The powers and functions of the Member-Secretary, inter alia shall be -
(a) to work out modalities of the Legal Services Schemes and Programmes approved by the Central Authority and ensure their effective monitoring and implementation throughout the country;
(b) to exercise the powers in respect of administrative, finance and budget matters as that of the Head of the Department in a Central Government;
(c) to manage the properties, records and funds of the Central Authority;
(d) to maintain true and proper accounts of the Central Authority including checking and auditing in respect thereof periodically;
(e) to prepare Annual Income and Expenditure Accounts and Balance Sheet of the Central Authority;
(f) to liaise with the Social Action Groups and the State Legal Services Authorities;
(g) to maintain up-to-date and complete statistical information, including progress made in the implementation of various Legal Services Programmes from time to time;
(h) to process project proposals for financial assistance and issue Utilisation Certificates thereof;
(i) to convene meetings/seminars and workshops connected with Legal Services Programmes and preparation of Reports and follow-up action thereon;
(j) to produce video/documentary films, publicity material, literature and publications to inform general public about the various aspects of the Legal Services Programmes; and
(k) to perform such other functions as may be expedient for efficient functioning of the Central Authority.
7. The terms of office and other conditions relating thereto, of members and Member-Secretary of the Central Authority- (1) The Members of the Central Authority nominated by the Central Government under sub-rule(3) of rule 3, shall hold office for a term of two years and a retiring Member shall be eligible for renomination for not more than one term.
(2) A member of the Central Authority nominated by the Central Government under sub-rule(3) of rule 3 may be removed by the Central Government if, in the opinion of the Central Government, it is not desirable to continue him as a member.
(3) If any member nominated under sub-rule (3) of rule 3 ceases to be a member of the Central Authority, for any reason such as resignation or death, the vacancy shall be filled up in the same manner as the original nomination and the person so nominated shall continue to be a member for the remaining term of the member in whose place he is nominated.
(4) All members nominated under sub-rule(3) of rule 3 shall be entitled to payment of travelling allowance and daily allowance in respect of journeys performed in connection with the work of the Central Authority and shall be paid by the Central Authority in accordance with the rules as are applicable to Grade “A” officers, as amended from time to time.
(5) If a nominated member is a government employee, he shall be entitled to only one set of travelling allowance and daily allowance either from his parent department, or, as the case may be, from the Central Authority.
(6) The Member-Secretary shall hold office for a term not exceeding five years or till the age of 62 years, whichever is earlier.
(7) In all matters like pay, allowances, benefits and entitlements, the Member-Secretary shall be governed by rules as are applicable to the persons holding equivalent posts in the Central Government.
(8) If an officer of the State Higher Judicial Service, or, as the case may be, of other organised Central/State Services, is appointed as Member- Secretary, he shall be governed by the service conditions of his parent cadre, in so far as disciplinary matters are concerned.
(9) The appointment of the Member-Secretary may be on deputation basis.
8. The number of officers and other employees of the Central Authority- The Central Authority shall have such number of officers and other employees for rendering secretarial assistance and for its day to day functions as are set out in Schedule to these rules or as may be notified by the Central Government from time to time.
9. The conditions of service and the salary and allowances of officers and other employees of the Central Authority under sub-section (6) of section 3-
(1) The officers and other employees of the Central Authority shall be entitled to draw pay and allowances in the scale of pay indicated against each post in the Schedule to these rules or at par with the Central Government employees holding equivalent posts.
(2) In all matters like age of retirement, pay and allowances, benefits and entitlements and disciplinary matters, the officers and other employees of the Central Authority shall be governed by the Central Government as are applicable to persons holding equivalent posts.
(3) The officers and other employees of the Central Authority shall be entitled to such other facilities and benefits as may be notified by the Central Government from time to time.