13No. 14 Consumer Protection 11. The office of a member, other than an ex officio member shall become vacant (a) upon his death; (b) if he has been absent from three consecutive meetings of the Council, of which he has had notice, without valid explanation; (c) if he has been convicted of an offence and sentenced to imprisonment for a period exceeding six (6) months without an option of a fine; (d) if he becomes mentally or physically incapable of efficiently performing his duties as a member of the Council; (e) if he becomes an undischarged bankrupt; or (j) if he resigns by giving one month notice in writing to the Minister. 12.-(I) on vacation of office by a member of the Council, the vacancy shall be filled by a person appointed in accordance with section 10 (2) (a) under which the former member was appointed: Provided that if the remaining period is less than six (6) months the Minister may decide not to have the vacancy filled until the expiry of the period. (2) If any member of the Council is granted leave of absence by the Council, the Council may, if it deems fit, co-opt a person who belongs to the same organization as the member who has been granted leave to fill the vacancy during the absence of that member. 13. The Council may, in its discretion at any time and for any period, invite any person to attend any meeting of the Council and take part in the deliberations of the Council, but such person shall not be entitled to vote at that meeting. 14.-(I) The Minister shall appoint a Chairman from the elected members of the Council. (2) The Vice-Chairman of the Council shall be elected by the members of the Council from amongst its members. (3) No member appointed under paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section] 0 shall be appointed or, elected as Chairman or ViceChairman, respectively. (4) Subject to subsection (3), the Chairman and the Vice Chairman sha1l hold office for the duration of their membership of the Council. (5) The office of the Chairman or the Vice-Chairman shall become vacant- Vacation of office of members