3. Constitution of the National Commission for Women.—(1) The Central Government shall
constitute a body to be known as the National Commission for Women to exercise the powers conferred
on, and to perform the functions assigned to, it under this Act.
(2) The Commission shall consist of—
(a) a Chairperson, committed to the cause of women, to be nominated by the Central
Government;
(b) five Members to be nominated by the Central Government from amongst persons of ability,
integrity and standing who have had experience in law or legislation, trade unionism, management of
an industry or organisation committed to increasing the employment potential of women, women’s
voluntary organisations (including women activists), administration, economic development, health,
education or social welfare:
Provided that at least one Member each shall be from amongst persons belonging to the
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes respectively;
(c) a Member-Secretary to be nominated by the Central Government, who shall be—
(i) an expert in the field of management, organisational structure or sociological movement,
or
(ii) an officer who is a member of a civil service of the Union or of an all-India service or
holds a civil post under the Union with appropriate experience.
1. The words “except the State of Jammu and Kashmir” omitted by Act 34 of 2019, s. 95 and the Fifth Schedule (w.e.f. 31-10-
2019).
2. 31st January, 1992, vide notification No. S.O. 99(E), dated 31st January, 1992, see Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, sec.
3(ii).
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4. Term of office and conditions of service of Chairperson and Members.—(1)The Chairperson
and every Member shall hold office for such period, not exceeding three years, as may be specified by the
Central Government in this behalf.
(2) The Chairperson or a Member (other than the Member-Secretary who is a member of a civil
service of the Union or of an all-India service or holds a civil post under the Union) may, by writing and
addressed to the Central Government, resign from the office of Chairperson or, as the case may be, of the
Member at any time.
(3) The Central Government shall remove a person from the office of Chairperson or a Member
referred to in sub-section (2) if that person—
(a) becomes an undischarged insolvent;
(b) gets convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for an offence which in the opinion of the
Central Government involves moral turpitude;
(c) becomes of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent court;
(d) refuses to act or becomes incapable of acting;
(e) is, without obtaining leave of absence from the Commission, absent from three consecutive
meetings of the Commission; or
(f) in the opinion of the Central Government has so abused the position of Chairperson or
Member as to render that person’s continuance in office detrimental to the public interest:
Provided that no person shall be removed under this clause until that person has been given a
reasonable opportunity of being heard in the matter.
(4) A vacancy caused under sub-section (2) or otherwise shall be filled by fresh nomination.
(5) The salaries and allowances payable to, and the other terms and conditions of service of, the
Chairperson and Members shall be such as may be prescribed.
5. Officers and other employees of the Commission.—(1) The Central Government shall provide
the Commission with such officers and employees as may be necessary for the efficient performance of
the functions of the Commission under this Act.
(2) The salaries and allowances payable to, and the other terms and conditions of service of, the
officers and other employees appointed for the purpose of the Commission shall be such as may be
prescribed.
6. Salaries and allowances to be paid out of grants.—The salaries and allowances payable to the
Chairperson and Members and the administrative expenses, including salaries, allowances and pensions
payable to the officers and other employees referred to in section 5, shall be paid out of the grants referred
to in sub-section (1) of section 11.
7. Vacancies, etc., not to invalidate proceedings of the Commission.—No act or proceeding of the
Commission shall be questioned or shall be invalid on the ground merely of the existence of any vacancy
or defect in the constitution of the Commission.
8. Committees of the Commission.—(1) The Commission may appoint such committees as may be
necessary for dealing with such special issues as may be taken up by the Commission from time to time.
(2) The Commission shall have the power to co-opt as members of any committee appointed under
sub-section (1) such number of persons, who are not Members of the Commission, as it may think fit and
the persons so co-opted shall have the right to attend the meetings of the committee and take part in its
proceedings but shall not have the right to vote.
(3) The persons so co-opted shall be entitled to receive such allowances for attending the meetings of
the committee as may be prescribed.
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9. Procedure to be regulated by the Commission.—(1) The Commission or a committee thereof
shall meet as and when necessary and shall meet at such time and place as the Chairperson may think fit.
(2) The Commission shall regulate its own procedure and the procedure of the committees thereof.
(3) All orders and decisions of the Commission shall be authenticated by the Member-Secretary or
any other officer of the Commission duly authorised by the Member-Secretary in this behalf.