In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires,-
(a) "Act" means the Legal Services Authorities Act,1987;
(b) "Central Authority" means the National Legal Services Authority constituted under section 3 of the Act;
(c) "member" means the Members of the Central Authority nominated under clause (c) of sub-section (2) of Section 3 of the Act;
(d) "Member-Secretary" means the Member-Secretary of the Central Authority appointed under sub-section (3) of Section 3 of the Act;
(e) all other words and expressions used in these rules but not defined shall have the same meaning assigned to them in the Act.
3. The number, experience and qualifications of other Members of the Central Authority - (1) The Central Authority shall consist of not more than twelve Members.
(2) The following shall be the ex-officio Members of the Central Authority, namely :- [(i) Secretary, Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice , Government of India or any of his nominee;]
(ii) Secretary,Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, Government of India or any of his nominee; and
(iii) two Chairmen of the State Legal Services Authorities as may be nominated by the Central Government in consultation with the Chief Justice of India:
Provided that the Patron-in-Chief of the Central Authority may nominate until the constitution of State Authorities under the Act, Chairman of any two of the State Legal Aid and Advice Boards or Committees, by whatever name called, existing prior to such constitution.
(3) The Central Government may nominate, in consultation with the Chief Justice of India, other Members from amongst those possessing the experience and qualifications prescribed in sub-rule (4) of this rule.
(4) A person shall not be qualified for nomination as a member of the Central Authority unless he is :-
(a) an eminent person in the field of law; or
(b) a person of repute who is specially interested in the implementation of the Legal Services Schemes; or
(c) an eminent social worker who is engaged in the upliftment of the weaker sections of the people, including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, women, children, rural and urban labour.
4. Appointment of Member-Secretary - The Central Government shall, in consultation with the Chief Justice of India, appoint a person to be the Member- Secretary of the Central Authority, possessing experience and qualifications as prescribed in rule 5.
5. The experience and qualifications of the Member-Secretary of the Central Authority and his powers and functions. A person shall not be qualified for appointment as Member-Secretary unless he is-
(a) an officer of the Indian Legal Services who has held a post not below the rank of Additional Secretary to the Government of India; or
(b) a member of the State Higher Judicial service who has held the post of District Judge atleast for three years; or
(c) an officer of other organised Central Services who has held a post of Joint Secretary to the Government of India or equivalent for a minimum period of three years; or
(d) an officer of the organised State Services who has held a post equivalent to the Joint Secretary to the Govt. of India for a minimum period of five years.
Preference will be given to persons possessing administrative, financial and legal aid experience.