Power of Central Government to take over management of Board

Section 48 of the Major Port Authorities Act, 2021 deals with power of Central Government to take over management of Board. If, at any time, the Central Government is of the opinion-- (a) any Board is unable to perform the duties imposed on it by or under the provisions of this Act or of any other law for the time being in force; The Act came into force on 03 Nov 2021.

(1) If, at any time, the Central Government is of the opinion--

(a) any Board is unable to perform the duties imposed on it by or under the provisions of this Act or of any other law for the time being in force; or

(b) that any Board has persistently made defaults in performance of the duties imposed upon it by or under the provisions of this Act or of any other law for the time being in force and as a result of such default, the financial position or the administration of that Board has greatly deteriorated, the Central Government may, by notification, take over the management of that Board for such period, not exceeding twelve months at a time, as may be specified in the notification:

Provided that before issuing a notification under this sub-section for the reasons mentioned in clause (b), the Central Government shall give a reasonable time of not less than three months to the Board to show-cause why its management should not be taken over and shall consider the explanations and objections, if any, of that Board.

(2) Upon the publication of a notification under sub-section (1) for taking over the management of the Board,--

(a) all the Members of the Board shall, as from the date of taking over, stand removed from their respective office or position in the Board;

(b) all the powers and duties which may, by or under the provisions of this Act or of any other law for the time being in force, to be exercised or performed by or on behalf of the Board, shall be exercised and performed by such person or persons as the Central Government may direct in this behalf until the Board is reconstituted under clause (b) of sub-section (3);

(c) all property vested in the Board shall, until the Board is reconstituted under clause (b) of sub-section (3), vest in the Central Government.

(3) On the expiration of the period of taking over specified in the notification issued under sub-section (1) or at any time prior to such expiration, the Central Government may, by notification,.--

(a) extend the period of taking over the management of the Board for such further term, not exceeding twelve months, as it may consider necessary; or

(b) re-constitute the Board by making fresh appointment to all posts of the Board on such terms and conditions as the Central Government may consider necessary, and in such case, any person who stand removed from their offices under clause (a) of sub-section (2) shall be deemed disqualified for appointment.

Section 48, The Major Port Authorities Act, 2021 (Act 1 of 2021).