(1) The President of the District Forum shall receive the salary at the minimum stage, of the District Judge appointed in the State Judicial Service, if appointed on whole-time basis. However, if on a part time basis, i.e. on a sitting basis the President shall be paid Rs. 200 per day as honorarium. Such of the President who is appointed after selection from the retired District Judges, shall get his pay fixed as per Rule 157(2) of the Maharashtra Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1982. Deputation allowance in addition to pay and allowances shall be payable to such of the President who is appointed from the cadre of sitting District Judges. The members of the District Forum, if appointed on whole/time basis, shall be paid a consolidated honorarium offers 4,000 per mensem. For attending sittings of the Forum on per sitting basis a sitting fee of Rs. 200 or such amount as the Government may decide, from time to time, shall be paid.



Explanation.-(1) Whenever the President attends the work of the Forum, it shall be treated as a sitting.



(2) When a member is present and attends the work of the Forum like giving dates, admitting cases, etc., it shall be treated as a sitting.



(2) The President and the members of the District Forum shall be entitled for such conveyance allowance and daily allowance, on official tour at such rate, as may be specified by the State Government, from time to time :



Provided that, the members of the District Forum, except the members of the Mumbai District Forum, shall be entitled to conveyance allowance at the rate that Government decides from time to time.



(3) Before appointment, the President and Members of the District Forum shall have to make an undertaking that he does not and will not have any such financial or other interests, as is likely to affect prejudicially, his functions as a President or a Member, and he shall not have any association with any political party.



(4) In addition of provisions of sub-section (2) of section 10, State Government may remove from the office, the President and Member of a District Forum who,-



(a) has been adjudged an insolvent; or



(b) has been convicted of an offence which in the opinion of the State Government, involves moral turpitude; or



(c) has become physically or mentally incapable of acting as such member;



(d) has acquired such financial or other interest as is likely to affect prejudicially his functions as a member, or



(e) has so abused; his position as to render his continuance in office prejudicial to the public interest; or



(f) has remained absent for not less than three consecutive sittings of the District Forum, without permission, of the President of the State Commission, in case he is President of the District Forum and of the President of the concerned District Forum, in case he is a member. Under special circumstances such permission may be obtained post facto, however, strictly within thirty days from the first day of such absence, failing which he shall be treated as absent :



Provided that the President or Member shall not be removed from his office on the ground specified in clauses (d) and (e) of this sub-rule except on an inquiry held by the State Government in accordance with such procedure as it may specify in this behalf and finds the Member to be guilty of such ground.



(5) The terms and conditions of the service of the President and the Members of the District Forum shall not be varied to their disadvantage during their tenure of office.



(6) Where any vacancy occurs in the office of the President of the District Forum, by resignation, removal or he is unable to discharge the functions owing to absence, illness or any other cause, the senior most (in order of appointment) member of the District Forum, who is qualified to be appointed as President of the Form under clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 10, holding office for the time being, shall discharge the functions of the President until the person appointed to fill such vacancy assume the office of the President of the District Forum. In absence of both the members of the District Forum, or if none of the member is qualified to hole the office of the President, the President or any senior most (in order of appointment) member of the District Forum of adjacent district, qualified to be appointed as a President shall discharge the functions of the president of the District Forum :



Provided that if the member of the District Forum of and adjacent District is qualified to be appointed as President, preference shall be given to such member over the President of such adjacent district :



Provided further that the Government shall, by order specify the District which shall be treated as adjacent District for such purposes :



Provided also that where there are more than one Forum in the District, the President of any other Forum, in the District or any member of any other Forum in the District, who is qualified to be appointed as a President shall discharge the functions of the President :



Provided also that, where the President or member of the adjoining District Forum attends the work of the District Forum such President or the member shall be paid travelling allowance and daily allowance in accordance with these Rules.



Explanation.-If the members, are not eligible under clause (a); of sub-section (1) of section 10 of the Act, such members shall attend the work of the Forum like giving of dates for hearing of complaints, accepting applications, complaints, etc., and bring the same to the notice of the President. Every such work shall be deemed to be a sitting. However, they shall not hear and dispose of the complaints.



It shall be the duty of the Registrar and the other members of the staff to assist the members in discharging such functions.



(7) The President or any member ceasing to hold office as such shall not hold any appointment in or be connected with the management or administration of an organisation which have been the subject of any proceeding under the Act during his tenure for a period 5 years from the date on which he ceases to hold such office.



(8) The President of the District Forum shall discharge the judicial functions, while the Registrar of the District Forum shall discharge the administrative functions.