(1) This Act may be called the Indian Statistical InstituteAct, 1959.

(2) It shall come into force on such date1as the Central Government may, by notification in theOfficial Gazette, appoint.

1. 1st April, 1960, vide notification No. S.O. 584(E), dated 2nd March, 1960, see Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II,sec 3(ii).

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires.--

(a) "Institute" means the Indian Statistical Institute registered under the Societies RegistrationAct, 1860 (21 of 1860);

(b) "memorandum" means the memorandum of association of the Institute filed with theRegistrar of Joint-Stock Companies under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (21 of 1860);

(c) "rules and regulations" includes any rule or regulation (by whatever name called) which theInstitute is competent to make in the exercise of the powers conferred on it under the SocietiesRegistration Act, 1860 (21 of 1860), but shall not include any bye-laws or standing orders madeunder the rules and regulations for the conduct of its day-to-day administration.

Whereas the objects of the institution known as the Indian Statistical Institute are such asto make it an institution of national importance, it is hereby declared that the Indian Statistical Institute isan institution of national importance.

Notwithstanding anything contained in theUniversity Grants Commission Act, 1956 (3 of 1956), or in any other law for the time being force, theInstitute may hold such examinations and grant such degrees and diplomas in 1[statistics, mathematics,quantitative economics, computer science and such other subjects related to statistics] as may bedetermined by the Institute from time to time.

1. Subs. by Act 38 of 1995, s. 2, for "statistics" (w.e.f. 18-9-1995).

For the purpose of enabling theInstitute to discharge efficiently its functions, including research, education, training, project activitiesand statistical work relating to planning for national development, the Central Government may, after dueappropriation made by Parliament by law in this behalf, pay to the Institute in each financial year suchsums of money as that Government considers necessary by way of grant, loan or otherwise.

(1) The accounts of the Institute shall be audited by auditorsduly qualified to act as auditors of companies under the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), and theinstitute shall appoint such auditors as the Central Government may, after consultation with theComptroller and Auditor-General of India and the Institute, select.

(2) The Central Government may issue such directions to the auditors in the performance of theirduties as it thinks fit.

(3) Every such auditor in the performance of his duties shall have at all reasonable times access to theregisters, books of account, records and other documents of the Institute.

(4) The auditors shall submit their report to the Institute and shall also forward a copy thereof to theCentral Government for its information.

Notwithstanding anything contained in the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (21 of 1860), orin the memorandum or rules and regulations, the Institute shall not, except with the previous approval ofthe Central Government,--

(a) alter, extend or abridge any of the purposes for which it has been established or for which it isbeing used immediately before the commencement of this Act, or amalgamate itself either wholly orpartially with any other institution or society; or

(b) alter or amend in any manner the memorandum or rules and regulations; or

(c) sell or otherwise dispose of any property acquired by the Institute with money specificallyprovided for such acquisition by the Central Government:

Provided that no such approval shall be necessary in the case of any such movable property orclass of movable property as may be specified by the Central Government in this behalf by general orspecial order; or

(d) be dissolved.

(1) The Central Government may constitute as many Committees as and when itconsiders necessary consisting of such number of persons as it thinks fit to appoint thereto and assign toeach such Committee all or any of the following duties, namely:--

(a) the preparation and submission to the Central Government as far as possible before thecommencement of each financial year, of statements showing programmes of work agreed to beundertaken by the Institute during that year for which the Central Government may provide funds, aswell as general financial estimates in respect of such work; and

(b) the settlement on broad lines of the programme of such work.

(2) Where the Institute does not agree to undertake any work suggested by any Committee referred toin sub-section (1), it shall give to the Central Government its reasons for not so agreeing.

(1) The Central Government may constitute aCommittee consisting of such number of persons as it thinks fit to appoint thereto for the purpose of--

(a) reviewing the work done by the Institute and the progress made by it;

(b) inspecting its buildings, equipment and other assets;

(c) evaluating the work done by the Institute; and

(d) advising Government generally on any matter which in the opinion of the Central Governmentis of importance in connection with the work of the Institute;

and the Committee shall submit its reports thereon in such manner as the Central Government may direct.

(2) Notice shall be given in every case to the Institute of the intention to cause a review, inspection orevaluation to be made, and the Institute shall be entitled to appoint a representative who shall have theright to be present and be heard at such review, inspection or evaluation.

(3) The Central Government may address the Chairman of the Institute with reference to the result ofsuch review, inspection or evaluation as disclosed in any report of the Committee referred to insub-section (1), and the Chairman shall communicate to the Central Government the action, if any, takenthereon.

(4) When the Central Government has, in pursuance of sub-section (3), addressed the Chairman of theInstitute in connection with any matter, and the Chairman does not within a reasonable time take action tothe satisfaction of the Central Government in respect thereof, the Central Government may, afterconsidering any explanations furnished or representations made on behalf of the Institute, issue suchdirections as it considers necessary in respect of any of the matters dealt with in the report.

The Institute shall be bound to afford all necessaryfacilities to any Committee constituted under section 8 or section 9 for the purpose of enabling it to carryout its duties.

(1) The Central Government may, if it is satisfied that itis necessary so to do in the public interest, issue, for reasons to be recorded and communicated to theInstitute, such directions as it thinks fit to the Institute, and such directions may include directionsrequiring the Institute--

(a) to amend the memorandum or to make or amend any rule or regulation within such period asmay be specified in the directions;

(b) to give priorities to the work undertaken or to be undertaken by the Institute in such manner asthe Central Government may think fit to specify in this behalf.

(2) Any directions issued under this section shall have effect, notwithstanding anything contained inany law for the time being in force or in the memorandum or rules and regulations of the Institute.

(1) If, in the opinion of theCentral Government,--

(i) the Institute without just or reasonable cause has made default in giving effect to any directionissued under sub-section (4) of section 9 or section 11; or

(ii) the Council of the Institute has exceeded or abused its powers in relation to the Institute orany part thereof;

the Central Government may, by written order, direct the Institute within a period to be specified in theorder to show cause to the satisfaction of the Central Government against the making of any appointmentreferred to in sub-section (2).

(2) If, within the period fixed by any order issued under sub-section (1), cause is not shown to thesatisfaction of the Central Government, the Central Government may, by order published in theOfficial Gazette and stating the reasons therefore, appoint one or more persons to take charge of theInstitute or any part thereof for such period not exceeding two years as may be specified in the order.

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force or in the memorandumor rules and regulations of the Institute, on the issue of an order under sub-section (2), during the periodspecified in that order,--

(a) where the order provides for any person or persons being in charge of the Institute--

(i) all persons holding office as Members of the Council, including the Chairman, shall bedeemed to have vacated their offices as such;

(ii) the person or persons appointed under sub-section (2) to be in charge of the Institute shallexercise all the powers and perform all the duties of the Chairman or Council of the Institute,whether at a meeting or otherwise, in respect of the Institute;

(b) where the order provides for any person or persons being in charge of any part of the Institute,the person or persons so appointed shall alone be entitled to exercise all the powers and perform allthe duties of the Chairman or Council in relation to that part.