60. Constitution of Central Advisory Board on Disability
(1) The Central Government shall, by notification, constitute a body to be known as the Central Advisory Board on Disability to exercise the powers conferred on, and to perform the functions assigned to it, under this Act.
(2) The Central Advisory Board shall consist of,—
(a) the Minister in charge of Department of Disability Affairs in the Central Government, Chairperson, ex officio;
(b) the Minister of State in charge dealing with Department of Disability Affairs in the Ministry in the Central Government, Vice Chairperson, ex officio;
(c) three Members of Parliament, of whom two shall be elected by Lok Sabha and one by the Rajya Sabha, Members, ex officio;
(d) the Ministers in charge of Disability Affairs of all States and Administrators or Lieutenant Governors of the Union territories, Members, ex officio;
(e) Secretaries to the Government of India in charge of the Ministries or Departments of Disability Affairs, Social Justice and Empowerment, School Education and Literacy, and Higher Education, Women and Child Development, Expenditure, Personnel and Training, Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, Health and Family Welfare, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Industrial Policy and Promotion, Urban Development, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, Science and Technology, Communications and Information Technology, Legal Affairs, Public Enterprises, Youth Affairs and Sports, Road Transport and Highways and Civil Aviation, Members, ex officio;
(f) Secretary, National Institute of Transforming India (NITI) Aayog, Member,
ex officio;
(g) Chairperson, Rehabilitation Council of India, Member, ex officio;
(h) Chairperson, National Trust for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities, Member, ex officio;
(i) Chairman-cum-Managing Director, National Handicapped Finance Development Corporation, Member, ex officio;
(j) Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation, Member, ex officio;
(k) Chairman, Railway Board, Member, ex officio;
(l) Director-General, Employment and Training, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Member, ex officio;
(m) Director, National Council for Educational Research and Training, Member, ex officio;
(n) Chairperson, National Council of Teacher Education, Member, ex officio;
(o) Chairperson, University Grants Commission, Member, ex officio;
(p) Chairperson, Medical Council of India, Member, ex officio;
(q) Directors of the following Institutes:—
(i) National Institute for the Visually Handicapped, Dehradun;
(ii) National Institute for the Mentally Handicapped, Secundrabad;
(iii) Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Institute for the Physically Handicapped, New Delhi;
(iv) Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped, Mumbai;
(v) National Institute for the Orthopaedically Handicapped, Kolkata;
(vi) National Institute of Rehabilitation Training and Research, Cuttack;
(vii) National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Multiple Disabilities, Chennai;
(viii) National Institute for Mental Health and Sciences, Bangalore;
(ix) Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre, New Delhi, Members, ex officio;
(r) Members to be nominated by the Central Government,—
(i) five Members who are experts in the field of disability and rehabilitation;
(ii) ten Members, as far as practicable, being persons with disabilities, to represent non-Governmental Organisations concerned with disabilities or disabled persons organisations:
Provided that out of the ten Members nominated, at least, five Members shall be women and at least one person each shall be from the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes;
(iii) up to three representatives of national level chambers of commerce and industry;
(s) Joint Secretary to the Government of India dealing with the subject of disability policy, Member-Secretary, ex officio.
61. Terms and conditions of Service of members
(1) Save as otherwise provided under this Act, a Member of the Central Advisory Board nominated under clause (r) of sub-section (2) of section 60 shall hold office for a term of three years from the date of his nomination: Provided that such a Member shall, notwithstanding the expiration of his term, continue to hold office until his successor enters upon his office.
(2) The Central Government may, if it thinks fit, remove any Member nominated under clause (r) of sub-section (2) of section 60, before the expiry of his term of office after giving him a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against the same.
(3) A Member nominated under clause (r) of sub-section (2) of section 60 may at any time resign his office by writing under his hand addressed to the Central Government and the seat of the said Member shall thereupon becomes vacant.
(4) A casual vacancy in the Central Advisory Board shall be filled by a fresh nomination and the person nominated to fill the vacancy shall hold office only for the remainder of the term for which the Member in whose place he was so nominated.
(5) A Member nominated under sub-clause (i) or sub-clause (iii) of clause (r) of sub-section (2) of section 60 shall be eligible for renomination.
(6) The Members nominated under sub-clause (i) and sub-clause (ii) of clause (r) of sub-section (2) of section 60 shall receive such allowances as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
62. Disqualifications
(1) No person shall be a Member of the Central Advisory Board, who —
(a) is, or at any time has been, adjudged insolvent or has suspended payment of his debts or has compounded with his creditors, or
(b) is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent court, or
(c) is, or has been, convicted of an offence which, in the opinion of the Central Government, involves moral turpitude, or
(d) is, or at any time has been, convicted of an offence under this Act, or
(e) has so abused his position in the opinion of the Central Government as a Member so as to render his continuance in the office is prejudicial interests of the general public.
(2) No order of removal shall be made by the Central Government under this section unless the Member concerned has been given a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against the same.
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) or sub-section (5) of section 61, a Member who has been removed under this section shall not be eligible for renomination as a Member.
63. Vacation of seats by Members
If a Member of the Central Advisory Board becomes subject to any of the disqualifications specified in section 62, his seat shall become vacant.
64. Meetings of the Central Advisory Board on disability
The Central Advisory Board shall meet at least once in every six months and shall observe such rules of procedure in regard to the transaction of business at its meetings as may be prescribed.
65. Functions of Central Advisory Board on disability
(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Central Advisory Board on disability shall be the national-level consultative and advisory body on disability matters, and shall facilitate the continuous evolution of a comprehensive policy for the empowerment of persons with disabilities and the full enjoyment of rights.
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provisions, the Central Advisory Board on disability shall perform the following functions, namely:—
(a) advise the Central Government and the State Governments on policies, programmes, legislation and projects with respect to disability;
(b) develop a national policy to address issues concerning persons with disabilities;
(c) review and coordinate the activities of all Departments of the Government and other Governmental and non-Governmental Organisations which are dealing with matters relating to persons with disabilities;
(d) take up the cause of persons with disabilities with the concerned authorities and the international organisations with a view to provide for schemes and projects for the persons with disabilities in the national plans;
(e) recommend steps to ensure accessibility, reasonable accommodation, non- discrimination for persons with disabilities vis-à-vis information, services and the built environment and their participation in social life;
(f) monitor and evaluate the impact of laws, policies and programmes to achieve full participation of persons with disabilities; and
(g) such other functions as may be assigned from time to time by the Central Government.
66. State Advisory Board on disability
(1) Every State Government shall, by notification, constitute a body to be known as the State Advisory Board on disability to exercise the powers conferred on, and to perform the function assigned to it, under this Act.
(2) The State Advisory Board shall consist of—
(a) the Minister in charge of the Department in the State Government dealing with disability matters, Chairperson, ex officio;
(b) the Minister of State or the Deputy Minister in charge of the Department in the State Government dealing with disability matters, if any, Vice-Chairperson, ex officio;
(c) secretaries to the State Government in charge of the Departments of Disability Affairs, School Education, Literacy and Higher Education, Women and Child Development, Finance, Personnel and Training, Health and Family Welfare, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Industrial Policy and Promotion, Labour and Employment, Urban Development, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, Science and Technology, Information Technology, Public Enterprises, Youth Affairs and Sports, Road Transport and any other Department, which the State Government considers necessary, Members, ex officio;
(d) three Members of the State Legislature of whom two shall be elected by the Legislative Assembly and one by the Legislative Council, if any, and where there is no Legislative Council, three Members shall be elected by the Legislative Assembly, Members, ex officio;
(e) Members to be nominated by the State Government:—
(i) five Members who are experts in the field of disability and rehabilitation;
(ii) five Members to be nominated by the State Government by rotation to represent the districts in such manner as may be prescribed: Provided that no nomination under this sub-clause shall be made except on the recommendation of the district administration concerned;
(iii) ten persons as far as practicable, being persons with disabilities, to represent non-Governmental Organisations or associations which are concerned with disabilities: Provided that out of the ten persons nominated under this clause, at least, five shall be women and at least one person each shall be from the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes;
(iv) not more than three representatives of the State Chamber of Commerce and Industry;
(f) officer not below the rank of Joint Secretary in the Department dealing with disability matters in the State Government, Member-Secretary, ex officio.
67. Terms and conditions of service of Members- (1) Save as otherwise provided under this Act, a Member of the State Advisory Board nominated under clause (e) of sub-section (2) of section 66, shall hold office for a term of three years from the date of his nomination:
Provided that such a Member shall, notwithstanding the expiration of his term, continue to hold office until his successor enters upon his office.
(2) The State Government may, if it thinks fit, remove any Member nominated under clause (e) of sub-section (2) of section 66, before the expiry of his term of office after giving him a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against the same.
(3) A Member nominated under clause (e) of sub-section (2) of section 66 may at any time resign his office by writing under his hand addressed to the State Government and the seat of the said Member shall thereupon become vacant.
(4) A casual vacancy in the State Advisory Board shall be filled by a fresh nomination and the person nominated to fill the vacancy shall hold office only for the remainder of the term for which the Member in whose place he was so nominated.
(5) A Member nominated under sub-clause (i) or sub-clause (iii) of clause (e) of sub-section (2) of section 66 shall be eligible for renomination.
(6) the Members nominated under sub-clause (i) and sub-clause (ii) of clause (e) of sub-section (2) of section 66 shall receive such allowances as may be prescribed by the State Government.
68. Disqualification
(1) No person shall be a Member of the State Advisory Board, who—
(a) is, or at any time has been, adjudged insolvent or has suspended payment of his debts or has compounded with his creditors, or
(b) is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent court, or
(c) is, or has been, convicted of an offence which, in the opinion of the State Government, involves moral turpitude, or
(d) is, or at any time has been, convicted of an offence under this Act, or
(e) has so abused in the opinion of the State Government his position as a Member as to render his continuance in the State Advisory Board detrimental to the interests of the general public.
(2) No order of removal shall be made by the State Government under this section unless the Member concerned has been given a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against the same.
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) or sub-section (5) of section 67, a Member who has been removed under this section shall not be eligible for renomination as a Member.
69. Vacation of seats
If a Member of the State Advisory Board becomes subject to any of the disqualifications specified in section 68 his seat shall become vacant.
70. Meetings of State Advisory Board on disability
The State Advisory Board shall meet at least once in every six months and shall observe such rules or procedure in regard to the transaction of business at its meetings as may be prescribed by the State Government.
71. Functions of State Advisory Board on disability
(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the State Advisory Board shall be the State-level consultative and advisory body on disability matters, and shall facilitate the continuous evolution of a comprehensive policy for the empowerment of persons with disabilities and the full enjoyment of rights.
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provisions, the State Advisory Board on disability shall perform the following functions, namely:—
(a) advise the State Government on policies, programmes, legislation and projects with respect to disability;
(b) develop a State policy to address issues concerning persons with disabilities;
(c) review and coordinate the activities of all Departments of the State Government and other Governmental and non-Governmental Organisations in the State which are dealing with matters relating to persons with disabilities;
(d) take up the cause of persons with disabilities with the concerned authorities and the international organisations with a view to provide for schemes and projects for the persons with disabilities in the State plans;
(e) recommend steps to ensure accessibility, reasonable accommodation, non- discrimination for persons with disabilities, services and the built environment and their participation in social life on an equal basis with others;
(f) monitor and evaluate the impact of laws, policies and programmes designed to achieve full participation of persons with disabilities; and
(g) such other functions as may be assigned from time to time by the State Government.
72. District-level Committee on disability
The State Government shall constitute District-level Committee on disability to perform such functions as may be prescribed by it.
73. Vacancies not to invalidate proceedings
No act or proceeding of the Central Advisory Board on disability, a State Advisory Board on disability, or a District-level Committee on disability shall be called in question on the ground merely of the existence of any vacancy in or any defect in the constitution of such Board or Committee, as the case may be.