(1)

With effect from such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint in this behalf, there shall be established, for the purposes of this Act, a Board to be called the National Oilseeds and Vegetable Oils Development Board.

(2)

The Board shall be a body corporate by the name aforesaid, having perpetual succession and a common seal, with power to acquire, hold and dispose of property, both movable and immovable, and to contract, and shall by the said name sue and be sued.

(3)

The head office of the Board shall be at Delhi or at such other place as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify.

(4)

The Board shall consist of the following members, namely:-

(a) the Minister in charge of the Ministry of the Central Government dealing with agriculture, who shall ex officio be the Chairman of the Board;

(b) the Secretary in charge of the Ministry of the Central Government dealing with agricultural development, who shall ex officio be the Vice-Chairman of the Board;

(c) the Agriculture Commissioner to the Government of India, ex officio;

(d) the Director-General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, ex officio;

(e) three members of Parliament, of whom two shall be elected by the House of the People and one by the Council of States;

(f) one member to be appointed by the Central Government to represent the Planning Commission;

(g) three members to be appointed by the Central Government to represent respectively the Ministries of the Central Government dealing with-

(h) Executive Director, ex officio;

(i) Financial Adviser to the Ministry of the Central Government dealing with agriculture, ex officio;

(j) eleven members to be appointed by the Central Government to represent respectively the Governments of the States of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh:

(k) five members to be appointed by the Central Government to represent respectively-

(l) three members to be appointed by the Central Government to represent the oilseeds growers;

(m) one member to be appointed by the Central Government to represent exporters of oilseeds, vegetable oils or other products derived from oilseeds;

(n) one member to be appointed by the Central Government to represent the vegetable oils industry;

(o) two members to be appointed by the Central Government to represent such other interests connected with the oilseeds industry or the vegetable oils industry as, in the opinion of that Government, ought to be represented.

(5)

The term of office of the members, other than the ex officio members, and the manner of filling vacancies among, and the procedure to be followed in the discharge of their functions by, such members shall be such as may be prescribed.

(6)

Any officer of the Central Government, not being a member of the Board, when deputed by that Government in this behalf, shall have the right to attend the meetings of the Board and take part in the proceedings thereof but shall not be entitled to vote.

(7)

The Board may associate with itself in such manner, subject to such conditions and for such purposes as may be prescribed, any person whose assistance or advice it may desire in complying with any of the provisions of this Act and a person so associated shall have the right to take part in the discussions of the Board relevant to the purpose for which he has been associated but shall not have the right to vote and shall be entitled to receive such allowances or fees as may be fixed by the Central Government.

(8)

No act or proceeding of the Board or any committee appointed by it under section 8 shall be invalidated merely by reason of-

(a) any vacancy in, or any defect in the constitution of, the Board or such committee; or

(b) any defect in the appointment of a person acting as a member of the Board or such committee; or

(c) any irregularity in the procedure of the Board or such committee not affecting the merits of the case.

(9)

The Board shall meet at such times and places and shall observe such rules of procedure in regard to the transaction of business at its meetings (including the quorum at its meetings) as may be provided by regulations made by the Board under this Act.