Constitution of Corporation.
4. The Corporation shall consist of the following members, namely :—
[(a) a Chairman to be [appointed] by the Central Government;
(b) a Vice-Chairman to be [appointed] by the Central Government;]
(c) not more than five persons to be [appointed] by the Central Government [***];
(d) one person each representing each of the [ [States] in which this Act is in force] to be [appointed] by the [State] Government concerned ;
(e) one person to be [appointed] by the Central Government to represent the [Union territories] ;
(f) [ten] persons representing employers to be [appointed] by the Central Government in consultation with such organisations of employers as may be recognised for the purpose by the Central Government ;
(g) [ten] persons representing employees to be [appointed] by the Central Government in consultation with such organisations of employees as may be recognised for the purpose by the Central Government;
(h) two persons representing the medical profession to be [appointed] by the Central Government in consultation with such organisations of medical practitioners as may be recognised for the purpose by the Central Government; [***]]
[(i)] three members of Parliament of whom two shall be members of the House of the People (Lok Sabha) and one shall be a member of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) elected respectively by the members of the House of the people and the members of the Council of States; and
(j) the Director General of the Corporation, ex officio.]
Term of office of members of the Corporation.
5. (1) Save as otherwise expressly provided in this Act, the term of office of members of the Corporation, other than [the members referred to in clauses (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e ) of section 4 and the ex officio member,] shall be four years commencing from the date on which their [appointment] or election is notified:
Provided that a member of the corporation shall, notwithstanding the expiry of the said period of four years, continue to hold office until the [appointment] or election of his successor is notified.
(2) The members of the Corporation referred to in clauses [(a), (b), (c ), (d) and (e)] of section 4 shall hold office during the pleasure of the Government [appointing] them.
Eligibility for re-nomination or re-election.
6. An outgoing member of the Corporation, the Standing Committee, or the Medical Benefit Council shall be eligible for [reappointment] or re-election as the cases may be.
[Authentication of orders, decisions, etc.
7. All orders and decisions of the Corporation shall be authenticated by the signature of the Director General of the Corporation and all other instruments issued by the Corporation shall be authenticated by the signature of the Director General or such other officer of the Corporation as may be authorised by him.]
Constitution of Standing Committee.
8. A Standing Committee of the Corporation shall be constituted from among its members, consisting of—
(a) a Chairman, nominated by. the Central Government;
(b) three members of the Corporation, [ [appointed] by the Central Government];
(bb) three members of the Corporation representing such three State Governments thereon as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify from time to time;]
(c) [eight] members elected by the Corporation as follows:—
(i) [***]
(ii) [three] members from among the members of the Corporation representing employers;
(iii) [three] members from among the members of the Corporation representing employees;
(iv) one member from among the members of the Corporation representing the medical profession; and
(v) one member from among the members of the Corporation elected by [Parliament];
[(d) the Director General of the Corporation, ex officio.]
Term of office of members of Standing Committee.
9. (1) Save as otherwise expressly provided in this Act, the term of office of a member of the Standing Committee, other than a member referred to in clause (a) or [clause (b) or clause (bb)] of section 8, shall be two years from the date on which his election is notified :
Provided that a member of the Standing Committee, shall, notwithstanding the expiry of the said period of two years, continue to hold office until the election of his successor is notified:
Provided further that a member of the Standing Committee shall cease to hold office when he ceases to be a member of the Corporation.
(2) A member of the Standing Committee referred to in clause (a ) or [clause (b) or clause (bb)} of section 8 shall hold office during the pleasure of the Central Government.
Medical Benefit Council.
10. (1) The Central Government shall constitute a Medical Benefit Council consisting of—
(c) the Medical Commissioner of the Corporation, ex officio;
(d) one member each representing each of the [ [States (other than Union territories)] in which this Act is in force] to be [appointed] by the [State] Government concerned;
(e) three members representing employers to be [appointed] by the Central Government in consultation with such organisations of employers as may be recognised for the purpose by the Central Government;
(f) three members representing employees to be [appointed] by the Central Government in consultation with such organisations of employees as may be recognised for the purpose by the Central Government ; and
(g) three members, of whom not less than one shall be a woman, representing the medical profession, to be [appointed] by the Central Government in consultation with such organisations of medical practitioners as may be recognised for the purpose by the Central Government.
(2) Save as otherwise expressly provided in this Act, the term of office of a member of the Medical Benefit Council, other than a member referred to in any of the clause (a) to (d) of sub-section (1), shall be four years from the date on which his [appointment] is notified:]
[ Provided that a member of the Medical Benefit Council shall, notwithstanding the expiry of the said period of four years continue to hold office until the [appointment] of his successor is notified.]
Resignation of membership.
11. A member of the Corporation, the Standing Committee or the Medical Benefit Council may resign his office by notice in writing to the Central Government and his seat shall fall vacant on the acceptance of the resignation by that Government.
Cessation of membership.
12. [(l)] A member of the Corporation, the Standing Committee or the Medical Benefit Council shall cease to be a member of that body if he fails to attend three consecutive meetings thereof :
Provided that the Corporation, the Standing Committee or the Medical Benefit Council, as the case may be, may, subject to rules made by the Central Government in this behalf, restore him to membership.
[(2) Where in the opinion of the Central Government any person [appointed] or elected to represent employers, employees or the medical profession on the Corporation, the Standing Committee or the Medical Benefit Council, as the case may be, has ceased to represent such employers, employees or the medical profession, the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare that with effect from such date as may be specified therein such person shall cease to be a member of the Corporation, the Standing Committee or the Medical Benefit Council, as the case may be.]
Disqualification.
13. A person shall be disqualified for being chosen as or for being a member of the Corporation, the Standing Committee or the Medical Benefit Council—
(a) if he is declared to be of unsound mind by a competent Court; or
(b) if he is an undischarged insolvent; or
(c) if he has directly or indirectly by himself or by his partner any interest in a subsisting contract with, or any work being done for, the Corporation except as a medical practitioner or as a shareholder (not being a Director) of a company; or
(d) if before or after the commencement of this Act, he has been convicted of an offence involving moral turpitude.
Filling of vacancies.
14. (1) Vacancies in the office of [appointed] or elected members of the Corporation, the Standing Committee and the Medical Benefit Council shall be filled by [appointment] or election, as the case may be.
(2) A member of the Corporation, the Standing Committee or the Medical Benefit Council [appointed] or elected to fill a casual vacancy shall hold office only so long as the member in whose place he is [appointed] or elected would have been entitled to hold office if the vacancy had not occurred.
Fees and allowances.
15. Members of the Corporation, the Standing Committee and the Medical Benefit Council shall receive such fees and allowances as may from time to time be prescribed by the Central Government.
Principal Officers.
16. [(1) The Central Government may, in consultation with the Corporation, appoint a Director General and a Financial Commissioner.]
(2) The Director General shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation.
(3) [The Director General and the Financial Commissioner] shall be whole-time officers of the Corporation and shall not undertake any work unconnected with their office without the sanction of the Central Government [and of the Corporation].
(4) [The Director General or the Financial Commissioner] shall hold office for such period, not exceeding five years, as may be specified in the order [appointing] him. An outgoing [Director General or the Financial Commissioner] shall be eligible for [reappointment] if he is otherwise qualified.
(5) [The Director General or the Financial Commissioner] shall receive such salary and allowances as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
(6) A person shall be disqualified from being [appointed] as or for being [the Director General or the Financial Commissioner] if he is subject to any of the disqualification specified in section 13.
(7) The Central Government may at any time remove the Director General or the Financial Commissioner] from office and shall do so if such removal is recommended by a resolution of the Corporation passed at a special meeting called for the purpose and supported by the votes of not less than two-thirds of the total strength of the Corporation.
17. (1) The Corporation may employ such others staff of officers and servants as may be necessary for the efficient transaction of its business, provided that the sanction of the Central Government shall be obtained for the creation of .any post [the maximum monthly salary of which [exceeds such salary as may be prescribed by the Central Government]].
[(2)(a) The method of recruitment, salary and allowances, discipline and other conditions of service of the members of the staff of the Corporation shall be such as may be specified in the regulations made by the Corporation in accordance with the rules and orders applicable to the officers and employees of the Central Government drawing corresponding scales of pay :
Provided that where the Corporation is of the opinion that it is necessary to make a departure from the said rules or orders in respect of any of the matters aforesaid, it shall obtain the prior approval of the Central Government.
[Provided further that this sub-section shall not apply to appointment of consultants and specialists in various fields appointed on contract basis.]
(b) In determining the corresponding scales of pay of the members of the staff under clause (a), the Corporation shall have regard to the educational qualifications, method of recruitment, duties and responsibilities of such officers and employees under the Central Government and in case of any doubt, the Corporation shall refer the matter to the Central Government whose decision thereon shall be final.]
(3) Every appointment to [posts [(other than medical posts)] corresponding to [Group A and Group B] posts under the Central Government] shall be made in consultation with the [Union] Public Service Commission :
Provided that this sub-section shall not apply to an officiating or temporary [appointment] for [a period] not exceeding one year :
[Provided further that any such officiating or temporary appointment shall not confer any claim for regular appointment and the services rendered in that capacity shall not count towards seniority or minimum qualifying service specified in the regulations for promotion to next higher grade.]
[(4) If any question arises whether a post corresponds to [Group A and Group B] post under the Central Government, the question shall be referred to that Government whose decision thereon shall be final.]
Powers of the Standing Committee.
18. (1) Subject to the general superintendence and control of the Corporation, the Standing Committee shall administer the affairs of the Corporation and may exercise any of the powers and perform any of the functions of the Corporation.
(2) The Standing Committee shall submit for the consideration and decision of the Corporation all such cases and matters as may be specified in the regulations made in this behalf.
(3) The Standing Committee may, in its discretion, submit any other case or matter for the decision of the Corporation.
Corporation’s power to promote measures for health, etc., of insured persons.
19. The Corporation may, in addition to the scheme of benefits specified in this Act, promote measures for the improvement of the health and welfare of insured persons and for the rehabilitation and re-employment of insured persons who have been disabled or injured and may incur in respect of such measures expenditure from the funds of the Corporation within such limits as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
Meetings of Corporation, Standing Committee and Medical Benefit Council.
20. Subject to any rules made under this Act, the Corporation, the Standing Committee and the Medical Benefit Council shall meet at such times and places and shall observe such rules or procedure in regard to transaction of business at their meetings as may be specified in the regulations made in this behalf .
Supersession of the Corporation and Standing Committee.
21.(l) If in the opinion of the Central Government, the Corporation or the Standing Committee persistently makes default in performing the duties imposed on it by or under this Act or abuses its powers, that Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, supersede the Corporation, or in the case of the Standing Committee, supersede, in consultation with the Corporation, the Standing Committee :
Provided that before issuing a notification under this sub-section the Central Government shall give a reasonable opportunity to the Corporation or the Standing Committee, as the case may be, to show cause why it should not be superseded and shall consider the explanations and objections, if any, of the Corporation or the Standing Committee, as the case may be.
(2) Upon the publication of a notification under sub-section (1) superseding the Corporation or the Standing Committee, all the members of the Corporation or the Standing Committee, as the case may be, shall, as from the date of such publication, be deemed to have vacated their offices.
(3) When the Standing Committee has been superseded, a new Standing Committee shall be immediately constituted in accordance with section 8.
(4) When the Corporation has been superseded, the Central Government may—
(a) immediately [appoint] or cause to be [appointed] or elected new members to the Corporation in accordance with section 4 and may constitute a new Standing Committee under section 8;
(b) in its discretion, appoint such agency, for such period as it may think fit, to exercise the powers and perform the functions of the corporation and such agency shall be competent to exercise all the powers and perform all the functions of the Corporation.
(5) The Central Government shall cause a full report of any action taken under this section and the circumstances leading to such action to be laid before [Parliament] at the earliest opportunity and in any case not later than three months from the date of the notification superseding the Corporation or the Standing Committee, as the case may be.
Duties of Medical Benefits Council.
22. The Medical Benefit Council shall—
(a) advise [the Corporation and the Standing Committee] on matters relating to the administration of medical benefit, the certification for purposes of the grant of benefits and other connected matters;
(b) have such powers and duties of investigation as may be prescribed in relation to complaints against medical practitioners in connection with medical treatment and attendance; and
(c) perform such other duties in connection with medical treatment and attendance as may be specified in the regulations.
Duties of [Director General and the Financial Commissioner]
23. The Director General and the Financial Commissioner] shall exercise such powers and discharge such duties as may be prescribed. They shall also perform such other functions as may be specified in the regulations.
Acts of Corporation, etc., not invalid by reason of defect in constitution, etc.
24. No act of the Corporation, the Standing Committee or the Medical Benefit Council shall be deemed to be invalid by reason, of any defect in the constitution of the Corporation, the Standing Committee or the Medical Benefit Council, or on the ground that any member thereof was not entitled to hold or continue in office by reason of any disqualification or of any irregularity in his [appointment] or election, or by reason of such act having been done during the period of any vacancy in the office of any member of the Corporation, the Standing Committee or the Medical Benefit Council.
Regional Boards, Local Committees, Regional and Local Medical Benefit Councils.
25. The Corporation may appoint Regional Boards, Local Committees and Regional and Local Medical Benefit Councils in such areas and in such manner, and delegate to them such powers and functions, as may be provided by the regulations.
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