83Joint Commission

(1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in section 82, a Joint Commission may be constituted by an agreement to be entered into--

(a) by two or more Governments of States; or

(b) by the Central Government, in respect of one or more Union territories, and one or more Governments of States,

and shall be in force for such period and shall be subject to renewal for each further period, if any, as may be stipulated in the agreement:

Provided that the Joint Commission, constituted under section 21A of Electricity Regulatory Commissions Act, 1998 (14 of 1998) and functioning as such immediately before the appointed day, shall be the Joint Commission for the purposes of this Act and the Chairperson, Members, Secretary and other officers and employees thereof shall be deemed to have been appointed as such under this Act and they shall continue to hold office, on the same terms and conditions on which they were appointed under the Electricity Regulatory Commissions Act, 1998.

(2) The Joint Commission shall consist of one Member from each of the participating States and Union territories and the Chairperson shall be appointed from amongst the Members by consensus, failing which by rotation.

(3) An agreement under sub-section (1) shall contain provisions as to the name of the Joint Commission, the manner in which the participating States may be associated in the selection of the Chairperson and Members of the Joint Commission, manner of appointment of Members and appointment of Chairperson by rotation or consensus, places at which the Commission shall sit, apportionment among the participating States of the expenditure in connection with the Joint Commission, manner in which the differences of opinion between the Joint Commission and the State Government concerned would be resolved and may also contain such other supplemental, incidental and consequential provisions not inconsistent with this Act as may be deemed necessary or expedient for giving effect to the agreement.

(4) The Joint Commission shall determine tariff in respect of the participating States or Union territories separately and independently.

(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, the Central Government may, if so authorised by all the participating States, constitute a Joint Commission and may exercise the powers in respect of all or any of the matters specified under sub-section (3) and when so specifically authorised by the participating States.