16Term of office of members of Board

(1) Save as otherwise provided in this section, term of office of the Chairperson or any other nominated member of the Board shall be four years, being one term of the Board and they shall not be eligible to be re-appointed as Chairperson or nominated as a member, as the case may be.

Explanation I.--The period of term of office of the Chairperson or any other nominated member of the Board [other than ex officio Vice-Chairperson and ex officio members and nominated members under clause (k) of sub-section (1) of section 11] of the existing Academy shall be counted for the purposes of this sub-section.

Explanation II.--For the removal of doubt it is hereby declared that a person who held the office of a member shall not be eligible to be re-appointed as a member but may be appointed as the Chairperson in accordance with the provisions of this Act:

Provided that an outgoing member of the Board shall, unless or otherwise directed, continue in office until another person is appointed, or, as the case may be, nominated as a member in his place.

(2) In the event of vacancy in the office of the Chairperson, by reason of his death or resignation or otherwise, the Vice-Chairperson shall act as the Chairperson until a new Chairperson is appointed in accordance with the provisions of this Act to fill the vacancy and enter upon his office:

Provided that a person appointed due to a vacancy in the office of Chairperson under sub-section (2), shall be eligible to be appointed as Chairperson in accordance with the provisions of this Act only for one term in addition to the period for which he was appointed to fill the vacancy of Chairperson.

(3) In the event of vacancy in the office of a nominated member under clauses (h), (i), (j) and (k) of sub-section (1) of section 11 by reason of his death or resignation or otherwise, the vacancy shall be filled in accordance with the provisions of this Act:

Provided that a person nominated under sub-section (1) of section 11 due to a vacancy in the office of the member, such person shall be eligible to be nominated only for one term as member in accordance with the provisions of this Act, in addition to the period for which he was nominated to fill the vacancy.

(4) The term of office of an ex officio member shall continue as long as he holds the office by virtue of which he is a member.

(5) One-fourth of the members, being distinguished scientists or outstanding scientists or Directors of laboratories of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research nominated under clause (k) of sub-section (1) of section 11 shall retire every year and new members shall be nominated in their place in accordance with the provisions of this Act:

Provided that, notwithstanding anything contained in this sub-section, the members, being distinguished scientists or outstanding scientists of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research or Directors of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research laboratories nominated under clause (k) of sub-section (1) of section 11, immediately after the commencement of this Act for the first time, may hold office for such period, as may be specified in their nomination and provisions of this sub-section shall not be applicable to such nominated members.