CHAPTER III

JOINT BOARDS

13. CONSTITUTION OF JOINT BOARD

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, an agreement may be entered into--

    (a) by two or more Governments of contiguous States, or

    (b) by the Central Government (in respect of one or more Union territories) and one or more Government of State Government contiguous to such Union territory or Union territories,

to be in force for such period and to be subject to renewal for such further period if any, as may be specified in the agreement to provide for the constitution of a Joint Board --

    (i) in a case referred to in clause (a), for all the participating States, and

    (ii) in a case referred to in clause (b), for the participating Union territory or Union territories and the State or States.

(2) An agreement under this section may --

    (a) provide, in a case referred to in clause (a) of sub-section (1), for the apportionment between the participating States and in a case referred to in clause (b) of that sub-section, for the apportionments between the Central Government and the participating State Government or State Governments, of the expenditure in connection with the Joint Board;

    (b) determine, in a case referred to in clause (a) of sub-section (1), which of the participating State Governments and in a case referred to in clause (b) of that sub-section, whether the Central Government or the participating State Government (if there are more than one participating State, also which of the participating State Governments) shall exercise and perform the several powers and functions of the State Government under this Act and the references in this Act to the State Government shall be construed accordingly;

    (c) provide for consultation, in a case referred to in clause (a) of sub-section (1), between the participating State Governments and in a case referred to in clause (b) of that sub-section, between the Central Government and the participating State Government or State Governments either generally or with reference to particular matters arising under this Act;-

    (d) make such incidental and ancillary provisions, not inconsistent with this Act, as may be deemed necessary or expedient for giving effect to the agreement.

(3) An agreement under this section shall be published, in a case referred to in clause (a) of sub-section (1), in the Official Gazette of the participating States and in a case referred to in clause (b) of that sub-section, in the Official Gazette of participating Union territory or Union territories and participating State or States.

14. COMPOSITION OF JOINT BOARDS

(1) A Joint Board constituted in pursuance of an agreement entered into under clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 13 shall consist of the following members, namely:--

    (a) a full-time chairman, being a person having special knowledge or practical experience in respect of 1[matters relating to environmental protection] or a person having knowledge and experience in administering institutions dealing with the matters aforesaid, to be nominated by the Central Government;

    (b) two officials from each of the participating States to be nominated by the concerned participating State Government to represent that Government;

    (c) one person to be nominated by each of the participating State Governments from amongst the members of the local authorities functioning within the State concerned;

    (d) one non-official to be nominated by each of the participating State Governments to represent the interests or agriculture, fishery or industry or trade in the State concerned or any other interest which, in the opinion of the participating State Government, is to be represented;

    (e) two persons to be nominated by the Central Government to represent the companies or corporations owned, controlled or managed by the participating State Government;

    2[(f) a full-time member-secretary, possessing qualifications, knowledge and experience of scientific, engineering or management aspects of pollution control, to be appointed by the Central Government]

(2) A Joint Board constituted in pursuance of an agreement entered into under clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 13 shall consist of the following members, namely:-

    (a) a full-time chairman, being a person having special knowledge or practical experience in respect of 3[matters relating to environmental protection] or a person having knowledge and experience in administering institutions dealing with the matters aforesaid, to be nominated by the Central Government;

    (b) two officials to be nominated by the Central Government from the participating Union territory or each of the participating union territories, as the case may be, and two officials to be nominated, from the participating State or each of the participating States, as the case may be by the concerned participating State Government;

    (c) one person to be nominated by the Central Government from amongst the members of the local authorities functioning within the participating Union territory or each of the participating Union territories, as the case may be and one person to be nominated, from amongst the members of the local authorities functioning within the participating State or each of the participating States, as the case may be, by the concerned participating State Government;

    (d) one non-official to be nominated by the Central Government and one person to be nominated by the participating State Government or State Governments to represent the interests of agriculture, fishery or industry or trade in the Union territory or in each of the Union territories or the State or in each of the States, as the case may be, or any other interest which in the opinion in the Central Government or, as the case may be, of the State Government is to be represented.

    (e) two persons to be nominated by the Central Government to represent the companies or corporations owned, controlled or managed by the Central Government and situate in the participating Union territory or territories and two persons to be nominated by Central Government to represent the companies or corporations owned, controlled or managed by the participating State Government;

    4[(f) a full-time member-secretary, possessing qualifications, knowledge and experience of scientific, engineering or management aspects of pollution control, to be appointed by the Central Government.]

(3) When a Joint Board is constituted in pursuance of an agreement under clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 13, the provisions of sub-section (4) of section 4 shall cease to apply in relation to the Union territory for which the Joint Board is constituted.

(4) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (3), the provisions of sub-section (3) of section 4 and sections 5 to 12 (inclusive) shall apply in relation tot he Joint Board and its member-secretary as they apply in relation to a State Board and its member-secretary.

(5) Any reference in this Act to the State Board shall, unless the context otherwise requires, be construed as including a Joint Board.

15. SPECIAL PROVISION RELATING TO GIVING OF DIRECTIONS

Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act where any Joint Board is constituted under section 13 --

    (a) the Government of the State for which the Joint Board is constituted shall be competent to give any direction under this Act only in cases where such direction relates to a matter within the exclusive territorial jurisdiction of the State;

    (b) the Central Government alone shall be competent to give any direction under this Act where such direction relates to a matter within the territorial jurisdiction of two or more States or pertaining to a Union territory.


1 Subs. by Act 44 of 1978, s. 9, for certain words.
2 Subs. by Act 53 of 1988, s. 7 for cl. (f).
3 Subs by Act 44 of 1978, s. 9, for certam words.
4 Subs. by Act 53 of 1988, s. 7, for cl. (f).