REGISTERED No. D- (D)-72

The Gazette of India

EXTRAORDINARY

Part-II – Section 1

PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY

 

No. 32]     NEW DELHI, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1983/BHADRA 18, 1905

 

 

Separate paging is given to this Part in order that it may be filed

as a separate compilation

 

MINISTRY OF LAW, JUSTICE AND COMPANY AFFAIRS

(Legislative Department)

New Delhi, the 9th September, 1983/Bhadra 18, 1905 (Saka)

The following Act of Parliament received the assent of the President on the 8th September 1983 and is hereby published for general information: -

 

THE NATIONAL OILSEEDS AND VEGETABLE OILS

DEVELOPMENT BOARD ACT, 1983

No. 29 OF 1983

[8th September, 1983.]

An Act to provide for the development under the control of the Union of the oilseeds industry and the vegetable oils industry and for matters connected therewith.

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Thirty-fourth Year of the Republic of India as follows : -

 

CHAPTER 1

PRELIMINARY

 

1.         (1)        This Act may be called the National Oilseeds and Vegetable Oils Development Board Act, 1983.

 

Short title, extent and commence -

ment

(2)               It extends to the whole of India.

(3)               It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.

 

2.                  It is hereby declared that it is expedient in the public interest that the Union should take under its control the oilseeds industry.

 

Declaration as to expediency

of control by the Union

Definitions

 

3.                  In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, -

 

 

(a)                “Board” means the National Oilseeds and Vegetable Oils Development Board established under section 4;

(b)               “Chairman” means the Chairman of the Board;

 

(c)                “coconut” has the same meaning as in the Coconut Development Board Act, 1979;

5 of 1979

 

(d)                “Executive Director” means the Executive Director of the Board;

(e)                “ member” means  a member of the Board:

(f)                 “ oilseeds” does not include coconut;

(g)                “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;

(h)                “vegetable oil” means any oil produced from oilseeds, or any other oil bearing material of plant origin, and containing glycerides but does not include any such vegetable oil which has  been subjected to any processing subsequent to the recovery of oil;

(i)                  “Vice-Chairman” means the Vice-Chairman of the Board.

 

CHAPTER II

THE NATIONAL OILSEEDS AND VEGETABLE OILS DEVELOPMENT BOARD

 

Establishment and constitution of the Board

 

4.         (1)        With effect from such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint in this behalf, there shall be established, for the purposes of this Act, a Board to be called the National Oilseeds and Vegetable Oils Development Board.

 

 

(2)               The Board shall be a body corporate by the name aforesaid, having perpetual succession and a common seal, with power to acquire, hold and dispose of property, both movable and immovable, and to contract, and shall by the said name sue and be sued.

(3)               The head office of the Board shall be at Delhi or at such other place as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify.

(4)               The Board shall consist of the following members, namely:-

(a)                the Minister in charge of the Ministry of the Central Government dealing with agriculture, who shall ex officio be the Chairman of the Board;

(b)               the Secretary in charge of the Ministry of the Central Government dealing with agricultural development, who shall ex officio be the Vice-Chairman of the Board:

(c)                the Agriculture Commissioner to the Government of India, ex officio;

(d)               the Director-General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, ex officio;

(e)                three members of Parliament, of whom two shall  be elected by the House of the People and one by the Council of States;

 
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(f)                 one member to be appointed by the Central Government to represent the Planning Commission;

(g)                three members to be appointed by the Central Government to represent respectively the Ministries of the Central Government dealing with

                        (i)         finance (revenue) ;

                        (ii)        commerce;

            (iii)       civil supplies;-

(h)               Executive Director, ex officio;

(i)                  Financial Adviser to the Ministry of the Central Government dealing with agriculture, ex officio;

(j)                 Eleven members to be appointed by the Central Government to represent respectively the Governments of the States of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh :

Provided that every appointment under this  clause shall be made on the recommendation of the Government of the State concerned ;          

(k)               five members to be appointed by the Central Government to represent respectively --

i.                     the State Trading Corporation of India Limited ;

 26 of 1962

ii.                   the National Co-operative Development Corporation established under section 3 of the National Co-operative Development Corporation Act, 1962;                                           

 

 

iii.                  the National Diary Development Board;

iv.                 the National Agricultural Co-operative Marketing Federation;

61 of 1981

v.                 the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development  established under section 3 of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development Act, 1981;                                

 

 

(l)                  three members to be appointed  by the Central Government to represent  the oilseeds growers;

(m)              one member to be appointed by the Central Government to represent exporters of oilseeds, vegetable oils or other products derived from oilseeds;

(n)                one member to be appointed by the Central Government to represent the vegetable oils industry;

(o)               two members to be appointed by the Central Government to represent such other interests connected with the oilseeds industry or the vegetable oils industry as, in the opinion of that Government, ought to be represented.

(5)                 The term of office of the members, other than the ex officio members, and the manner of filling vacancies among, and the procedure to be followed in the discharge of their functions by, such members shall be such as may be prescribed.

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            (6)               Any officer of the Central Government, not being a member of the Board, when deputed by that Government in this behalf, shall have  the right to attend the meetings of the Board and take part in the proceedings thereof but shall not be entitled to vote.

(7)               The Board may associate with itself in such manner, subject to such conditions and for such purposes as may be prescribed, any person whose assistance or advice it may desire in complying  with any of the  provisions of this Act and a person so associated  shall have the right to take part in the discussions of the Board relevant to the purpose for which he has been associated but shall not have the right to vote and shall be entitled to receive such allowances or fees as may be  fixed by the Central Government.

            (8)               No act or proceeding of the Board or any committee appointed by it under section 8 shall be invalidated merely by reason of –

(a)    any vacancy in, or any defect in the constitution of, the board or such committee; or

(b)   any defect in the appointment of a person acting as a member of the board or such committee ; or

(c)    any irregularity in the procedure of the Board or such committee not affecting the merits of the case.

        (9)               The Board shall meet at such times and places and shall observe such rules of procedure in regard to the transaction of business at its  meetings (including the quorum at its meetings)  as may be provided by regulations made by the Board under this Act.

Allowances of members

 

5.      The members of the Board shall receive such allowances as may be fixed by the Central Government.

 

 

Officers of the Board

and other staff

 

6.      (1)  The Central Government shall appoint a person possessing such technical qualifications and practical experience in oilseeds development as may be prescribed, as the Executive Director to the Board.

 

 

(2)               The Executive  Director shall be the chief executive of the Board and shall exercise such powers and perform  such functions as may be prescribed.

(3)               The Central Government shall appoint a Secretary to the Board who shall exercise such powers and perform such functions as may be  prescribed or as may be delegated to him by the Board or the Executive Director.

(4)               The Executive Director and the Secretary shall be entitled to such salary and allowances  and shall be subject to such conditions of  service in respect of leave, pension, provident fund and other matters as  may, from time to time, be fixed by the Central Government.

 

SEC. 1]                        THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY               5

 

(5)               Subject to such control and restrictions as may be prescribed, the Board may appoint such other officers and employees, as may be necessary, for the efficient performance of its functions and the method  of appointment, the conditions, of service and the scales of pay and  allowances  of such other officers and employees of the Board shall be  such as may be provided by the Board by regulations made under this Act.

(6)               The Executive Director, the Secretary and other officers and employees of the Board shall not undertake any work unconnected with their duties under this Act except with the permission of the Central Government.

 

7.    (1) On the establishment of the Board, it shall be lawful for the Central Government to transfer to the Board, by order, and with effect from such date or dates (which may be either retrospective to any date not earlier than the date of such establishment or prospective) as may be  specified in the order, any officer or other employee holding office  as such  in the Directorate of Oilseeds Development immediately before  the date on  which the Board  is established :

 

Special provision for transfer  of employees to the Board.

 

Provided that the scale of pay of the post to which such officer or other employee is transferred shall not be lower than the scale of pay of the post he was holding immediately before such transfer and the other terms and conditions of service (including pension, leave, provident fund and medical benefits) of the post to which he is transferred shall not be less favourable than the terms and conditions of service  in relation to the post held by him immediately before such transfer :

Provided further that if, immediately before the date of his transfer, any such officer or other employee is officiating in a higher post under the Central Government either in a leave vacancy or in any vacancy of a specified duration,  his pay and other allowances, if any, on transfer, shall be protected for the un-expired period of such vacancy and thereafter he shall be entitled to the scale of pay applicable to the post under the Central Government to which he would have reverted but for his  transfer to the Board.

(2)                       Before any order is made under sub-section (1), the officers and  other employees of the Directorate of Oilseeds Development who are  proposed to be  transferred under that sub-section shall be given an option in such form and within such time as may be specified in that behalf by the Central Government, to express their  willingness or otherwise to become employees of the Board and such option once exercised shall be final :

Provided that no order under sub-section (1) shall be made in relation to any officer or other employee of the Directorate of Oilseeds Development who has intimated his intention of not becoming an employee of the Board within the time specified in that behalf:

Provided  further that such of  the persons employed  by the Central Government in the said Directorate who do not express, within the time specified  in that behalf their intention of becoming the employees of the Board, shall be dealt with in the same  manner as and in accordance with the same rules as are applicable to the employees of the Central Government in the  event of the reduction of the strength of the  Department in which such persons have been employed.

(3)                        An officer or other employee transferred by an order made under sub-section (1) shall, on and from the date of transfer, cease to be an officer or employee of the Central Government and become an officer or other employee of the Board with such designation as the Board may determine and shall be governed by the regulations made by

 

6                       THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY                           [PART. II

 

the Board  under this Act in respect of  remuneration and other conditions of service (including pension, leave, provident fund and medical benefits) and shall continue to be an officer or other employee of the Board unless and until his  employment is duly terminated by the Board.

Provided that till such time as the regulations referred to above governing the conditions of service of its  officer or other employees are made by the Board, the relevant rules and orders made by the Central Government shall continue to be applicable to such officers or  other employees.

(4)               If any question arises as to whether the terms and conditions of service prescribed  in the regulations made  by the Board in respect of any matter, including remuneration,  pension, leave, provident fund and medical benefits, are less favourable than those attached to the post held  by an officer or other  employee immediately before his transfer to the Board, the decision of the Central Government in the matter shall be final. 

Managing Committee and  other committees of the Board.

8.  (1)   There shall be a Managing Committee of the Board for the  purpose of exercising such  of the powers and performing  such of the functions of the Board as may be prescribed or as the Board may delegate to it.

 

 

(2)        The Managing Committee of the Board shall consist of the following members of the Board, namely:-

(a)                the Vice-Chairman, who shall be the Chairman of the Managing Committee.

(b)               the Agriculture Commissioner to the Government of India ;

(c)                the Director-General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research ;

(d)               one member to be nominated  by the  Chairman from among the members referred to in clause (g) of sub-section (4) of section 4;

                        (e)                Executive Director ;

(f)                 Financial Adviser to the Ministry of Central Government dealing with agriculture;

(g)                one member to be nominated by the Chairman from among the members referred to in clause (j) of sub-section (4) of section 4;

(h)                one member to be nominated by the Chairman from among the members referred to in clause (k) of sub-section (4) of section 4;

(i)                  one members to be nominated by the Chairman  from among the member referred to in clause (1) of sub-section (4) of section 4; and

(j)                 one member to be nominated by the Chairman from among  the  members referred to in clause (m) , (n) and (o) of sub-section (4) of section 4.     

 

SEC. 1]                        THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY               7

 

(3)   Subject to such control and restrictions as may be prescribed, the Board may constitute other standing committees or ad-hoc committees for exercising any powers or performing any functions of the Board or for inquiring into or reporting and advising on any matter which the Board may refer to them.

(4)   The Board shall have the power to co-opt as members of the Managing Committee or any committee constituted under sub-section (3), such number of persons who are not members of the Board as it thinks fit and the persons so co-opted shall have the right to attend the meetings of the committee and take part in its proceedings but shall not  have the right to vote.

(5)   The persons co-opted as members of a committee under sub-section (4) shall be entitled to receive such allowances or fees for attending meetings of the committee as may be fixed by the Central Government.

 

9.   (1) It shall be the duty of the Board  to promote, by such measures as it thinks fit, the development under the control of the Central Government of the oilseeds industry and the vegetable oils industry.

 

Functions of the Board.

 

(2)               Without prejudice to the generality of the provisions contained in sub-section (1), the measures referred to therein may provide for –

(a)                taking such measures for the development of the oilseeds  industry and the vegetable oils industry as would enable farmers,  particularly small farmers, to become participants in, and beneficiaries of, the development and growth of the oilseeds industry and the vegetable oils industry;

(b)               recommending measures for improving the marketing of oilseeds, products of oilseeds and vegetable oils and for their quality  control in India;

(c)                imparting technical advice to any person who is engaged in the cultivation of oilseeds or the processing or marketing of oilseeds and its products;

(d)               providing for, or recommending, financial or other assistance for the production and development of adequate quality of  breeders’ seeds, foundation seeds and certified seeds of high quality, arranging supply of inputs for the oilseeds growers, adoption of  improved methods of cultivation of oilseeds and modern technology  for processing of oilseeds, extension of areas under oilseeds cultivation with a view to developing the oilseeds industry and the vegetable oils industry;

(e)                recommending such measures as may be practicable for assisting oilseeds growers to get incentive prices, including recommending, as and when necessary, after consultation with the Agricultural Prices Commission, minimum and maximum prices for oilseeds and products of oilseeds and vegetable oils;

 

8                        THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY               [PART II-

 

(g)                recommending and taking such measures as may be necessary for the –

(i)                              promotion and development of storage facilities;

(ii)                            establishment of processing units, in respect of oilseeds, and rendering such financial or other assistance as may be  considered necessary for such  purposes;

(iii)                           promotion of oilseeds growers’ co-operatives and other appropriate agencies, with a view to achieving integration between production, processing and marketing of oilseeds;

(h)                recommending measures for regulating import, export or  distribution of oilseeds or products of oilseeds or vegetable oils in the context of an integrated policy and programme of development of oilseeds and vegetable oils;

(i)                  collecting statistics from growers of oilseeds, dealers in oilseeds, manufacturers of products of oilseeds and vegetable oils and such other persons and institutions as may be necessary on any matter relating to the oilseeds  industry or vegetable oils industry and publishing the statistics so collected on portions thereof or extracts therefrom;

(j)                 recommending the setting up and adoption of grade standards for oilseeds and their products and vegetable oils;

(k)               financing suitable  schemes in consultation with the Central Government and the Governments of the State where oilseeds are grown on a large scale, so as to increase the production of oilseeds

 and to improve their quality and yields; and for this purpose evolving schemes for the award of prizes or grant of incentives to growers of oilseeds and the manufacturers  of oilseeds products

and vegetable oils and for providing  marketing facilities for oilseeds products and  vegetable oils;

(l)                  assisting, encouraging, promoting, co-ordinating and financing agricultural, technological, industrial or economic research on oilseeds, their products and vegetable oils in such manner as the Board may deem fit by making use of available institutions;

(m)              undertaking publicity work on the research and development of the oilseeds  industry and the vegetable oils industry;

(n)                setting up of regional offices and other agencies for the promotion and development of production, processing, grading and marketing of oilseeds and its products and vegetable oils in different States and Union territories for the efficient discharge of the functions of the Board;

(o)               such other matters as may be considered necessary for the purpose of carrying out the functions of the Board or as may be prescribed.

(3)        The Board shall perform its functions under this section in accordance with, and  subject to, such rules as may be made by the Central Government in this behalf.

 

SEC. 1]                        THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY               9       

 

 

          10.     (1) The Central Government may, by notification is the Official Gazette and for reasons to be specified therein, direct that the Board shall be dissolved from such date and for such period as may be specified  in the notification :

 

Dissolution of the Board.

 

Provided that before issuing any such notification, the Central Government shall give a reasonable opportunity to the Board to make  representations, against the proposed dissolution and shall consider the representations, if any, of the Board. 

(2)               When the Board is dissolved under the provisions of sub-section (1), -

(a)                all members, notwithstanding that their term of office has not expired, shall from the date of dissolution, vacate their offices as such members;

(b)               all powers and duties of the Board shall, during the period of dissolution, be exercised and performed by  such person or persons as the Central Government may appoint in this behalf  and their remuneration shall be such as may be prescribed;

(c)                all funds and other properties vested in the Board  shall, during the period of dissolution, vest in the Central Government; and

(d)               as soon as the period of dissolution expires, the Board shall be reconstituted in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

 

CHAPTER   III

FINANCE ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT

 

11.  The Central Government may, after due appropriation made by Parliament by law in this behalf, pay to the Board by way of grants or loans such sums of money as the Central Government may think fit for being utilised for the purposes of this Act.

 

Grants and loans by the Central Government.

 

 

12.  (1) There shall be formed a Fund to be called  the Oilseeds and Vegetable Oils Development  Fund  and  there shall be credited thereto –

 

Constitution of oilseeds and Vegetable Oils Development Fund

 

(a)