law: The Prevention of Money-Laundering Act, 2002
  6. Adjudicating
  
  Authorities, composition, powers, etc.-
  1.  The
  
  Central Government shall, by notification, appoint one or more Adjudicating
  
  Authorities to exercise jurisdiction, powers and authority conferred by or
  
  under this Act.
  2.  An
  
  Adjudicating Authority shall consist of a Chairperson and two other Members:
  
  Provided that one Member each shall be a person having experience in the field
  
  of law, administration, finance or accountancy.
  3.  A
  
  person shall, however, not be qualified for appointment as Member of an
  
  Adjudicating Authority,-
  a.   in the field of law,
  
  unless he-
   
  
   i.  
  
    is
  
  qualified for appointment as District Judge; or
   
  
   ii.  
  
    has
  
  been a member of the Indian Legal Service and has held a post in Grade I of
  
  that service;
  a.  
  
  
  b.   in the field of
  
  finance, accountancy or administration unless he possesses such qualifications,
  
  as may be prescribed.
  1.  
  2.  
  3.  
  4.    The
  
  Central Government shall appoint a Member to be the Chairperson of the
  
  Adjudicating Authority.
  5. Subject
  
  to the provisions of this Act,-
  a.   the jurisdiction of
  
  the Adjudicating Authority may be exercised by Benches thereof;
  b.   a Bench may be
  
  constituted by the Chairperson of the Adjudicating Authority with one or two
  
  Members as the Chairperson of the Adjudicating Authority may deem fit;
  c.   the Benches of the
  
  Adjudicating Authority shall ordinarily sit at New Delhi and at such other
  
  places as the Central Government may, in consultation with the Chairperson, by
  
  notification, specify;
  d.   the Central
  
  Government shall, by notification, specify the areas in relation to which each
  
  Bench of the Adjudicating Authority may exercise jurisdiction.
  1.  
  2.  
  
  
  3.  
  4.  
  5. 
  
  
  6. 
  
    Notwithstanding
  
  anything contained in sub-section (5), the Chairperson may transfer a Member
  
  from one Bench to another Bench.
  7. 
  
    If
  
  at any stage of the hearing of any case or matter it appears to the Chairperson
  
  or a Member that the case or matter is of such a nature that it ought to be
  
  heard by a Bench consisting of two Members, the case or matter may be
  
  transferred by the Chairperson or, as the case may be, referred to him for
  
  transfer, to such Bench as the Chairperson may deem fit.
  8. 
  
    The
  
  Chairperson and every Member shall hold office as such for a term of five years
  
  from the date on which he enters upon his office: Provided that no Chairperson
  
  or other Member shall hold office as such after he has attained the age of
  
  sixty-two years.
  9. 
  
    The
  
  salary and allowances payable to and the other terms and conditions of service
  
  of the Member shall be such as may be prescribed: Provided that neither the
  
  salary and allowances nor the other terms and conditions of service of the
  
  Member shall be varied to his disadvantage after appointment.
  10. 
  
  
  
    If,
  
  for reasons other than temporary absence, any vacancy occurs in the office of
  
  the Chairperson or any other Member, then, the Central Government shall appoint
  
  another person in accordance with the provisions of this Act to fill the
  
  vacancy and the proceedings may be continued before the Adjudicating Authority
  
  from the stage at which the vacancy is filled.
  11. 
  
    The
  
  Chairperson or any other Member may, by notice in writing under his hand
  
  addressed to the Central Government, resign his office: Provided that the
  
  Chairperson or any other Member shall, unless he is permitted by the Central
  
  Government to relinquish his office sooner, continue to hold office until the
  
  expiry of three months from the date of receipt of such notice or until a
  
  personally appointed as his successor enters upon his office or until the
  
  expiry of his term of office, whichever is the earliest.
  12.  The
  
  Chairperson or any other Member shall not be removed from his office except by
  
  an order made by the Central Government after giving necessary opportunity of
  
  hearing.
  13.  In
  
  the event of the occurrence of any vacancy in the office of the Chairperson by
  
  reason of his death, resignation or otherwise, the senior-most Member shall act
  
  as the Chairperson of the Adjudicating Authority until the date on which a new
  
  Chairperson, appointed in accordance with the provisions of this Act to fill
  
  such vacancy, enters upon his office.
  14.  
  
    When
  
  the Chairperson of the Adjudicating Authority is unable to discharge his
  
  functions owing to absence, illness or any other cause, the senior-most Member
  
  shall discharge the functions of the Chairperson of the Adjudicating Authority
  
  until the date on which the Chairperson of the Adjudicating Authority resumes
  
  his duties.
  15.  The
  
  Adjudicating Authority shall not be bound by the procedure laid down by the
  
  Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), but shall be guided by the
  
  principles of natural justice and, subject to the other provisions of this Act,
  
  the Adjudicating Authority shall have powers to regulate its own procedure.