3. Constitution of Central Council

(1) The Central Government shall, by notification in the Official Gazette constitute for the purposes of this Act a Central Council consisting of the following members, namely:-

     (a)            such number of members not exceeding five as may be determined by the Central Government in accordance with the provisions of the First Schedule for each of the Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani systems of medicine from each State in which a State Register of Indian Medicine is maintained, to be elected from amongst themselves by persons enrolled on that Register as practitioners of Ayurveda, Siddha or Unani, as the case may be;

     (b)            one member for each of the Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani systems of medicine from each University to be elected from amongst themselves by the members of the Faculty or Department (by whatever name called) of the respective system of medicine of that University;

     (c)            such number of members, not exceeding thirty per cent of the total number of members elected under clauses (a) and (b), as may be nominated by the Central Government, from amongst persons having special knowledge or practical experience in respect of Indian medicine:

Provided that until members are elected under clause (a) or clause (b) in accordance with the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder, the Central Government shall nominate such number of members, being persons qualified to be chosen as such under the said clause (a) or clause (b), as the case may be, as that Government thinks fit; and references to elected members in this Act shall be construed as including references to members so nominated.

(2)            The President of the Central Council shall be elected by the members of the Central Council from amongst themselves in such manner as may be prescribed.

(3)            There shall be a Vice-President for each of the Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani systems of medicine who shall be elected from amongst themselves by members representing that system of medicine, elected under clause (a) or clause (b) of sub-section (1) or nominated under clause (c) of that sub-section.

4. Mode of Election

(1) An election under clause (a) or clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 3 shall be conducted by the Central Government in accordance with such rules as may be made by it in this behalf.

(2)     Where any dispute arises regarding any election to the Central Council, it shall be referred to the Central Government whose decision shall be final.

5. Restriction on Elections and Membership

(1) No person shall be eligible for election to the Central Council unless he possesses any of the medical qualifications included in the Second, Third or Fourth Schedule, is enrolled on any State Register of Indian medicine and resides in the State concerned.

(2)            No person may at the same time serve as a member in more than one capacity.

6. Incorporation of Central Council

The Central Council shall be a body corporate by the name of Central Council of Indian Medicine 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.

7. Term of office of President, Vice-President and members of Central Council

(1)    The President, a Vice-President or a member of the Central Council shall hold office for a term of five years from the date of his election or nomination, as the case may be, or until his successor shall have been duly elected or nominated, whichever is longer.

(2)           An elected or nominated member shall be deemed to have vacated his seat if he is absent without excuse, sufficient in the opinion of the Central Council, from three consecutive ordinary meetings of the Central Council or, in the case of a member elected under clause (a) of sub-section (1) of Section 3, if he ceases to be enrolled on the concerned State Register of Indian Medicine, or in the case of a member elected under clause (b) of that sub-section, if he ceases to be a member of the faculty or Department (by whatever name called) of Indian Medicine of the University concerned.

(3)           A casual vacancy in the Central Council shall be filled by election or nomination, as the case may be, and the person elected or nominated to fill the vacancy shall hold office only for the remainder of the term for which the member whose place he takes was elected or nominated.

(4)            Members of the Central Council shall be eligible for re-election or re-nomination.

(5)            Where the said term of five years is about to expire in respect of any member, a successor may be elected or nominated at any time within three months before the said term expires but he shall not assume office until the said term has expired.

8. Meetings of Central Council

(1)    The Central Council shall meet at least once in each year at such time and place as may be appointed by the Central Council.

(2)            Unless otherwise prescribed, one-third of the total number of members of the Central Council shall form a quorum and all the acts of the Central Council shall be decided by a majority of the members present and voting:-

Provided that no decision of the Central Council in relation to any Indian medicine, shall be effective unless three members representing Ayurveda, Siddha or Unani system of medicine, as the case may be, are present at the meeting and support the decision

9. Committees for Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani

(1) The Central Council shall constitute from amongst its members, -

a)                a committee for Ayurveda
b)                a committee for Siddha and
c)                 a committee for Unani,

and each such committee shall consist of members elected under clause (a) or clause (b) or nominated under clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 3 representing the Ayurveda, Siddha or Unani system of medicine, as the case may be.

(2)            The Vice-President for each of the Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani systems of medicine elected under sub-section (3) of section 3 shall be, respectively, the Chairman of the committees referred to in clauses (a), (b) and (c) of sub-section (1).

(3)            Subject to such general or special directions as the Central Council may from time to time give, each such committee shall be competent to deal with any matter relating to Ayurveda, Siddha or Unani system of medicine, as the case may be, within the competence of the Central Council.

10. Other Committees

The Central Council may constitute from amongst its members such other committees for general or special purposes, as the Central Council deems necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.

11. Meetings of Committees

(1) The committees constituted under section 9 and 10 shall meet at least once in each year at such time and place as may be appointed by the Central Council.

(2)  Unless otherwise prescribed, one-third of the total number of members of a committee shall form a quorum, and all the acts of the committee shall be decided by a majority of the members present and voting.

12.          Officers and other employees of Central Council

The Central Council shall -

(b) employ such other persons as it deems necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act;

(c)  require and take from the Registrar, or from any other employee, such security for the due performance of his duties as the Central Council deems necessary; and

(d) with the previous sanction of the Central Government, fix the remuneration and allowances to be paid to the President, Vice-President and members of the Central Council and to the Members of the committees thereof and determine the conditions of service of the employees of the Central Council.

13.          Vacancies in the Central Council and committees thereof not to invalidate acts, etc.

No act or proceeding of the Central Council or any committee thereof shall be called in question on the ground merely of the existence of any vacancy in, or any defect in the constitution of, the Central Council or the committee, as the case may be.