Section 91. Appointment of competent authority

(1) The State Government may, by notification, appoint any person who is or has been a member of a State Judicial Service for a period of not less than five years or is or has been for not less than five years an advocate or is or has been a Gazetted Officer for not less than five years having educational qualifications and experience in personnel management, human resource development, industrial relations and legal affairs or such other experience and qualifications as may be prescribed by the appropriate Government to be a competent authority for the purposes of this Chapter and for such area as may be specified in the notification.

(2) Where more than one competent authority has been appointed for any area, the State Government may, by general or special order, regulate the distribution of business amongst them.

(3) Any competent authority may, for the purpose of deciding any matter referred to him for decision under this Chapter, choose one or more persons possessing special knowledge of any matter relevant to the matter under inquiry to assist him in holding the inquiry.