Amendment status not verified — confirm the current text below against the official source.
(1) The Central Government shall constitute a body to be known as the National Tiger Conservation Authority (hereinafter in this Chapter referred to as the Tiger Conservation Authority), to exercise the powers conferred on, and to perform the functions assigned to it under this Act. (2) The Tiger Conservation Authority shall consist of the following members, namely:,— (a) the Minister in charge of the Ministry of Environment and Forests— Chairperson; (b) the Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment and Forests—Vice Chairperson; (c) three members of Parliament of whom two shall be elected by the House of the People and one by the Council of States; (d) Eight experts or professionals having prescribed qualifications and experience in conservation of wild life and welfare of people living in tiger reserve out of which at least two shall be from the field of tribal evelopment; (e) Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests; (f) Director General of Forests and Special Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests; (g) Director, Wild Life Preservation, Ministry of Environment and Forests; (h) six Chief Wild Life Wardens from the tiger reserve States in rotation for three years; (i) an officer not below the rank of Joint Secretary and Legislative Counsel from the Ministry of Law and Justice; (j) Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs; (k) Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment; (l) Chairperson, National Commission for the Scheduled Tribes; (m) Chairperson, National Commission for the Scheduled Castes; (n) Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj; (o) Inspector General of Forests or an officer of the equivalent rank having at least ten years experience in a tiger reserve or wildlife management, who shall be the Member-Secretary, to be notified by the Central Government, in the Official Gazette. (3) It is hereby declared that the office of member of the Tiger Conservation Authority shall not disqualify its holder for being chosen as, or for being, a member of either House of Parliament. 38M..—(1) A member nominated under clause (d) of sub-section (2) of section 38L shall hold office for such period not exceeding three years: Provided that a member may, by writing under his hand addressed to the Central Government, resign from his office. (2) The Central Government shall remove a member referred to in clause (d) of sub-section (2) of section 38L, from office if he— (a) is, or at any time has been, adjudicated as insolvent; (b) has been convicted of an offence which, in the opinion of the Central Government, involves moral turpitude; (c) is 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 Tiger Conservation Authority, absent from three consecutive meetings of the said Authority; or (f) has, in the opinion of the Central Government, so abused his position as to render his continuation in office detrimental to the public interest: Provided that no member shall be removed under this sub-section unless he has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard in the matter. (3) Any vacancy in the office of a member shall be filled by fresh appointment and such member shall continue for the remainder of the term of the member in whose place he is appointed. (4) The salaries and allowances and other conditions of appointment of the members of the Tiger Conservation Authority shall be such as may be prescribed. (5) No act or proceeding of the Tiger Conservation Authority shall be questioned or shall be invalid on the ground merely of the existence of any vacancy or defect in the constitution of the Tiger Conservation Authority.