

Section 3

Constitution of Commission for Backward Classes – (1) The State Government shall constitute a body to be known as the Orissa State Commission for Backward Classes 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 nominated by the State Government :– (a) A Chairperson, who is or has been a judge of the High Court; (b) a social scientist; (c) two persons from backward classes, who have special knowledge in matters relating to backward classes; and 1 [(d) a Member-Secretary, who is or has been an officer of the State Government not below the rank of a Joint Secretary to the Government of Orissa.]"

Section 4

Term of Office and conditions of service of the chairperson and members (1) Every Member shall hold office for a term of three years from the date he assumes office. (2) A Member may, by writing under his hand addressed to the State Government, resign from the office of Chairperson or, as 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 involving 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, absents 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 that person's continuance in office detrimental to the interests of backward classes or the public interest: Provided that no person shall be removed under clause (f) until that person 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. (5) The salaries and allowances payable to, and the other terms and conditions of service of the chairperson and Members shall be such as may be prescribed.

Section 5

Officers and other employees of the Commission (1) The State Government shall provide the Commission with such officers and employees as may be necessary for the efficient performance of the functions of the Commission. (2) The salaries and allowances payable to, and the other terms and conditions of service of, the officers and other employees appointed for the purpose of the Commission shall be such as may be prescribed

Section 6

Salaries and allowances to be paid out of grants The salaries and allowances payable to the Chairperson and Members and the administrative expenses, including salaries, allowances and pensions payable to the 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

Section 7

Vacanies, etc not to invalidate proceedings of the Commission – No act or proceeding of the Commission shall be invailed on the ground merely of the existence of any vacancy or defect in the constitution of the Commission.

Section 8

Procedure to be regulated by 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 Member-Secretary or any other officer of the Commission duly authorized by the Member-Secretary in this behalf.

Section 9

Functions of the committee (1) The Commission shall examine requests for inclusion of any class of citizens as a backward class in the lists 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. (2) The advice of the Commission shall ordinarily be binding upon the State Government.

Section 10

Powers of the commission 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 india 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 witness and documents; and (f) any other matter which may be prescribed.

Section 11

Periodic revision of lists by the State Government (1) The State Government may at any time, and shall, at the expiration of ten years from the coming into force of this Act and every succeeding period of ten years thereafter, undertake revision of the lists with a view to excluding from such lists those classes who have ceased to the backward classes or for including in such lists new backward classes. (2) The State Government shall, while undertaking any revision referred to in sub-section (1) consult the Commission.

Section 12

Grants by State Government (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 such sums of money as the State Government may think fit for being utilised for the purposes of this Act. (2) The Commission may spend such sums as it thinks fit 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).

Section 13

Accounts and Audit (1) The Commission shall maintain proper accounts and other relevant records and prepare an annual statements of accounts in such form as may be prescribed by the State Government. 1 [x x x] 2 [(2) The accounts of the Commission shall be subject to audit under the Orissa Local Fund Audit Act, 5 of 1948] 3 [(3) x x x]

Section 14

Annual Report The Commission shall prepare, in such form and at such time, for each financial year, as may be prescribed, its annual report giving a full account of its activities during the previous financial year and forward a copy thereof to the State Government.

Section 15

Annual report and audit report to be laid before the State Legislature The State Government shall cause the annual report, together with a memorandum of action taken on the advice tendered by the Commission under Section 9 and the reasons for the non-acceptance, if any, of any such advice, and the audit report to be laid; as soon as may be, after they are received; before the State Legislature.

Section 16

Chairperson, Members, and employees of the Commission to be public servants The Chairperson, Members and employees of the Commission shall be, deemed to be public servants within the meaning of Section 21 of the Indian Penal Code. (45 of 1860).

Section 17

Powers to make rules – (1) The State Government may, by notification, make rules for carrying out the provisions of this Act. (2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing powers, such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely– (a) Salaries and allowances payable to, and the other terms and conditions of service of the Chairperson and members under subsection (5) of Section 4 and of officers and other employees under sub-section (2) of Section 5; (b) the form in which the annual statement of accounts shall be maintained under sub-section (1) of Section 13; (c) the form in, and the time at, which the annual report shall be prepared under Section 14; (d) any other matter which is required to be, or may be, prescribed.

Section 18

Power to remove difficulties (1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect. to the provisions of this Act, the State Government may, by order published in the Gazette, make provisions not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act as appear to it to be necessary or expedient, for removing the difficulty. (2) Every order made under this section shall, as soon as may be, after it is made, be laid before the State Legislature.