The North-Eastern Council Act, 1971

(1) This Act may be called the North-Eastern CouncilAct, 1971. (2) It shall come into force on such date1, being a date not earlier than the day appointed underclause (b) of section 2 of the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971 (81 of 1971), as the CentralGovernment may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-- (a) "Council" means the North-Eastern Council set up under section 3; 1[(b) "north-eastern area" means the area comprising the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam,Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram,2[Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura]];

1[(1) There shall be a Council to becalled the North-Eastern Council which shall consist of the following members, namely:-- (i) the person or persons for the time being holding the office of the Governor of the States; (ii) the Chief Ministers of the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya,Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura: Provided that, if there is no Council of Ministers in any State referred to in clause (b), thePresident may nominate not more than one person to represent such State in the Council for so longas there is no Council of Ministers in such State; (iii) three members to be nominated by the President.] (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the President may, if he deems itnecessary so to do, nominate a Union Minister to be a member of the Council. 2[(3) The President shall nominate the Chairman of the Council.] (4) The President may, if he deems it necessary so to do, nominate another member of the Council toact as Vice-Chairman of the Council.

1[(1) The Council shall function as a regional planning body for thenorth-eastern area. (2) While formulating the regional plans for the north-eastern area, the Council shall give priority toschemes and projects which will benefit two or more States: Provided that in case or Sikkim, the Council shall formulate specific projects and schemes for thatState including the review of implementation of such projects and schemes.] (3) The Council shall-- (a) review, from time to time, the implementation of the projects and schemes included in theregional plan and recommend measures for effecting co-ordination among the Governments of theStates concerned in the matter of implementation of such projects and schemes; (b) where a project or scheme is intended to benefit two or more States, recommend the mannerin which,-- (i) such project or scheme may be executed or implemented and managed or maintained; or (ii) the benefits therefrom may be shared; or (iii) the expenditure thereon may be incurred; 2* * * * * (d) recommend to the Government of the State concerned or to the Central Government theundertaking of necessary surveys and investigation of projects in any State represented in the Councilto facilitate consideration of the feasibility of including new projects in the regional plan. (4) The Council shall review from time to time the measures taken by the States represented in theCouncil for the maintenance of security and public order therein and recommend to the Governments ofthe States concerned further measures necessary in this regard. 3[(5) The Council shall have such power as may be delegated to it by the Central Government.]

(1) 1[The Council shall meet at least twice in a year at such times] asthe Chairman of the Council may appoint in this behalf and shall, subject to the other provisions of thissection, observe such rules of procedure in regard to transaction of business at its meetings as it may laydown from time to time. (2) The Chairman or in his absence the Vice-Chairman, if any, or in the absence of both the Chairmanand the Vice-Chairman, any other member chosen by the members present from amongst themselves,shall preside at a meeting of the Council. (3) The proceedings of every meeting of the Council shall be forwarded to the Central Governmentand also to the Government of each State represented on the Council.