(1) This Regulation may be called the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Administration) Regulation, 1979.
(2) It extends to the whole of the Union territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
(3) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.
2. In this Regulation, unless the context otherwise requires,—
(a) "Administrator" means the Administrator of the Union territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands appointed by the President under article 239 of the Constitution;
Short title, extent and commencement Definitions-
(231) 232 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—
(b) "Official Gazette" means the Andamans Gazette;
, (c) "Panchayat" means a Gram Panchayat constituted under section 11 of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Gram Panchayats Regulation, 1961;
(d) "Pradesh Council" means the "Pradesh Council constituted under section 3;
(e) "Union territory" means the Union territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
CHAPTER II PRADESH COUNCIL
3. As soon as may be after the commencement of this Regulation, there shall be constituted a Pradesh Council for the Union territory consisting of—
(a) the Administrator;
(b) the member of the House of the People representing the Union territory;
(c) the senior Vice-Chairman of the Port Blair Municipal Board;
(d) twenty-two persons to be elected or nominated from the areas of the Union territory specified in column (2) of the Table below paragraph 1 of the First Schedule in the manner specified in that Schedule;
(e) one person belonging to any of the Scheduled Tribes of Andamanese, Onges and Shompens to be nominated by the Administrator; and
(f) one woman to be nominated by the Administrator if no woman becomes a member c.f the Pradesh Council under any of the foregoing clauses.
4. A person who is a member of the Pradesh Council under clause
(a) or clause (b) or clause (c) of section 3, or who is elected or nominated as a member under clause (d) of the said section, shall cease to be such member when he ceases to be the Administrator, a member of the House of the People, the senior Vice-Chairman of the Port Blair Municipal Board or, as the case may be, ceases to hold the office, if any, by virtue of which he was elected or nominated as a member of the Pradesh Council,
5. A person shall be disqualified for beim? nominated or elected as, and for being, a member of the Pradesh Council if he has incurred or incurs any of the disqualifications specified in section 13 of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Gram Panchayais Regulation, 1961:
Provided that a person shall not he disqualified under this section merely on the ground of his holding the office by virtue of which he becomes, or has been nominated or elected as, such member.
Constitution of Pradesh Council and. its composition.
Cesser of membership in certain cases.
Disqualifications for Membership of Pradch Council 4 of 1961.
4 of 1961.
•tc. 1] THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY 23-3
6. The Pradesh Council, unless sooner dissolved, shall continue for four years from the date appointed lor its first meeting and no longer, and the expiration of the said period o'f four years shall operate as a dissolution of the Pradesh Council:
Provided that the Administrator may, with the previous approval of the President, by order in writing, extend the said period by a period or periods not exceeding one year in the aggregate, and every such order shall be notified in the Official Gazette.
7. (I) A member of the Pradesh Council elected or nominated under clause (d) or clause (e) or clause (f) of section 3 may resign his office as such member by intimating in writing hi s intention to do so to the Administrator and such resignation shall take effect from the date of its receipt by the Administrator.
(2) A casual vacancy in the membership of the Council under clause
(ti) or clause (e) ur clause (f) of section 3 shall be filled by election or nomination, as the case may be, in accordance wilh the provisions of this Regulation:
Provided that a member elected or nominated under this sub-section shall hold office only for the remainder of the term of office of the member in whose place he is elected or nominated.
8. Every member (other than the Administrator) of the Pradesh Council shall, before taking his soat, make and subscribe before the Administrator or some person appointed in that behalf by him, and the Administrator shall before taking his seat, make and subscribe before some person appointed in that behalf by the Central Government, an oath or affirmation according to the form set out for the purpose in the Second Schedule.
9. No act or proceeding of the Pradesh Council shall be invalid by reason only of the existence of any vacancy among its members or of any defect in the constitution thereof.