Singapore Armed Forces Bill

This Act may be cited as the Singapore Armed Forces Act, 1972, and shall, with the exception of sections 191 and 192, come into operation on such date as the Minister may, by notification in the Gazette, appoint.

The Minister may appoint different dates for the coming into operation of the different Parts of this Act.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires —

“aircraft” means any machine for flying whether propelled by mechanical means or not and includes any description of balloon;

“Armed Forces Council” means the Armed Forces Council established under section 7 of this Act;

“arms” includes parts and accessories of arms, ammunition, explosives whether encased or not and instruments used as aids to operation or adjustment of arms, whether the arms are serviceable or not;

“arrest” includes open arrest;

“civil court” means a court of ordinary criminal jurisdiction constituted under any written law in force relating to courts;

“civil offence” means an offence punishable under any written law in force other than a military offence;

“civil prison” means a prison declared as such under section 3 of the Prisons Act (Cap. 79);

“commander” means, in relation to any person subject to military law, an officer of or above the rank of captain for the time being commanding a unit or units or part of a unit of the Singapore Armed Forces;

“convening authority” means, in the case of a general court martial, an officer of or above the rank of major appointed by the Armed Forces Council for the purpose and, in the case of a field general court martial, a commander referred to in section 81 of this Act.

“detention barracks” means any building or part of a building which is set apart by the Armed Forces Council for the purpose of persons serving sentences of detention;

“disciplinary officer” means a junior disciplinary officer, a senior disciplinary officer and a superior commander each being qualified to be such or being designated as such pursuant to the provisions of Part IV of this Act;

“enemy” includes persons engaged in violent operations against the Singapore Armed Forces, armed mutineers, armed rebels, armed rioters or pirates;

“general orders” includes orders of the Armed Forces Council, General Orders of the Ministry of Defence, standing orders, routine orders and other general orders published in writing in accordance with military usage;

“Military Court of Appeal” means the court established under Part VII of this Act;

“military custody” means any place designated by the Armed Forces Council pursuant to regulations made under this Act which according to military usage is used for keeping offenders under arrest awaiting trial or on remand;

“military documents” includes reports, certificates, returns, pay lists, forms and any other documents in use in the Singapore Armed Forces;

“military offence” means an offence punishable under this Act;

“military policeman” means a serviceman appointed to be a military policeman;

“military prison” means any building or part of a building under the control of the Armed Forces Council which is set apart by the Armed Forces Council for the purpose of persons serving sentences of imprisonment;

“national serviceman” has the same meaning as in the Enlistment Act (Cap. 229);

“officer” means a person appointed by the President of Singapore or the proper authority to hold the rank of officer in the Singapore Armed Forces and includes any person commissioned as an officer under any written law that is repealed by this Act;

“proper authority” has the same meaning as in the Enlistment Act;

“publication” and “words” have the same meaning as in the Sedition Act (Cap. 106);

“qualified person” has the same meaning as in the Legal Profession Act (Cap. 217);

“regular serviceman” has the same meaning as in the Enlistment Act;

“reservist” means a person liable to render reserve service under the Enlistment Act;

“sentence” means a punishment imposed on a convicted person;

“serviceman” means an officer or a soldier of the Singapore Armed Forces and includes a servicewoman;

“sickness” includes permanent or temporary illness, disability or injury;

“Singapore Armed Forces” means the Singapore Armed Forces raised and maintained under section 6 of this Act;

“Singapore Armed Forces property” includes property in the possession, control or occupancy of the Singapore Armed Forces;

“soldier” means any person, other than an officer, who is a member of the Singapore Armed Forces and includes a servicewoman;

“subordinate military courts” means general courts martial and field general courts martial from the decisions of which by reason of this Act there is a right of appeal to the Military Court of Appeal;

“summary trial” means a trial by a disciplinary officer under Part IV of this Act;

“vessel” includes a hovercraft.

In any written law or any document whatsoever —

For the purposes of this Act, if not inconsistent with the context, the expression “on active service” as applied to a person subject to military law means whenever he is attached to or forms part of a force which is engaged in operations against the enemy or is engaged in military operations in a country or place wholly or partly occupied by an enemy, or is in military occupation of any foreign country.

Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (3) of this section, where any part of the Singapore Armed Forces is serving, or due to serve, outside Singapore under conditions that do not, or will not, amount to “active service” as defined in subsection (3) of this section, the Armed Forces Council may declare that that part of the Singapore Armed Forces shall be temporarily subject to this Act, as if that part of the Forces was on active service; and then, on the publication of any such declaration, the forces to which the declaration applies shall be deemed to be on active service until the declaration is cancelled by the Armed Forces Council.

Every general court martial shall have jurisdiction to try any person subject to military law for any offence under this Act and to award for any such offence any punishment authorised by this Act.

Every general court martial shall consist of not less than three officers, or any other uneven number of officers of whom not less than two shall be of a rank not below that of captain; and the minimum number mentioned in this subsection shall be the legal minimum for a general court martial.

The president of a general court martial shall be an officer of or above the rank of major and shall be appointed by the convening authority.

Where the accused is of or above the rank of lieutenant-colonel, the president of a general court martial shall be an officer of or above the rank of the accused and at least two of the members of the court martial shall be of or above the rank of lieutenant-colonel.

The determination of the question of the guilt of an accused before a general court martial shall be according to the opinion of the majority of the members of the court hearing the case except that where an accused is found guilty of a charge in respect of which punishment of death is authorised under this Act the decision of the court shall be unanimous.

In the event of the general court martial failing to reach an unanimous decision an accused shall not be convicted of that offence in respect of which punishment of death is authorised by this Act but may, if the members of the court by majority decision agree, be convicted of any lesser offence authorised by this Act.

The Armed Forces Council may appoint a suitable person to perform in respect of the Singapore Armed Forces the functions of a Judge Advocate-General and any reference under any written law to the Judge Advocate-General shall be deemed to be references to the person appointed under this subsection.

The person appointed under subsection (1) of this section shall be either a member of the judicial and legal service of not less than five years service or an advocate and solicitor of the Supreme Court of not less than five years’ standing.

Rules of procedure may make provision as to the functions to be exercised by the Judge Advocate-General and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing his functions shall include advising the Armed Forces Council on the validity of the findings and sentences of subordinate military courts and on any other matters which may from time to time be referred to him by the Armed Forces Council or the person appointed under paragraph (a) of subsection (5) of this section.

The Armed Forces Council may appoint advocates and solicitors of the Supreme Court to officiate as judge advocates in subordinate military courts and rules of procedure made under this Act may provide for the exercise of their functions at a trial by such courts.

The Armed Forces Council may appoint —

The person appointed under paragraph (a) of subsection (5) of this section shall by virtue of his appointment be the chief military prosecutor.

Where an offence punishable under this Act has been committed by any person subject to military law who belongs to a unit or part of a unit of the Singapore Armed Forces which is, at the time of the commission of the offence, engaged on active service it shall be lawful for a commander (hereinafter called “the convening officer”), if it is not practicable for a general court martial to be convened, to convene a field general court martial.

Every field general court martial may try any person subject to military law for any offence under this Act and may award for such offence any punishment that a general court martial is competent to award for such offence.

Every field general court martial shall consist of not less than three members who shall be officers or any other uneven number of members and the member who is most senior in rank shall preside.

The convening officer may preside over a field general court martial but shall, whenever it is practicable, appoint another officer as president of the court who shall not be below the rank of captain.

Whenever it is practicable, the rank of each member of the field general court martial shall be of a rank above that of the accused.

The convening officer shall appoint any serviceman to perform the functions of a registrar of the court.

The determination of any question before a field general court martial shall be according to the majority of the members of the court hearing the case except that where an accused is found guilty of a charge in respect of which punishment of death is authorised under this Act the decision of the court shall be unanimous.

In the event of the field general court martial failing to reach an unanimous decision an accused shall not be convicted of that offence in respect of which punishment of death is authorised by this Act but may, if the members of the court by majority decision agree, be convicted of any lesser offence authorised by this Act.

The president of a subordinate military court or, if a judge advocate is present, the judge advocate shall keep a record of the proceedings of the trial.

The president of a subordinate military court may, if a judge advocate is not present, notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1) of this section during any proceeding of the court, appoint a person to keep on his behalf the record of the proceedings or may direct that the record shall be taken by a recording device or by some other mechanical device.

The charge-sheet and the documents admitted by the court, and any other documents which the president of the court may direct, shall be attached to the record of the proceedings and shall form part thereof.

The president of a subordinate military court and every member of the court who is so required by the president shall record the grounds for his decision in writing and such written judgment or grounds of decision shall form part of the record of the proceedings.

The president of a subordinate military court or any member when he has recorded his judgment shall not alter or revise the same.

A clerical error may be rectified at any time and any other mistake may be rectified before the court rises for the day.

The record of the proceedings shall be authenticated by the president of a subordinate military court.

The record of the proceedings of a subordinate military court authenticated by the president of the court shall be conclusive evidence of any thing contained therein unless it is proved that it has been falsified.

A record of the proceedings of a subordinate military court purporting to be signed by the president of the court shall be presumed to be so signed.

An oath or an affirmation in the prescribed form shall be administered by the president of a subordinate military court to every member of every subordinate military court and to the judge advocate and in the case of a president of a subordinate military court an oath or affirmation shall be administered to the president by any member already sworn before the commencement of the trial.

An oath or an affirmation in the prescribed form shall be administered by the president of a subordinate military court to every shorthand writer or interpreter (if any) in attendance at the trial.

Every witness before a subordinate military court shall be examined on oath or affirmation, which the president shall administer in the prescribed form.

The accused or where there is more than one accused, each of the accused, about to be tried by a subordinate military court may object, for any reasonable cause, to any member of the court including the president thereof, whether appointed to serve thereon originally or to fill a vacancy caused by the retirement of a member objected to, so that the court may be constituted of members to whom the accused makes no reasonable objection.

Every objection made by an accused to any member shall be submitted to the other members appointed to form the court and if allowed by a majority of the votes of members entitled to vote the objection shall be allowed and the member objected to shall retire and his vacancy may be filled by another member subject to the same right of the accused to object.

If the objection is to the president of a subordinate military court such objection, if allowed by a majority of the other members appointed to form the court, shall be allowed, and the court shall adjourn for the purpose of the appointment of another president by the convening authority.

If the objection is to a member other than the president of a subordinate military court and is allowed by a majority of the votes of the members entitled to vote, the objection shall be allowed, and the member objected to shall retire, and his vacancy may be filled by another member.

In order to enable an accused to avail himself of his privilege of objecting to any member, the names of the members appointed to form the court shall be read over in the hearing of the accused on their first assembling, and before they are sworn, and the accused shall be asked whether he objects to any of such members, and a like question shall be repeated in respect of any member appointed to serve in lieu of a retiring member.

If a subordinate military court after the commencement of the trial is, by reason of death or otherwise, reduced below the legal minimum, it shall be dissolved.

If, after the commencement of the trial, the president of a subordinate military court dies, or is otherwise unable to attend, the court shall be dissolved.

If, on account of the illness of the accused before the finding, it is impossible to continue the trial, a subordinate military court shall be dissolved.

Where a subordinate military court is dissolved under subsection (1), (2) or (3) of this section the accused may be tried again by another subordinate military court.

The president of any subordinate military court may, on any deliberation amongst the members, cause the court to be cleared of all other persons.

The court may adjourn from time to time.

The court may also, where necessary, view any place.

An accused charged before a subordinate military court with an offence under this Act may, on failure of proof of the offence having been committed under circumstances involving a higher degree of punishment, be found guilty of the offence as having been committed under circumstances involving a less degree of punishment.

An accused charged before a subordinate military court with any offence may be found guilty of attempting to commit that offence.

An accused charged before a subordinate military court with attempting to commit a military offence may be convicted on that charge notwithstanding that it is proved that he actually committed the military offence.

Where an accused is charged before a subordinate military court with attempting to commit a civil offence, he may be convicted on that charge notwithstanding that it is proved that he actually committed the civil offence.

An accused charged before a subordinate military court with theft may be found guilty of dishonestly misappropriating property.

An accused charged before a subordinate military court with desertion may be found guilty of being absent without leave.

An accused charged before a subordinate military court with striking an officer superior in rank may be found guilty of using or offering violence to his superior officer.

An accused charged before a subordinate military court with using violence may be found guilty of offering violence.

An accused charged before a subordinate military court with using threatening language may be found guilty of using insubordinate language.

Where an accused is charged before a subordinate military court with a civil offence and the charge is one upon which, if he had been tried by a civil court in Singapore for such an offence committed in Singapore, he might have been found guilty of any other offence, the subordinate military court shall have power to find him guilty of that offence.

Where a person has been convicted by a subordinate military court of having stolen, dishonestly misappropriated or converted, received, knowing it to be stolen, or otherwise unlawfully obtained, any property, and the property or any part thereof is found in the possession of the offender, the president of the court may order the property so found to be restored to the person appearing to be the lawful owner thereof.

A like order may be made with respect to any property found in the possession of such offender, which appears to the president of the court to have been obtained by the conversion or exchange of any of the property stolen, dishonestly misappropriated or converted, received or unlawfully obtained.

An order under this section shall not bar the right of any person, other than the offender, or any one claiming through him, to recover any property or money delivered or paid in pursuance of an order under this section from the person to whom the same is so delivered or paid.

On the termination of the hearing a subordinate military court shall, either at once or on some future date which shall either then be appointed for the purpose or of which notice shall subsequently be given to the parties, deliver a written judgment in open court.

A subordinate military court shall ordinarily give only one judgment, which may be pronounced by the president or by such other member of the court as the president may direct, but separate judgments shall be delivered if the president so directs.

The judgment of any member of the subordinate military court who is absent may be read by any other member.

Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Armed Forces Council may, from time to time, make regulations of procedure with regard to any matter or thing that is expedient or necessary for the purpose of carrying this Act into execution so far as relates to the investigation, trial and punishment of offences triable or punishable by subordinate military courts under this Act.

Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) of this section, regulations of procedure may make provision with respect to all or any of the following matters, that is to say —

Regulations may further provide for the making of such warrants and orders as may be necessary to enable a subordinate military court to enforce its orders or sentences.

No regulation of procedure shall contain anything which is contrary to, or which is inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act.

Any document, purporting to be signed by an officer in the course of his duty and containing particulars regarding the matters enumerated below, shall be prima facie evidence of such particulars —

A copy of general orders or of any official publication, document, certificate or form certified by the Armed Forces Council as general orders, official publication, document, certificate or form for the purpose of this section, shall be conclusive evidence of its contents.

Any document purporting to be a document under subsection (1) or (2) of this section shall be presumed to be such a document.

Subject to any other provisions in this Act, an accused shall have the right to be represented in his defence before a subordinate military court by an advocate and solicitor, if provided by him, or by any officer in the Singapore Armed Forces.

Where an accused is not represented by a person in accordance with subsection (1) of this section and —

Where the accused selects a person to represent him in a subordinate military court, such person shall be authorised to do so after submitting to the subordinate military court a warrant to act signed by the accused.

Subject to any other provisions in this Act, a subordinate military court shall sit in open court in the presence of the parties and, to the extent that accommodation permits, the public shall be admitted to the trial.

Every judgment or finding of a subordinate military court shall be pronounced in open court.

The president of a subordinate military court may where it is expedient in the interests of —

A subordinate military court may exclude a person from any part of the proceedings where such person is obstructing the proceedings of the court.

No person shall be present during any deliberation among the members of a subordinate military court, whether on the finding or sentence on any charge or otherwise, without permission from the president of the court.

Where any proceedings in a subordinate military court have been held in camera, no person shall publish any information concerning the proceedings and the judgment, except with the permission of the Armed Forces Council.

No person shall take photographs in the court room or in the presence of the court or publish photographs so taken, except with the permission of the president of the court.

Any person who contravenes any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction by a subordinate military court to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars or to both such imprisonment and fine.

In matters of adjudication, members of subordinate military courts shall not be subject to the authority of their commanders, or to any other authority, except the law.

No person shall attempt to coerce or by any unauthorised means influence the action or proceedings of a subordinate military court or any member thereof.

Any person who contravenes the provisions of subsection (2) of this section shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction by a subordinate military court to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or any less punishment authorised by this Act.

Subject to the provisions of this Act, where a person subject to military law has been acquitted or convicted of an offence by a subordinate military court or has had his conviction quashed by the Military Court of Appeal or the Armed Forces Council he shall not be liable to be tried again by a subordinate military court or any civil court or a disciplinary officer in respect of that offence or for any offence based on the same facts.

Where a person subject to military law has been acquitted or convicted of an offence by a disciplinary officer he shall not be liable to be tried again by a subordinate military court or a disciplinary officer in respect of that offence or for any offence based on the same facts but he may be tried for the same offence or for an offence based on the same facts by a civil court which shall in awarding punishment have regard to any military punishment he may already have undergone as a result of his conviction by a disciplinary officer.

Where a person subject to military law has been acquitted or convicted of an offence by a competent civil court, he shall not be liable to be tried in respect of that offence by a subordinate military court or a disciplinary officer.

Subject to section 107 of this Act where an offence under this Act triable by a subordinate military court or by a disciplinary officer has been committed or is reasonably suspected of having been committed by any person while subject to military law then in relation to that offence he shall be treated for the provisions of this Act relating to arrest, keeping in custody, investigation of offences, trial and punishment by a subordinate military court or by a disciplinary officer (including review) and execution of sentences as continuing to be subject to military law notwithstanding his ceasing at any time to be subject thereto.

Where a person subject to military law is sentenced by a military court to imprisonment or detention or by a disciplinary officer to detention, this Act shall apply to him during the term of his sentence, notwithstanding that he is discharged or dismissed from the Singapore Armed Forces, or has otherwise ceased to be subject to military law, and he may be kept, removed, imprisoned, made to undergo detention, and punished accordingly as if he continued to be subject to military law.

A person shall not in pursuance of this Act be tried or punished for any offence triable under this Act committed more than three years before the date at which his trial begins, except in the case of the offence of mutiny or desertion; but this section shall not affect the jurisdiction of a civil court in the case of any offence triable by such court.

Where a serviceman has served continuously in an exemplary manner for not less than three years in the Singapore Armed Forces he shall not be tried for the offence of desertion (other than desertion on active service), if that offence was committed before the commencement of the three years referred to in subsection (1) of this section.

Subject to subsection (2) of this section, every person subject to military law who commits any of the following offences, that is to say: —

A person subject to military law shall not be tried by a subordinate military court for any offence under sections 121 and 121A of the Penal Code (Cap. 103) or for murder, or for culpable homicide not amounting to murder or rape, unless such person at the time he committed the offence was on active service.

Notwithstanding anything in this section, the Attorney-General may, on his own motion, if he thinks it expedient for the ends of justice or on the application of the person appointed under paragraph (a) of subsection (5) of section 80 of this Act, at any time before the finding is pronounced order that a person subject to military law who is charged with a civil offence under this section shall not be tried by a subordinate military court.

Upon an order being made under subsection (3) of this section the case shall be transferred to and shall be tried by a civil court.

Every person required to give evidence before a subordinate military court may be summoned or ordered to attend in the prescribed manner.

Every person attending in pursuance of such summons or order as a witness before any subordinate military court shall, during his necessary attendance at such court, and in going to and returning from the same, have the same privilege from arrest as he would have if he were a witness before a civil court.

Where any person who is not subject to military law —

Where a person not subject to military law when examined on oath or on affirmation before a subordinate military court wilfully gives false evidence, he shall be liable on conviction before a competent court to be punished for the offence of giving false evidence in a judicial proceeding.

Where a person not subject to military law is guilty of any contempt towards a subordinate military court, by using insulting or threatening language, or by causing any interruption or disturbance in its proceedings, or by printing observations or using words calculated to influence the members of or witnesses before such court, or to bring such court into disrepute, the president of the subordinate military court may certify the offence of such person under his hand to a Magistrate’s Court and that Court may thereupon inquire into such alleged offence, and after hearing any witnesses that may be produced against or on behalf of the person so accused, and after hearing any statement that may be offered in defence, if it seems just, punish or take steps for the punishment of such person in the like manner as if he had been guilty of contempt of that Court.

For the purposes of this Act the Armed Forces Council shall be a reviewing authority.

The Armed Forces Council may delegate its powers as a reviewing authority under this section to a committee consisting of at least three of its members.

An accused who has been sentenced by a subordinate military court or who has been found to be unfit to stand his trial or to be not guilty by reason of insanity may within such time and in such manner as may be prescribed present a petition to the reviewing authority against the finding or sentence or both.

Upon receipt of the petition referred to in subsection (3) of this section the reviewing authority shall, subject to subsection (5) of this section, as soon as it is practicable, after considering the matters alleged in the petition, review the finding or sentence.

Notwithstanding subsection (4) of this section if notice of appeal has been lodged with the registrar of the Military Court of Appeal under section 123 of this Act any powers of review exercised by the reviewing authority in reviewing a finding or sentence under this section shall cease to have effect; and the appeal shall be proceeded with as if no petition to review the finding or sentence had been made.

On a review the reviewing authority may —

Any substituted finding or sentence imposed under this section shall be treated for all purposes as a finding or sentence of the subordinate military court.

Notwithstanding anything contained in this section but subject to the provisions of subsection (3) of section 150 of this Act, a sentence of death shall not be carried into effect until reviewed by the reviewing authority unless the sentence of death is passed on a person on active service. In such an event a sentence of death may, subject to subsection (3) of this section and to the accused’s right of appeal, be carried out if an officer of or above the rank of lieutenant-colonel, who is specifically designated by the Armed Forces Council for the purpose, certifies to the Armed Forces Council that it is essential in the interests of discipline and for the purpose of securing the safety of the force with which the accused is serving that the sentence should be carried out forthwith.

The reviewing authority shall have and may exercise all the powers of the Military Court of Appeal to order a retrial conferred upon that Court by sections 143 and 144 of this Act and those sections shall apply with any necessary modification to a review by the reviewing authority under this section.

Regulations made under this Act may provide for the procedure to be followed on a review of a finding or sentence by the reviewing authority.

Any order for a retrial under this section shall operate to extinguish any appeal by the accused to the Military Court of Appeal.

The following deductions may, or if regulations so provide shall, be made from the ordinary pay due to a serviceman of the Singapore Armed Forces: —

Without prejudice to the provisions of this Act as to the imposition of deduction of pay as a punishment where, after enquiry by the Armed Forces Council or by a board of inquiry convened by it under Part IX of this Act, it appears that a loss of or damage to public or Singapore Armed Forces property has been occasioned by any wrongful act or negligence of a serviceman the Armed Forces Council may order the serviceman (whether or not he is a member of the Singapore Armed Forces when the order is made) to pay as or towards compensation for the loss or damage such sum as may be specified in the order and any such sum which is not otherwise paid by the serviceman may be deducted from his pay.

No order shall be made under subsection (2) of this section if the serviceman in proceedings under this Act —

Any sum authorised by this Act to be deducted from the ordinary pay of a serviceman may, without prejudice to any other mode of recovering the same, be deducted from the ordinary pay or from any sums due to such serviceman, in such manner, and when deducted or recovered may be appropriated in such manner, as may from time to time be directed by any regulations or order of the Armed Forces Council.

Any such regulations or order may from time to time declare what shall be deemed for the purposes of the provisions of this Act relating to deductions from pay to constitute a day of absence or a day of imprisonment or detention, so, however, that —

In cases of doubt as to the proper issue of pay or the proper deduction from pay due to any serviceman, the pay may be withheld until the order of the Armed Forces Council respecting it has been made.

It shall be lawful for the President of Singapore in accordance with this Act and regulations made thereunder to raise and maintain a force to be known as the “Singapore Armed Forces” which shall be a unified force consisting of military, maritime and air commands and each command shall consist of such number of servicemen as the President of Singapore may from time to time determine.

The servicemen in each command shall be formed into such units, corps, regiments, services or other like bodies and divisions as the President of Singapore may from time to time determine.

The President of Singapore may disband any command, unit, corps, regiment, service or other body or division constituted under subsection (2) of this section in whole or in part or amalgamate any such command, unit, corps, regiment, service or other body or division or alter the name or title thereof.

The Singapore Army and the People’s Defence Force and any other force that was raised and maintained under any written law repealed by this Act which were in existence immediately before the date of the coming into operation of this Act shall on or after that date be deemed to be included in the Singapore Armed Forces raised and maintained under this Act.

For the purpose of the administration of matters relating to the Singapore Armed Forces under this Act there shall be established an Armed Forces Council consisting of the Minister as Chairman and of such other members as the Minister may, by notification in the Gazette, appoint.