57. Appointment of Chief Commissioner for persons with disabilities -
- The Central Government may, by notification appoint a Chief Commissioner for persons with disabilities for the purposes of this Act.
- A person shall not be qualified for appointment as the Chief Commissioner unless he has special knowledge or practical experience in respect of matters relating to rehabilitation.
- The salary and allowances payable to and other terms and conditions of service (including pension, gratuity and other retirement benefits of the Chief Commissioner shall be such as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
- The Central Government shall determine the nature and categories of officers and other employees required to assist the Chief Commissioner in the discharge of his functions and provide the Chief Commissioner with such officers and other employees as it thinks fit.
- The officers and employees provided to the Chief Commissioner shall discharge their functions under the general superintendence of the Chief Commissioner.
- The salaries and allowances and other conditions of service of officers and employees provided to the Chief Commissioner shall be such as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
58. Functions of the Chief Commissioner - The Chief commissioner shall -
- coordinate the work of the Commissioners;
- monitor the utilization of funds disbursed by the Central Government;
- take steps to safeguard the rights and facilities made available to persons with disabilities;
- Submit reports to the Central Government on the implementation of the Act at such intervals as the Government may prescribe.
59. Chief Commissioner to look into complaints with respect to deprivation of rights of persons with disabilities -Without prejudice to the provisions of section 58 the Chief Commissioner may of his own motion or on the application of any aggrieved person or otherwise look into complaints with respect to matters relating to -
- deprivation of rights of persons with disabilities;
- non-implementation of laws, rules, bye-laws, regulations, executive orders, guidelines or instructions made or issued by the appropriate Governments and the local authorities for the welfare and protection of rights or persons with disabilities, and take up the matter with the appropriate authorities.
60. Appointment of Commissioners for persons with disabilities -
- Every State Government may, by notification appoint a Commissioner for persons with disabilities for the purposes of this Act.
- A person shall not be qualified for appointment as a Commissioner unless he has special knowledge or practical experience in respect of matters relating to rehabilitation.
- The salary and allowances payable to and other terms and conditions of service (including pension, gratuity and other retirement benefits) of the Commissioner shall be such as may be prescribed by the State Government.
- The State Government shall determine the nature and categories of officers and other employees required to assist the Commissioner in the discharge of his functions and provide the Commissioner with such officers and other employees as it thinks fit.
- The officers and employees provided to the Commissioner shall discharge their functions under the general superintendence of the Commissioner.
- The salaries and allowances and other conditions of service of officers and employees provided to the Commissioner shall be such as may he prescribed by the State Government.
61. Powers of the Commissioner - The Commissioner within the State shall -
- co-ordinate with the departments of the State Government for the programmes and schemes, for the benefit of persons with disabilities;
- monitor the utilization of funds disbursed by the State Government;
- take steps to safeguard the rights and facilities made available to persons with disabilities;
- submit reports to the State Government on the implementation of the Act at such intervals as that Government may prescribe and forward a copy thereof to the Chief Commissioner.
62. Commissioner to look into complaints with respect to matters relating to deprivation of rights of persons with disabilities - Without prejudice to the provisions of section 61 the Commissioner may of his own motion or on the application of any aggrieved person or otherwise look into complaints with respect to matters relating to -
(a) deprivation of rights of persons with disabilities;
(c) non-implementation of laws, rules, bye-laws, regulations, executive orders, guidelines or instructions made or issued by the appropriate Governments and the local authorities for the welfare and protection of rights of persons with disabilities, and take up the matter with the appropriate authorities.
63. Authorities and officers to have certain powers of civil court - The Chief Commissioner and the Commissioners shall, for the purpose of discharging their functions under this Act, have the same powers as are vested in a court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 while trying a suit, in respect of the following matters, namely:-
- summoning and enforcing the attendance of witnesses;
- requiring the discovery and production of any document;
- requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any court or office;
- receiving evidence on affidavits; and
- issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents.
(2) Every proceeding before the Chief Commissioner and Commissioners shall be a judicial proceeding within the meaning of sections 193 and 228 of the Indian Penal Code and the Chief Commissioner, the Commissioner, the competent authority, shall be deemed to be a civil court for the purposes of section 195 and Chapter XXVI of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.
64. Annual report to be prepared by the Chief Commissioner -
- The Chief Commissioner shall prepare in such form and at such time for each financial year as may be prescribed by the Central Government an annual report giving a full account of his activities during the previous financial year and forward a copy thereof to the Central Government.
- The Central Government shall cause the annual report to be laid before each House of Parliament along with the recommendations explaining the action taken or proposed to be taken on the recommendation made therein insofar as they relate to the Central Government and the reasons for non-acceptance, if any, of any such recommendation or part.
65. Annual reports to be prepared by the Commissioners -
- The Commissioner shall prepare in such form and at such time for each financial year as may be prescribed by the State Government an annual report giving a full account of his activities during the previous financial year and forward a copy thereof to the State Government.
- The State Government shall cause the annual report to be laid before each State Legislature along with the recommendations explaining the action taken or proposed to be taken on the recommendation made therein insofar as they relate to the State Government and the reasons for non-acceptance, if any, of any such recommendation or part.
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