The Union Cabinet on Wednesday, January 10, approved a proposal to amend certain sections of the National Trust for the Welfare of Person with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act, 1999 to fix the term of the Chairperson and Members of the Board of National Trust for three years. This was necessitated because of a particular clause of the National Trust Act 1999 which ensured the term of its Chairperson for a period until his/her successor was appointed. Section 4(1) of the National Trust Act, 1999 provides that the Chairperson or a Member of the Board of National Trust would continue in office beyond the prescribed term of three years until his successor shall have been duly appointed. In case of resignation of the Chairperson, section 5(1) of the Act provides for him to continue in office until his successor is duly appointed by the Government. The wording of the above provisions of the Act in its present form has resulted in the continuation of a Chairman for an indefinite period as no suitable successor could be found eligible for appointment. The proposed amendments to these provisions of the Act seek to avoid such a situation and will thus eliminate any chance of prolonged continuation in the same post by any incumbent.