Establishment of National Biodiversity Authority

8.(1) With effect from such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint, there shall be established by the Central Government for the purposes of this Act, a body to be called the National Biodiversity Authority.

(2) The National Biodiversity Authority shall be a body corporate by the name aforesaid, having perpetual succession and a common seal, with power to acquire, hold and dispose of property, both movable and immovable, and to contract, and shall by the said name sue and be sued.

(3) The head office of the National Biodiversity Authority shall be at Chennai and the National Biodiversity Authority may, with the previous approval of the Central Government, establish offices at other places in India.

(4) The National Biodiversity Authority shall consist of the following members,

(a) a Chairperson, who shall be an eminent person having adequate knowledge and experience in the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and in matters relating to equitable sharing of benefits, to be appointed by the Central Government;

(b) three ex officio members to be appointed by the Central Government, one representing the Ministry dealing with Tribal Affairs and two representing the Ministry dealing with Environment and Forests of whom one shall be the Additional Director General of Forests or the Director General of Forests;

(c) seven ex officio members to be appointed by the Central Government to represent respectively the Ministries of the Central Government dealing with -

Agricultural Research and Education;
Biotechnology;
Ocean Development;
Agriculture and Cooperation;
Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy;
Science and Technology;
Scientific and Industrial Research;

(d) five non official members to be appointed from amongst specialists and scientists having special knowledge of, or experience in, matters relating to conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of biological resources and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the use of biological resources, representatives of industry, conservers, creators and knowledge holders of biological resources.

Conditions of service of Chairperson and members

9. The term of office and conditions of service of the Chairperson and the other members other than ex officio members of the National Biodiversity Authority shall be such as may be prescribed by the Central Government.

Chairperson to be Chief Executive of National Biodiversity Authority

10. The Chairperson shall be the Chief Executive of the National Biodiversity Authority and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties, as may be prescribed.

Removal of members

11. The Central Government may remove from the National Biodiversity Authority any member who, in its opinion, has-

been adjudged as an insolvent; or
been convicted of an offence which involves moral turpitude; or
become physically or mentally incapable of acting as a member; or
so abused his position as to render his continuance in office detrimental to the public interest; or
acquired such financial or other interest as is likely to affect prejudicially his functions as a member.

Meetings of National Biodiversity Authority

12. (1) The National Biodiversity Authority shall meet at such time and place and shall observe such rules of procedure in regard to the transaction of business at its meetings (including the quorum at its meetings) as may be prescribed.

(2) The Chairperson of the National Biodiversity Authority shall preside at the meetings of the National Biodiversity Authority.

(3) If for any reason the Chairperson is unable to attend any meeting of the National Biodiversity Authority, any member of the National Biodiversity Authority chosen by the members present at the meeting shall preside at the meeting.

(4) All questions which come before any meeting of the National Biodiversity Authority shall be decided by a majority of votes of the members present and voting and in the event of equality of votes, the Chairperson or, in his absence, the person presiding, shall have and exercise a second or casting vote.

(5) Every member who is in any way, whether directly, indirectly or personally, concerned or interested in a matter to be decided at the meeting shall disclose the nature of his concern or interest and after such disclosure, the member concerned or interested shall not attend that meeting.

(6) No act or proceeding of the National Biodiversity Authority shall be invalidated merely by reason of-

(a) any vacancy in, or any defect in the constitution of, the National Biodiversity Authority; or

(b) any defect in the appointment of a person acting as a member; or

(c) any irregularity in the procedure of the National Biodiversity Authority not affecting the merits of the case.

Committees of National Biodiversity Authority

13. (1) The National Biodiversity Authority may constitute a committee to deal with agro biodiversity.

Explanation; For the purposes of this sub section, "agro biodiversity" means biological diversity, of agriculture related species and their wild relatives.

(2) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub section (1), the National Biodiversity Authority may constitute such number of committees as it deems fit for the efficient discharge of its duties and performance of its functions under this Act.

(3) A committee constituted under this section shall co-opt such number of persons, who are not the members of the National Biodiversity Authority, as it may think fit and the persons so co opted shall have the right to attend the meetings of the committee and take part in its proceedings but shall not have the right to vote.

(4) The persons appointed as members of the committee under sub section (2) shall be entitled to receive such allowances or fees for attending the meetings of the committee as may be fixed by the Central Government.

Officers and employees of National Biodiversity Authority

14.(1) The National Biodiversity Authority may appoint such officers and other employees as it considers necessary for the efficient discharge of its functions under this Act.

(2) The terms and conditions of service of such officers and other employees of the National Biodiversity Authority shall be such as may be specified by regulations.

Authentication of orders and decisions of National Biodiversity Authority

15. All orders and decisions of the National Biodiversity Authority shall be authenticated by the signature of the Chairperson or any other member authorized by the National Biodiversity Authority in this behalf and all other instruments executed by the National Biodiversity Authority shall be authenticated by the signature of an officer of the National Biodiversity Authority authorized by it in this behalf.

Delegation of powers

16. The National Biodiversity Authority may, by general or special order in writing, delegate to any member, officer of the National Biodiversity Authority or any other person subject to such conditions, if any, as may be specified in the order, such of the powers and functions under this Act (except the power to prefer an appeal under section 50 and the power to make regulations under section 64) as it may deem necessary.

Expenses of National Biodiversity Authority to be defrayed out of the Consolidated Fund of India

17. The salaries and allowances payable to the members and the administrative expenses of the National Biodiversity Authority including salaries, allowances and pension payable to, or in respect of, the officers and other employees of the National Biodiversity Authority shall be defrayed out of the Consolidated Fund of India.