shall preside and, in his absence, some other member of the Coun. cil shall be elected by the Council to act as Chairman. (4) If. in relation to the composition of ihe Council, the nomination of candidates for election or the election of members, any question shall arise as to the racial community to which any person shall be deemed to belong for the purposes of this Chapter, the matter shall be referred to the Chairman of the Constitutional Council, whose decision shall be final and not open to question in any court. 98. (1) The Council shall not transact any business unless a Procedure quorum is present, the quorum shall be seven members including of the Con- stitutional the Chairman or member presiding. Council (2) Any decision of the Council shall be made by a majority of the votes of the members voting. (3) The Chairman or member presiding shall have an original vote and, in the case of an equality <f votes, shall have and exercise a casting vote in addition to his original vote (4) The proceedings of the Coun-il shall be conducied in private and the Coucei! shall not be entitled to hear objectors or to cxamine witnesses in regard to any Bill or law which is being considered by the Council in pursuance of the provisions of this Constitution (5) In reporting the opinion of the Council to Parliament, the Council shall state- (a) either that the report is unanimous or the number of votes for and against it; (b) in the case of an adverse report, the grounds on which the Council have reached their conclusion; but it shall not be competent to the Council to propose or recom- mend amendments to the Act, Bill or statutory instru- mçnt in question. (6) Subject to the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, the Council shall not be disqualified for the transaction of business by reason of any vacancy among the members thereof, and any proceedings therein shall be valid notwithstanding that some person who was not entitled to do so took part in those pro- ceedings, or that the composition of the Council at any particular time was not in accordance with the requirements of paragraphs (a) to (e) of section 82
6767
