(1) As soon as may be, after declaration of an area as a Planning Area, the State Government may, by notification, constitute for the purposes of this Act a Planning Authority for that area or a Development Authority in respect of the Planning Area or a part of it.
(2) A Planning Authority or a Development Authority, if it is not a local authority or a Government department or agency, shall be a body corporate having perpetual succession and a common seal with power to acquire, hold and dispose of property, both movable and immovable, and to enter into contracts and shall by its corporate name sue and be sued.
114 The West Bengal Town and Country (Planning and Development) Act, 1979.
XIII of 1979.1 (Chapter 111.—Declaration of Planning Areas and Constitution of Planning Authorities and Development Authorities.—Sections 12, 13.)
(3) Every Planning Authority or Development Authority constituted under sub-section (1) shall consist of a Chairman and not more than thirteen but not less than seven other members to be appointed by the State Government.
(4) The State Government may appoint a local authority or any other authority or Corporation (statutory or otherwise), or any officer of the State Government, as the Planning Authority or the Development Authority for the area within the jurisdiction of that authority.
(5) The provisions of sub-section (3) of this section and sections 12, 14 and 15 shall not apply to a Planning Authority or a Development Authority appointed under sub-section (4) and the provisions of the Act by which such authority is constituted shall continue• to apply in respect of the area within the jurisdiction of that authority.