(1) [Every Advocate below the age of [thirty five years]] practicing in any court in the State and being a member of a Bar Association recognised by the Bar Council may apply to the committee for admission as a member of the Fund, in such form as may be prescribed.
(2) On receipt of an application under sub-section (1), the committee shall make such enquiry as it deems fit and either admit the applicant to the Fund or for reasons to be recorded in writing reject the application.
Provided that no order rejection an application shall be passed unless the applicant has been given an opportunity of being heard.
(3) [xxx]
(4) In the event of rejection of the application, [the amount] paid along with the application shall be refunded to the applicant.
[(5) [(a) where an Advocate intends to become the Member of the Fund shall pay an amount of rupees one hundred towards admission fee along with an amount of rupees [two thousand] towards the subscription for life-membership and on such payment the membership of the Advocate concerned shall subject to the provisions of sub-section(12) be a life member;]
(b) Where an Advocate has already been admitted as a life-member prior to the commencement of the Andhra Pradesh Advocates' Welfare Fund (Amendment) Act, 1994, he shall be deemed to have been admitted as a member under this section and shall continue to be such member.
(c) [xxx]
(d) Where a member ceases to practice he shall not be entitled for the refund of the subscription paid under this sub-section.]
(8) Every member shall, at the time of admission to the membership of the Fund make a nomination conferring on one or more [nominees] the right to receive the amount which may be due to him from the Fund in the event of his death before the amount has been paid to him.
(9) If a member nominated more than one person under sub-section (8), he shall specify in the nomination the amount or share payable to each of the nominees in such manner as to cover the whole of the amount that may be paid to him.
(10) A member may at any time cancel a nomination by sending a notice in writing to the committee along with a fresh nomination.
(11) Every member who voluntarily suspends practice or retires shall, within three months of such suspension or retirement, intimate that fact to the committee and if any member fails to do so without sufficient reason, the committee may reduce, in accordance with such principles as may be prescribed, the amount due to that member.
[(12) Where on receipt of a complaint or otherwise the Committee has reason to believe that any advocate secured admission as a member of the Fund by misrepresentation, fraud or undue influence, it shall be competent for the Committee to remove the name of such Advocate from the membership of the Fund:
Provided that no order under this sub-section shall be passed unless the person likely to be adversely affected has had an opportunity of being heard.]