November 30, 2014
CHAPTER 1: Preliminary
Section 1: Short title, extent and commencement.
- (1) This Act may be called the Income-tax Act, 1961.
(2) It extends to the whole of India.
(3) Save as otherwise provided in this Act, it shall come into force on the 1st day of April, 1962Bottom of FormTop of Form
Section 2: Definitions.
- In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—
[(1) “advance tax” means the advance tax payable in accordance with the provisions of Chapter XVII-C;]
[ (1A)] “agricultural income”7 means8—
9[(a) any rent10 or revenue10 derived10 from land10 which is situated in India and is used for agricultural purposes;]
(b) any income derived from such land10 by—
(i) agriculture10; or
(ii) the performance by a cultivator or receiver of rent-in-kind of any process ordinarily employed by a cultivator or receiver of rent-in-kind to render the produce raised or received by him fit to be taken to market10; or
(iii) the sale by a cultivator or receiver of rent-in-kind of the produce raised or received by him, in respect of which no process has been performed other than a process of the nature described in paragraph (ii) of this sub-clause ;
(c) any income derived from any building owned and occupied by the receiver of the rent or revenue of any such land, or occupied by the cultivator or the receiver of rent-in-kind, of any land with respect to which, or the produce of which, any process mentioned in paragraphs (ii) and (iii) of sub-clause (b) is carried on :
9[Provided that—
(i) the building is on or in the immediate vicinity of the land, and is a building which the receiver of the rent or revenue or the cultivator, or the receiver of rent-in-kind, by reason of his connection with the land, requires as a dwelling house, or as a store-house, or other out-building, and
(ii) the land is either assessed to land revenue in India or is subject to a local rate assessed and collected by officers of the Government as such or where the land is not so assessed to land revenue or subject to a local rate, it is not situated—
(A) in any area which is comprised within the jurisdiction of a municipality (whether known as a municipality, municipal corporation, notified area committee, town area committee, town committee or by any other name) or a cantonment board and which has a population of not less than ten thousand 11[***]; or
11a[(B) in any area within the distance, measured aerially,—
(I) not being more than two kilometres, from the local limits of any municipality or cantonment board referred to in item (A) and which has a population of more than ten thousand but not exceeding one lakh; or
(II) not being more than six kilometres, from the local limits of any municipality or cantonment board referred to in item (A) and which has a population of more than one lakh but not exceeding ten lakh; or
(III) not being more than eight kilometres, from the local limits of any municipality or cantonment board referred to in item (A) and which has a population of more than ten lakh.12
13[14[Explanation 1.]—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that revenue derived from land shall not include and shall be deemed never to have included any income arising from the transfer of any land referred to in item (a) or item (b) of sub-clause (iii) of clause (14) of this section.]
15[Explanation 2.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that income derived from any building or land referred to in sub-clause (c) arising from the use of such building or land for any purpose (including letting for residential purpose or for the purpose of any business or profession) other than agriculture falling under sub-clause (a) or sub-clause (b) shall not be agricultural income.]
16[Explanation 3.—For the purposes of this clause, any income derived from saplings or seedlings grown in a nursery shall be deemed to be agricultural income;]
17[Explanation 4.—For the purposes of clause (ii) of the proviso to sub-clause (c), “population” means the population according to the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published before the first day of the previous year;]
18[19[(1B)] “amalgamation”, in relation to companies, means the merger of one or more companies with another company or the merger of two or more companies to form one company (the company or companies which so merge being referred to as the amalgamating company or companies and the company with which they merge or which is formed as a result of the merger, as the amalgamated company) in such a manner that—
(i) all the property of the amalgamating company or companies immediately before the amalgamation becomes the property of the amalgamated company by virtue of the amalgamation ;
(ii) all the liabilities of the amalgamating company or companies immediately before the amalgamation become the liabilities of the amalgamated company by virtue of the amalgamation ;
(iii) shareholders holding not less than 20[three-fourths] in value of the shares in the amalgamating company or companies (other than shares already held therein immediately before the amalga-mation by, or by a nominee for, the amalgamated company or its subsidiary) become shareholders of the amalgamated company by virtue of the amalgamation,
otherwise than as a result of the acquisition of the property of one company by another company pursuant to the purchase of such property by the other company or as a result of the distribution of such property to the other company after the winding up of the first-mentioned company ;]
21[(1C) “Additional Commissioner” means a person appointed to be an Additional Commissioner of Income-tax under sub-section (1) of section 117 ;
(1D) “Additional Director” means a person appointed to be an Additional Director of Income-tax under sub-section (1) of section 117 ;]
(2) “annual value”, in relation to any property, means its annual value as determined under section 23 ;
(3) 22[* * *]
(4) “Appellate Tribunal” means the Appellate Tribunal constituted under section 252 ;
(5) “approved gratuity fund” means a gratuity fund which has been and continues to be approved by the 23[23a[Principal Chief Commissioner or] Chief Commissioner or 23a[Principal Commissioner or] Commissioner] in accordance with the rules contained in Part C of the Fourth Schedule ;
(6) “approved superannuation fund” means a superannuation fund or any part of a superannuation fund which has been and continues to be approved by the 23[23a[Principal Chief Commissioner or] Chief Commissioner or 23a[Principal Commissioner or] Commissioner] in accordance with the rules contained in Part B of the Fourth Schedule ;
24(7) “assessee”25 means a person by whom 26[any tax] or any other sum of money is payable under this Act, and includes—
(a) every person in respect of whom any proceeding under this Act has been taken for the assessment of his income 27[or assessment of fringe benefits] or of the income of any other person in respect of which he is assessable, or of the loss sustained by him or by such other person, or of the amount of refund due to him or to such other person ;
(b) every person who is deemed to be an assessee under any provision of this Act ;
(c) every person who is deemed to be an assessee in default under any provision of this Act ;
28[(7A) “Assessing Officer” means the Assistant Commissioner 29[or Deputy Commissioner] 30[or Assistant Director] 29[or Deputy Director] or the Income-tax Officer who is vested with the relevant jurisdiction by virtue of directions or orders issued under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) of section 120 or any other provision of this Act, and the 31[Additional Commissioner or] 32[Additional Director or] 33[Joint Commissioner or Joint Director] who is directed under clause (b) of sub-section (4) of that section to exercise or perform all or any of the powers and functions conferred on, or assigned to, an Assessing Officer under this Act ;]
(8) “assessment”34 includes reassessment ;
(9) “assessment year” means the period of twelve months commencing on the 1st day of April every year ;
35[(9A) “Assistant Commissioner” means a person appointed to be an Assistant Commissioner of Income-tax 36[or a Deputy Commissioner of Income-tax] under sub-section (1) of section 117 ;]
37[(9B) “Assistant Director” means a person appointed to be an Assistant Director of Income-tax under sub-section (1) of section 117;]
(10) “average rate of income-tax” means the rate arrived at by dividing the amount of income-tax calculated on the total income, by such total income ;
38[(11) “block of assets” means a group of assets falling within a class of assets comprising—
(a) tangible assets, being buildings, machinery, plant or furniture;
(b) intangible assets, being know-how, patents, copyrights, trade-marks, licences, franchises or any other business or commercial rights of similar nature,
in respect of which the same percentage of depreciation is prescribed ;]
(12) “Board” means the 39[Central Board of Direct Taxes constituted under the Central Boards of Revenue Act, 1963 (54 of 1963)] ;
40[(12A) “books or books of account” includes ledgers, day-books, cash books, account-books and other books, whether kept in the written form or as print-outs of data stored in a floppy, disc, tape or any other form of electro-magnetic data storage device;]
41(13) “business”42 includes any trade42, commerce or manufacture or any adventure42 or concern in the nature of trade42, commerce or manufacture ;
42a[(13A) “business trust” means a trust registered as an Infrastructure Investment Trust or a Real Estate Investment Trust, the units of which are required to be listed on a recognised stock exchange, in accordance with the regulations made under the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992) and notified by the Central Government in this behalf;]
43(14) 43a[“capital asset” means property44 of any kind held by an assessee, whether or not connected with his business or profession, but does not include—
(i) any stock-in-trade], consumable stores or raw materials held for the purposes of his business or profession ;
45[(ii) personal effects46, that is to say, movable property (including wearing apparel and furniture) held for personal use46 by the assessee or any member of his family dependent on him, but excludes—
(a) jewellery;
(b) archaeological collections;
(c) drawings;
(d) paintings;
(e) sculptures; or
(f) any work of art.
46a[Explanation.]—For the purposes of this sub-clause, “jewellery” includes—
(a) ornaments made of gold, silver, platinum or any other precious metal or any alloy containing one or more of such precious metals, whether or not containing any precious or semi-precious stone, and whether or not worked or sewn into any wearing apparel;
(b) precious or semi-precious stones, whether or not set in any furniture, utensil or other article or worked or sewn into any wearing apparel;]
The following Explanation 2 shall be inserted after the renumbered Explanation 1 by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2014, w.e.f. 1-4-2015 :
Explanation 2.—For the purposes of this clause—
(a) the expression “Foreign Institutional Investor” shall have the meaning assigned to it in clause (a) of the Explanation to section 115AD;
(b) the expression “securities” shall have the meaning assigned to it in clause (h) of section 2 of the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 (42 of 1956)46b;
47[(iii) agricultural land48 in India, not being land situate—
(a) in any area which is comprised within the jurisdiction of a municipality48 (whether known as a municipality, municipal corporation, notified area committee, town area committee, town committee, or by any other name) or a cantonment board and which has a population48a of not less than ten thousand 49[***] ; or
50[(b) in any area within the distance, measured aerially,—
(I) not being more than two kilometres, from the local limits of any municipality or cantonment board referred to in item (a) and which has a population of more than ten thousand but not exceeding one lakh; or
(II) not being more than six kilometres, from the local limits of any municipality or cantonment board referred to in item (a) and which has a population of more than one lakh but not exceeding ten lakh; or
(III) not being more than eight kilometres, from the local limits of any municipality or cantonment board referred to in item (a) and which has a population of more than ten lakh.
- —For the purposes of this sub-clause, “population” means the population according to the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published before the first day of the previous year51;]]
52[(iv) 6 per cent Gold Bonds, 1977,53[or 7 per cent Gold Bonds, 1980,] 54[or National Defence Gold Bonds, 1980,] issued by the Central Government ;]
55[(v) Special Bearer Bonds, 1991, issued by the Central Government ;]
56[(vi) Gold Deposit Bonds issued under the Gold Deposit Scheme, 1999 notified by the Central Government.]
57[Explanation.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby clarified that “property” includes and shall be deemed to have always included any rights in or in relation to an Indian company, including rights of management or control or any other rights whatsoever;]
58[59(15) 60“charitable purpose”61 includes relief of the poor, education61, medical relief, 62[preservation of environment (including watersheds, forests and wildlife) and preservation of monuments or places or objects of artistic or historic interest,] and the advancement of any other 61object of general public utility:
Provided that the advancement of any other object of general public utility shall not be a charitable purpose, if it involves the carrying on of any activity in the nature of trade, commerce or business61, or any activity of rendering any service in relation to any trade, commerce or business61, for a cess or fee or any other consideration, irrespective of the nature of use or appli-cation, or retention, of the income from such activity:]
63[Provided further that the first proviso shall not apply if the aggregate value of the receipts from the activities referred to therein is 64[twenty-five lakh rupees] or less in the previous year;]
65[(15A) “Chief Commissioner” means a person appointed to be a Chief Commissioner of Income-tax or a Principal Chief Commissioner of Income-tax under sub-section (1) of section 117;]
66[67[(15B)] “child”, in relation to an individual, includes a step-child and an adopted child of that individual ;]
68-70[(16) “Commissioner” means a person appointed to be a Commissioner of Income-tax or a Director of Income-tax or a Principal Commissioner of Income-tax or a Principal Director of Income-tax under sub-section (1) of section 117;]
71[(16A) “Commissioner (Appeals)” means a person appointed to be a Commis-sioner of Income-tax (Appeals) under sub-section (1) of section 117 ;]
72[(17) “company” means—
(i) any Indian company, or
(ii) any body corporate incorporated by or under the laws of a country outside India, or
(iii) any institution, association or body which is or was assessable or was assessed as a company for any assessment year under the Indian Income-tax Act, 1922 (11 of 1922), or which is or was assessable or was assessed under this Act as a company for any assessment year commencing on or before the 1st day of April, 1970, or
(iv) any institution, association or body, whether incorporated or not and whether Indian or non-Indian, which is declared by general or special order of the Board to be a company :
Provided that such institution, association or body shall be deemed to be a company only for such assessment year or assessment years (whether commencing before the 1st day of April, 1971, or on or after that date) as may be specified in the declaration ;]
(18) “company in which the public are substantially interested”—a company is said to be a company in which the public73 are substantially interested—
74[(a) if it is a company owned by the Government or the Reserve Bank of India or in which not less than forty per cent of the shares are held (whether singly or taken together) by the Government or the Reserve Bank of India or a corporation owned by that bank ; or]
75[(aa) if it is a company which is registered under section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956)76 ; or
(ab) if it is a company having no share capital and if, having regard to its objects, the nature and composition of its membership and other relevant considerations, it is declared by order of the Board to be a company in which the public are sub-stantially interested :
Provided that such company shall be deemed to be a company in which the public are substantially interested only for such assessment year or assessment years (whether commencing before the 1st day of April, 1971, or on or after that date) as may be specified in the declaration ; or]
77[(ac) if it is a mutual benefit finance company, that is to say, a company which carries on, as its principal business, the business of acceptance of deposits from its members and which is declared by the Central Government under section 620A78 of the Com-panies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), to be a Nidhi or Mutual Benefit Society ; or]
79[(ad) if it is a company, wherein shares (not being shares entitled to a fixed rate of dividend whether with or without a further right to participate in profits) carrying not less than fifty per cent of the voting power have been allotted unconditionally to, or acquired unconditionally by, and were throughout the relevant previous year beneficially held by, one or more co-operative societies ;]
80[(b) if it is a company which is not a 81private company as defined in the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), and the conditions specified either in item (A) or in item (B) are fulfilled, namely :—
(A) shares in the company (not being shares entitled to a fixed rate of dividend whether with or without a further right to participate in profits) were, as on the last day of the relevant previous year, listed in a recognised stock exchange in India in accordance with the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 (42 of 1956), and any rules made thereunder ;
82[(B) shares in the company (not being shares entitled to a fixed rate of dividend whether with or without a further right to participate in profits) carrying not less than fifty per cent of the voting power have been allotted uncondi- tionally to, or acquired unconditionally by, and were throughout the relevant previous year beneficially held by—
(a) the Government, or
(b) a corporation established by a Central, State or Provincial Act, or
(c) any company to which this clause applies or any subsidiary company of such company 83[if the whole of the share capital of such subsidiary company has been held by the parent company or by its nominees throughout the previous year.]
- —In its application to an Indian company whose business consists mainly in the construction of ships or in the manufacture or processing of goods or in mining or in the generation or distribution of electricity or any other form of power, item (B) shall have effect as if for the words “not less than fifty per cent”, the words “not less than forty per cent” had been substituted ;]]
(19) “co-operative society” means a co-operative society registered under the Co-operative Societies Act, 1912 (2 of 1912), or under any other law for the time being in force in any State for the registration of co-operative societies ;
84[(19A) “Deputy Commissioner” means a person appointed to be a Deputy Commissioner of Income-tax 85[* * *] under sub-section (1) of section 117 ;
86[(19AA) “demerger”, in relation to companies, means the transfer, pursuant to a scheme of arrangement under sections 391 to 39487 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), by a demerged company of its one or more undertakings to any resulting company in such a manner that—
(i) all the property of the undertaking, being transferred by the demerged company, immediately before the demerger, becomes the property of the resulting company by virtue of the demerger;
(ii) all the liabilities relatable to the undertaking, being transferred by the demerged company, immediately before the demerger, become the liabilities of the resulting company by virtue of the demerger;
(iii) the property and the liabilities of the undertaking or undertakings being transferred by the demerged company are transferred at values appearing in its books of account immediately before the demerger;
(iv) the resulting company issues, in consideration of the demerger, its shares to the shareholders of the demerged company on a proportionate basis 88[except where the resulting company itself is a shareholder of the demerged company];
(v) the shareholders holding not less than three-fourths in value of the shares in the demerged company (other than shares already held therein immediately before the demerger, or by a nominee for, the resulting company or, its subsidiary) become share-holders of the resulting company or companies by virtue of the demerger,
otherwise than as a result of the acquisition of the property or assets of the demerged company or any undertaking thereof by the resulting company;
(vi) the transfer of the undertaking is on a going concern basis;
(vii) the demerger is in accordance with the conditions, if any, notified under sub-section (5) of section 72A by the Central Government in this behalf.
Explanation 1.—For the purposes of this clause, “undertaking” shall include any part of an undertaking, or a unit or division of an undertaking or a business activity taken as a whole, but does not include individual assets or liabilities or any combination thereof not constituting a business activity.
Explanation 2.—For the purposes of this clause, the liabilities referred to in sub-clause (ii), shall include—
(a) the liabilities which arise out of the activities or operations of the undertaking;
(b) the specific loans or borrowings (including debentures) raised, incurred and utilised solely for the activities or operations of the undertaking; and
(c) in cases, other than those referred to in clause (a) or clause (b), so much of the amounts of general or multipurpose borrowings, if any, of the demerged company as stand in the same proportion which the value of the assets transferred in a demerger bears to the total value of the assets of such demerged company immediately before the demerger.
Explanation 3.—For determining the value of the property referred to in sub-clause (iii), any change in the value of assets consequent to their revaluation shall be ignored.
Explanation 4.—For the purposes of this clause, the splitting up or the reconstruction of any authority or a body constituted or established under a Central, State or Provincial Act, or a local authority or a public sector company, into separate authorities or bodies or local authorities or companies, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be a demerger if such split up or reconstruction fulfils 89[such conditions as may be notified in the Official Gazette90, by the Central Government];
(19AAA) “demerged company” means the company whose undertaking is transferred, pursuant to a demerger, to a resulting company;]
(19B) “Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)” means a person appointed to be a Deputy Commissioner of Income-tax (Appeals) 91[or an Additional Commissioner of Income-tax (Appeals)] under sub-section (1) of section 117 ;]
92[(19C) “Deputy Director” means a person appointed to be a Deputy Director of Income-tax 93[* * *] under sub-section (1) of section 117 ;]
(20) 94“director”, “manager” and “managing agent”, in relation to a company, have the meanings respectively assigned to them in the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956) ;
95-98[(21) “Director General or Director” means a person appointed to be a Director General of Income-tax or a Principal Director General of Income-tax or, as the case may be, a Director of Income-tax or a Principal Director of Income-tax, under sub-section (1) of section 117, and includes a person appointed under that sub-section to be an Additional Director of Income-tax or a Joint Director of Income-tax or an Assistant Director or Deputy Director of Income-tax;]
(22) 99“dividend”1 includes—
(a) any distribution1 by a company of accumulated profits1, whether capitalised or not, if such distribution entails the release by the company to its shareholders of all or any part of the assets of the company ;
(b) any distribution1 to its shareholders by a company of debentures, debenture-stock, or deposit certificates in any form, whether with or without interest, and any distribution to its preference shareholders of shares by way of bonus, to the extent to which the company possesses accumulated profits1, whether capitalised or not ;
(c) any distribution1 made to the shareholders of a company on its liquidation, to the extent to which the distribution is attributable to the accumulated profits of the company immediately before its liquidation, whether capitalised or not ;
(d) any distribution2 to its shareholders by a company on the reduction of its capital, to the extent to which the company possesses accumulated profits2 which arose after the end of the previous year ending next before the 1st day of April, 1933, whether such accumulated profits have been capitalised or not ;
(e) any payment by a company, not being a company in which the public are substantially interested, of any sum (whether as representing a part of the assets of the company or otherwise) 3[made after the 31st day of May, 1987, by way of advance4 or loan to a shareholder4, being a person who is the beneficial owner of shares (not being shares entitled to a fixed rate of dividend whether with or without a right to participate in profits) holding not less than ten per cent of the voting power, or to any concern in which such shareholder is a member or a partner and in which he has a substantial interest (hereafter in this clause referred to as the said concern)] or any payment by any such company on behalf, or for the individual benefit, of any such shareholder, to the extent to which the company in either case possesses accumulated profits5 ;
but “dividend” does not include—
(i) a distribution made in accordance with sub-clause (c) or sub-clause (d) in respect of any share issued for full cash consideration, where the holder of the share is not entitled in the event of liquidation to participate in the surplus assets ;
6[(ia) a distribution made in accordance with sub-clause (c) or sub-clause (d) in so far as such distribution is attributable to the capitalised profits of the company representing bonus shares allotted to its equity shareholders after the 31st day of March, 1964, 7[and before the 1st day of April, 1965] ;]
(ii) any advance or loan made to a shareholder 8[or the said concern] by a company in the ordinary course of its business, where the lending of money is a substantial part of the business of the company ;
(iii) any dividend paid by a company which is set off by the company against the whole or any part of any sum previously paid by it and treated as a dividend within the meaning of sub-clause (e), to the extent to which it is so set off;
9[(iv) any payment made by a company on purchase of its own shares from a shareholder in accordance with the provisions of section 77A10 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956);
(v) any distribution of shares pursuant to a demerger by the resulting company to the shareholders of the demerged company (whether or not there is a reduction of capital in the demerged company).]
Explanation 1.—The expression “accumulated profits”, wherever it occurs in this clause, shall not include capital gains arising before the 1st day of April, 1946, or after the 31st day of March, 1948, and before the 1st day of April, 1956.
Explanation 2.—The expression “accumulated profits” in sub-clauses (a), (b), (d) and (e), shall include all profits of the company up to the date of distribution or payment referred to in those sub-clauses, and in sub-clause (c) shall include all profits of the company up to the date of liquidation, 11[but shall not, where the liquidation is consequent on the compulsory acquisition of its undertaking by the Government or a corporation owned or controlled by the Government under any law for the time being in force, include any profits of the company prior to three successive previous years immediately preceding the previous year in which such acquisition took place].
12[Explanation 3.—For the purposes of this clause,—
(a) “concern” means a Hindu undivided family, or a firm or an association of persons or a body of individuals or a company ;
(b) a person shall be deemed to have a substantial interest in a concern, other than a company, if he is, at any time during the previous year, beneficially entitled to not less than twenty per cent of the income of such concern ;]
13[(22A) “domestic company” means an Indian company, or any other com-pany which, in respect of its income liable to tax under this Act, has made the prescribed arrangements for the declaration and payment, within India, of the dividends (including dividends on preference shares) payable out of such income ;]
14[(22AA) “document” includes an electronic record as defined in clause (t)15 of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000);]
16[(22AAA) “electoral trust” means a trust so approved by the Board in accordance with the scheme17 made in this regard by the Central Government;]
18[19[(22B)] “fair market value”, in relation to a capital asset, means—
(i) the price that the capital asset would ordinarily fetch on sale in the open market on the relevant date ; and
(ii) where the price referred to in sub-clause (i) is not ascertainable, such price as may be determined in accordance with the rules made under this Act ;]
20[(23) (i) “firm” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Indian Partnership Act, 1932 (9 of 1932)21, and shall include a limited liability partnership22 as defined in the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008 (6 of 2009);
(ii) “partner” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Indian Partnership Act, 1932 (9 of 1932), and shall include,—
(a) any person who, being a minor, has been admitted to the benefits of partnership; and
(b) a partner of a limited liability partnership22 as defined in the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008 (6 of 2009);
(iii) “partnership” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Indian Partnership Act, 1932 (9 of 1932), and shall include a limited liability partnership22 as defined in the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008 (6 of 2009);]
23[(23A) “foreign company” means a company which is not a domestic company ;]
24[(23B) “fringe benefits” means any fringe benefits referred to in section 115WB;]
25(24) “income”26 includes26—
(i) profits and gains26 ;
(ii) dividend ;
27[(iia) voluntary contributions received by a trust created wholly or partly for charitable or religious purposes or by an institution established wholly or partly for such purposes 28[or by an association or institution referred to in clause (21) or clause (23)29, or by a fund or trust or institution referred to in sub-clause (iv) or sub-clause (v) 30[or by any university or other educational institution referred to in sub-clause (iiiad) or sub-clause (vi) or by any hospital or other institution referred to in sub-clause (iiiae) or sub-clause (via)] of clause (23C) of section 10 31[or by an electoral trust]].
- —For the purposes of this sub-clause, “trust” includes any other legal obligation ;]
(iii) the value of any perquisite or profit in lieu of salary taxable under clauses (2) and (3) of section 17 ;
32[(iiia) any special allowance or benefit, other than perquisite included under sub-clause (iii), specifically granted to the assessee to meet expenses wholly, necessarily and exclusively for the performance of the duties of an office or employment of profit ;
(iiib) any allowance granted to the assessee either to meet his personal expenses at the place where the duties of his office or employment of profit are ordinarily performed by him or at a place where he ordinarily resides or to compensate him for the increased cost of living ;]
(iv) the value of any benefit or perquisite33, whether convertible into money or not, obtained from a company either by a director or by a person who has a substantial interest in the company, or by a relative of the director or such person, and any sum paid by any such company in respect of any obligation which, but for such payment, would have been payable by the director or other person aforesaid ;
34[(iva) the value of any benefit or perquisite35, whether convertible into money or not, obtained by any representative assessee mentioned in clause (iii) or clause (iv) of sub-section (1) of section 160 or by any person on whose behalf or for whose benefit any income is receivable by the representative assessee (such person being hereafter in this sub-clause referred to as the “beneficiary”) and any sum paid by the representative assessee in respect of any obligation which, but for such payment, would have been payable by the beneficiary ;]
(v) any sum chargeable to income-tax under clauses (ii) and (iii) of section 28 or section 41 or section 59 ;
36[(va) any sum chargeable to income-tax under clause (iiia) of section 28 ;]
37[(vb) any sum chargeable to income-tax under clause (iiib) of section 28 ;]
38[(vc) any sum chargeable to income-tax under clause (iiic) of section 28 ;]
39[(vd)] the value of any benefit or perquisite taxable under clause (iv) of section 28 ;
40[(ve) any sum chargeable to income-tax under clause (v) of section 28 ;]
(vi) any capital gains chargeable under section 45 ;
(vii) the profits and gains of any business of insurance carried on by a mutual insurance company or by a co-operative society, computed in accordance with section 44 or any surplus taken to be such profits and gains by virtue of provisions contained in the First Schedule ;
41[(viia) the profits and gains of any business of banking (including providing credit facilities) carried on by a co-operative society with its members;]
(viii) [Omitted by the Finance Act, 1988, w.e.f. 1-4-1988. Original sub-clause (viii) was inserted by the Finance Act, 1964, w.e.f. 1-4-1964;]
42[(ix) any winnings from lotteries43, crossword puzzles, races including horse races, card games and other games of any sort or from gambling or betting of any form or nature whatsoever.]
44[Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-clause,—
(i) “lottery” includes winnings from prizes awarded to any person by draw of lots or by chance or in any other manner whatsoever, under any scheme or arrangement by whatever name called;
(ii) “card game and other game of any sort” includes any game show, an entertainment programme on television or electronic mode, in which people compete to win prizes or any other similar game ;]
45[(x) any sum received by the assessee from his employees as contributions to any provident fund or superannuation fund or any fund set up under the provisions of the Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948 (34 of 1948), or any other fund for the welfare of such employees ;]
46[(xi) any sum received under a Keyman insurance policy including the sum allocated by way of bonus on such policy.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause*, the expression “Keyman insurance policy” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Explanation to clause (10D) of section 10 ;]
47[(xii) any sum referred to in 48[clause (va)] of section 28;]
49[(xiii) any sum referred to in clause (v) of sub-section (2) of section 56;]
50[(xiv) any sum referred to in clause (vi) of sub-section (2) of section 56;]
51[(xv) any sum of money or value of property referred to in clause (vii) 52[or clause (viia)] of sub-section (2) of section 56;]
53[(xvi) any consideration received for issue of shares as exceeds the fair market value of the shares referred to in clause (viib) of sub-section (2) of section 56;]
The following sub-clause (xvii) shall be inserted after sub-clause (xvi) of clause (24) of section 2 by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2014, w.e.f. 1-4-2015 :
(xvii) any sum of money referred to in clause (ix) of sub-section (2) of section 56;
(25) “Income-tax Officer” means a person appointed to be an Income-tax Officer under 54[* * *] section 117 ;
55[(25A) “India” means the territory of India as referred to in article 1 of the Constitution, its territorial waters, seabed and subsoil underlying such waters, continental shelf, exclusive economic zone or any other maritime zone as referred to in the Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and other Maritime Zones Act, 1976 (80 of 1976), and the air space above its territory and territorial waters;]
(26) “Indian company” means a company formed and registered under the Companies Act, 195655a (1 of 1956), and includes—
(i) a company formed and registered under any law relating to companies formerly in force in any part of India (other than the State of Jammu and Kashmir 56[and the Union territories specified in sub-clause (iii) of this clause]) ;
57[(ia) a corporation established by or under a Central, State or Provincial Act ;
(ib) any institution, association or body which is declared by the Board to be a company under clause (17) ;]
(ii) in the case of the State of Jammu and Kashmir, a company formed and registered under any law for the time being in force in that State ;
58[(iii) in the case of any of the Union territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Goa†, Daman and Diu, and Pondicherry, a company formed and registered under any law for the time being in force in that Union territory :]
Provided that the 59[registered or, as the case may be, principal office of the company, corporation, institution, association or body] in all cases is in India ;
60[(26A) “infrastructure capital company” means such company which makes investments by way of acquiring shares or providing long-term finance to any enterprise or undertaking wholly engaged in the business referred to in sub-section (4) of section 80-IA or sub-section (1) of section 80-IAB or an undertaking developing and building a housing project referred to in sub-section (10) of section 80-IB or a project for constructing a hotel of not less than three-star category as classified by the Central Government or a project for constructing a hospital with at least one hundred beds for patients;
(26B) “infrastructure capital fund” means such fund operating under a trust deed registered under the provisions of the Registration Act, 1908 (16 of 1908) established to raise monies by the trustees for investment by way of acquiring shares or providing long-term finance to any enterprise or undertaking wholly engaged in the business referred to in sub-section (4) of section 80-IA or sub-section (1) of section 80-IAB or an undertaking developing and building a housing project referred to in sub-section (10) of section 80-IB or a project for constructing a hotel of not less than three-star category as classified by the Central Government or a project for constructing a hospital with at least one hundred beds for patients;]
(27) 61[* * *]
(28) “Inspector of Income-tax” means a person appointed to be an Inspector of Income-tax under sub-section 62[(1)] of section 117 ;
63[64(28A) “interest”65 means interest payable in any manner in respect of any moneys borrowed or debt incurred (including a deposit, claim or other similar right or obligation) and includes any service fee or other charge in respect of the moneys borrowed or debt incurred or in respect of any credit facility which has not been utilised ;]
66[(28B) “interest on securities” means,—
(i) interest on any security of the Central Government or a State Government ;
(ii) interest on debentures or other securities for money issued by or on behalf of a local authority or a company or a corporation established by a Central, State or Provincial Act ;]
67[(28BB) “insurer” means an insurer, being an Indian insurance company, as defined under clause (7A) of section 268 of the Insurance Act, 1938 (4 of 1938), which has been granted a certificate of registration under section 3 of that Act;]
69[(28C) “Joint Commissioner” means a person appointed to be a Joint Commissioner of Income-tax or an Additional Commissioner of Income-tax under sub-section (1) of section 117;
(28D) “Joint Director” means a person appointed to be a Joint Director of Income-tax or an Additional Director of Income-tax under sub-section (1) of section 117;]
(29) “legal representative” has the meaning assigned to it in clause (11) of section 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908)70 ;
71[(29A) “long-term capital asset” means a capital asset which is not a short-term capital asset ;
(29B) “long-term capital gain” means capital gain arising from the transfer of a long-term capital asset ;]
72[(29BA) “manufacture”, with its grammatical variations, means a change in a non-living physical object or article or thing,—
(a) resulting in transformation of the object or article or thing into a new and distinct object or article or thing having a different name, character and use; or
(b) bringing into existence of a new and distinct object or article or thing with a different chemical composition or integral structure;]
73[(29C) “maximum marginal rate” means the rate of income-tax (including surcharge on income-tax, if any) applicable in relation to the highest slab of income in the case of an individual 74[, association of persons or, as the case may be, body of individuals] as specified in the Finance Act of the relevant year ;]
75[(29D) “National Tax Tribunal” means the National Tax Tribunal established under section 3 of the National Tax Tribunal Act, 2005;]
(30) “non-resident” means a person who is not a “resident” 76[, and for the purposes of sections 9277, 93 78[* * *] and 168, includes a person who is not ordinarily resident within the meaning of clause (6) of section 6] ;
79(31) “person”80 includes—
(i) an individual80,
(ii) a Hindu undivided family80,
(iii) a company,
(iv) a firm81,
(v) an association of persons81 or a body of individuals81, whether incorporated or not,
(vi) a local authority, and
(vii) every artificial juridical person, not falling within any of the preceding sub-clauses.
82[Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, an association of persons or a body of individuals or a local authority or an artificial juridical person shall be deemed to be a person, whether or not such person or body or authority or juridical person was formed or esta-blished or incorporated with the object of deriving income, profits or gains;]
(32) “person who has a substantial interest in the company”, in relation to a company, means a person who is the beneficial owner of shares, not being shares entitled to a fixed rate of dividend whether with or without a right to participate in profits, carrying not less than twenty per cent of the voting power ;
(33) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act ;
(34) “previous year” means the previous year as defined in section 3 ;
82a[(34A) “Principal Chief Commissioner of Income-tax” means a person appointed to be a Principal Chief Commissioner of Income-tax under sub-section (1) of section 117;
(34B) “Principal Commissioner of Income-tax” means a person appointed to be a Principal Commissioner of Income-tax under sub-section (1) of section 117;
(34C) “Principal Director of Income-tax” means a person appointed to be a Principal Director of Income-tax under sub-section (1) of section 117;
(34D) “Principal Director General of Income-tax” means a person appointed to be a Principal Director General of Income-tax under sub-section (1) of section 117;]
83(35) “principal officer”, used with reference to a local authority or a company or any other public body or any association of persons or any body of individuals, means—
(a) the secretary, treasurer, manager or agent of the authority, company, association or body, or
(b) any person connected with the management or administration of the local authority, company, association or body upon whom the 84[Assessing] Officer has served a notice of his intention of treating him as the principal officer thereof ;
85(36) “profession” includes vocation86 ;
87[(36A) “public sector company” means any corporation established by or under any Central, State or Provincial Act or a Government com-pany88 as defined in section 617 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956) ;]
(37) 89“public servant” has the same meaning as in section 21 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860) ;
90[(37A) “rate or rates in force” or “rates in force”, in relation to an assessment year or financial year, means—
(i) for the purposes of calculating income-tax under the first proviso to sub-section (5) of section 132, or computing the income-tax chargeable under sub-section (4) of section 172 or sub-section (2) of section 174 or section 175 or sub-section (2) of section 176 or deducting income-tax under section 192 from income charge-able under the head “Salaries” 91[* * *] or 92[computation of the “advance tax” payable under Chapter XVII-C in a case not falling under 93[section 115A or section 115B 94[or section 115BB 95[or section 115BBB] or section 115E] or] section 164 94[or section 164A 96[* * *]] 97[or section 167B], the rate or rates of income-tax specified in this behalf in the Finance Act of the relevant year, and for the purposes of computation of the “advance tax” payable under Chapter XVII-C 98[in a case falling under section 115A or section 115B 99[or section 115BB 1[or section 115BBB] or section 115E] or section 164 99[or section 164A 2[* * *]] 3[or section 167B], the rate or rates specified in section 115A or 4[section 115B or section 115BB 5[or section 115BBB] or section 115E or section 164 or section 164A 2[* * *] 3[or section 167B], as the case may be,] or the rate or rates of income-tax specified in this behalf in the Finance Act of the relevant year, whichever is applicable ;]
(ii) for the purposes of deduction of tax under sections 193, 194, 194A 6[, 194B] 7[, 194BB] 8[and 194D], the rate or rates of income-tax specified in this behalf in the Finance Act of the relevant year ;]
9[(iii) for the purposes of deduction of tax under section 195, the rate or rates of income-tax specified in this behalf in the Finance Act of the relevant year or the rate or rates of income-tax specified in 10[an agreement entered into by the Central Government under section 90, or an agreement notified by the Central Government under section 90A, whichever is applicable by virtue of the provisions of section 90, or section 90A, as the case may be];]
11(38) “recognised provident fund”12 means a provident fund which has been and continues to be recognised by the 13[13a[Principal Chief Commissioner or] Chief Commissioner or 13a[Principal Commissioner or] Commissioner] in accordance with the rules contained in Part A of the Fourth Schedule, and includes a provident fund established under a scheme framed under the Employees’ Provident Funds Act, 1952 (19 of 1952) ;
(39) 14[Omitted by the Finance Act, 1992, w.e.f. 1-4-1993;]
(40) “regular assessment”15 means the assessment made under 16[sub-section (3) of] section 143 or section 144 ;
(41) “relative”, in relation to an individual, means the husband, wife, brother or sister or any lineal ascendant or descendant of that individual ;
17[(41A) “resulting company” means one or more companies (including a wholly owned subsidiary thereof) to which the undertaking of the demerged company is transferred in a demerger and, the resulting company in consideration of such transfer of undertaking, issues shares to the shareholders of the demerged company and includes any authority or body or local authority or public sector company or a company established, constituted or formed as a result of demerger;]
(42) “resident” means a person who is resident in India within the meaning of section 6 ;
18[19(42A) 20[“short-term capital asset” means a capital asset held by an assessee for not more than 21[thirty-six] months immediately preceding the date of its transfer22 :]
23[Provided that in the case of 23a[a share held in a company 24[or any other security listed in a recognised stock exchange in India] or a unit of the Unit Trust of India established under the Unit Trust of India Act, 1963 (52 of 1963) or 24a[a unit of a Mutual Fund specified under clause (23D) of section 10]] 25[or a zero coupon bond], the provisions of this clause shall have effect as if for the words “thirty-six months”, the words “twelve months” had been substituted.]
The following second proviso shall be inserted after the existing proviso to clause (42A) of section 2 by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2014, w.e.f. 1-4-2015 :
Provided further that in case of a share of company (not being a share listed in a recognised stock exchange) or a unit of a Mutual Fund specified under clause (23D) of section 10, which is transferred during the period beginning on the 1st day of April, 2014 and ending on the 10th day of July, 2014, the provisions of this clause shall have effect as if for the words “thirty-six months”, the words “twelve months” had been substituted.
26[Explanation 1].—(i) In determining the period for which any capital asset is held by the assessee—
(a) in the case of a share held in a company in liquidation, there shall be excluded the period subsequent to the date on which the company goes into liquidation ;
(b) in the case of a capital asset which becomes the property of the assessee in the circumstances mentioned in 27[sub-section (1)] of section 49, there shall be included the period for which the asset was held by the previous owner referred to in the said section ;
28[(c) in the case of a capital asset being a share or shares in an Indian company, which becomes the property of the assessee in consideration of a transfer referred to in clause (vii) of section 47, there shall be included the period for which the share or shares in the amalgamating company were held by the assessee ;]
29[(d) in the case of a capital asset, being a share or any other security (hereafter in this clause referred to as the financial asset) subscribed to by the assessee on the basis of his right to subscribe to such financial asset or subscribed to by the person in whose favour the assessee has renounced his right to subscribe to such financial asset, the period shall be reckoned from the date of allotment of such financial asset ;
(e) in the case of a capital asset, being the right to subscribe to any financial asset, which is renounced in favour of any other person, the period shall be reckoned from the date of the offer of such right by the company or institution, as the case may be, making such offer ;]
30[(f) in the case of a capital asset, being a financial asset, allotted without any payment and on the basis of holding of any other financial asset, the period shall be reckoned from the date of the allotment of such financial asset ;]
31[(g) in the case of a capital asset, being a share or shares in an Indian company, which becomes the property of the assessee in consi-deration of a demerger, there shall be included the period for which the share or shares held in the demerged company were held by the assessee ;]
32[(h) in the case of a capital asset, being trading or clearing rights of a recognised stock exchange in India acquired by a person pursuant to demutualisation or corporatisation of the recognised stock exchange in India as referred to in clause (xiii) of section 47, there shall be included the period for which the person was a member of the recognised stock exchange in India immediately prior to such demutualisation or corporatisation;
(ha) in the case of a capital asset, being equity share or shares in a company allotted pursuant to demutualisation or corporatisation of a recognised stock exchange in India as referred to in clause (xiii) of section 47, there shall be included the period for which the person was a member of the recognised stock exchange in India immediately prior to such demutualisation or corporatisation;]
33[(hb) in the case of a capital asset, being any specified security or sweat equity shares allotted or transferred, directly or indirectly, by the employer free of cost or at concessional rate to his employees (including former employee or employees), the period shall be reckoned from the date of allotment or transfer of such specified security or sweat equity shares;]
33a[(hc) in the case of a capital asset, being a unit of a business trust, allotted pursuant to transfer of share or shares as referred to in clause (xvii) of section 47, there shall be included the period for which the share or shares were held by the assessee;]
(ii) In respect of capital assets other than those mentioned in clause (i), the period for which any capital asset is held by the assessee shall be determined subject to any rules which the Board may make in this behalf.]
34[Explanation 2.—For the purposes of this clause, the expression “security”35 shall have the meaning assigned to it in clause (h) of section 2 of the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 (42 of 1956).]
36[Explanation 3.—For the purposes of this clause, the expressions “specified security” and “sweat equity shares” shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in the Explanation to clause (d) of sub-section (1) of section 115WB;]
The following Explanation 4 shall be inserted after Explanation 3 to clause (42A) of section 2 by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2014, w.e.f. 1-4-2015 :
Explanation 4.—For the purposes of this clause, the expression “equity oriented fund” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Explanation to clause (38) of section 10;
37[(42B) “short-term capital gain” means capital gain arising from the transfer of a short-term capital asset ;]
38[(42C) “slump sale”39 means the transfer of one or more undertakings as a result of the sale for a lump sum consideration without values being assigned to the individual assets and liabilities in such sales.
Explanation 1.—For the purposes of this clause, “undertaking” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Explanation 1 to clause (19AA).
Explanation 2.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that the determination of the value of an asset or liability for the sole purpose of payment of stamp duty, registration fees or other similar taxes or fees shall not be regarded as assignment of values to individual assets or liabilities ;]
40[(43) “tax” in relation to the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1965, and any subsequent assessment year means income-tax chargeable under the provisions of this Act, and in relation to any other assessment year income-tax and super-tax chargeable under the provisions of this Act prior to the aforesaid date 41[and in relation to the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 2006, and any subsequent assessment year includes the fringe benefit tax payable under section 115WA] ;]
42[(43A) “tax credit certificate” means a tax credit certificate granted to any person in accordance with the provisions of Chapter XXII-B43 and any scheme made thereunder ;]
(43B) 44[* * *]
45[(44) “Tax Recovery Officer” means any Income-tax Officer who may be authorised by the 45a[Principal Chief Commissioner or] Chief Commissioner or 45a[Principal Commissioner or] Commissioner, by general or special order in writing, to exercise the powers of a Tax Recovery Officer 46[and also to exercise or perform such powers and functions which are conferred on, or assigned to, an Assessing Officer under this Act and which may be prescribed];]
(45) “total income” means the total amount of income referred to in section 5, computed in the manner laid down in this Act ;
(46) 47[* * *]
48(47) 49[“transfer”50, in relation to a capital asset, includes,—
(i) the sale50, exchange50 or relinquishment50 of the asset ; or
(ii) the extinguishment of any rights therein50 ; or
(iii) the compulsory acquisition thereof under any law ; or
(iv) in a case where the asset is converted by the owner thereof into, or is treated by him as, stock-in-trade of a business carried on by him, such conversion or treatment ;] 51[or]
52[(iva) the maturity or redemption of a zero coupon bond; or]
53[(v) any transaction involving the allowing of the possession of any immovable property to be taken or retained in part performance of a contract of the nature referred to in section 53A54 of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882 (4 of 1882) ; or
(vi) any transaction (whether by way of becoming a member of, or acquiring shares in, a co-operative society, company or other association of persons or by way of any agreement or any arrangement or in any other manner whatsoever) which has the effect of transferring, or enabling the enjoyment of, any immov-able property.
55[Explanation 1].—For the purposes of sub-clauses (v) and (vi), “immovable property” shall have the same meaning as in clause (d) of section 269UA.]
56[Explanation 2.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby clarified that “transfer” includes and shall be deemed to have always included disposing of or parting with an asset or any interest therein, or creating any interest in any asset in any manner whatsoever, directly or indirectly, absolutely or conditionally, voluntarily or involuntarily, by way of an agreement (whether entered into in India or outside India) or otherwise, notwithstanding that such transfer of rights has been characterised as being effected or dependent upon or flowing from the transfer of a share or shares of a company registered or incorporated outside India;]
57[(48) “zero coupon bond” means a bond—
(a) issued by any infrastructure capital company or infrastructure capital fund or public sector company 58[or scheduled bank] on or after the 1st day of June, 2005;
(b) in respect of which no payment and benefit is received or receivable before maturity or redemption from infrastructure capital company or infrastructure capital fund or public sector company 58[or scheduled bank]; and
(c) which the Central Government may, by notification59 in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf.
60[Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, the expression “scheduled bank” shall have the meaning assigned to it in clause (ii) of the Explanation to sub-clause (c) of clause (viia) of sub-section (1) of section 36.]]
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Section 3: 61[“Previous year” defined.
- For the purposes of this Act, “previous year” means the financial year immediately preceding the assessment year :
Provided that, in the case of a business or profession newly set up, or a source of income newly coming into existence, in the said financial year, the previous year shall be the period beginning with the date of setting up of the business or profession or, as the case may be, the date on which the source of income newly comes into existence and ending with the said financial year.]
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CHAPTER II: BASIS OF CHARGE
Section 4: Charge of income-tax.
- 62 63(1) Where any Central Act enacts that income-tax64 shall be charged for any assessment year at any rate or rates, income-tax at that rate or those rates shall be charged for that year 65in accordance with, and 66[subject to the provisions (including provisions for the levy of additional income-tax) of, this Act] in respect of the total income65 of the previous year 67[* * *] of every person :
Provided that where by virtue of any provision of this Act income-tax is to be charged in respect of the income of a period other than the previous year, income-tax shall be charged accordingly.
(2) In respect of income chargeable under sub-section (1), income-tax shall be deducted at the source or paid in advance, where it is so deductible or payable under any provision of this Act.
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Section 5: Scope of total income.
- 68 69(1) Subject to70 the provisions of this Act, the total income65 of any previous year of a person who is a resident includes all income from whatever source derived which—
(a) is received71 or is deemed to be received71 in India in such year by or on behalf of such person ; or
(b) accrues or arises71 or is 71deemed to accrue or arise to him in India during such year ; or
(c) accrues or arises71 to him outside India during such year :
Provided that, in the case of a person not ordinarily resident in India within the meaning of sub-section (6)* of section 6, the income which accrues or arises to him outside India shall not be so included unless it is derived from a business controlled in or a profession set up in India.
(2) Subject to72 the provisions of this Act, the total income73 of any previous year of a person who is a non-resident includes all income from whatever source derived which—
(a) is received73a or is deemed to be received73a in India in such year by or on behalf of such person ; or
(b) accrues or arises73a or is 73adeemed to accrue or arise to him in India during such year.
Explanation 1.—Income accruing or arising outside India shall not be deemed to be received73a in India within the meaning of this section by reason only of the fact that it is taken into account in a balance sheet prepared in India.
Explanation 2.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that income which has been included in the total income of a person on the basis that it has accrued74 or arisen74 or is deemed to have accrued74 or arisen74 to him shall not again be so included on the basis that it is received or deemed to be received by him in India.
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Section 5A: 75[Apportionment of income between spouses governed by Portuguese Civil Code.
- (1) Where the husband and wife are governed by the system of commu- nity of property (known under the Portuguese Civil Code of 1860 as “COMMUNIAO DOS BENS”) in force in the State of Goa and in the Union territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, the income of the husband and of the wife under any head of income shall not be assessed as that of such community of proper-ty (whether treated as an association of persons or a body of individuals), but such income of the husband and of the wife under each head of income (other than under the head “Salaries”) shall be apportioned equally between the husband and the wife and the income so apportioned shall be included separately in the total income of the husband and of the wife respectively, and the remaining provisions of this Act shall apply accordingly.
(2) Where the husband or, as the case may be, the wife governed by the aforesaid system of community of property has any income under the head “Salaries”, such income shall be included in the total income of the spouse who has actually earned it.]
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Section 6: Residence in India.
- 76 For the purposes of this Act,—
(1) An individual is said to be resident in India in any previous year, if he—
(a) is in India in that year for a period or periods amounting in all to one hundred and eighty-two days or more ; or
(b) 77[* * *]
(c) having within the four years preceding that year been in India for a period or periods amounting in all to three hundred and sixty-five days or more, is in India for a period or periods amounting in all to sixty days or more in that year.
78[Explanation.—In the case of an individual,—
(a) being a citizen of India, who leaves India in any previous year 79[as a member of the crew of an 80Indian ship as defined in clause (18) of section 3 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 (44 of 1958), or] for the purposes of employment outside India, the provisions of sub-clause (c) shall apply in relation to that year as if for the words “sixty days”, occurring therein, the words “one hundred and eighty-two days” had been substituted ;
(b) being a citizen of India, or a person of Indian origin within the meaning of Explanation to clause (e) of section 115C, who, being outside India, comes on a visit to India in any previous year, the provisions of sub-clause (c) shall apply in relation to that year as if for the words “sixty days”, occurring therein, the words “one hundred and 81[eighty-two] days” had been substituted.]
(2) A Hindu undivided family, firm or other association of persons is said to be resident in India in any previous year in every case except where during that year the control and management81a of its affairs81a is situated wholly81a outside India.
(3) A company is said to be resident in India in any previous year, if—
(i) it is an Indian company ; or
(ii) during that year, the control and management82 of its affairs82 is situated wholly82 in India.
(4) Every other person is said to be resident in India in any previous year in every case, except where during that year the control and management of his affairs is situated wholly outside India.
(5) If a person is resident in India in a previous year relevant to an assessment year in respect of any source of income, he shall be deemed to be resident in India in the previous year relevant to the assessment year in respect of each of his other sources of income.
83[(6) A person is said to be “not ordinarily resident” in India in any previous year if such person is—
(a) an individual who has been a non-resident in India in nine out of the ten previous years preceding that year, or has during the seven previous years preceding that year been in India for a period of, or periods amounting in all to, seven hundred and twenty-nine days or less; or
(b) a Hindu undivided family whose manager has been a non-resident in India in nine out of the ten previous years preceding that year, or has during the seven previous years preceding that year been in India for a period of, or periods amounting in all to, seven hundred and twenty-nine days or less.]
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Section 7: Income deemed to be received.
- The following incomes shall be deemed to be received in the previous year :—
(i) the annual accretion in the previous year to the balance at the credit of an employee participating in a recognised provident fund, to the extent provided in rule 6 of Part A of the Fourth Schedule ;
(ii) the transferred balance in a recognised provident fund, to the extent provided in sub-rule (4) of rule 11 of Part A of the Fourth Schedule ;
84[(iii) the contribution made, by the Central Government 85[or any other employer] in the previous year, to the account of an employee under a pension scheme referred to in section 80CCD.]
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Section 8: Dividend income.
- 86[For the purposes of inclusion in the total income of an assessee,—
(a) any dividend] declared by a company or distributed or paid by it within the meaning of sub-clause (a) or sub-clause (b) or sub-clause (c) or sub-clause (d) or sub-clause (e) of clause (22) of section 2 shall be deemed to be the income of the previous year in which it is so declared, distributed or paid, as the case may be ;
87[(b) any interim dividend shall be deemed to be the income of the previous year in which the amount of such dividend is unconditionally made available by the company to the member who is entitled to it.]
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Section 9: Income deemed to accrue or arise in India.
- 88 89(1) The following incomes shall be deemed90 to accrue or arise in India :—
91(i) all income accruing or arising, whether directly or indirectly92, through or from any business connection92 in India, or through or from any property92 in India, or through or from any asset or source of income in India, 93[* * *] or through the transfer of a capital asset situate in India.
94[Explanation 1].—For the purposes of this clause—
(a) in the case of a business of which all the operations95 are not carried out in India, the income of the business deemed under this clause to accrue or arise in India shall be only such part of the income as is reasonably attributable to the operations95 carried out in India ;
(b) in the case of a non-resident, no income shall be deemed to accrue or arise in India to him through or from operations which are confined to the purchase of goods in India for the purpose of export ;
96[* * *]
97[(c) in the case of a non-resident, being a person engaged in the business of running a news agency or of publishing newspapers, magazines or journals, no income shall be deemed to accrue or arise in India to him through or from activities which are confined to the collection of news and views in India for transmission out of India ;]
98[(d) in the case of a non-resident, being—
(1) an individual who is not a citizen of India ; or
(2) a firm which does not have any partner who is a citizen of India or who is resident in India ; or
(3) a company which does not have any shareholder who is a citizen of India or who is resident in India,
no income shall be deemed to accrue or arise in India to such individual, firm or company through or from operations99 which are confined to the shooting of any cinematograph film in India.]
1[Explanation 2.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that “business connection” shall include any business activity carried out through a person who, acting on behalf of the non-resident,—
(a) has and habitually exercises in India, an authority to conclude contracts on behalf of the non-resident, unless his activities are limited to the purchase of goods or merchandise for the non-resident; or
(b) has no such authority, but habitually maintains in India a stock of goods or merchandise from which he regularly delivers goods or merchandise on behalf of the non-resident; or
(c) habitually secures orders in India, mainly or wholly for the non-resident or for that non-resident and other non-residents controlling, controlled by, or subject to the same common control, as that non-resident:
Provided that such business connection shall not include any business activity carried out through a broker, general commission agent or any other agent having an independent status, if such broker, general commission agent or any other agent having an independent status is acting in the ordinary course of his business :
Provided further that where such broker, general commission agent or any other agent works mainly or wholly on behalf of a non-resident (hereafter in this proviso referred to as the principal non-resident) or on behalf of such non-resident and other non-residents which are controlled by the principal non-resident or have a controlling interest in the principal non-resident or are subject to the same common control as the principal non-resident, he shall not be deemed to be a broker, general commission agent or an agent of an independent status.
Explanation 3.—Where a business is carried on in India through a person referred to in clause (a) or clause (b) or clause (c) of Explanation 2, only so much of income as is attributable to the operations carried out in India shall be deemed to accrue or arise in India.]
2[Explanation 4.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby clarified that the expression “through” shall mean and include and shall be deemed to have always meant and included “by means of”, “in consequence of” or “by reason of”.
Explanation 5.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby clarified that an asset or a capital asset being any share or interest in a company or entity registered or incorporated outside India shall be deemed to be and shall always be deemed to have been situated in India, if the share or interest derives, directly or indirectly, its value substantially from the assets located in India;]
(ii) income which falls under the head “Salaries”, if it is earned3 in India.
4[Explanation.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that the income of the nature referred to in this clause payable for—
(a) service rendered in India; and
(b) the rest period or leave period which is preceded and succeeded by services rendered in India and forms part of the service contract of employment,
shall be regarded as income earned in India ;]
(iii) income chargeable under the head “Salaries” payable by the Government to a citizen of India for service outside India ;
(iv) a dividend paid by an Indian company outside India ;
5[(v) income by way of interest payable by—
(a) the Government ; or
(b) a person who is a resident, except where the interest is payable in respect of any debt incurred, or moneys borrowed and used, for the purposes of a business or profession carried on by such person outside India or for the purposes of making or earning any income from any source outside India ; or
(c) a person who is a non-resident, where the interest is payable in respect of any debt incurred, or moneys borrowed and used, for the purposes of a business or profession carried on by such person in India ;
(vi) income by way of royalty6 payable by—
(a) the Government ; or
(b) a person who is a resident, except where the royalty is payable in respect of any right, property or information used or services utilised for the purposes of a business or profession carried on by such person outside India or for the purposes of making or earning any income from any source outside India ; or
(c) a person who is a non-resident, where the royalty is payable in respect of any right, property or information used or services utilised for the purposes of a business or profession carried on by such person in India or for the purposes of making or earning any income from any source in India :
Provided that nothing contained in this clause shall apply in relation to so much of the income by way of royalty as consists of lump sum consideration for the transfer outside India of, or the imparting of information outside India in respect of, any data, documentation, drawing or specification relating to any patent, invention, model, design, secret formula or process or trade mark or similar property, if such income is payable in pursuance of an agreement made before the 1st day of April, 1976, and the agreement is approved by the Central Government :
7[Provided further that nothing contained in this clause shall apply in relation to so much of the income by way of royalty as consists of lump sum payment made by a person, who is a resident, for the transfer of all or any rights (including the granting of a licence) in respect of computer software supplied by a non-resident manufacturer along with a computer or computer-based equipment under any scheme approved under the Policy on Computer Software Export, Software Development and Training, 1986 of the Government of India.]
Explanation 1.—For the purposes of the 8[first] proviso, an agree-ment made on or after the 1st day of April, 1976, shall be deemed to have been made before that date if the agreement is made in accordance with proposals approved by the Central Government before that date; so, however, that, where the recipient of the income by way of royalty is a foreign company, the agreement shall not be deemed to have been made before that date unless, before the expiry of the time allowed under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) of section 139 (whether fixed originally or on extension) for furnishing the return of income for the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1977, or the assessment year in respect of which such income first becomes chargeable to tax under this Act, whichever assessment year is later, the company exercises an option by furnishing a declaration in writing to the 9[Assessing] Officer (such option being final for that assessment year and for every subsequent assessment year) that the agreement may be regarded as an agreement made before the 1st day of April, 1976.
Explanation 2.—For the purposes of this clause, “royalty” means consideration (including any lump sum consideration but excluding any consideration which would be the income of the recipient chargeable under the head “Capital gains”) for—
(i) the transfer of all or any rights (including the granting of a licence) in respect of a patent, invention, model, design, secret formula or process or trade mark or similar property ;
(ii) the imparting of any information concerning the working of, or the use of, a patent, invention, model, design, secret formula or process or trade mark or similar property ;
(iii) the use of any patent, invention, model, design, secret formula or process or trade mark or similar property ;
(iv) the imparting of any information concerning technical, industrial, commercial or scientific knowledge, experience or skill ;
10[(iva) the use or right to use any industrial, commercial or scientific equipment10a but not including the amounts referred to in section 44BB;]
(v) the transfer of all or any rights (including the granting of a licence) in respect of10a any copyright, literary, artistic or scientific work including films or video tapes for use in connection with television or tapes for use in connection with radio broadcasting, but not including consideration for the sale, distribution or exhibition of cinematographic films ; or
(vi) the rendering of any services in connection with the activities referred to in sub-clauses (i) to 10[(iv), (iva) and] (v).
11[Explanation 3.—For the purposes of this clause, “computer software” means any computer programme recorded on any disc, tape, perforated media or other information storage device and includes any such programme or any customized electronic data.]
12[Explanation 4.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby clarified that the transfer of all or any rights in respect of any right, property or information includes and has always included transfer of all or any right for use or right to use a computer software (including granting of a licence) irrespective of the medium through which such right is transferred.
Explanation 5.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby clarified that the royalty includes and has always included consideration in respect of any right, property or information, whether or not—
(a) the possession or control of such right, property or information is with the payer;
(b) such right, property or information is used directly by the payer;
(c) the location of such right, property or information is in India.
Explanation 6.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby clarified that the expression “process” includes and shall be deemed to have always included transmission by satellite (including up-linking, amplification, conversion for down-linking of any signal), cable, optic fibre or by any other similar technology, whether or not such process is secret;]
(vii) income by way of fees for technical services13 payable by—
(a) the Government ; or
(b) a person who is a resident, except where the fees are payable in respect of services utilised in a business or profession carried on by such person14 outside India or for the purposes of making or earning any income from any source outside India13 ; or
(c) a person who is a non-resident, where the fees are payable in respect of services utilised in a business or profession carried on by such person in India or for the purposes of making or earning any income from any source in India :
15[Provided that nothing contained in this clause shall apply in relation to any income by way of fees for technical services payable in pursuance of an agreement made before the 1st day of April, 1976, and approved by the Central Government.]
15[Explanation 1.—For the purposes of the foregoing proviso, an agreement made on or after the 1st day of April, 1976, shall be deemed to have been made before that date if the agreement is made in accordance with proposals approved by the Central Government before that date.]
Explanation 15[2].—For the purposes of this clause, “fees for technical services” means any consideration (including any lump sum consi-deration) for the rendering of any managerial, technical or consultancy services (including the provision of services of technical or other personnel) but does not include consideration for any construction16, assembly, mining or like project undertaken by the recipient16 or consideration which would be income of the recipient chargeable under the head “Salaries”.]
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), any pension payable outside India to a person residing permanently outside India shall not be deemed to accrue or arise in India, if the pension is payable to a person referred to in article 314 of the Constitution or to a person who, having been appointed before the 15th day of August, 1947, to be a Judge of the Federal Court or of a High Court within the meaning of the Government of India Act, 1935, continues to serve on or after the commencement of the Constitution as a Judge in India.
17[Explanation.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that for the purposes of this section, income of a non-resident shall be deemed to accrue or arise in India under clause (v) or clause (vi) or clause (vii) of sub-section (1) and shall be included in the total income of the non-resident, whether or not,—
(i) the non-resident has a residence or place of business or business connection in India; or
(ii) the non-resident has rendered services in India.]
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CHAPTER III: INCOMES WHICH DO NOT FORM PART OF TOTAL INCOME
Section 10: Incomes not included in total income.
- In computing the total income of a previous year of any person, any income falling within any of the following clauses shall not be included—
(1) agricultural income ;
18(2) 19[subject to the provisions of sub-section (2) of section 64,] any sum received by an individual as a member of a Hindu undivided family, where such sum has been paid out of the income of the family, or, in the case of any impartible estate, where such sum has been paid out of the income of the estate belonging to the family ;
20[(2A) 20ain the case of a person being a partner of a firm which is separately assessed as such, his share in the total income of the firm.
- —For the purposes of this clause, the share of a partner in the total income of a firm separately assessed as such shall, notwithstanding anything contained in any other law, be an amount which bears to the total income of the firm the same proportion as the amount of his share in the profits of the firm in accordance with the partnership deed bears to such profits ;]
(3) 21[***]
22[(4) (i) in the case of a non-resident, any income by way of interest on such securities or bonds as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette23, specify in this behalf, including income by way of premium on the redemption of such bonds :
24[Provided that the Central Government shall not specify, for the purposes of this sub-clause, such securities or bonds on or after the 1st day of June, 2002;]
25[26(ii) in the case of an individual, any income by way of interest on moneys standing to his credit in a Non-Resident (External) Account in any bank in India in accordance with 27[the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (42 of 1999)], and the rules made thereunder :
Provided that such individual is a person resident outside India as defined in clause (q) of section 228 of the said Act or is a person who has been permitted by the Reserve Bank of India to maintain the aforesaid Account ;]]
29[***]
30[(4B) in the case of an individual, being a citizen of India or a person of Indian origin, who is a non-resident, any income from interest on such savings certificates issued 31[before the 1st day of June, 2002] by the Central Government as that Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette32, specify in this behalf :
Provided that the individual has subscribed to such certificates in convertible foreign exchange remitted from a country out- side India in accordance with the provisions of 33[the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (42 of 1999)], and any rules made thereunder.
- —For the purposes of this clause,—
(a) a person shall be deemed to be of Indian origin if he, or either of his parents or any of his grandparents, was born in undivided India ;
(b) “convertible foreign exchange” means foreign exchange which is for the time being treated by the Reserve Bank of India as convertible foreign exchange for the purposes of 33[the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (42 of 1999)], and any rules made thereunder ;]
34[(5) in the case of an individual, the value of any travel concession or assistance received by, or due to, him,—
(a) from his employer for himself and his family, in connection with his proceeding on leave to any place in India ;
(b) from his employer or former employer for himself and his family, in connection with his proceeding to any place in India after retirement from service or after the termination of his service,
subject to such conditions as may be prescribed35 (including conditions as to number of journeys and the amount which shall be exempt per head) having regard to the travel concession or assistance granted to the employees of the Central Government :
Provided that the amount exempt under this clause shall in no case exceed the amount of expenses actually incurred for the purpose of such travel.
- —For the purposes of this clause, “family”, in relation to an individual, means—
(i) the spouse and children of the individual ; and
(ii) the parents, brothers and sisters of the individual or any of them, wholly or mainly dependent on the individual; ]
(5A) 36[Omitted by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1998, w.e.f. 1-4-1999;]
(5B) 37[Omitted by the Finance Act, 2002, w.e.f. 1-4-2003;]
(6) in the case of an individual who is not a citizen of India,—
(i) 38[***]
39[(ii) the remuneration received by him as an official, by whatever name called, of an embassy, high commission, legation, commission, consulate or the trade representation of a foreign State, or as a member of the staff of any of these officials, for service in such capacity :
Provided that the remuneration received by him as a trade commissioner or other official representative in India of the Government of a foreign State (not holding office as such in an honorary capacity), or as a member of the staff of any of those officials, shall be exempt only if the remuneration of the corres-ponding officials or, as the case may be, members of the staff, if any, of the Government resident for similar purposes in the country concerned enjoys a similar exemption in that country :
Provided further that such members of the staff are subjects of the country represented and are not engaged in any business or profession or employment in India otherwise than as members of such staff ;]
(iii) to (v) [Sub-clause (ii) substituted for sub-clauses (ii) to (v) by the Finance Act, 1988, w.e.f. 1-4-1989;]
(vi) the remuneration received by him as an employee of a foreign enterprise for services rendered by him during his stay in India, provided the following conditions are fulfilled—
(a) the foreign enterprise is not engaged in any trade or business in India ;
(b) his stay in India does not exceed in the aggregate a period of ninety days in such previous year ; and
(c) such remuneration is not liable to be deducted from the income of the employer chargeable under this Act ;
(via) 40[Omitted by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1998, w.e.f. 1-4-1999;]
(vii) 41[Omitted by the Finance Act, 1993, w.e.f. 1-4-1993;]
(viia) 42[Omitted by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1998, w.e.f. 1-4-1999;]
(viii) any income chargeable under the head “Salaries” received by or due to any such individual being a non-resident as remuneration for services rendered in connection with his employment on a foreign ship where his total stay in India does not exceed in the aggregate a period of ninety days in the previous year ;
(ix) 43[Omitted by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1998, w.e.f. 1-4-1999;]
(x) 44[Omitted by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1998, w.e.f. 1-4-1999;]
45[(xi) the remuneration received by him as an employee of the Government of a foreign State during his stay in India in connection with his training in any establishment or office of, or in any undertaking owned by,—
(i) the Government ; or
(ii) any company in which the entire paid-up share capital is held by the Central Government, or any State Government or Governments, or partly by the Central Government and partly by one or more State Governments ; or
(iii) any company which is a subsidiary of a company referred to in item (ii) ; or
(iv) any corporation established by or under a Central, State or Provincial Act ; or
(v) any society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (14 of 1860), or under any other corresponding law for the time being in force and wholly financed by the Cen-tral Government, or any State Government or State Governments, or partly by the Central Government and partly by one or more State Governments ;]
46[(6A) where in the case of a foreign company deriving income by way of royalty or fees for technical services received from Government or an Indian concern in pursuance of an agreement made by the foreign company with Government or the Indian concern after the 31st day of March, 1976 47[but before the 1st day of June, 2002] 48[and,—
(a) where the agreement relates to a matter included in the industrial policy, for the time being in force, of the Government of India, such agreement is in accordance with that policy ; and
(b) in any other case, the agreement is approved by the Central Government,
the tax on such income is payable, under the terms of the agreement, by Government or the Indian concern to the Central Government, the tax so paid].
- —For the purposes of this clause 49[and clause (6B)],—
(a) “fees for technical services” shall have the same meaning as in Explanation 2 to clause (vii) of sub-section (1) of section 9 ;
(b) “foreign company” shall have the same meaning as in section 80B ;
(c) “royalty” shall have the same meaning as in Explanation 2 to clause (vi) of sub-section (1) of section 9;]
49[(6B) where in the case of a non-resident (not being a company) or of a foreign company deriving income (not being salary, royalty or fees for technical services) from Government or an Indian concern in pur-suance of an agreement entered into 50[before the 1st day of June, 2002] by the Central Government with the Government of a foreign State or an international organisation, the tax on such income is payable by Government or the Indian concern to the Central Government under the terms of that agreement or any other related agreement approved 50[before that date] by the Central Government, the tax so paid ;]
51[(6BB) where in the case of the Government of a foreign State or a foreign enterprise deriving income from an Indian company engaged in the business of operation of aircraft, as a consideration of acquiring an aircraft or an aircraft engine (other than payment for providing spares, facilities or services in connection with the operation of leased aircraft) on lease under 52[an agreement entered into after the 31st day of March, 1997 but before the 1st day of April, 1999, or entered into after the 53[31st day of March, 54[2007]] and approved by the Central Government in this behalf] and the tax on such income is payable by such Indian company under the terms of that agreement to the Central Government, the tax so paid.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, the expression “foreign enterprise” means a person who is a non-resident;]
55[(6C) any income arising to such foreign company, as the Central Government may, by notification56 in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf, by way of 57[royalty or] fees for technical services received in pursuance of an agreement entered into with that Government for providing services in or outside India in projects connected with security of India ;]
(7) any allowances or perquisites paid or allowed as such outside India by the Government to a citizen of India for rendering service outside India ;
(8) in the case of an individual who is assigned to duties in India in connection with any co-operative technical assistance programmes and projects in accordance with an agreement entered into by the Central Government and the Government of a foreign State (the terms whereof provide for the exemption given by this clause)—
(a) the remuneration received by him directly or indirectly from the Government of that foreign State for such duties, and
(b) any other income of such individual which accrues or arises outside India, and is not deemed to accrue or arise in India, in respect of which such individual is required to pay any income or social security tax to the Government of that foreign State ;
58[(8A) in the case of a consultant—
(a) any remuneration or fee received by him or it, directly or indirectly, out of the funds made available to an international organisation [hereafter referred to in this clause and clause (8B) as the agency] under a technical assistance grant agreement between the agency and the Government of a foreign State ; and
(b) any other income which accrues or arises to him or it outside India, and is not deemed to accrue or arise in India, in respect of which such consultant is required to pay any income or social security tax to the Government of the country of his or its origin.
- —In this clause, “consultant” means—
(i) any individual, who is either not a citizen of India or, being a citizen of India, is not ordinarily resident in India ; or
(ii) any other person, being a non-resident,
engaged by the agency for rendering technical services in India in connection with any technical assistance programme or project, provided the following conditions are fulfilled, namely :—
(1) the technical assistance is in accordance with an agreement entered into by the Central Government and the agency ; and
(2) the agreement relating to the engagement of the consultant is approved by the prescribed authority59 for the purposes of this clause ;
(8B) in the case of an individual who is assigned to duties in India in connection with any technical assistance programme and project in accordance with an agreement entered into by the Central Government and the agency—
(a) the remuneration received by him, directly or indirectly, for such duties from any consultant referred to in clause (8A) ; and
(b) any other income of such individual which accrues or arises outside India, and is not deemed to accrue or arise in India, in respect of which such individual is required to pay any income or social security tax to the country of his origin, provided the following conditions are fulfilled, namely :—
(i) the individual is an employee of the consultant referred to in clause (8A) and is either not a citizen of India or, being a citizen of India, is not ordinarily resident in India ; and
(ii) the contract of service of such individual is approved by the prescribed authority60 before the commencement of his service ;]
(9) the income of any member of the family of any such individual as is referred to in clause (8) 61[or clause (8A) or, as the case may be, clause (8B)] accompanying him to India, which accrues or arises outside India, and is not deemed to accrue or arise in India, in respect of which such member is required to pay any income or social security tax to the Government of that foreign State 62[or, as the case may be, country of origin of such member];
63[64(10) 65(i) any death-cum-retirement gratuity received under the revised Pension Rules of the Central Government or, as the case may be, the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972, or under any similar scheme applicable to the members of the civil services of the Union or holders of posts connected with defence or of civil posts under the Union (such members or holders being persons not governed by the said Rules) or to the members of the all-India services or to the members of the civil services of a State or holders of civil posts under a State or to the employees of a local authority or any payment of retiring gratuity received under the Pension Code or Regulations applicable to the members of the defence services ;
(ii) any gratuity received under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 (39 of 1972), to the extent it does not exceed an amount calculated in accordance with the provisions of sub-sections (2) and (3) of section 466 of that Act ;
(iii) any other gratuity received by an employee on his retirement or on his becoming incapacitated prior to such retirement or on termination of his employment, or any gratuity received by his widow, children or dependants on his death, to the extent it does not, in either case, exceed one-half month’s salary for each year of completed service67, 68[calculated on the basis of the average salary for the ten months immediately preceding the month in which any such event occurs, subject to such limit69 as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf having regard to the limit applicable in this behalf to the employees of that Government] :
Provided that where any gratuities referred to in this clause70 are received by an employee from more than one employer in the same previous year, the aggregate amount exempt from income-tax under this clause 71[shall not exceed the limit so specified] :
Provided further that where any such gratuity or gratuities was or were received in any one or more earlier previous years also and the whole or any part of the amount of such gratuity or gratuities was not included in the total income of the assessee of such previous year or years, the amount exempt from income-tax under this clause 71[shall not exceed the limit so specified] as reduced by the amount or, as the case may be, the aggregate amount not included in the total income of any such previous year or years.
72[* * *]
- —73[In this clause, and in clause (10AA)], “salary” shall have the meaning assigned to it in clause (h) of rule 2 of Part A of the Fourth Schedule ;]
74[75(10A) 76(i) any payment in commutation of pension received under the Civil Pensions (Commutation) Rules of the Central Government or under any similar scheme applicable 77[to the members of the civil services of the Union or holders of posts connected with defence or of civil posts under the Union (such members or holders being persons not governed by the said Rules) or to the members of the all-India services or to the members of the defence services or to the members of the civil services of a State or holders of civil posts under a State or to the employees of a local authority] or a corporation established by a Central, State or Provincial Act ;
(ii) any payment in commutation of pension received under any scheme of any other employer, to the extent it does not exceed—
(a) in a case where the employee receives any gratuity, the commuted value of one-third of the pension which he is normally entitled to receive, and
(b) in any other case, the commuted value of one-half of such pension,
such commuted value being determined having regard to the age of the recipient, the state of his health, the rate of interest and officially recognised tables of mortality ;
78[* * *]
79[ (iii) any payment in commutation of pension received from a fund under clause (23AAB) ;]
80[81(10AA) (i) any payment received by an employee of the Central Government or a State Government as the cash equivalent of the leave salary in respect of the period of earned leave at his credit at the time of his 82retirement 83[whether] on superannuation or otherwise ;
(ii) any payment of the nature referred to in sub-clause (i) received by an employee, other than an employee of the Central Government or a State Government, in respect of so much of the period of earned leave at his credit at the time of his retirement 83[whether] on superannuation 82or otherwise as does not exceed 84[ten] months, calculated on the basis of the average salary drawn by the employee during the period of ten months immediately preceding his retirement 83[whether] on superannuation or otherwise, 85[subject to such limit as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf having regard to the limit86 applicable in this behalf to the employees of that Government] :
Provided that where any such payments are received by an employee from more than one employer in the same previous year, the aggregate amount exempt from income-tax under this sub-clause 87[shall not exceed the limit so specified] :
Provided further that where any such payment or payments was or were received in any one or more earlier previous years also and the whole or any part of the amount of such payment or payments was or were not included in the total income of the assessee of such previous year or years, the amount exempt from income-tax under this sub-clause 88[shall not exceed the limit so specified], as reduced by the amount or, as the case may be, the aggregate amount not included in the total income of any such previous year or years.
89[* * *]
- —For the purposes of sub-clause (ii),—
90[* * *] the entitlement to earned leave of an employee shall not exceed thirty days for every year of actual service rendered by him as an employee of the employer from whose service he has retired ;
91[* * *]
92[(10B) any compensation received by a workman under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (14 of 1947), or under any other Act or Rules, orders or notifications issued thereunder or under any standing orders or under any award, contract of service or otherwise, 93[at the time of his retrenchment :
Provided that the amount exempt under this clause shall not exceed—
(i) an amount calculated in accordance with the provisions of 94clause (b) of section 25F of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (14 of 1947) ; or
95[(ii) such amount, not being less than fifty thousand rupees, as the Central Government may, by notification96 in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf,]
whichever is less :
Provided further that the preceding proviso shall not apply in respect of any compensation received by a workman in accordance with any scheme which the Central Government may, having regard to the need for extending special protection to the workmen in the undertaking to which such scheme applies and other relevant circumstances, approve in this behalf.]
- —For the purposes of this clause—
(a) compensation received by a workman at the time of the closing down of the undertaking in which he is employed shall be deemed to be compensation received at the time of his retrenchment ;
(b) compensation received by a workman, at the time of the transfer (whether by agreement or by operation of law) of the ownership or management of the undertaking in which he is employed from the employer in relation to that undertaking to a new employer, shall be deemed to be compensation received at the time of his retrenchment if—
(i) the service of the workman has been interrupted by such transfer ; or
(ii) the terms and conditions of service applicable to the workman after such transfer are in any way less favourable to the workman than those applicable to him immediately before the transfer ; or
(iii) the new employer is, under the terms of such transfer or otherwise, legally not liable to pay to the workman, in the event of his retrenchment, compensation on the basis that his service has been continuous and has not been interrupted by the transfer ;
97(c) the expressions “employer” and “workman” shall have the same meanings as in the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (14 of 1947);]
98[(10BB) any payments made under the Bhopal Gas Leak Disaster (Processing of Claims) Act, 1985 (21 of 1985), and any scheme framed thereunder except payment made to any assessee in connection with the Bhopal Gas Leak Disaster to the extent such assessee has been allowed a deduction under this Act on account of any loss or damage caused to him by such disaster ;]
99[(10BC) any amount received or receivable from the Central Government or a State Government or a local authority by an individual or his legal heir by way of compensation on account of any disaster, except the amount received or receivable to the extent such individual or his legal heir has been allowed a deduction under this Act on account of any loss or damage caused by such disaster.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, the expression “disaster” shall have the meaning assigned to it under clause (d) of section 21 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 (53 of 2005);]
2[(10C) 3any amount received4 5[or receivable] by an employee of—
(i) a public sector company ; or
(ii) any other company ; or
(iii) an authority established under a Central, State or Provincial Act ; or
(iv) a local 6[authority ; or]
7[(v) a co-operative society ; or
(vi) a University established or incorporated by or under a Central, State or Provincial Act and an institution declared to be a University under section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 (3 of 1956) ; or
(vii) an Indian Institute of Technology within the meaning of clause (g) of section 38 of the Institutes of Technology Act, 1961 (59 of 1961) ; or
9[(viia) any State Government; or]
10[(viib) the Central Government; or]
11[(viic) an institution, having importance throughout India or in any State or States, as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette12, specify in this behalf; or]
(viii) such institute of management as the Central Government may, by notification13 in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf,]
14[on his] 15[voluntary retirement or termination of his service, in accordance with any scheme or schemes of voluntary retirement or in the case of a public sector company referred to in sub-clause (i), a scheme of voluntary separation, to the extent such amount does not exceed five lakh rupees] :
Provided that the schemes of the said companies or authorities 16[or societies or Universities or the Institutes referred to in sub-clauses (vii) and (viii)], as the case may be, governing the payment of such amount are framed in accordance with such guidelines (including inter alia criteria of economic viability) as may be 17prescribed 18[***]:
Provided further that where exemption has been allowed to an employee under this clause for any assessment year, no exemption thereunder shall be allowed to him in relation to any other assessment year :]
19[Provided also that where any relief has been allowed to an assessee under section 89 for any assessment year in respect of any amount received or receivable on his voluntary retirement or termination of service or voluntary separation, no exemption under this clause shall be allowed to him in relation to such, or any other, assessment year;]
20[(10CC) in the case of an employee, being an individual deriving income in the nature of a perquisite, not provided for by way of monetary payment, within the meaning of clause (2) of section 17, the tax on such income actually paid by his employer, at the option of the employer, on behalf of such employee, notwithstanding anything contained in section 20021 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956);]
22[(10D) any sum received under a life insurance policy, including the sum allocated by way of bonus on such policy, other than—
(a) any sum received under sub-section (3) of section 80DD or sub-section (3) of section 80DDA*; or
(b) any sum received under a Keyman insurance policy; or
(c) any sum received under an insurance policy issued on or after the 1st day of April, 2003 23[but on or before the 31st day of March, 2012] in respect of which the premium payable for any of the years during the term of the policy exceeds twenty per cent of the actual capital sum assured 23[; or]
23[(d) any sum received under an insurance policy issued on or after the 1st day of April, 2012 in respect of which the premium payable for any of the years during the term of the policy exceeds ten per cent of the actual capital sum assured:]
Provided that the provisions of 24[sub-clauses (c) and (d)] shall not apply to any sum received on the death of a person:
Provided further that for the purpose of calculating the actual capital sum assured under 25[sub-clause (c)], effect shall be given to the 26[Explanation to sub-section (3) of section 80C or the Explanation to sub-section (2A) of section 88, as the case may be] :
27[Provided also that where the policy, issued on or after the 1st day of April, 2013, is for insurance on life of any person, who is—
(i) a person with disability or a person with severe disability as referred to in section 80U; or
(ii) suffering from disease or ailment as specified in the rules made under section 80DDB,
the provisions of this sub-clause shall have effect as if for the words “ten per cent”, the words “fifteen per cent” had been substituted.]
28[Explanation 1].—For the purposes of this clause, “Keyman insurance policy” means a life insurance policy taken by a person on the life of another person who is or was the employee of the first-mentioned person or is or was connected in any manner whatsoever with the business of the first-mentioned person 29[and includes such policy which has been assigned to a person, at any time during the term of the policy, with or without any consideration];]
30[Explanation 2.—For the purposes of sub-clause (d), the expression “actual capital sum assured” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Explanation to sub-section (3A) of section 80C;]
(11) any payment from a provident fund to which the Provident Funds Act, 1925 (19 of 1925), applies 31[or from any other provident fund set up by the Central Government and notified32 by it in this behalf in the Official Gazette];
(12) the accumulated balance due and becoming payable to an employee participating in a recognised provident fund, to the extent provided in rule 8 of Part A of the Fourth Schedule ;
33[(13) any payment from an approved superannuation fund made—
(i) on the death of a beneficiary ; or
(ii) to an employee in lieu of or in commutation of an annuity on his retirement at or after a specified age or on his becoming incapa-citated prior to such retirement ; or
(iii) by way of refund of contributions on the death of a beneficiary ; or
(iv) by way of refund of contributions to an employee on his leaving the service in connection with which the fund is established otherwise than by retirement at or after a specified age or on his becoming incapacitated prior to such retirement, to the extent to which such payment does not exceed the contributions made prior to the commencement of this Act and any interest thereon;]
34[35(13A) any special allowance specifically granted to an assessee by his employer to meet expenditure actually incurred on payment of rent (by whatever name called) in respect of residential accommodation occupied by the assessee, to such extent 36[* * *] as may be prescribed37 having regard to the area or place in which such accommodation is situate and other relevant considerations.]
38[Explanation.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that nothing contained in this clause shall apply in a case where—
(a) the residential accommodation occupied by the assessee is owned by him ; or
(b) the assessee has not actually incurred expenditure on payment of rent (by whatever name called) in respect of the residential accommodation occupied by him ;]
39[(14) (i) any such special allowance or benefit, not being in the nature of a perquisite within the meaning of clause (2) of section 17, specifically granted to meet expenses wholly, necessarily and exclusively incurred40 in the performance of the duties of an office or employment of profit41, 42[as may be prescribed], to the extent to which such expenses are actually incurred for that purpose ;
(ii) any such allowance granted to the assessee either to meet his personal expenses at the place where the duties of his office or employment of profit41 are ordinarily performed by him or at the place where he ordinarily resides, or to compensate him for the increased cost of living, 43[as may be prescribed and to the extent as may be prescribed] :]
44[Provided that nothing in sub-clause (ii) shall apply to any allowance in the nature of personal allowance granted to the assessee to remunerate or compensate him for performing duties of a special nature relating to his office or employment unless such allowance is related to the place of his posting or residence ;]
(14A) 45[***]
(15) 46[(i) income by way of interest, premium on redemption or other payment on such securities, bonds, annuity certificates, savings certificates, other certificates issued by the Central Government and deposits as the Central Government may, by notification47 in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf, subject to such conditions and limits as may be specified in the said notification ;]
48[(iib) 49[in the case of an individual or a Hindu undivided family,] interest on such Capital Investment Bonds as the Central Government may, by notification50 in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf :]
51[Provided that the Central Government shall not specify, for the purposes of this sub-clause, such Capital Investment Bonds on or after the 1st day of June, 2002;]
52[(iic) in the case of an individual or a Hindu undivided family, interest on such Relief Bonds53 as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf ;]
54[(iid) interest on such bonds, as the Central Government may, by notification55 in the Official Gazette, specify, arising to—
(a) a non-resident Indian, being an individual owning the bonds ; or
(b) any individual owning the bonds by virtue of being a nominee or survivor of the non-resident Indian ; or
(c) any individual to whom the bonds have been gifted by the non-resident Indian :
Provided that the aforesaid bonds are purchased by a non-resident Indian in foreign exchange and the interest and principal received in respect of such bonds, whether on their maturity or otherwise, is not allowable to be taken out of India :
Provided further that where an individual, who is a non-resident Indian in any previous year in which the bonds are acquired, becomes a resident in India in any subsequent year, the provisions of this sub-clause shall continue to apply in relation to such individual :
Provided also that in a case where the bonds are encashed in a previous year prior to their maturity by an individual who is so entitled, the provisions of this sub-clause shall not apply to such individual in relation to the assessment year relevant to such previous year :
56[Provided also that the Central Government shall not specify, for the purposes of this sub-clause, such bonds on or after the 1st day of June, 2002.]
- —For the purposes of this sub-clause, the expression “non-resident Indian” shall have the meaning assigned to it in clause (e) of section 115C;]
(iii) interest on securities held by the Issue Department of the Central Bank of Ceylon constituted under the Ceylon Monetary Law Act, 1949;
57[(iiia) interest payable to any bank incorporated in a country outside India and authorised to perform central banking functions in that country on any deposits made by it, with the approval of the Reserve Bank of India, with any scheduled bank.
- —For the purposes of this sub-clause, “scheduled bank” shall have the meaning assigned to it in 58[clause (ii) of the Explanation to clause (viia) of sub-section (1) of section 36];]
59[(iiib) interest payable to the Nordic Investment Bank, being a multilateral financial institution constituted by the Governments of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, on a loan advanced by it to a project approved by the Central Government in terms of the Memorandum of Understanding entered into by the Central Government with that Bank on the 25th day of November, 1986;]
60[(iiic) interest payable to the European Investment Bank, on a loan granted by it in pursuance of the framework-agreement for financial co-operation entered into on the 25th day of November, 1993 by the Central Government with that Bank;]
(iv) interest payable—
61[(a) by Government or a local authority on moneys borrowed by it before the 1st day of June, 2001 from, or debts owed by it before the 1st day of June, 2001 to, sources outside India;]
(b) by an industrial undertaking in India on moneys borrowed by it under 62[a loan agreement entered into before the 1st day of June, 2001 with any such financial institution] in a foreign country as may be approved63 in this behalf by the Central Government by general or special order ;
64(c) by an industrial undertaking in India on any moneys borrowed or debt incurred by it 65[before the 1st day of June, 2001] in a foreign country in respect of the purchase outside India of raw materials 66[or components] or capital plant and machinery, 67[to the extent to which such interest does not exceed the amount of interest calculated at the rate approved by the Central Government in this behalf68, having regard to the terms of the loan or debt and its repayment.]
69[70[Explanation 1.]—For the purposes of this item, “purchase of capital plant and machinery” includes the purchase of such capital plant and machinery under a hire-purchase agreement or a lease agreement with an option to purchase such plant and machinery.]
71[Explanation 2.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that the usance interest payable outside India by an undertaking engaged in the business of ship-breaking in respect of purchase of a ship from outside India shall be deemed to be the interest payable on a debt incurred in a foreign country in respect of the purchase outside India;]
72[(d) by the Industrial Finance Corporation of India established by the Industrial Finance Corporation Act, 1948 (15 of 1948), or the Industrial Development Bank of India established under the Industrial Development Bank of India Act, 1964 (18 of 1964), 73[or the Export-Import Bank of India established under the Export-Import Bank of India Act, 1981 (28 of 1981),] 74[or the National Housing Bank established under section 3 of the National Housing Bank Act, 1987 (53 of 1987),] 75[or the Small Industries Development Bank of India established under section 3 of the Small Industries Development Bank of India Act, 1989 (39 of 1989),] or the Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India [a company formed and registered under the Indian Companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913)], on any moneys borrowed by it from sources outside India 76[before the 1st day of June, 2001], to the extent to which such interest does not exceed the amount of interest calculated at the rate approved by the Central Government in this behalf, having regard to the terms of the loan and its repayment;]
77[(e) by any other financial institution established in India or a banking company to which the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (10 of 1949), applies (including any bank or banking institution referred to in section 51 of that Act), on any moneys borrowed by it from sources outside India 78[before the 1st day of June, 2001] under a loan agreement approved by the Central Government where the moneys are borrowed either for the purpose of advancing loans to industrial undertakings in India for purchase outside India of raw materials or capital plant and machinery or for the purpose of importing any goods which the Central Government may consider necessary to import in the public interest, to the extent to which such interest does not exceed the amount of interest calculated at the rate approved by the Central Government in this behalf, having regard to the terms of the loan and its repayment;]
79[(f) by an industrial undertaking in India on any moneys borrowed by it in foreign currency from sources outside India under a loan agreement approved by the Central Government 80[before the 1st day of June, 2001] having regard to the need for industrial development in India, to the extent to which such interest does not exceed the amount of interest calculated at the rate approved by the Central Government in this behalf, having regard to the terms of the loan and its repayment;
81[(fa) by a scheduled bank 82[***] 83[to a non-resident or to a person who is not ordinarily resident within the meaning of sub-section (6)† of section 6] on deposits in foreign currency where the acceptance of such deposits by the bank is approved by the Reserve Bank of India.
84[Explanation.—For the purposes of this item, the expression “scheduled bank” means the State Bank of India constituted under the State Bank of India Act, 1955 (23 of 1955), a subsidiary bank as defined in the State Bank of India (Subsi-diary Banks) Act, 1959 (38 of 1959), a corresponding new bank constituted under section 3 of the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970 (5 of 1970), or under section 3 of the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1980 (40 of 1980), or any other bank being a bank included in the Second Schedule to the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934), but does not include a co-operative bank;]
85[(g) by a public company formed and registered in India with the main object of carrying on the business of providing long-term finance for construction or purchase of houses in India for residential purposes, 86[being a company eligible for deduction under clause (viii) of sub-section (1) of section 36] on any moneys borrowed by it in foreign currency from sources outside India under a loan agreement approved by the Central Government 87[before the 1st day of June, 2003], to the extent to which such interest does not exceed the amount of interest calculated at the rate approved by the Central Government in this behalf, having regard to the terms of the loan and its repayment.]
- —For the purposes of 88[items (f) 89[, (fa)] and (g)], the expression 90“foreign currency” shall have the meaning assigned to it in 91[the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (42 of 1999)];]
92[(h) by any public sector company in respect of such bonds or debentures and subject to such conditions, including the condition that the holder of such bonds or debentures registers his name and the holding with that company, as the Central Government may, by notification93 in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf;]
94[(i) by Government on deposits made by an employee of the Central Government or a State Government 95[or a public sector company], in accordance with such scheme as the Central Government may, by notification96 in the Official Gazette, frame in this behalf, out of the moneys due to him on account of his retirement, whether on superannuation or otherwise.]
97[98[Explanation 1].—For the purposes of this sub-clause, the expression “industrial undertaking” means any undertaking which is engaged in—
(a) the manufacture or processing of goods; or
99[(aa) the manufacture of computer software or recording of programme on any disc, tape, perforated media or other information device; or]
(b) the business of generation or distribution of electricity or any other form of power; or
1[(ba) the business of providing telecommunication services; or]
(c) mining; or
(d) the construction of ships; or
2[(da) the business of ship-breaking; or]
3[(e) the operation of ships or aircrafts or construction or operation of rail systems.]]
4[Explanation 1A.—For the purposes of this sub-clause, the expression “interest” shall not include interest paid on delayed payment of loan or on default if it is in excess of two per cent per annum over the rate of interest payable in terms of such loan.]
5[Explanation 2.—For the purposes of this clause, the expression “interest” includes hedging transaction charges on account of currency fluctuation;]
6[(v) interest on—
(a) securities held by the Welfare Commissioner, Bhopal Gas Victims, Bhopal, in the Reserve Bank’s SGL Account No. SL/DH 048;
(b) deposits for the benefit of the victims of the Bhopal gas leak disaster held in such account, with the Reserve Bank of India or with a public sector bank, as the Central Government may, by notification7 in the Official Gazette, specify, whether prospectively or retrospectively but in no case earlier than the 1st day of April, 1994 in this behalf.
- —For the purposes of this sub-clause, the expression “public sector bank” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Explanation to clause (23D);]
8[(vi) interest on Gold Deposit Bonds issued under the Gold Deposit Scheme, 1999 notified by the Central Government;]
9[(vii) interest on bonds—
(a) issued by a local authority or by a State Pooled Finance Entity; and
(b) specified by the Central Government by notification10 in the Official Gazette.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-clause, the expression “State Pooled Finance Entity” shall mean such entity which is set up in accordance with the guidelines for the Pooled Finance Development Scheme notified by the Central Government in the Ministry of Urban Development;]
11[(viii) any income by way of interest received by a non-resident or a person who is not ordinarily resident, in India on a deposit made on or after the 1st day of April, 2005, in an Offshore Banking Unit12 referred to in clause (u) of section 2 of the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005;]
13[(15A) any payment made, by an Indian company engaged in the business of operation of aircraft, to acquire an aircraft or an aircraft engine (other than a payment for providing spares, facilities or services in connection with the operation of leased aircraft) on lease14 from the Government of a foreign State or a foreign enterprise under an agreement 15[16[, not being an agreement entered into between the 1st day of April, 1997 and the 31st day of March, 1999,] and] approved by the Central Government in this behalf :
17[Provided that nothing contained in this clause shall apply to any such agreement entered into on or after the 18[1st day of April, 19[2007]].]
- —For the purposes of this clause, the expression “foreign enterprise” means a person who is a non-resident;]
20(16) 21scholarships granted to meet the cost of education;
22[(17) any income by way of—
(i) daily allowance received by any person by reason of his membership of Parliament or of any State Legislature or of any Committee thereof; 23[* * *]
24[(ii) any allowance received by any person by reason of his membership of Parliament under the Members of Parliament (Constituency Allowance) Rules, 1986;
25[(iii) any constituency allowance received by any person by reason of his membership of any State Legislature under any Act or rules made by that State Legislature;]]]
26[(17A) any payment made, whether in cash or in kind,—
(i) in pursuance of any award instituted in the public interest by the Central Government or any State Government or instituted by any other body and approved27 by the Central Government in this behalf; or
(ii) as a reward by the Central Government or any State Government for such purposes as may be approved27 by the Central Government in this behalf in the public interest;]
28[(18) any income by way of—
(i) pension received by an individual who has been in the service of the Central Government or State Government and has been awarded “Param Vir Chakra” or “Maha Vir Chakra” or “Vir Chakra” or such other gallantry award as the Central Government may, by notification29 in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf;
(ii) family pension received by any member of the family of an individual referred to in sub-clause (i).
Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, the expression “family” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Explanation to clause (5);]
(18A) 30[Omitted by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1998, w.e.f. 1-4-1999;]
31[(19) family pension received by the widow or children or nominated heirs, as the case may be, of a member of the armed forces (including para-military forces) of the Union, where the death of such member has occurred in the course of operational duties, in such circumstances and subject to such conditions, as may be prescribed32;]
33[(19A) the annual value of any one palace in the occupation of a Ruler, being a palace, the annual value whereof was exempt from income-tax before the commencement of the Constitution (Twenty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1971, by virtue of the provisions of the Merged States (Taxation Concessions) Order, 1949, or the Part B States (Taxation Concessions) Order, 1950, or, as the case may be, the Jammu and Kashmir (Taxation Concessions) Order, 1958:
Provided that for the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1972, the annual value of every such palace in the occupation34 of such Ruler during the relevant previous year shall be exempt from income-tax;]
35(20) the income of a local authority which is chargeable under the head 36[* * *] “Income from house property”, “Capital gains” or “Income from other sources” or from a trade or business carried on by it which accrues or arises from the supply of a commodity or service 37[(not being water or electricity) within its own jurisdictional area or from the supply of water or electricity within or outside its own jurisdictional area].
38[Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, the expression “local authority” means—
(i) Panchayat as referred to in clause (d) of article 243 of the Constitution39; or
(ii) Municipality as referred to in clause (e) of article 243P of the Constitution40; or
(iii) Municipal Committee and District Board,
legally entitled to, or entrusted by the Government with, the control or management of a Municipal or local fund; or
(iv) Cantonment Board as defined in section 341 of the Cantonments Act, 1924 (2 of 1924);]
(20A) 42[***]
43[44(21) 45any income of a 46[research association] for the time being approved for the purpose of clause (ii) 47[or clause (iii)] of sub-section (1) of section 35:
Provided that the 46[research association]—
(a) applies its income, or accumulates it for application, wholly and exclusively to the objects for which it is established, and the provisions of sub-section (2) and sub-section (3) of section 11 shall apply in relation to such accumulation subject to the following modifications, namely :—
(i) in sub-section (2),—
(1) the words, brackets, letters and figure “referred to in clause (a) or clause (b) of sub-section (1) read with the Explanation to that sub-section” shall be omitted;
(2) for the words “to charitable or religious purposes”, the words “for the purposes of 48[scientific research or research in social science or statistical research]” shall be substituted;
(3) the reference to “Assessing Officer” in clause (a) thereof shall be construed as a reference to the “prescribed authority” referred to in clause (ii) 47[or clause (iii)] of sub-section (1) of section 35;
(ii) in sub-section (3), in clause (a), for the words “charitable or religious purposes”, the words “the purposes of 48[scientific research or research in social science or statistical research]” shall be substituted; and
49[(b) does not invest or deposit its funds, other than—
(i) any assets held by the 50[research association] where such assets form part of the corpus of the fund of the association as on the 1st day of June, 1973;
(ii) any assets (being debentures issued by, or on behalf of, any company or corporation), acquired by the 50[research association] before the 1st day of March, 1983;
(iii) any accretion to the shares, forming part of the corpus of the fund mentioned in sub-clause (i), by way of bonus shares allotted to the 50[research association];
(iv) voluntary contributions received and maintained in the form of jewellery, furniture or any other article as the Board may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify,
for any period during the previous year otherwise than in any one or more of the forms or modes specified in sub-section (5) of section 11:]
51[Provided further that the exemption under this clause shall not be denied in relation to voluntary contribution, other than voluntary contribution in cash or voluntary contribution of the nature referred to in clause (b) of the first proviso to this clause, subject to the condition that such voluntary contribution is not held by the 50[research association], otherwise than in any one or more of the forms or modes specified in sub-section (5) of section 11, after the expiry of one year from the end of the previous year in which such asset is acquired or the 31st day of March, 1992, whichever is later:
Provided also] that nothing contained in this clause shall apply in relation to any income of the 50[research association], being profits and gains of business, unless the business is incidental to the attainment of its objectives and separate books of account are maintained by it in respect of such business:]
52[Provided also that where the 50[research association] is approved by the Central Government and subsequently that Government is satisfied that—
(i) the 50[research association] has not applied its income in accordance with the provisions contained in clause (a) of the first proviso; or
(ii) the 50[research association] has not invested or deposited its funds in accordance with the provisions contained in clause (b) of the first proviso; or
(iii) the activities of the 50[research association] are not genuine; or
(iv) the activities of the 53[research association] are not being carried out in accordance with all or any of the conditions subject to which such association was approved,
it may, at any time after giving a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against the proposed withdrawal to the concerned association, by order, withdraw the approval and forward a copy of the order withdrawing the approval to such association and to the Assessing Officer;]
(22) 54[Omitted by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1998, w.e.f. 1-4-1999;]
(22A) 55[Omitted by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1998, w.e.f. 1-4-1999;]
56[(22B) any income of such news agency set up in India solely for collection and distribution of news as the Central Government may, by notification57 in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf:
Provided that the news agency applies its income or accumulates it for application solely for collection and distribution of news and does not distribute its income in any manner to its members:
Provided further that any notification issued by the Central Government under this clause shall, at any one time, have effect for such assessment year or years, not exceeding three assessment years (including an assessment year or years commencing before the date on which such notification is issued) as may be specified in the notification:]
58[Provided also that where the news agency has been specified, by notification, by the Central Government and subsequently that Government is satisfied that such news agency has not applied or accumulated or distributed its income in accordance with the provisions contained in the first proviso, it may, at any time after giving a reasonable opportunity of showing cause, rescind the notification and forward a copy of the order rescinding the notification to such agency and to the Assessing Officer;]
(23) 59[Omitted by the Finance Act, 2002, w.e.f. 1-4-2003;]
60[61(23A) any income (other than income chargeable under the head 62[* * *] “Income from house property” or any income received for rendering any specific services or income by way of interest or dividends derived from its investments) of an association or institution established in India having as its object the control, supervision, regulation or encouragement of the profession of law, medicine, accountancy, engineering or architecture or such other profession63 as the Central Government may specify in this behalf, from time to time, by notification in the Official Gazette:
Provided that—
(i) the association or institution applies its income, or accumulates it for application, solely to the objects for which it is established; and
(ii) the association or institution is for the time being approved64 for the purpose of this clause by the Central Government by general or special order:]
65[Provided further that where the association or institution has been approved by the Central Government and subsequently that Government is satisfied that—
(i) such association or institution has not applied or accumulated its income in accordance with the provisions contained in the first proviso; or
(ii) the activities of the association or institution are not being carried out in accordance with all or any of the conditions subject to which such association or institution was approved,
it may, at any time after giving a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against the proposed withdrawal to the concerned association or institution, by order, withdraw the approval and forward a copy of the order withdrawing the approval to such association or institution and to the Assessing Officer;]
66[(23AA) any income received by any person on behalf of any Regimental Fund or Non-Public Fund established by the armed forces of the Union for the welfare of the past and present members of such forces or their dependants;]
67[(23AAA) any income received by any person on behalf of a fund established, for such purposes as may be notified68 by the Board in the Official Gazette, for the welfare of employees or their dependants and of which fund such employees are members if such fund fulfils the following conditions, namely :—
(a) the fund—
(i) applies its income or accumulates it for application, wholly and exclusively to the objects for which it is established; and
(ii) invests its funds and contributions and other sums received by it in the forms or modes specified in sub-section (5) of section 11;
(b) the fund is approved by the 68a[Principal Commissioner or] Commissioner in accordance with the rules69 made in this behalf:
Provided that any such approval shall at any one time have effect for such assessment year or years not exceeding three assessment years as may be specified in the order of approval;]
70[(23AAB) any income of a fund, by whatever name called, set up by the Life Insurance Corporation of India on or after the 1st day of August, 1996 71[or any other insurer] under a pension scheme,—
(i) to which contribution is made by any person for the purpose of receiving pension from such fund;
(ii) which is approved by the Controller of Insurance 72[or the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority established under sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999 (41 of 1999), as the case may be].
Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, the expression “Controller of Insurance” shall have the meaning assigned to it in clause (5B) of section 2 of the Insurance Act, 1938 (4 of 1938)73;]
74[(23B) any income of an institution constituted as a public charitable trust or registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (21 of 1860), or under any law corresponding to that Act in force in any part of India, and existing solely for the development of khadi or village industries or both, and not for purposes of profit, to the extent such income is attributable to the business of production, sale, or marketing, of khadi or products of village industries:
Provided that—
(i) the institution applies its income, or accumulates it for application, solely for the development of khadi or village industries or both; and
(ii) the institution is, for the time being, approved for the purpose of this clause by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission:
Provided further that the Commission shall not, at any one time, grant such approval for more than three assessment years beginning with the assessment year next following the financial year in which it is granted:
75[Provided also that where the institution has been approved by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission and subsequently that Commission is satisfied that—
(i) the institution has not applied or accumulated its income in accordance with the provisions contained in the first proviso; or
(ii) the activities of the institution are not being carried out in accordance with all or any of the conditions subject to which such institution was approved,
it may, at any time after giving a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against the proposed withdrawal to the concerned institution, by order, withdraw the approval and forward a copy of the order withdrawing the approval to such institution and to the Assessing Officer.]
- —For the purposes of this clause,—
(i) “Khadi and Village Industries Commission” means the Khadi and Village Industries Commission established under the Khadi and Village Industries Commission Act, 1956 (61 of 1956);
(ii) 76“khadi” and “village industries” have the meanings respectively assigned to them in that Act;]
77[(23BB) any income of an authority (whether known as the Khadi and Village Industries Board or by any other name) established in a State by or under a State or Provincial Act for the development of khadi or village industries in the State.
- —For the purposes of this clause, 76“khadi” and “village industries” have the meanings respectively assigned to them in the Khadi and Village Industries Commission Act, 1956 (61 of 1956);]
77[(23BBA) any income of any body or authority (whether or not a body corporate or corporation sole) established, constituted or appointed by or under any Central, State or Provincial Act which provides for the administration of any one or more of the following, that is to say, public religious or charitable trusts or endowments (including maths, temples, gurdwaras, wakfs, churches, synagogues, agiaries or other places of public religious worship) or societies for religious or charitable purposes registered as such under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (21 of 1860), or any other law for the time being in force:
Provided that nothing in this clause shall be construed to exempt from tax the income of any trust, endowment or society referred to therein;]
78[(23BBB) any income of the European Economic Community derived in India by way of interest, dividends or capital gains from investments made out of its funds under such scheme79 as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf.
- —For the purposes of this clause, “European Economic Community” means the European Economic Community established by the Treaty of Rome of 25th March, 1957;]
80[(23BBC ) any income of the SAARC Fund for Regional Projects set up by Colombo Declaration issued on the 21st day of December, 1991 by the Heads of State or Government of the Member Countries of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation established on the 8th day of December, 1985 by the Charter of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation;]
81[(23BBD) any income of the Secretariat of the Asian Organisation of the Supreme Audit Institutions registered as “ASOSAI-SECRETARIAT” under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (21 of 1860) for 82[ten previous years relevant to the assessment years beginning on the 1st day of April, 2001 and ending on the 31st day of March, 2011];
(23BBE) any income of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority established under sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999 (41 of 1999);]
83[(23BBF) any income of the North-Eastern Development Finance Corporation Limited, being a company formed and registered under the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956) 83a:
Provided that in computing the total income of the North-Eastern Development Finance Corporation Limited, the amount to the extent of—
(i) twenty per cent of the total income for assessment year beginning on the 1st day of April, 2006;
(ii) forty per cent of the total income for assessment year beginning on the 1st day of April, 2007;
(iii) sixty per cent of the total income for assessment year beginning on the 1st day of April, 2008;
(iv) eighty per cent of the total income for assessment year beginning on the 1st day of April, 2009;
(v) one hundred per cent of the total income for assessment year beginning on the 1st day of April, 2010 and any subsequent assessment year or years,
shall be included in such total income;]
84[(23BBG) any income of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission constituted under sub-section (1) of section 76 of the Electricity Act, 2003 (36 of 2003);]
85[(23BBH) any income of the Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) established under sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Act, 1990 (25 of 1990);]
86[87(23C) any income88 received by any person on behalf of—
(i) the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund; or
(ii) the Prime Minister’s Fund (Promotion of Folk Art); or
(iii) the Prime Minister’s Aid to Students Fund; 89[or]
90[(iiia) the National Foundation for Communal Harmony; or]
91[(iiiab) any university or other educational institution92 existing92 solely92 for educational purposes and not for purposes of profit, and which is wholly or substantially financed by the Government; or
(iiiac) any hospital or other institution for the reception and treatment of persons suffering from illness or mental defectiveness or for the reception and treatment of persons during convalescence or of persons requiring medical attention or rehabilitation, existing solely for philanthropic purposes and not for purposes of profit, and which is wholly or substantially financed by the Government; or
The following Explanation shall be inserted after sub-clause (iiiac) of clause (23C) of section 10 by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2014, w.e.f. 1-4-2015 :
Explanation.—For the purposes of sub-clauses (iiiab) and (iiiac), any university or other educational institution, hospital or other institution referred therein, shall be considered as being substantially financed by the Government for any previous year, if the Government grant to such university or other educational institution, hospital or other institution exceeds such percentage of the total receipts including any voluntary contributions, as may be prescribed, of such university or other educational institution, hospital or other institution, as the case may be, during the relevant previous year.
(iiiad) any university or other educational institution92 existing92 solely92 for educational purposes and not for purposes of profit if the aggregate annual receipts of such university or educational institution do not exceed the amount of annual receipts as may be prescribed93; or
(iiiae) any hospital or other institution for the reception and treatment of persons suffering from illness or mental defectiveness or for the reception and treatment of persons during convalescence or of persons requiring medical attention or rehabilitation, existing solely for philanthropic purposes and not for purposes of profit, if the aggregate annual receipts of such hospital or institution do not exceed the amount of annual receipts as may be prescribed93; or]
94[(iv) 95any other fund or institution established for charitable purposes 96[which may be approved by the prescribed authority97], having regard to the objects of the fund or institution and its importance throughout India or throughout any State or States; or
(v) 98any trust (including any other legal obligation) or institution wholly for public religious purposes or wholly for public religious and charitable purposes, 99[which may be approved by the prescribed authority1], having regard to the manner in which the affairs of the trust or institution are administered and supervised for ensuring that the income accruing thereto is properly applied for the objects thereof;
2[(vi) any university or other educational institution3 existing3 solely3 for educational purposes and not for purposes of profit, other than those mentioned in sub-clause (iiiab) or sub-clause (iiiad) and which may be approved4 by the prescribed authority5; or
(via) any hospital or other institution for the reception and treatment of persons suffering from illness or mental defectiveness or for the reception and treatment of persons during convalescence or of persons requiring medical attention or rehabilitation, existing solely for philanthropic purposes and not for purposes of profit, other than those mentioned in sub-clause (iiiac) or sub-clause (iiiae) and which may be approved6 by the prescribed authority7:]
Provided that the fund or trust or institution 8[or any university or other educational institution9 or any hospital or other medical institution] referred to in sub-clause (iv) or sub-clause (v) 8[or sub-clause (vi) or sub-clause (via)] shall make an application in the prescribed form10 and manner to the prescribed authority11 for the purpose of grant of the exemption, or continuance thereof, under sub-clause (iv) or sub-clause (v) 12[or sub-clause (vi) or sub-clause (via)] :
13[Provided further that the prescribed authority, before approving any fund or trust or institution or any university or other educational institution or any hospital or other medical institution, under sub-clause (iv) or sub-clause (v) or sub-clause (vi) or sub-clause (via), may call for such documents (including audited annual accounts) or information from the fund or trust or institution or any university or other educational institution or any hospital or other medical institution, as the case may be, as it thinks necessary in order to satisfy itself about the genuineness of the activities of such fund or trust or institution or any university or other educational institution or any hospital or other medical institution, as the case may be, and the prescribed authority may also make such inquiries as it deems necessary in this behalf:]
Provided also that the fund or trust or institution 14[or any university or other educational institution15 or any hospital or other medical institution] referred to in sub-clause (iv) or sub-clause (v) 14[or sub-clause (vi) or sub-clause (via)]—
16[(a) applies its income, or accumulates it for application, wholly and exclusively to the objects for which it is established and in a case where more than fifteen per cent of its income is accumulated on or after the 1st day of April, 2002, the period of the accumulation of the amount exceeding fifteen per cent of its income shall in no case exceed five years; and]
17[(b) does not invest or deposit its funds, other than—
(i) any assets held by the fund, trust or institution 18[or any university or other educational institution19 or any hospital or other medical institution] where such assets form part of the corpus of the fund, trust or institution 20[or any university or other educational institution or any hospital or other medical institution] as on the 1st day of June, 1973;
21[(ia) any asset, being equity shares of a public company, held by any university or other educational institution or any hospital or other medical institution where such assets form part of the corpus of any university or other educational institution or any hospital or other medical institution as on the 1st day of June, 1998;]
(ii) any assets (being debentures issued by, or on behalf of, any company or corporation), acquired by the fund, trust or institution 22[or any university or other educational institution23 or any hospital or other medical institution] before the 1st day of March, 1983;
(iii) any accretion to the shares, forming part of the corpus mentioned in sub-clause (i) 24[and sub-clause (ia)], by way of bonus shares allotted to the fund, trust or institution 24a[or any university or other educational institution or any hospital or other medical institution] ;
(iv) voluntary contributions received and maintained in the form of jewellery, furniture or any other article as the Board may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify,
for any period during the previous year otherwise than in any one or more of the forms or modes specified in sub-section (5) of section 11:]
Provided also that the exemption under sub-clause (iv) or sub-clause (v) shall not be denied in relation to any funds invested or deposited before the 1st day of April, 1989, otherwise than in any one or more of the forms or modes specified in sub-section (5) of section 11 if such funds do not continue to remain so invested or deposited after the 30th day of March, 25[1993] :
26[Provided also that the exemption under sub-clause (vi) or sub-clause (via) shall not be denied in relation to any funds invested or deposited before the 1st day of June, 1998, otherwise than in any one or more of the forms or modes specified in sub-section (5) of section 11 if such funds do not continue to remain so invested or deposited after the 30th day of March, 2001:]
27[Provided also that the exemption under sub-clause (iv) or sub-clause (v) 26[or sub-clause (vi) or sub-clause (via)] shall not be denied in relation to voluntary contribution, other than voluntary contribution in cash or voluntary contribution of the nature referred to in clause (b) of the third proviso to this sub-clause, subject to the condition that such voluntary contribution is not held by the trust or institution 28[or any university or other educational institution or any hospital or other medical institution], otherwise than in any one or more of the forms or modes specified in sub-section (5) of section 11, after the expiry of one year from the end of the previous year in which such asset is acquired or the 31st day of March, 1992, whichever is later:]
Provided also that nothing contained in sub-clause (iv) or sub-clause (v) 29[or sub-clause (vi) or sub-clause (via)] shall apply in relation to any income of the fund or trust or institution 29[or any university or other educational institution or any hospital or other medical institution], being profits and gains of business, unless the business is incidental to the attainment of its objectives and separate books of account are maintained by it in respect of such business:
Provided also that any 30[notification issued by the Central Government under sub-clause (iv) or sub-clause (v), before the date on which the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2006 receives the assent of the President*, shall, at any one time31, have effect for such assessment year or years, not exceeding three assessment years] (including an assessment year or years commencing before the date on which such notification is issued) as may be specified in the notification:]
32[Provided also that where an application under the first proviso is made on or after the date on which the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2006 receives the assent of the President,* every notification under sub-clause (iv) or sub-clause (v) shall be issued or approval under 33[sub-clause (iv) or sub-clause (v) or] sub-clause (vi) or sub-clause (via) shall be granted or an order rejecting the application shall be passed within the period of twelve months from the end of the month in which such application was received:
Provided also that where the total income, of the fund or trust or institution or any university or other educational institution or any hospital or other medical institution referred to in sub-clause (iv) or sub-clause (v) or sub-clause (vi) or sub-clause (via), without giving effect to the provisions of the said sub-clauses, exceeds the maximum amount which is not chargeable to tax in any previous year, such trust or institution or any university or other educational institution or any hospital or other medical institution shall get its accounts audited in respect of that year by an accountant as defined in the Explanation below sub-section (2) of section 288 and furnish along with the return of income for the relevant assessment year, the report of such audit in the prescribed form34 duly signed and verified by such accountant and setting forth such particulars as may be prescribed:]
35[Provided also that any amount of donation received by the fund or institution in terms of clause (d) of sub-section (2) of section 80G 36[in respect of which accounts of income and expenditure have not been rendered to the authority prescribed under clause (v) of sub-section (5C) of that section, in the manner specified in that clause, or] which has been utilised for purposes other than providing relief to the victims of earthquake in Gujarat or which remains unutilised in terms of sub-section (5C) of section 80G and not transferred to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund on or before the 31st day of March, 37[2004] shall be deemed to be the income of the previous year and shall accordingly be charged to tax:]
38[***]
39[Provided also that where the fund or trust or institution or any university or other educational institution or any hospital or other medical institution referred to in sub-clause (iv) or sub-clause (v) or sub-clause (vi) or sub-clause (via) does not apply its income during the year of receipt and accumulates it, any payment or credit out of such accumulation to any trust or institution registered under section 12AA or to any fund or trust or institution or any university or other educational institution or any hospital or other medical institution referred to in sub-clause (iv) or sub-clause (v) or sub-clause (vi) or sub-clause (via) shall not be treated as application of income to the objects for which such fund or trust or institution or university or educational institution or hospital or other medical institution, as the case may be, is established :
Provided also that where the fund or institution referred to in sub-clause (iv) or trust or institution referred to in sub-clause (v) is notified by the Central Government 40[or is approved by the prescribed authority, as the case may be,] or any university or other educational institution referred to in sub-clause (vi) or any hospital or other medical institution referred to in sub-clause (via), is approved by the prescribed authority and subsequently that Government or the prescribed authority is satisfied that—
(i) such fund or institution or trust or any university or other educational institution or any hospital or other medical institution has not—
(A) applied its income in accordance with the provisions contained in clause (a) of the third proviso; or
(B) invested or deposited its funds in accordance with the provisions contained in clause (b) of the third proviso; or
(ii) the activities of such fund or institution or trust or any university or other educational institution or any hospital or other medical institution—
(A) are not genuine; or
(B) are not being carried out in accordance with all or any of the conditions subject to which it was notified or approved,
it may, at any time after giving a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against the proposed action to the concerned fund or institution or trust or any university or other educational institution or any hospital or other medical institution, rescind the notification or, by order, withdraw the approval, as the case may be, and forward a copy of the order rescinding the notification or withdrawing the approval to such fund or institution or trust or any university or other educational institution or any hospital or other medical institution and to the Assessing Officer:]
41[Provided also that in case the fund or trust or institution or any university or other educational institution or any hospital or other medical institution referred to in the first proviso makes an application on or after the 1st day of June, 2006 for the purposes of grant of exemption or continuance thereof, such application shall be 42[made on or before the 30th day of September of the relevant assessment year] from which the exemption is sought :]
43[Provided also that any anonymous donation referred to in section 115BBC on which tax is payable in accordance with the provisions of the said section shall be included in the total income :]
44[Provided also that all pending applications, on which no notification has been issued under sub-clause (iv) or sub-clause (v) before the 1st day of June, 2007, shall stand transferred on that day to the prescribed authority and the prescribed authority may proceed with such applications under those sub-clauses from the stage at which they were on that day:]
45[Provided also that the income of a trust or institution referred to in sub-clause (iv) or sub-clause (v) shall be included in its total income of the previous year if the provisions of the first proviso to clause (15) of section 2 become applicable to such trust or institution in the said previous year, whether or not any approval granted or notification issued in respect of such trust or institution has been withdrawn or rescinded;]
The following proviso and the Explanation shall be inserted after the seventeenth proviso to clause (23C) of section 10 by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2014, w.e.f. 1-4-2015 :
Provided also that where the fund or institution referred to in sub-clause (iv) or the trust or institution referred to in sub-clause (v) has been notified by the Central Government or approved by the prescribed authority, as the case may be, or any university or other educational institution referred to in sub-clause (vi) or any hospital or other medical institution referred to in sub-clause (via), has been approved by the prescribed authority, and the notification or the approval is in force for any previous year, then, nothing contained in any other provision of this section [other than clause (1) thereof] shall operate to exclude any income received on behalf of such fund or trust or institution or university or other educational institution or hospital or other medical institution, as the case may be, from the total income of the person in receipt thereof for that previous year.
Explanation.—In this clause, where any income is required to be applied or accumulated, then, for such purpose the income shall be determined without any deduction or allowance by way of depreciation or otherwise in respect of any asset, acquisition of which has been claimed as an application of income under this clause in the same or any other previous year;
46[(23D) 47[48[49[subject to the provisions of Chapter XII-E, any income of]—]
(i) a Mutual Fund registered under the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992) or regulations made thereunder;
(ii) such other Mutual Fund set up by a public sector bank or a public financial institution or authorised by the Reserve Bank of India and subject to such conditions as the Central Government may, by notification50 in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf.]
- —For the purposes of this clause,—
(a) the expression “public sector bank” means the State Bank of India constituted under the State Bank of India Act, 1955 (23 of 1955), a subsidiary bank as defined in the State Bank of India (Subsidiary Banks) Act, 1959 (38 of 1959), a corresponding new Bank constituted under section 3 of the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Under-takings) Act, 1970 (5 of 1970), or under section 3 of the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Under-takings) Act, 1980 (40 of 1980) 51[and a bank included in the category “other public sector banks” by the Reserve Bank of India];
(b) the expression “public financial institution” shall have the meaning assigned to it in section 4A of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956)52;]
53-54[(c) the expression “Securities and Exchange Board of India” shall have the meaning assigned to it in clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992);]
55[(23DA) any income of a securitisation trust from the activity of securitisation.
- —For the purposes of this clause,—
(a) “securitisation” shall have the same meaning as assigned to it,—
(i) in clause (r) of sub-regulation (1) of regulation 256 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Public Offer and Listing of Securitised Debt Instruments) Regulations, 2008 made under the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992) and the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 (42 of 1956); or
(ii) under the guidelines on securitisation of standard assets issued by the Reserve Bank of India;
(b) “securitisation trust” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Explanation below section 115TC;]
(23E) 57[Omitted by the Finance Act, 2002, w.e.f. 1-4-2003;]
58[(23EA) any income 59[, by way of contributions received from recognised stock exchanges and the members thereof,] of such Investor Protection Fund set up by recognised stock exchanges in India, either jointly or separately, as the Central Government may, by notification60 in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf:
Provided that where any amount standing to the credit of the Fund and not charged to income-tax during any previous year is shared, either wholly or in part, with a recognised stock exchange, the whole of the amount so shared shall be deemed to be the income of the previous year in which such amount is so shared and shall accordingly be chargeable to income-tax;]
61[(23EB) any income of the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Small 62[***] Industries, being a trust created by the Government of India and the Small Industries Development Bank of India established under sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Small Industries Development Bank of India Act, 1989 (39 of 1989), for five previous years relevant to the assessment years beginning on the 1st day of April, 2002 and ending on the 31st day of March, 2007;]
63[(23EC) any income, by way of contributions received from commodity exchanges and the members thereof, of such Investor Protection Fund set up by commodity exchanges in India, either jointly or separately, as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf:
Provided that where any amount standing to the credit of the said Fund and not charged to income-tax during any previous year is shared, either wholly or in part, with a commodity exchange, the whole of the amount so shared shall be deemed to be the income of the previous year in which such amount is so shared and shall accordingly be chargeable to income-tax.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, “commodity exchange” shall mean a “registered association” as defined in clause (jj) of section 2 of the Forward Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1952 (74 of 1952)64;]
65[(23ED) any income, by way of contributions received from a depository, of such Investor Protection Fund set up in accordance with the regulations by a depository as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf:
Provided that where any amount standing to the credit of the Fund and not charged to income-tax during any previous year is shared, either wholly or in part with a depository, the whole of the amount so shared shall be deemed to be the income of the previous year in which such amount is so shared and shall, accordingly, be chargeable to income-tax.
- —For the purposes of this clause,—
(i) “depository” shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in clause (e) of sub-section (1) of section 266 of the Depositories Act, 1996 (22 of 1996);
(ii) “regulations” means the regulations made under the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992) and the Depositories Act, 1996 (22 of 1996);]
67[(23F) any income by way of dividends or long-term capital gains of a venture capital fund or a venture capital company from investments made by way of equity shares in a venture capital undertaking :
Provided that such venture capital fund or venture capital company is approved for the purposes of this clause by the prescribed autho-rity68 in accordance with the rules69 made in this behalf and satisfies the prescribed conditions :
Provided further that any approval by the prescribed authority shall, at any one time, have effect for such assessment year or years, not exceeding three assessment years, as may be specified in the order of approval :
70[Provided also that nothing contained in this clause shall apply in respect of any investment made after the 31st day of March, 1999.]
71[* * *]
71[* * *]
Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause,—
(a) “venture capital fund” means such fund, operating under a trust deed registered under the provisions of the Registration Act, 1908 (16 of 1908), established to raise monies by the trustees for investments mainly by way of acquiring equity shares of a venture capital undertaking in accordance with the prescribed guidelines;
(b) “venture capital company” means such company as has made investments by way of acquiring equity shares of venture capital undertakings in accordance with the prescribed guidelines;
72[(c) “venture capital undertaking” means such domestic company whose shares are not listed in a recognised stock exchange in India and which is engaged in the business of generation or generation and distribution of electricity or any other form of power or engaged in the business of providing telecommunication services or in the business of developing, maintaining and operating any infrastructure facility or engaged in the manufacture or production of such articles or things (including computer software) as may be notified73 by the Central Government in this behalf; and
(d) “infrastructure facility” means a road, highway, bridge, airport, port, rail system, a water supply project, irrigation project, sanitation and sewerage system or any other public facility of a similar nature as may be notified by the Board in this behalf in the Official Gazette and which fulfils the conditions specified in sub-section (4A) of section 80-IA;]
74[(23FA) any income by way of dividends 75[, other than dividends referred to in section 115-O], or long-term capital gains of a venture capital fund or a venture capital company from investments made by way of equity shares in a venture capital undertaking :
Provided that such venture capital fund or venture capital company is approved, for the purposes of this clause, by the Central Government on an application made to it in accordance with the rules76 made in this behalf and which satisfies the prescribed conditions :
Provided further that any approval by the Central Government shall, at any one time, have effect for such assessment year or years, not exceeding three assessment years, as may be specified in the order of approval :
77[Provided also that nothing contained in this clause shall apply in respect of any investment made after the 31st day of March, 2000.]
Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause,—
(a) “venture capital fund” means such fund, operating under a trust deed registered under the provisions of the Registration Act, 1908 (16 of 1908), established to raise monies by the trustees for investments mainly by way of acquiring equity shares of a venture capital undertaking in accordance with the prescribed guidelines;
(b) “venture capital company” means such company as has made investments by way of acquiring equity shares of venture capital undertakings in accordance with the prescribed guidelines; and
(c) “venture capital undertaking” means such domestic company whose shares are not listed in a recognised stock exchange in India and which is engaged in the—
(i) business of—
(A) software;
(B) information technology;
(C) production of basic drugs in the pharmaceutical sector;
(D) bio-technology;
(E) agriculture and allied sectors; or
(F) such other sectors as may be notified78 by the Central Government in this behalf; or
(ii) production or manufacture of any article or substance for which patent has been granted to the National Research Laboratory or any other scientific research institution approved by the Department of Science and Technology;]
79[(23FB) any income of a venture capital company or venture capital fund 80[from investment] in a venture capital undertaking.
81[Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause,—
(a) “venture capital company” means a company which—
(A) has been granted a certificate of registration, before the 21st day of May, 2012, as a Venture Capital Fund and is regulated under the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Venture Capital Funds) Regulations, 1996 (hereinafter referred to as the Venture Capital Funds Regulations) made under the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992); or
(B) has been granted a certificate of registration as Venture Capital Fund as a sub-category of Category I Alternative Investment Fund and is regulated under the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Alternative Investment Funds) Regulations, 2012 (hereinafter referred to as the Alternative Investment Funds Regulations) made under the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992), and which fulfils the following conditions, namely:—
(i) it is not listed on a recognised stock exchange;
(ii) it has invested not less than two-thirds of its investible funds in unlisted equity shares or equity linked instruments of venture capital undertaking; and
(iii) it has not invested in any venture capital undertaking in which its director or a substantial shareholder (being a beneficial owner of equity shares exceeding ten per cent of its equity share capital) holds, either individually or collectively, equity shares in excess of fifteen per cent of the paid-up equity share capital of such venture capital undertaking;
(b) “venture capital fund” means a fund—
(A) operating under a trust deed registered under the provisions of the Registration Act, 1908 (16 of 1908), which—
(I) has been granted a certificate of registration, before the 21st day of May, 2012, as a Venture Capital Fund and is regulated under the Venture Capital Funds Regulations; or
(II) has been granted a certificate of registration as Venture Capital Fund as a sub-category of Category I Alternative Investment Fund under the Alternative Investment Funds Regulations and which fulfils the following conditions, namely:—
(i) it has invested not less than two-thirds of its investible funds in unlisted equity shares or equity linked instruments of venture capital undertaking;
(ii) it has not invested in any venture capital undertaking in which its trustee or the settler holds, either individually or collectively, equity shares in excess of fifteen per cent of the paid-up equity share capital of such venture capital undertaking; and
(iii) the units, if any, issued by it are not listed in any recognised stock exchange; or
(B) operating as a venture capital scheme made by the Unit Trust of India established under the Unit Trust of India Act, 1963 (52 of 1963);
(c) “venture capital undertaking” means—
(i) a venture capital undertaking as defined in clause (n) of regulation 2 of the Venture Capital Funds Regulations82; or
(ii) a venture capital undertaking as defined in clause (aa) of sub-regulation (1) of regulation 2 of the Alternative Investment Funds Regulations82;]
83[***]
The following clauses (23FC) and (23FD) shall be inserted after clause (23FB) of section 10 by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2014, w.e.f. 1-4-2015 :
(23FC) any income of a business trust by way of interest received or receivable from a special purpose vehicle.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, the expression “special purpose vehicle” means an Indian company in which the business trust holds controlling interest and any specific percentage of shareholding or interest, as may be required by the regulations under which such trust is granted registration;
(23FD) any distributed income, referred to in section 115UA, received by a unit holder from the business trust, not being that proportion of the income which is of the same nature as the income referred to in clause (23FC);
(23G) 84[Omitted by the Finance Act, 2006, w.e.f. 1-4-2007;]
85[86(24) any income chargeable under the heads “Income from house property” and “Income from other sources” of—
(a) a registered union within the meaning of the Trade Unions Act, 1926 (16 of 1926), formed primarily for the purpose of regulating the relations between workmen and employers or between workmen and workmen;
(b) an association of registered unions referred to in sub-clause (a);]
(25) (i) interest on securities which are held by, or are the property of, any provident fund to which the Provident Funds Act, 1925 (19 of 1925), applies, and any capital gains of the fund arising from the sale, exchange or transfer of such securities;
(ii) any income received by the trustees on behalf of a recognised provident fund;
(iii) any income received by the trustees on behalf of an approved superannuation fund;
87[(iv) any income received by the trustees on behalf of an approved gratuity fund;]
88[(v) any income received—
(a) by the Board of Trustees constituted under the Coal Mines Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1948 (46 of 1948), on behalf of the Deposit-linked Insurance Fund established under section 3G of that Act; or
(b) by the Board of Trustees constituted under the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 (19 of 1952), on behalf of the Deposit-linked Insurance Fund established under section 6C of that Act;]
89[(25A) any income of the Employees’ State Insurance Fund set up under the provisions of the Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948 (34 of 1948);]
90[(26) 91in the case of a member of a 92Scheduled Tribe as defined in clause (25) of article 366 of the Constitution, residing93 in any area specified93 in Part I or Part II of the Table appended to paragraph 20 of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution or in the 94[States of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura] or in the areas covered by notification No. TAD/R/35/50/109, dated the 23rd February, 1951, issued by the Governor of Assam under the proviso to sub-paragraph (3) of the said paragraph 20 [as it stood immediately before the commencement of the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971 (81 of 1971)] 95[or in the Ladakh region of the State of Jammu and Kashmir], any income which accrues or arises to him,—
(a) from any source in the areas 96[or States aforesaid], or
(b) by way of dividend or interest on securities;]
97[(26A) any income accruing or arising to any person 98[* * *] from any source in the district of Ladakh or outside India in any previous year relevant to any assessment year commencing before the 1st day of April, 99[1989], where such person is resident in the said district in that previous year :
Provided that this clause shall not apply in the case of any such person unless he was resident in that district in the previous year relevant to the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1962.
1[Explanation 1].—For the purposes of this clause, a person shall be deemed to be resident in the district of Ladakh if he fulfils the requirements of sub-section (1)2 or sub-section (2) or sub-section (3) or sub-section (4) of section 6, as the case may be, subject to the modifications that—
(i) references in those sub-sections to India shall be construed as references to the said district; and
(ii) in clause (i) of sub-section (3), reference to Indian company shall be construed as reference to a company formed and registered under any law for the time being in force in the State of Jammu and Kashmir and having its registered office in that district in that year.]
3[Explanation 2.—In this clause, references to the district of Ladakh shall be construed as references to the areas comprised in the said district on the 30th day of June, 1979;]
(26AA) 4[* * *]
5[(26AAA) 6in case of an individual, being a Sikkimese, any income which accrues or arises to him—
(a) from any source in the State of Sikkim; or
(b) by way of dividend or interest on securities:
Provided that nothing contained in this clause shall apply to a Sikkimese woman who, on or after the 1st day of April, 2008, marries an individual who is not a Sikkimese.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, “Sikkimese” shall mean—
(i) an individual, whose name is recorded in the register maintained under the Sikkim Subjects Regulation, 1961 read with the Sikkim Subject Rules, 1961 (hereinafter referred to as the “Register of Sikkim Subjects” ), immediately before the 26th day of April, 1975; or
(ii) an individual, whose name is included in the Register of Sikkim Subjects by virtue of the Government of India Order No. 26030/36/90-I.C.I., dated the 7th August, 1990 and Order of even number dated the 8th April, 1991; or
(iii) any other individual, whose name does not appear in the Register of Sikkim Subjects, but it is established beyond doubt that the name of such individual’s father or husband or paternal grand-father or brother from the same father has been recorded in that register;]
7-8[(26AAB) any income of an agricultural produce market committee or board constituted under any law for the time being in force for the purpose of regulating the marketing of agricultural produce;]
9[(26B) any income of a corporation established by a Central, State or Provincial Act or of any other body, institution or association (being a body, institution or association wholly financed by Government) where such corporation or other body or institution or association has been established or formed for promoting the interests of the 10[members of the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes or backward classes or of any two or all of them].
11[Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause,—
(a) 12“Scheduled Castes” and 13“Scheduled Tribes” shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in clauses (24) and (25) of article 366 of the Constitution;
(b) “backward classes” means such classes of citizens, other than the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, as may be notified—
(i) by the Central Government; or
(ii) by any State Government,
as the case may be, from time to time;]
14[(26BB) any income of a corporation established by the Central Government or any State Government for promoting the interests of the members of a minority community.
- —For the purposes of this clause, “minority community” means a community notified15 as such by the Central Government in the Official Gazette in this behalf;]
16[(26BBB) any income of a corporation established by a Central, State or Provincial Act for the welfare and economic upliftment of ex-servicemen being the citizens of India.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, “ex-serviceman” means a person who has served in any rank, whether as combatant or non-combatant, in the armed forces of the Union or armed forces of the Indian States before the commencement of the Constitution (but excluding the Assam Rifles, Defence Security Corps, General Reserve Engineering Force, Lok Sahayak Sena, Jammu and Kashmir Militia and Territorial Army) for a continuous period of not less than six months after attestation and has been released, otherwise than by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency, and in the case of a deceased or incapacitated ex-serviceman includes his wife, children, father, mother, minor brother, widowed daughter and widowed sister, wholly dependant upon such ex-serviceman immediately before his death or incapacitation;]
17[(27) any income of a co-operative society formed for promoting the interests of the members of either the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes or both referred to in clause (26B) :
Provided that the membership of the co-operative society consists of only other co-operative societies formed for similar purposes and the finances of the society are provided by the Government and such other societies;]
(28) 18[* * *]
(29) 19[Omitted by the Finance Act, 2002, w.e.f. 1-4-2003;]
20[(29A) any income accruing or arising to—
(a) the Coffee Board constituted under section 4 of the Coffee Act, 1942 (7 of 1942) in any previous year relevant to any assessment year commencing on or after the 1st day of April, 1962 or the previous year in which such Board was constituted, whichever is later;
(b) the Rubber Board constituted under sub-section (1) of section 4 of the Rubber Board Act, 1947 (24 of 1947) in any previous year relevant to any assessment year commencing on or after the 1st day of April, 1962 or the previous year in which such Board was constituted, whichever is later;
(c) the Tea Board established under section 4 of the Tea Act, 1953 (29 of 1953) in any previous year relevant to any assessment year commencing on or after the 1st day of April, 1962 or the previous year in which such Board was constituted, whichever is later;
(d) the Tobacco Board constituted under the Tobacco Board Act, 1975 (4 of 1975) in any previous year relevant to any assessment year commencing on or after the 1st day of April, 1975 or the previous year in which such Board was constituted, whichever is later;
(e) the Marine Products Export Development Authority established under section 4 of the Marine Products Export Development Authority Act, 1972 (13 of 1972) in any previous year relevant to any assessment year commencing on or after the 1st day of April, 1972 or the previous year in which such Authority was constituted, whichever is later;
(f) the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority established under section 4 of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Act, 1985 (2 of 1986) in any previous year relevant to any assessment year commencing on or after the 1st day of April, 1985 or the previous year in which such Authority was constituted, whichever is later;
(g) the Spices Board constituted under sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Spices Board Act, 1986 (10 of 1986) in any previous year relevant to any assessment year commencing on or after the 1st day of April, 1986 or the previous year in which such Board was constituted, whichever is later;]
21[(h) the Coir Board established under section 4 of the Coir Industry Act, 1953 (45 of 1953);]
22[(30) 23in the case of an assessee who carries on the business of growing and manufacturing tea in India, the amount of any subsidy received from or through the Tea Board under any such scheme24 for replantation or replacement of tea bushes 25[or for rejuvenation or consolidation of areas used for cultivation of tea] as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify:
Provided that the assessee furnishes to the 26[Assessing] Officer, along with his return of income27 for the assessment year concerned or within such further time as the 26[Assessing] Officer may allow, a certificate from the Tea Board as to the amount of such subsidy paid to the assessee during the previous year.
- —In this clause, “Tea Board” means the Tea Board established under section 4 of the Tea Act, 1953 (29 of 1953);]
28[(31) in the case of an assessee who carries on the business of growing and manufacturing rubber, coffee, cardamom or such other commodity in India, as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf, the amount of any subsidy received from or through the concerned Board under any such scheme for replantation or replacement of rubber plants, coffee plants, cardamom plants or plants for the growing of such other commodity or for rejuvenation or consolidation of areas used for cultivation of rubber, coffee, cardamom or such other commodity as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify:
Provided that the assessee furnishes to the Assessing Officer, along with his return of income29 for the assessment year concerned or within such further time as the Assessing Officer may allow, a certificate from the concerned Board, as to the amount of such subsidy paid to the assessee during the previous year.
- —In this clause, “concerned Board” means,—
(i) in relation to rubber, the Rubber Board constituted under section 4 of the Rubber Act, 1947 (24 of 1947),
(ii) in relation to coffee, the Coffee Board constituted under section 4 of the Coffee Act, 1942 (7 of 1942),
(iii) in relation to cardamom, the Spices Board constituted under section 3 of the Spices Board Act, 1986 (10 of 1986),
(iv) in relation to any other commodity specified under this clause, any Board or other authority established under any law for the time being in force which the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf;]
30[(32) in the case of an assessee referred to in sub-section (1A) of section 64, any income includible in his total income under that sub-section, to the extent such income does not exceed one thousand five hundred rupees in respect of each minor child whose income is so includible;]
31[(33) any income arising from the transfer of a capital asset, being a unit of the Unit Scheme, 1964 referred to in Schedule I to the Unit Trust of India (Transfer of Undertaking and Repeal) Act, 2002 (58 of 2002)32 and where the transfer of such asset takes place on or after the 1st day of April, 2002;]
33[(34) any income by way of dividends referred to in section 115-O;
34[***]
35[(34A) any income arising to an assessee, being a shareholder, on account of buy back of shares (not being listed on a recognised stock exchange) by the company as referred to in section 115QA;]
(35) any income by way of,—
(a) income received in respect of the units of a Mutual Fund specified under clause (23D); or
(b) income received in respect of units from the Administrator of the specified undertaking; or
(c) income received in respect of units from the specified company:
Provided that this clause shall not apply to any income arising from transfer of units of the Administrator of the specified undertaking or of the specified company or of a mutual fund, as the case may be.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause,—
(a) “Administrator” means the Administrator as referred to in clause (a) of section 2 of the Unit Trust of India (Transfer of Undertaking and Repeal) Act, 2002 (58 of 2002)36;
(b) “specified company” means a company as referred to in clause (h) of section 2 of the Unit Trust of India (Transfer of Undertaking and Repeal) Act, 2002 (58 of 2002)36;
37[(35A) any income by way of distributed income referred to in section 115TA received from a securitisation trust by any person being an investor of the said trust.
- —For the purposes of this clause, the expressions “investor” and “securitisation trust” shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in the Explanation below section 115TC;]
(36) any income arising from the transfer of a long-term capital asset, being an eligible equity share in a company purchased on or after the 1st day of March, 2003 and before the 1st day of March, 2004 and held for a period of twelve months or more.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, “eligible equity share” means,—
(i) any equity share in a company being a constituent of BSE-500 Index of the Stock Exchange, Mumbai as on the 1st day of March, 2003 and the transactions of purchase and sale of such equity share are entered into on a recognised stock exchange in India;
(ii) any equity share in a company allotted through a public issue on or after the 1st day of March, 2003 and listed in a recognised stock exchange in India before the 1st day of March, 2004 and the transaction of sale of such share is entered into on a recognised stock exchange in India;]
38[(37) in the case of an assessee, being an individual or a Hindu undivided family, any income chargeable under the head “Capital gains” arising from the transfer of agricultural land, where—
(i) such land is situate in any area referred to in item (a) or item (b) of sub-clause (iii) of clause (14) of section 2;
(ii) such land, during the period of two years immediately preceding the date of transfer, was being used for agricultural purposes by such Hindu undivided family or individual or a parent of his;
(iii) such transfer is by way of compulsory acquisition under any law, or a transfer the consideration for which is determined or approved by the Central Government or the Reserve Bank of India;
(iv) such income has arisen from the compensation or consideration for such transfer received by such assessee on or after the 1st day of April, 2004.
- —For the purposes of this clause, the expression “compensation or consideration” includes the compensation or con-sideration enhanced or further enhanced by any court, Tribunal or other authority;
(38) any income arising from the transfer of a long-term capital asset, being an equity share in a company or a unit of an equity oriented fund 38a[or a unit of a business trust] where—
(a) the transaction of sale of such equity share or unit is entered into on or after the date on which Chapter VII of the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2004 comes into force39; and
(b) such transaction is chargeable to securities transaction tax under that Chapter :
40[Provided that the income by way of long-term capital gain of a company shall be taken into account in computing the book profit and income-tax payable under section 115JB.]
The following proviso shall be inserted after the existing proviso to clause (38) of section 10 by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2014, w.e.f. 1-4-2015 :
Provided further that the provisions of this clause shall not apply in respect of any income arising from transfer of units of a business trust which were acquired in consideration of a transfer referred to in clause (xvii) of section 47.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, “equity oriented fund” means a fund—
(i) where the investible funds are invested by way of equity shares in domestic companies to the extent of more than 41[sixty-five] per cent of the total proceeds of such fund; and
(ii) which has been set up under a scheme of a Mutual Fund specified under clause (23D) :
Provided that the percentage of equity shareholding of the fund shall be computed with reference to the annual average of the monthly averages of the opening and closing figures;]
42[(39) any specified income, arising from any international sporting event held in India, to the person or persons notified43 by the Central Government in the Official Gazette, if such international sporting event—
(a) is approved by the international body regulating the international sport relating to such event;
(b) has participation by more than two countries;
(c) is notified43 by the Central Government in the Official Gazette for the purposes of this clause.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, “the specified income” means the income, of the nature and to the extent, arising from the international sporting event, which the Central Government may notify43 in this behalf;
(40) any income of any subsidiary company by way of grant or otherwise received from an Indian company, being its holding company engaged in the business of generation or transmission or distribution of power if receipt of such income is for settlement of dues in connection with reconstruction or revival of an existing business of power generation:
Provided that the provisions of this clause shall apply if reconstruction or revival of any existing business of power generation is by way of transfer of such business to the Indian company notified under sub-clause (a) of clause (v) of sub-section (4) of section 80-IA;
(41) any income arising from transfer of a capital asset, being an asset of an undertaking engaged in the business of generation or transmission or distribution of power where such transfer is effected on or before the 31st day of March, 2006, to the Indian company notified under sub-clause (a) of clause (v) of sub-section (4) of section 80-IA;]
44[(42) any specified income arising to a body or authority which—
(a) has been established or constituted or appointed under a treaty or an agreement entered into by the Central Government with two or more countries or a convention signed by the Central Government;
(b) is established or constituted or appointed not for the purposes of profit;
(c) is notified by the Central Government in the Official Gazette45 for the purposes of this clause.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, “specified income” means the income, of the nature and to the extent, arising to the body or authority referred to in this clause, which the Central Government may notify45 in this behalf;]
46[(43) any amount received by an individual as a loan, either in lump sum or in instalment, in a transaction of reverse mortgage referred to in clause (xvi) of section 47;]
47[(44) any income received by any person for, or on behalf of, the New Pension System Trust established on the 27th day of February, 2008 under the provisions of the Indian Trusts Act, 1882 (2 of 1882);]
48[(45) any allowance or perquisite, as may be notified49 by the Central Government in the Official Gazette in this behalf, paid to the Chairman or a retired Chairman or any other member or retired member of the Union Public Service Commission;]
50[(46) any specified income arising to a body or authority or Board or Trust or Commission (by whatever name called) which—
(a) has been established or constituted by or under a Central, State or Provincial Act, or constituted by the Central Government or a State Government, with the object of regulating or administering any activity for the benefit of the general public;
(b) is not engaged in any commercial activity; and
(c) is notified51 by the Central Government in the Official Gazette for the purposes of this clause.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, “specified income” means the income, of the nature and to the extent arising to a body or authority or Board or Trust or Commission (by whatever name called) referred to in this clause, which the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf;
(47) any income of an infrastructure debt fund, set up in accordance with the guidelines as may be prescribed,52 which is notified by the Central Government in the Official Gazette for the purposes of this clause;]
53[(48) any income received in India in Indian currency by a foreign company on account of 54[sale of crude oil, any other goods or rendering of services, as may be notified by the Central Government in this behalf, to any person] in India:
Provided that—
(i) receipt of such income in India by the foreign company is pursuant to an agreement or an arrangement entered into by the Central Government or approved by the Central Government;
(ii) having regard to the national interest, the foreign company and the agreement or arrangement are notified55 by the Central Government in this behalf; and
(iii) the foreign company is not engaged in any activity, other than receipt of such income, in India;]
56[(49) any income of the National Financial Holdings Company Limited, being a company set up by the Central Government, of any previous year relevant to any assessment year commencing on or before the 1st day of April, 2014.]
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Section 10A: 57[Special provision in respect of newly established undertakings in free trade zone, etc.58
- (1) Subject to the provisions of this section, a deduction of such profits and gains as are derived by an undertaking from the export59 of articles or things or computer software for a period of ten consecutive assessment years beginning with the assessment year relevant to the previous year in which the undertaking begins to manufacture59 or produce such articles or things or computer software, as the case may be, shall be allowed from the total income59 of the assessee :
Provided that where in computing the total income59 of the undertaking for any assessment year, its profits and gains had not been included by application of the provisions of this section as it stood immediately before its substitution by the Finance Act, 2000, the undertaking shall be entitled to deduction referred to in this sub-section only for the unexpired period of the aforesaid ten consecutive assessment years :
Provided further that where an undertaking initially located in any free trade zone or export processing zone is subsequently located in a special economic zone by reason of conversion of such free trade zone or export processing zone into a special economic zone, the period of ten consecutive assessment years referred to in this sub-section shall be reckoned from the assessment year relevant to the previous year in which the 60[undertaking began to manufacture or produce such articles or things or computer software] in such free trade zone or export processing zone :
61[Provided also that for the assessment year beginning on the 1st day of April, 2003, the deduction under this sub-section shall be ninety per cent of the profits and gains derived by an undertaking from the export of such articles or things or computer software :]
Provided also that no deduction under this section shall be allowed to any undertaking for the assessment year beginning on the 1st day of April, 62[2012] and subsequent years.
63[(1A) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the deduction, in computing the total income of an undertaking, which begins to manufacture or produce articles or things or computer software during the previous year relevant to any assessment year commencing on or after the 1st day of April, 2003, in any special economic zone, shall be,—
(i) hundred per cent of profits and gains derived from the export of such articles or things or computer software for a period of five consecutive assessment years beginning with the assessment year relevant to the previous year in which the undertaking begins to manufacture or produce such articles or things or computer software, as the case may be, and thereafter, fifty per cent of such profits and gains for further two consecutive assessment years, and thereafter;
(ii) for the next three consecutive assessment years, so much of the amount not exceeding fifty per cent of the profit as is debited to the profit and loss account of the previous year in respect of which the deduction is to be allowed and credited to a reserve account (to be called the “Special Economic Zone Re-investment Allowance Reserve Account” ) to be created and utilised for the purposes of the business of the assessee in the manner laid down in sub-section (1B) :
64[Provided that no deduction under this section shall be allowed to an assessee who does not furnish a return of his income on or before the due date specified under sub-section (1) of section 139.]
(1B) The deduction under clause (ii) of sub-section (1A) shall be allowed only if the following conditions are fulfilled, namely:—
(a) the amount credited to the Special Economic Zone Re-investment Allowance Reserve Account is to be utilised—
(i) for the purposes of acquiring new machinery or plant which is first put to use before the expiry of a period of three years next following the previous year in which the reserve was created; and
(ii) until the acquisition of new machinery or plant as aforesaid, for the purposes of the business of the undertaking other than for distribution by way of dividends or profits or for remittance outside India as profits or for the creation of any asset outside India;
(b) the particulars, as may be prescribed65 in this behalf, have been furnished by the assessee in respect of new machinery or plant along with the return of income for the assessment year relevant to the previous year in which such plant or machinery was first put to use.
(1C) Where any amount credited to the Special Economic Zone Re-investment Allowance Reserve Account under clause (ii) of sub-section (1A),—
(a) has been utilised for any purpose other than those referred to in sub-section (1B), the amount so utilised; or
(b) has not been utilised before the expiry of the period specified in sub-clause (i) of clause (a) of sub-section (1B), the amount not so utilised,
shall be deemed to be the profits,—
(i) in a case referred to in clause (a), in the year in which the amount was so utilised; or
(ii) in a case referred to in clause (b), in the year immediately following the period of three years specified in sub-clause (i) of clause (a) of sub-section (1B),
and shall be charged to tax accordingly.]
(2) This section applies to any undertaking which fulfils all the following conditions, namely :—
(i) it has begun or begins to manufacture or produce articles or things or computer software during the previous year relevant to the assessment year—
(a) commencing on or after the 1st day of April, 1981, in any free trade zone; or
(b) commencing on or after the 1st day of April, 1994, in any electronic hardware technology park, or, as the case may be, software technology park;
(c) commencing on or after the 1st day of April, 2001 in any special economic zone;
(ii) it is not formed by the splitting up66, or the reconstruction66, of a business already in existence :
Provided that this condition shall not apply in respect of any undertaking which is formed as a result of the re-establishment, reconstruction or revival by the assessee of the business of any such undertakings as is referred to in section 33B, in the circumstances and within the period specified in that section;
(iii) it is not formed by the transfer to a new business of machinery or plant previously used for any purpose.
Explanation.—The provisions of Explanation 1 and Explanation 2 to sub-section (2) of section 80-I shall apply for the purposes of clause (iii) of this sub-section as they apply for the purposes of clause (ii) of that sub-section.
(3) This section applies to the undertaking, if the sale proceeds66 of articles or things or computer software exported out of India are received in, or brought into, India by the assessee in convertible foreign exchange, within a period of six months from the end of the previous year or, within such further period as the competent authority may allow in this behalf.
Explanation 1.—For the purposes of this sub-section, the expression “competent authority” means the Reserve Bank of India or such other authority as is authorised under any law for the time being in force for regulating payments and dealings in foreign exchange.
Explanation 2.—The sale proceeds referred to in this sub-section shall be deemed to have been received in India where such sale proceeds are credited to a separate account maintained for the purpose by the assessee with any bank outside India with the approval of the Reserve Bank of India.
67[(4) For the purposes of 68[sub-sections (1) and (1A)], the profits derived from export of articles or things or computer software shall be the amount which bears to the profits of the business of the undertaking, the same proportion as the export turnover in respect of such articles or things or computer software bears to the total turnover of the business carried on by the undertaking.]
(5) The deduction under 68[this section] shall not be admissible for any assessment year beginning on or after the 1st day of April, 2001, unless the assessee furnishes in the prescribed form69, alongwith the return of income, the report of an accountant, as defined in the Explanation below sub-section (2) of section 288, certifying that the deduction has been correctly claimed in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(6) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provision of this Act, in computing the total income of the assessee of the previous year relevant to the assessment year immediately succeeding the last of the relevant assessment years, or of any previous year, relevant to any subsequent assessment year,—
(i) section 32, section 32A, section 33, section 35 and clause (ix) of sub-section (1) of section 36 shall apply as if every allowance or deduction referred to therein and relating to or allowable for any of the relevant assessment years 70[ending before the 1st day of April, 2001], in relation to any building, machinery, plant or furniture used for the purposes of the business of the undertaking in the previous year relevant to such assessment year or any expenditure incurred for the purposes of such business in such previous year had been given full effect to for that assessment year itself and accordingly sub-section (2) of section 32, clause (ii) of sub-section (3) of section 32A, clause (ii) of sub-section (2) of section 33, sub-section (4) of section 35 or the second proviso to clause (ix) of sub-section (1) of section 36, as the case may be, shall not apply in relation to any such allowance or deduction;
(ii) no loss referred to in sub-section (1) of section 72 or sub-section (1) or sub-section (3) of section 74, in so far as such loss relates to the business of the undertaking, shall be carried forward or set off where such loss relates to any of the relevant assessment years 70[ending before the 1st day of April, 2001];
(iii) no deduction shall be allowed under section 80HH or section 80HHA or section 80-I or section 80-IA or section 80-IB in relation to the profits and gains of the undertaking; and
(iv) in computing the depreciation allowance under section 32, the written down value of any asset used for the purposes of the business of the undertaking shall be computed as if the assessee had claimed and been actually allowed the deduction in respect of depreciation for each of the relevant assessment year.
(7) The provisions of sub-section (8) and sub-section (10) of section 80-IA shall, so far as may be, apply in relation to the undertaking referred to in this section as they apply for the purposes of the undertaking referred to in section 80-IA.
71[(7A) Where any undertaking of an Indian company which is entitled to the deduction under this section is transferred, before the expiry of the period specified in this section, to another Indian company in a scheme of amalgamation or demerger,—
(a) no deduction shall be admissible under this section to the amalgamating or the demerged company for the previous year in which the amalgamation or the demerger takes place; and
(b) the provisions of this section shall, as far as may be, apply to the amalgamated or the resulting company as they would have applied to the amalgamating or the demerged company if the amalgamation or demerger had not taken place.]
72[(7B) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any undertaking, being a Unit referred to in clause (zc) of section 273 of the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005, which has begun or begins to manufacture or produce articles or things or computer software during the previous year relevant to the assessment year commencing on or after the 1st day of April, 2006 in any Special Economic Zone.]
(8) Notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing provisions of this section, where the assessee, before the due date for furnishing the return of income under sub-section (1) of section 139, furnishes to the Assessing Officer a declaration in writing that the provisions of this section may not be made applicable to him, the provisions of this section shall not apply to him for any of the relevant assessment years.
(9) 74[Omitted by the Finance Act, 2003, w.e.f. 1-4-2004.]
(9A) 75[Omitted by the Finance Act, 2003, w.e.f. 1-4-2004.]
Explanation 1.— 76[Omitted by the Finance Act, 2003, w.e.f. 1-4-2004.]
Explanation 2.—For the purposes of this section,—
(i) “computer software” 77 means—
(a) any computer programme recorded on any disc, tape, perforated media or other information storage device; or
(b) any customized electronic data or any product or service of similar nature, as may be notified78 by the Board,
which is transmitted or exported from India to any place outside India by any means;
(ii) “convertible foreign exchange” means foreign exchange which is for the time being treated by the Reserve Bank of India as convertible foreign exchange for the purposes of 79[the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (42 of 1999)], and any rules made thereunder or any other corresponding law for the time being in force;
(iii) “electronic hardware technology park” means any park set up in accordance with the Electronic Hardware Technology Park (EHTP) Scheme notified80 by the Government of India in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry;
(iv) “export turnover” means the consideration in respect of export 81[by the undertaking] of articles or things or computer software received in, or brought into, India by the assessee in convertible foreign exchange in accordance with sub-section (3), but does not include freight, telecommunication charges or insurance attributable to the delivery of the articles or things or computer software outside India or expenses, if any, incurred in foreign exchange in providing the technical services outside India;
(v) “free trade zone” means the Kandla Free Trade Zone and the Santacruz Electronics Export Processing Zone and includes any other free trade zone which the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette,82 specify for the purposes of this section;
(vi) “relevant assessment year” means any assessment year falling within a period of ten consecutive assessment years referred to in this section;
(vii) “software technology park” means any park set up in accordance with the Software Technology Park Scheme notified83 by the Government of India in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry;
(viii) “special economic zone” means a zone which the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify as a special economic zone for the purposes of this section.]
84[Explanation 3.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that the profits and gains derived from on site development of computer software (including services for development of software) outside India shall be deemed to be the profits and gains derived from the export of computer software outside India.]
85[Explanation 4.—For the purposes of this section, “manufacture or produce” shall include the cutting and polishing of precious and semi-precious stones.]
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Section 10AA: 86[Special provisions in respect of newly established Units in Special Economic Zones.87
- (1) Subject to the provisions of this section, in computing the total income of an assessee, being an entrepreneur as referred to in clause (j) of section 288 of the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005, from his Unit, who begins to manufacture or produce articles or things or provide any services during the previous year relevant to any assessment year commencing on or after the 1st day of April, 200689, a deduction of—
(i) hundred per cent of profits and gains derived from the export, of such articles or things or from services for a period of five consecutive assessment years beginning with the assessment year relevant to the previous year in which the Unit begins to manufacture or produce such articles or things or provide services, as the case may be, and fifty per cent of such profits and gains for further five assessment years and thereafter;
(ii) for the next five consecutive assessment years, so much of the amount not exceeding fifty per cent of the profit as is debited to the profit and loss account of the previous year in respect of which the deduction is to be allowed and credited to a reserve account (to be called the “Special Economic Zone Re-investment Reserve Account” ) to be created and utilized for the purposes of the business of the assessee in the manner laid down in sub-section (2).
(2) The deduction under clause (ii) of sub-section (1) shall be allowed only if the following conditions are fulfilled, namely :—
(a) the amount credited to the Special Economic Zone Re-investment Reserve Account is to be utilised—
(i) for the purposes of acquiring machinery or plant which is first put to use before the expiry of a period of three years following the previous year in which the reserve was created; and
(ii) until the acquisition of the machinery or plant as aforesaid, for the purposes of the business of the undertaking other than for distribution by way of dividends or profits or for remittance outside India as profits or for the creation of any asset outside India;
(b) the particulars, as may be specified by the Central Board of Direct Taxes in this behalf, under clause (b) of sub-section (1B) of section 10A have been furnished by the assessee in respect of machinery or plant along with the return of income90 for the assessment year relevant to the previous year in which such plant or machinery was first put to use.
(3) Where any amount credited to the Special Economic Zone Re-investment Reserve Account under clause (ii) of sub-section (1),—
(a) has been utilised for any purpose other than those referred to in sub-section (2), the amount so utilised; or
(b) has not been utilised before the expiry of the period specified in sub-clause (i) of clause (a) of sub-section (2), the amount not so utilised,
shall be deemed to be the profits,—
(i) in a case referred to in clause (a), in the year in which the amount was so utilised; or
(ii) in a case referred to in clause (b), in the year immediately following the period of three years specified in sub-clause (i) of clause (a) of sub-section (2),
and shall be charged to tax accordingly :
Provided that where in computing the total income of the Unit for any assessment year, its profits and gains had not been included by application of the provisions of sub-section (7B) of section 10A, the undertaking, being the Unit shall be entitled to deduction referred to in this sub-section only for the unexpired period of ten consecutive assessment years and thereafter it shall be eligible for deduction from income as provided in clause (ii) of sub-section (1).
- —For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that an undertaking, being the Unit, which had already availed, before the commencement of the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005, the deductions referred to in section 10A for ten consecutive assessment years, such Unit shall not be eligible for deduction from income under this section :
Provided further that where a Unit initially located in any free trade zone or export processing zone is subsequently located in a Special Economic Zone by reason of conversion of such free trade zone or export processing zone into a Special Economic Zone, the period of ten consecutive assessment years referred to above shall be reckoned from the assessment year relevant to the previous year in which the Unit began to manufacture, or produce or process such articles or things or services in such free trade zone or export processing zone :
Provided also that where a Unit initially located in any free trade zone or export processing zone is subsequently located in a Special Economic Zone by reason of conversion of such free trade zone or export processing zone into a Special Economic Zone and has completed the period of ten consecutive assessment years referred to above, it shall not be eligible for deduction from income as provided in clause (ii) of sub-section (1) with effect from the 1st day of April, 2006.
91[(4) This section applies to any undertaking, being the Unit, which fulfils all the following conditions, namely:—
(i) it has begun or begins to manufacture or produce articles or things or provide services during the previous year relevant to the assessment year commencing on or after the 1st day of April, 2006 in any Special Economic Zone;
(ii) it is not formed by the splitting up, or the reconstruction, of a business already in existence:
Provided that this condition shall not apply in respect of any undertaking, being the Unit, which is formed as a result of the re-establishment, reconstruction or revival by the assessee of the business of any such undertaking as is referred to in section 33B, in the circumstances and within the period specified in that section;
(iii) it is not formed by the transfer to a new business, of machinery or plant previously used for any purpose.
Explanation.—The provisions of Explanations 1 and 2 to sub-section (3) of sec-tion 80-IA shall apply for the purposes of clause (iii) of this sub-section as they apply for the purposes of clause (ii) of that sub-section.]
(5) Where any undertaking being the Unit which is entitled to the deduction under this section is transferred, before the expiry of the period specified in this section, to another undertaking, being the Unit in a scheme of amalgamation or demerger,—
(a) no deduction shall be admissible under this section to the amalgamating or the demerged Unit, being the company for the previous year in which the amalgamation or the demerger takes place; and
(b) the provisions of this section shall, as they would have applied to the amalgamating or the demerged Unit being the company as if the amalgamation or demerger had not taken place.
(6) Loss referred to in sub-section (1) of section 72 or sub-section (1) or sub-section (3) of section 74, in so far as such loss relates to the business of the undertaking, being the Unit shall be allowed to be carried forward or set off.
(7) For the purposes of sub-section (1), the profits derived from the export of articles or things or services (including computer software) shall be the amount which bears to the profits of the business of the undertaking, being the Unit, the same proportion as the export turnover in respect of such articles or things or services bears to the total turnover of the business carried on 92[by the under-taking] :
93[Provided that the provisions of this sub-section [as amended by section 6 of the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2009 (33 of 2009)] shall have effect for the assessment year beginning on the 1st day of April, 2006 and subsequent assessment years.]
(8) The provisions of sub-sections (5)93a and (6) of section 10A shall apply to the articles or things or services referred to in sub-section (1) as if—
(a) for the figures, letters and word “1st April, 2001”, the figures, letters and word “1st April, 2006” had been substituted;
(b) for the word “undertaking”, the words “undertaking, being the Unit” had been substituted.
(9) The provisions of sub-section (8) and sub-section (10) of section 80-IA shall, so far as may be, apply in relation to the undertaking referred to in this section as they apply for the purposes of the undertaking referred to in section 80-IA.
The following sub-section (10) shall be inserted after sub-section (9) of section 10AA by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2014, w.e.f. 1-4-2015 :
(10) Where a deduction under this section is claimed and allowed in respect of profits of any of the specified business, referred to in clause (c) of sub-section (8) of section 35AD, for any assessment year, no deduction shall be allowed under the provisions of section 35AD in relation to such specified business for the same or any other assessment year.
Explanation 1.—For the purposes of this section,—
(i) “export turnover” means the consideration in respect of export by the undertaking, being the Unit of articles or things or services received in, or brought into, India by the assessee but does not include freight, telecommunication charges or insurance attributable to the delivery of the articles or things outside India or expenses, if any, incurred in foreign exchange in rendering of services (including computer software) outside India;
(ii) “export in relation to the Special Economic Zones” means taking goods or providing services out of India from a Special Economic Zone by land, sea, air, or by any other mode, whether physical or otherwise;
(iii) “manufacture” shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in clause (r) of section 2 of the Special Economic Zones Act, 200594;
(iv) “relevant assessment year” means any assessment year falling within a period of fifteen consecutive assessment years referred to in this section;
(v) “Special Economic Zone” and “Unit” shall have the same meanings as assigned to them under clauses (za) and (zc)94 of section 2 of the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005.
Explanation 2.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that the profits and gains derived from on site development of computer software (including services for development of software) outside India shall be deemed to be the profits and gains derived from the export of computer software outside India.]
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Section 10B: 95[Special provisions in respect of newly established hundred per cent export-oriented undertakings96.
- (1) Subject to the provisions of this section, a deduction of such profits and gains as are derived by a hundred per cent export-oriented undertaking from the export of articles or things or computer software for a period of ten consecutive assessment years beginning with the assessment year relevant to the previous year in which the undertaking begins to manufacture or produce articles or things or computer software, as the case may be, shall be allowed from the total income of the assessee :
Provided that where in computing the total income of the undertaking for any assessment year, its profits and gains had not been included by application of the provisions of this section as it stood immediately before its substitution by the Finance Act, 2000, the undertaking shall be entitled to the deduction referred to in this sub-section only for the unexpired period of aforesaid ten consecutive assessment years :
97[Provided 98[further] that for the assessment year beginning on the 1st day of April, 2003, the deduction under this sub-section shall be ninety per cent of the profits and gains derived by an undertaking from the export of such articles or things or computer software:]
Provided also that no deduction under this section shall be allowed to any undertaking for the assessment year beginning on the 1st day of April, 99[2012] and subsequent years :
1[Provided also that no deduction under this section shall be allowed to an assessee who does not furnish a return of his income on or before the due date specified under sub-section (1) of section 139.]
(2) This section applies to any undertaking which fulfils all the following conditions, namely :—
(i) it manufactures or produces any articles or things or computer software;
(ii) it is not formed by the splitting up, or the reconstruction, of a business already in existence :
Provided that this condition shall not apply in respect of any undertaking which is formed as a result of the re-establishment, reconstruction or revival by the assessee of the business of any such undertaking as is referred to in section 33B, in the circumstances and within the period specified in that section ;
(iii) it is not formed by the transfer to a new business of machinery or plant previously used for any purpose.
Explanation.—The provisions of Explanation 1 and Explanation 2 to subsection (2) of section 80-I shall apply for the purposes of clause (iii) of this sub-section as they apply for the purposes of clause (ii) of that sub-section.
(3) This section applies to the undertaking, if the sale proceeds of articles or things or computer software exported out of India are received in, or brought into, India by the assessee in convertible foreign exchange, within a period of six months from the end of the previous year or, within such further period as the competent authority may allow in this behalf.
Explanation 1.—For the purposes of this sub-section, the expression “competent authority” means the Reserve Bank of India or such other authority as is authorised under any law for the time being in force for regulating payments and dealings in foreign exchange.
Explanation 2.—The sale proceeds referred to in this sub-section shall be deemed to have been received in India where such sale proceeds are credited to a separate account maintained for the purpose by the assessee with any bank outside India with the approval of the Reserve Bank of India.
2[(4) For the purposes of sub-section (1), the profits derived from export of articles or things or computer software shall be the amount which bears to the profits of the business of the undertaking, the same proportion as the export turnover in respect of such articles or things or computer software bears to the total turnover of the business carried on by the undertaking.]
(5) The deduction under sub-section (1) shall not be admissible for any assessment year beginning on or after the 1st day of April, 2001, unless the assessee furnishes in the prescribed form3, along with the return of income, the report of an accountant, as defined in the Explanation below sub-section (2) of section 288, certifying that the deduction has been correctly claimed in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(6) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provision of this Act, in computing the total income of the assessee of the previous year relevant to the assessment year immediately succeeding the last of the relevant assessment years, or of any previous year, relevant to any subsequent assessment year,—
(i) section 32, section 32A, section 33, section 35 and clause (ix) of sub-section (1) of section 36 shall apply as if every allowance or deduction referred to therein and relating to or allowable for any of the relevant assessment years 4[ending before the 1st day of April, 2001], in relation to any building, machinery, plant or furniture used for the purposes of the business of the undertaking in the previous year relevant to such assessment year or any expenditure incurred for the purposes of such business in such previous year had been given full effect to for that assessment year itself and accordingly sub-section (2) of section 32, clause (ii) of sub-section (3) of section 32A, clause (ii) of sub-section (2) of section 33, sub-section (4) of section 35 or the second proviso to clause (ix) of sub-section (1) of section 36, as the case may be, shall not apply in relation to any such allowance or deduction;
(ii) no loss referred to in sub-section (1) of section 72 or sub-section (1) or sub-section (3) of section 74, in so far as such loss relates to the business of the undertaking, shall be carried forward or set-off where such loss relates to any of the relevant assessment years 5[ending before the 1st day of April, 2001];
(iii) no deduction shall be allowed under section 80HH or section 80HHA or section 80-I or section 80-IA or section 80-IB in relation to the profits and gains of the undertaking; and
(iv) in computing the depreciation allowance under section 32, the written down value of any asset used for the purposes of the business of the undertaking shall be computed as if the assessee had claimed and been actually allowed the deduction in respect of depreciation for each of the relevant assessment year.
(7) The provisions of sub-section (8) and sub-section (10) of section 80-IA shall, so far as may be, apply in relation to the undertaking referred to in this section as they apply for the purposes of the undertaking referred to in section 80-IA.
6[(7A) Where any undertaking of an Indian company which is entitled to the deduction under this section is transferred, before the expiry of the period specified in this section, to another Indian company in a scheme of amalgamation or demerger—
(a) no deduction shall be admissible under this section to the amalgamating or the demerged company for the previous year in which the amalgamation or the demerger takes place; and
(b) the provisions of this section shall, as far as may be, apply to the amalgamated or resulting company as they would have applied to the amalgamating or the demerged company if the amalgamation or the demerger had not taken place.]
(8) Notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing provisions of this section, where the assessee, before the due date for furnishing the return of income under sub-section (1) of section 139, furnishes to the Assessing Officer a declaration in writing that the provisions of this section may not be made applicable to him, the provisions of this section shall not apply to him for any of the relevant assessment year.
(9) 7[Omitted by the Finance Act, 2003, w.e.f. 1-4-2004.]
(9A) 8[Omitted by the Finance Act, 2003, w.e.f. 1-4-2004.]
Explanation 1.— 9[Omitted by the Finance Act, 2003, w.e.f. 1-4-2004.]
Explanation 2.—For the purposes of this section,—
(i) “computer software” means—
(a) any computer programme recorded on any disc, tape, perforated media or other information storage device; or
(b) any customized electronic data or any product or service of similar nature as may be notified10 by the Board,
which is transmitted or exported from India to any place outside India by any means;
(ii) “convertible foreign exchange” means foreign exchange which is for the time being treated by the Reserve Bank of India as convertible foreign exchange for the purposes of 11[the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (42 of 1999)], and any rules made thereunder or any other corresponding law for the time being in force;
(iii) “export turnover” means the consideration in respect of export 12[by the undertaking] of articles or things or computer software received in, or brought into, India by the assessee in convertible foreign exchange in accordance with sub-section (3), but does not include freight, telecommunication charges or insurance attributable to the delivery of the articles or things or computer software outside India or expenses, if any, incurred in foreign exchange in providing the technical services outside India;
(iv) “hundred per cent export-oriented undertaking” means an undertaking which has been approved as a hundred per cent export-oriented undertaking by the Board appointed in this behalf by the Central Government in exercise of the powers conferred by section 1413 of the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951 (65 of 1951), and the rules made under that Act;
(v) “relevant assessment years” means any assessment years falling within a period of ten consecutive assessment years, referred to in this section.]
14[Explanation 3.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that the profits and gains derived from on site development of computer software (including services for development of software) outside India shall be deemed to be the profits and gains derived from the export of computer software outside India.]
15[Explanation 4.—For the purposes of this section, “manufacture or produce” shall include the cutting and polishing of precious and semi-precious stones.]
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Section 10BA: 16[Special provisions in respect of export of certain articles or things.16a
- (1) Subject to the provisions of this section, a deduction of such profits and gains as are derived by an undertaking from the export out of India of eligible articles or things, shall be allowed from the total income of the assessee :
Provided that where in computing the total income of the undertaking for any assessment year, deduction under section 10A or section 10B has been claimed, the undertaking shall not be entitled to the deduction under this section :
Provided further that no deduction under this section shall be allowed to any undertaking for the assessment year beginning on the 1st day of April, 2010 and subsequent years.
(2) This section applies to any undertaking which fulfils the following conditions, namely :—
(a) it manufactures or produces the eligible articles or things without the use of imported raw materials;
(b) it is not formed by the splitting up, or the reconstruction, of a business already in existence :
Provided that this condition shall not apply in respect of any undertaking which is formed as a result of the re-establishment, reconstruction or revival by the assessee of the business of any such undertaking as is referred to in section 33B, in the circumstances and within the period specified in that section;
(c) it is not formed by the transfer to a new business of machinery or plant previously used for any purpose.
Explanation.—The provisions of Explanation 1 and Explanation 2 to sub-section (2) of section 80-I shall apply for the purposes of this clause as they apply for the purposes of clause (ii) of sub-section (2) of that section;
(d) ninety per cent or more of its sales during the previous year relevant to the assessment year are by way of exports of the eligible articles or things;
(e) it employs twenty or more workers during the previous year in the process of manufacture or production.
(3) This section applies to the undertaking, if the sale proceeds of the eligible articles or things exported out of India are received in or brought into, India by the assessee in convertible foreign exchange, within a period of six months from the end of the previous year or, within such further period as the competent authority may allow in this behalf.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-section, the expression “competent authority” means the Reserve Bank of India or such other authority as is authorised under any law for the time being in force for regulating payments and dealings in foreign exchange.
(4) For the purposes of sub-section (1), the profits derived from export out of India of the eligible articles or things shall be the amount which bears to the profits of the business of the undertaking, the same proportion as the export turnover in respect of such articles or things bears to the total turnover of the business carried on by the undertaking.
(5) The deduction under sub-section (1) shall not be admissible, unless the assessee furnishes in the prescribed form17, along with the return of income, the report of an accountant, as defined in the Explanation below sub-section (2) of section 288, certifying that the deduction has been correctly claimed in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(6) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provision of this Act, where a deduction is allowed under this section in computing the total income of the assessee, no deduction shall be allowed under any other section in respect of its export profits.
(7) The provisions of sub-section (8) and sub-section (10) of section 80-IA shall, so far as may be, apply in relation to the undertaking referred to in this section as they apply for the purposes of the undertaking referred to in section 80-IA.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this section,—
(a) “convertible foreign exchange” means foreign exchange which is for the time being treated by the Reserve Bank of India as convertible foreign exchange for the purposes of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (42 of 1999), and any rules made thereunder or any other corresponding law for the time being in force;
(b) “eligible articles or things” means all hand-made articles or things, which are of artistic value and which requires the use of wood as the main raw material;
(c) “export turnover” means the consideration in respect of export by the undertaking of eligible articles or things received in, or brought into, India by the assessee in convertible foreign exchange in accordance with sub-section (3), but does not include freight, telecommunication charges or insurance attributable to the delivery of the articles or things outside India;
(d) “export out of India” shall not include any transaction by way of sale or otherwise, in a shop, emporium or any other establishment situate in India, not involving clearance of any customs station18 as defined in the Customs Act, 1962 (52 of 1962).]
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Section 10BA: 16[Special provisions in respect of export of certain articles or things.16a
- (1) Subject to the provisions of this section, a deduction of such profits and gains as are derived by an undertaking from the export out of India of eligible articles or things, shall be allowed from the total income of the assessee :
Provided that where in computing the total income of the undertaking for any assessment year, deduction under section 10A or section 10B has been claimed, the undertaking shall not be entitled to the deduction under this section :
Provided further that no deduction under this section shall be allowed to any undertaking for the assessment year beginning on the 1st day of April, 2010 and subsequent years.
(2) This section applies to any undertaking which fulfils the following conditions, namely :—
(a) it manufactures or produces the eligible articles or things without the use of imported raw materials;
(b) it is not formed by the splitting up, or the reconstruction, of a business already in existence :
Provided that this condition shall not apply in respect of any undertaking which is formed as a result of the re-establishment, reconstruction or revival by the assessee of the business of any such undertaking as is referred to in section 33B, in the circumstances and within the period specified in that section;
(c) it is not formed by the transfer to a new business of machinery or plant previously used for any purpose.
Explanation.—The provisions of Explanation 1 and Explanation 2 to sub-section (2) of section 80-I shall apply for the purposes of this clause as they apply for the purposes of clause (ii) of sub-section (2) of that section;
(d) ninety per cent or more of its sales during the previous year relevant to the assessment year are by way of exports of the eligible articles or things;
(e) it employs twenty or more workers during the previous year in the process of manufacture or production.
(3) This section applies to the undertaking, if the sale proceeds of the eligible articles or things exported out of India are received in or brought into, India by the assessee in convertible foreign exchange, within a period of six months from the end of the previous year or, within such further period as the competent authority may allow in this behalf.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-section, the expression “competent authority” means the Reserve Bank of India or such other authority as is authorised under any law for the time being in force for regulating payments and dealings in foreign exchange.
(4) For the purposes of sub-section (1), the profits derived from export out of India of the eligible articles or things shall be the amount which bears to the profits of the business of the undertaking, the same proportion as the export turnover in respect of such articles or things bears to the total turnover of the business carried on by the undertaking.
(5) The deduction under sub-section (1) shall not be admissible, unless the assessee furnishes in the prescribed form17, along with the return of income, the report of an accountant, as defined in the Explanation below sub-section (2) of section 288, certifying that the deduction has been correctly claimed in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(6) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provision of this Act, where a deduction is allowed under this section in computing the total income of the assessee, no deduction shall be allowed under any other section in respect of its export profits.
(7) The provisions of sub-section (8) and sub-section (10) of section 80-IA shall, so far as may be, apply in relation to the undertaking referred to in this section as they apply for the purposes of the undertaking referred to in section 80-IA.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this section,—
(a) “convertible foreign exchange” means foreign exchange which is for the time being treated by the Reserve Bank of India as convertible foreign exchange for the purposes of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (42 of 1999), and any rules made thereunder or any other corresponding law for the time being in force;
(b) “eligible articles or things” means all hand-made articles or things, which are of artistic value and which requires the use of wood as the main raw material;
(c) “export turnover” means the consideration in respect of export by the undertaking of eligible articles or things received in, or brought into, India by the assessee in convertible foreign exchange in accordance with sub-section (3), but does not include freight, telecommunication charges or insurance attributable to the delivery of the articles or things outside India;
(d) “export out of India” shall not include any transaction by way of sale or otherwise, in a shop, emporium or any other establishment situate in India, not involving clearance of any customs station18 as defined in the Customs Act, 1962 (52 of 1962).]
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Section 10C: 20[Special provision in respect of certain industrial undertakings in North-Eastern Region.
- (1) Subject to the provisions of this section, any profits and gains derived by an assessee from an industrial undertaking, which has begun or begins to manufacture or produce any article or thing on or after the 1st day of April, 1998 in any Integrated Infrastructure Development Centre or Industrial Growth Centre located in the North-Eastern Region (hereafter in this section referred to as the industrial undertaking) shall not be included in the total income of the assessee.
(2) This section applies to any industrial undertaking which fulfils all the following conditions, namely :—
(i) it is not formed by the splitting up, or the reconstruction of, a business already in existence :
Provided that this condition shall not apply in respect of any indus-trial undertaking which is formed as a result of the re-establishment, reconstruction or revival by the assessee of the business of any such industrial undertaking as is referred to in section 33B, in the circumstances and within the period specified in that section ;
(ii) it is not formed by the transfer to a new business of machinery or plant previously used for any purpose.
Explanation.—The provisions of Explanation 1 and Explanation 2 to sub-section (3) of section 80-IA shall apply for the purposes of clause (ii) of this sub-section as they apply for the purposes of clause (ii) of that sub-section.
(3) The profits and gains referred to in sub-section (1) shall not be included in the total income of the assessee in respect of ten consecutive assessment years beginning with the assessment year relevant to the previous year in which the industrial undertaking begins to manufacture or produce articles or things.
(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provision of this Act, in computing the total income of the assessee of any previous year relevant to any subsequent assessment year,—
(i) section 32, section 35 and clause (ix) of sub-section (1) of section 36 shall apply as if deduction referred to therein and relating to or allowable for any of the relevant assessment years, in relation to any building, machinery, plant or furniture used for the purposes of the business of the industrial undertaking in the previous year relevant to such assessment year or any expenditure incurred for the purposes of such business in such previous year had been given full effect to for that assessment year itself and, accordingly, sub-section (2) of section 32, sub-section (4) of section 35 or the second proviso to clause (ix) of sub-section (1) of section 36, as the case may be, shall not apply in relation to any such deduction;
(ii) no loss referred to in sub-section (1) of section 72 or sub-section (1) or sub-section (3) of section 74, in so far as such loss relates to the business of the industrial undertaking, shall be carried forward or set off where such loss relates to any of the relevant assessment years;
(iii) no deduction shall be allowed under section 80HH or section 80HHA or section 80-I or section 80-IA or section 80-IB or section 80JJA in relation to the profits and gains of the industrial undertakings; and
(iv) in computing the depreciation allowance under section 32, the written down value of any asset used for the purposes of the business of the industrial undertaking shall be computed as if the assessee had claimed and been actually allowed the deduction in respect of depreciation for each of the relevant assessment years.
(5) The provisions of sub-section (8) and sub-section (10) of section 80-IA shall, so far as may be, apply in relation to the industrial undertaking referred to in this section as they apply for the purposes of the industrial undertaking referred to in section 80-IA or section 80-IB, as the case may be.
(6) Notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing provisions of this section, where the assessee before the due date for furnishing the return of his income under sub-section (1) of section 139, furnishes to the Assessing Officer a declaration in writing that the provisions of this section may not be made applicable to him, the provisions of this section shall not apply to him in any of the relevant assessment years :
21[Provided that no deduction under this section shall be allowed to any undertaking for the assessment year beginning on the 1st day of April, 2004 and subsequent years.]
Explanation.—For the purposes of this section,—
(i) “Integrated Infrastructure Development Centre” means such centres located in the States of the North-Eastern Region, which the Central Government, may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify22 for the purposes of this section;
(ii) “Industrial Growth Centre” means such centres located in the States of the North-Eastern Region, which the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify22 for the purposes of this section;
(iii) “North-Eastern Region” means the region comprising the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura;
(iv) “relevant assessment years” means the ten consecutive years beginning with the year in which the industrial undertaking begins to manufacture or produce articles or things.]
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Section 11: 23Income24 from property held for charitable or religious purposes.
- 25 (1) Subject to the provisions of sections 60 to 63, the following income shall not be included in the total income of the previous year of the person in receipt of the income—
26[(a) income derived from property24 held under trust wholly24 for charitable or religious purposes, to the extent to which such income24 is applied24 to such purposes in India; and, where any such income24 is 24accumulated or set apart for application to such purposes in India, to the extent to which the income so accumulated or set apart27 is not in excess of 28[fifteen] per cent of the income from such property;
(b) income derived from property held under trust in part27 only for such purposes, the trust having been created before the commencement of this Act, to the extent to which such income27 is applied to such purposes in India; and, where any such income is finally set apart for application to such purposes in India, to the extent to which the income so set apart is not in excess of 28[fifteen] per cent of the income from such property;
(c) income 29[derived] from property held under trust—
(i) created on or after the 1st day of April, 1952, for a charitable purpose which tends to promote international welfare in which India is interested, to the extent to which such income is applied to such purposes outside India, and
(ii) for charitable or religious purposes, created before the 1st day of April, 1952, to the extent to which such income is applied to such purposes outside India:
Provided that the Board, by general or special order, has directed in either case that it shall not be included in the total income of the person in receipt of such income;
30[(d) income in the form of voluntary contributions made with a specific direction that they shall form part of the corpus31 of the trust or institution.]
32[Explanation.—For the purposes of clauses (a) and (b),—
(1) in computing the 33[fifteen] per cent of the income which may be accumulated or set apart, any such voluntary contributions as are referred to in section 12 shall be deemed to be part of the income;
(2) if, in the previous year, the income applied to charitable or religious purposes in India falls short of 34[eighty-five] per cent of the income derived during that year from property held under trust, or, as the case may be, held under trust in part, by any amount—
(i) for the reason that the whole or any part of the income has not been received during that year, or
(ii) for any other reason,
then—
(a) in the case referred to in sub-clause (i), so much of the income applied to such purposes in India during the previous year in which the income is received or during the previous year immediately following as does not exceed the said amount, and
(b) in the case referred to in sub-clause (ii), so much of the income applied to such purposes in India during the previous year immediately following the previous year in which the income was derived as does not exceed the said amount,
may, at the option of the person in receipt of the income (such option to be exercised in writing before the expiry of the time allowed under sub-section (1) 35[* * *] of section 139 36[* * *] for furnishing the return of income) be deemed to be income applied to such purposes during the previous year in which the income was derived; and the income so deemed to have been applied shall not be taken into account in calculating the amount of income applied to such purposes, in the case referred to in sub-clause (i), during the previous year in which the income is received or during the previous year immediately following, as the case may be, and, in the case referred to in sub-clause (ii), during the previous year immediately following the previous year in which the income was derived.]
37[(1A) For the purposes of sub-section (1),—
(a) where a capital asset, being property held under trust wholly for charitable or religious purposes, is transferred and the whole or any part of the net consideration is utilised for acquiring another capital asset to be so held, then, the capital gain arising from the transfer shall be deemed to have been applied to charitable or religious purposes to the extent specified hereunder, namely:—
(i) where the whole of the net consideration is utilised in acquiring the new capital asset, the whole of such capital gain;
(ii) where only a part of the net consideration is utilised for acquiring the new capital asset, so much of such capital gain as is equal to the amount, if any, by which the amount so utilised exceeds the cost of the transferred asset;
(b) where a capital asset, being property held under trust in part only for such purposes, is transferred and the whole or any part of the net consideration is utilised for acquiring another capital asset to be so held, then, the appropriate fraction of the capital gain arising from the transfer shall be deemed to have been applied to charitable or religious purposes to the extent specified hereunder, namely:—
(i) where the whole of the net consideration is utilised in acquiring the new capital asset, the whole of the appropriate fraction of such capital gain;
(ii) in any other case, so much of the appropriate fraction of the capital gain as is equal to the amount, if any, by which the appropriate fraction of the amount utilised for acquiring the new asset exceeds the appropriate fraction of the cost of the transferred asset.
- —In this sub-section,—
(i) “appropriate fraction” means the fraction which represents the extent to which the income derived from the capital asset transferred was immediately before such transfer applicable to charitable or religious purposes;
(ii) “cost of the transferred asset” means the aggregate of the cost of acquisition (as ascertained for the purposes of sections 48 and 49) of the capital asset which is the subject of the transfer and the cost of any improvement thereto within the meaning assigned to that expression in sub-clause (b) of clause (1) of section 55;
(iii) “net consideration” means the full value of the consideration received or accruing as a result of the transfer of the capital asset as reduced by any expenditure incurred wholly and exclusively in connection with such transfer.]
38[(1B) Where any income in respect of which an option is exercised under clause (2) of the Explanation to sub-section (1) is not applied to charitable or religious purposes in India during the period referred to in sub-clause (a) or, as the case may be, sub-clause (b), of the said clause, then, such income shall be deemed to be the income of the person in receipt thereof—
(a) in the case referred to in sub-clause (i) of the said clause, of the previous year immediately following the previous year in which the income was received; or
(b) in the case referred to in sub-clause (ii) of the said clause, of the previous year immediately following the previous year in which the income was derived.]
39[(2) 40[Where 41[eighty-five] per cent of the income referred to in clause (a) or clause (b) of sub-section (1) read with the Explanation to that sub-section is not applied, or is not deemed to have been applied, to charitable or religious purposes in India during the previous year but is accumulated or set apart, either in whole or in part, for application to such purposes in India, such income so accumulated or set apart shall not be included in the total income of the previous year of the person in receipt of the income, provided the following conditions are complied with, namely:—]
(a) such person specifies, by notice in writing given to the 42[Assessing] Officer in the prescribed43 manner44, the purpose for which the income is being accumulated or set apart and the period for which the income is to be accumulated or set apart, which shall in no case exceed ten years;
45[(b) the money so accumulated46 or set apart is invested or deposited in the forms or modes specified in sub-section (5)]:]
47[Provided that in computing the period of ten years referred to in clause (a), the period during which the income could not be applied for the purpose for which it is so accumulated or set apart, due to an order or injunction of any court, shall be excluded:]
48[Provided further that in respect of any income accumulated or set apart on or after the 1st day of April, 2001, the provisions of this sub-section shall have effect as if for the words “ten years” at both the places where they occur, the words “five years” had been substituted.]
49[Explanation.—Any amount credited or paid, out of income referred to in clause (a) or clause (b) of sub-section (1), read with the Explanation to that sub-section, which is not applied, but is accumulated or set apart, to any trust or institution registered under section 12AA or to any fund or institution or trust or any university or other educational institution or any hospital or other medical institution referred to in sub-clause (iv) or sub-clause (v) or sub-clause (vi) or sub-clause (via) of clause (23C) of section 10, shall not be treated as application of income for charitable or religious purposes, either during the period of accumulation or thereafter.]
50[(3) Any income referred to in sub-section (2) which—
(a) is applied to purposes other than charitable or religious purposes as aforesaid or ceases to be accumulated or set apart for application thereto, or
51[(b) ceases to remain invested or deposited in any of the forms or modes specified in sub-section (5), or]
(c) is not utilised52 for the purpose for which it is so accumulated or set apart during the period referred to in clause (a) of that sub-section or in the year immediately following the expiry thereof,
53[(d) is credited or paid to any trust or institution registered under section 12AA or to any fund or institution or trust or any university or other educational institution or any hospital or other medical institution referred to in sub-clause (iv) or sub-clause (v) or sub-clause (vi) or sub-clause (via) of clause (23C) of section 10,]
shall be deemed to be the income of such person of the previous year in which it is so applied or ceases to be so accumulated or set apart or ceases to remain so invested or deposited or 53[credited or paid or], as the case may be, of the previous year immediately following the expiry of the period aforesaid.]
54[(3A) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (3), where due to circumstances beyond the control of the person in receipt of the income, any income invested or deposited in accordance with the provisions of clause (b) of sub-section (2) cannot be applied for the purpose for which it was accumulated or set apart, the 55[Assessing] Officer may, on an application made to him in this behalf, allow such person to apply such income for such other charitable or religious purpose in India as is specified in the application by such person and as is in conformity with the objects of the trust; and thereupon the provisions of sub-section (3) shall apply as if the purpose specified by such person in the application under this sub-section were a purpose specified in the notice given to the 55[Assessing] Officer under clause (a) of sub-section (2):]
56[Provided that the Assessing Officer shall not allow application of such income by way of payment or credit made for the purposes referred to in clause (d) of sub-section (3) of section 11:]
57[Provided further that in case the trust or institution, which has invested or deposited its income in accordance with the provisions of clause (b) of sub-section (2), is dissolved, the Assessing Officer may allow application of such income for the purposes referred to in clause (d) of sub-section (3) in the year in which such trust or institution was dissolved.]
(4) For the purposes of this section “property held under trust” includes a business undertaking so held, and where a claim is made that the income of any such undertaking shall not be included in the total income of the persons in receipt thereof, the 58[Assessing] Officer shall have power to determine the income of such undertaking in accordance with the provisions of this Act relating to assessment; and where any income so determined is in excess of the income as shown in the accounts of the undertaking, such excess shall be deemed to be applied to purposes other than charitable or religious purposes 59[* * *].
60[(4A) Sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) or sub-section (3) or sub-section (3A) shall not apply in relation to any income of a trust or an institution, being profits and gains of business, unless the business is incidental to the attainment of the objectives of the trust or, as the case may be, institution, and separate books of account are maintained by such trust or institution in respect of such business.]
61[62(5) The forms and modes of investing or depositing the money referred to in clause (b) of sub-section (2) shall be the following, namely :—
(i) investment in savings certificates as defined in clause (c) of section 263 of the Government Savings Certificates Act, 1959 (46 of 1959), and any other securities or certificates issued by the Central Government under the Small Savings Schemes of that Government;
(ii) deposit in any account with the Post Office Savings Bank;
(iii) deposit in any account with a scheduled bank or a co-operative society engaged in carrying on the business of banking (including a co-operative land mortgage bank or a co-operative land development bank).
- —In this clause, “scheduled bank” means the State Bank of India constituted under the State Bank of India Act, 1955 (23 of 1955), a subsidiary bank as defined in the State Bank of India (Subsidiary Banks) Act, 1959 (38 of 1959), a corresponding new bank constituted under section 3 of the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970 (5 of 1970), or under section 3 of the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1980 (40 of 1980), or any other bank being a bank included in the Second Schedule to the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934);
(iv) investment in units of the Unit Trust of India established under the Unit Trust of India Act, 1963 (52 of 1963);
(v) investment in any security for money created and issued by the Central Government or a State Government;
(vi) investment in debentures issued by, or on behalf of, any company or corporation both the principal whereof and the interest whereon are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Central Government or by a State Government;
(vii) investment or deposit64 in any 65[public sector company]:
66[Provided that where an investment or deposit in any public sector company has been made and such public sector company ceases to be a public sector company,—
(A) such investment made in the shares of such company shall be deemed to be an investment made under this clause for a period of three years from the date on which such public sector company ceases to be a public sector company;
(B) such other investment or deposit shall be deemed to be an investment or deposit made under this clause for the period up to the date on which such investment or deposit becomes repayable by such company;]
(viii) deposits with or investment in any bonds issued by a financial corporation which is engaged in providing long-term finance for industrial development in India and 67[which is eligible for deduction under clause (viii) of sub-section (1) of section 36];
(ix) deposits with or investment in any bonds issued by a public company formed and registered in India with the main object of carrying on the business of providing long-term finance for construction or purchase of houses in India for residential purposes and 67[which is eligible for deduction under clause (viii) of sub-section (1) of section 36];
68[(ixa) deposits with or investment in any bonds issued by a public company formed and registered in India with the main object of carrying on the business of providing long-term finance for urban infrastructure in India.
- —For the purposes of this clause,—
(a) “long-term finance” means any loan64 or advance where the terms under which moneys are loaned or advanced provide for repayment along with interest thereof during a period of not less than five years;
(b) “public company” 69 shall have the meaning assigned to it in section 3 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956);
(c) “urban infrastructure” means a project for providing potable water supply, sanitation and sewerage, drainage, solid waste management, roads, bridges and flyovers or urban transport;]
(x) investment in immovable property.
- —“Immovable property” does not include any machi-nery or plant (other than machinery or plant installed in a building for the convenient occupation of the building) even though attached to, or permanently fastened to, anything attached to the earth;]
70[(xi) deposits with the Industrial Development Bank of India established under the Industrial Development Bank of India Act, 1964 (18 of 1964);]
71[(xii) any other form or mode of investment or deposit as may be prescribed.72]
The following sub-sections (6) and (7) shall be inserted after sub-section (5) of section 11 by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2014, w.e.f. 1-4-2015:
(6) In this section where any income is required to be applied or accumulated or set apart for application, then, for such purposes the income shall be determined without any deduction or allowance by way of depreciation or otherwise in respect of any asset, acquisition of which has been claimed as an application of income under this section in the same or any other previous year.
(7) Where a trust or an institution has been granted registration under clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 12AA or has obtained registration at any time under section 12A [as it stood before its amendment by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1996 (33 of 1996)] and the said registration is in force for any previous year, then, nothing contained in section 10 [other than clause (1) and clause (23C) thereof] shall operate to exclude any income derived from the property held under trust from the total income of the person in receipt thereof for that previous year.
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Section 12: 73[Income of trusts or institutions from contributions.
- 74 75[(1)] 76Any voluntary contributions77 received by a trust created wholly for charitable or religious purposes or by an institution established wholly for such purposes (not being contributions made with a specific direction that they shall form part of the corpus of the trust or institution) shall for the purposes of section 11 be deemed to be income derived from77 property held under trust wholly for charitable or religious purposes and the provisions of that section and section 13 shall apply accordingly.]
78[(2) The value of any services, being medical or educational services, made available by any charitable or religious trust running a hospital or medical institution or an educational institution, to any person referred to in clause (a) or clause (b) or clause (c) or clause (cc) or clause (d) of sub-section (3) of section 13, shall be deemed to be income of such trust or institution derived from property held under trust wholly for charitable or religious purposes during the previous year in which such services are so provided and shall be chargeable to income-tax notwithstanding the provisions of sub-section (1) of section 11.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-section, the expression “value” shall be the value of any benefit or facility granted or provided free of cost or at concessional rate to any person referred to in clause (a) or clause (b) or clause (c) or clause (cc) or clause (d) of sub-section (3) of section 13.]
79[(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 11, any amount of donation received by the trust or institution in terms of clause (d) of sub-section (2) of section 80G 80[in respect of which accounts of income and expenditure have not been rendered to the authority prescribed under clause (v) of sub-section (5C) of that section, in the manner specified in that clause, or] which has been utilised for purposes other than providing relief to the victims of earthquake in Gujarat or which remains unutilised in terms of sub-section (5C) of section 80G and not transferred to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund on or before the 31st day of March, 81[2004] shall be deemed to be the income of the previous year and shall accordingly be charged to tax.]
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Section 12A: 82[83[Conditions for applicability of sections 11 and 12.]
8412A. 85[(1)] 86The provisions of section 11 and section 12 shall not apply in relation to the income of any trust or institution unless the following conditions are fulfilled, namely:—
(a) the person in receipt of the income has made an application for registration of the trust or institution in the prescribed form87 and in the prescribed manner to the 88[***] 88a[Principal Commissioner or] Commissioner before the 1st day of July, 1973, or before the expiry of a period of one year from the date of the creation of the trust or the establishment of the institution, 89[whichever is later and such trust or institution is registered under section 12AA] :
90[Provided that where an application for registration of the trust or institution is made after the expiry of the period aforesaid, the provisions of sections 11 and 12 shall apply in relation to the income of such trust or institution,—
(i) from the date of the creation of the trust or the establishment of the institution if the 91[***] 91a[Principal Commissioner or] Commissioner is, for reasons to be recorded in writing, satisfied that the person in receipt of the income was prevented from making the application before the expiry of the period92 aforesaid for sufficient reasons;
(ii) from the 1st day of the financial year in which the application is made, if the 93[***] 93a[Principal Commissioner or] Commissioner is not so satisfied:]
94[Provided further that the provisions of this clause shall not apply in relation to any application made on or after the 1st day of June, 2007;]
94[(aa) the person in receipt of the income has made an application for registration of the trust or institution on or after the 1st day of June, 2007 in the prescribed form95 and manner to the 95a[Principal Commissioner or] Commissioner and such trust or institution is registered under section 12AA;]
(b) where the total income of the trust or institution as computed under this Act without giving effect to 96[the provisions of section 11 and section 12 exceeds the maximum amount which is not chargeable to income-tax in any previous year], the accounts of the trust or institution for that year have been audited by an accountant as defined in the Explanation below sub-section (2) of section 288 and the person in receipt of the income furnishes along with the return of income for the relevant assessment year the report of such audit in the prescribed form97 duly signed and verified by such accountant and setting forth such particulars as may be prescribed.]
(c) 98[***]
99[(2) Where an application has been made on or after the 1st day of June, 2007, the provisions of sections 11 and 12 shall apply in relation to the income of such trust or institution from the assessment year immediately following the financial year in which such application is made:]
99a[Provided that where registration has been granted to the trust or institution under section 12AA, then, the provisions of sections 11 and 12 shall apply in respect of any income derived from property held under trust of any assessment year preceding the aforesaid assessment year, for which assessment proceedings are pending before the Assessing Officer as on the date of such registration and the objects and activities of such trust or institution remain the same for such preceding assessment year:
Provided further that no action under section 147 shall be taken by the Assessing Officer in case of such trust or institution for any assessment year preceding the aforesaid assessment year only for non-registration of such trust or institution for the said assessment year:
Provided also that provisions contained in the first and second proviso shall not apply in case of any trust or institution which was refused registration or the registration granted to it was cancelled at any time under section 12AA.]
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Section 12AA: 1[Procedure for registration.
- (1) The 2[***] 2a[Principal Commissioner or] Commissioner, on receipt of an application for registration of a trust or institution made under clause (a) 99[or clause (aa) of sub-section (1)] of section 12A, shall—
(a) call for such documents or information from the trust or institution as he thinks necessary in order to satisfy himself about the genuineness of activities of the trust or institution and may also make such inquiries as he may deem necessary in this behalf; and
(b) after satisfying himself about the objects of the trust or institution and the genuineness of its activities, he—
(i) shall pass an order in writing registering the trust or institution;
(ii) shall, if he is not so satisfied, pass an order in writing refusing to register the trust or institution,
and a copy of such order shall be sent to the applicant :
Provided that no order under sub-clause (ii) shall be passed unless the applicant has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard.
3[(1A) All applications, pending before the 2a[Principal Chief Commissioner or] Chief Commissioner on which no order has been passed under clause (b) of sub-section (1) before the 1st day of June, 1999, shall stand transferred on that day to the 2a[Principal Commissioner or] Commissioner and the 2a[Principal Commissioner or] Commissioner may proceed with such applications under that sub-section from the stage at which they were on that day.]
(2) Every order granting or refusing registration under clause (b) of sub-section (1) shall be passed before the expiry of six months from the end of the month in which the application was received under clause (a) 4[or clause (aa) of sub-section (1)] of section 12A.]
5[(3) Where a trust or an institution has been granted registration under clause (b) of sub-section (1) 6[or has obtained registration at any time under section 12A [as it stood before its amendment by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1996 (33 of 1996)]] and subsequently the 6a[Principal Commissioner or] Commissioner is satisfied that the activities of such trust or institution are not genuine or are not being carried out in accordance with the objects of the trust or institution, as the case may be, he shall pass an order in writing cancelling the registration of such trust or institution:
Provided that no order under this sub-section shall be passed unless such trust or institution has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard.]
6b[(4) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (3), where a trust or an institution has been granted registration under clause (b) of sub-section (1) or has obtained registration at any time under section 12A [as it stood before its amendment by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1996 (33 of 1996)] and subsequently it is noticed that the activities of the trust or the institution are being carried out in a manner that the provisions of sections 11 and 12 do not apply to exclude either whole or any part of the income of such trust or institution due to operation of sub-section (1) of section 13, then, the Principal Commissioner or the Commissioner may by an order in writing cancel the registration of such trust or institution:
Provided that the registration shall not be cancelled under this sub-section, if the trust or institution proves that there was a reasonable cause for the activities to be carried out in the said manner.]
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Section 13: 7[Section 11 not to apply in certain cases.
- 8 (1) Nothing contained in section 11 9[or section 12] shall operate so as to exclude from the total income of the previous year of the person in receipt thereof—
(a) any part of the 10income from the property held under a trust for private religious purposes which does not enure for the benefit10 of the public;
(b) in the case of a trust for charitable purposes or a charitable institution created or established after the commencement of this Act, any income thereof if the trust or institution is created or established for the benefit10 of any particular religious community or caste;
(bb) 11[* * *]
(c) in the case of a trust for charitable or religious purposes or a charitable or religious institution, any income thereof—
(i) if such trust or institution has been created or established after the commencement of this Act and under the terms of the trust or the rules governing the institution, any part of such income enures, or
(ii) if any part of such income or any property of the trust or the institution (whenever created or established) is during the previous year used or applied,
directly or indirectly for the benefit12 of any person referred to in sub-section (3) :
Provided that in the case of a trust or institution created or established before the commencement of this Act, the provisions of sub-clause (ii) shall not apply to any use or application, whether directly or indirectly, of any part of such income or any property of the trust or institution for the benefit of any person referred to in sub-section (3), if such use or application is by way of compliance with a mandatory term of the trust or a mandatory rule governing the institution :
Provided further that in the case of a trust for religious purposes or a religious institution (whenever created or established) or a trust for charitable purposes or a charitable institution created or established before the commencement of this Act, the provisions of sub-clause (ii) shall not apply to any use or application, whether directly or indirectly, of any part of such income or any property of the trust or institution for the benefit of any person referred to in sub-section (3) in so far as such use or application relates to any period before the 1st day of June, 1970;
13[(d) 14in the case of a trust for charitable or religious purposes or a charitable or religious institution, any income thereof, if for any period during the previous year—
(i) any funds15 of the trust or institution are invested or deposited15 after the 28th day of February, 1983 otherwise than in any one or more of the forms or modes specified in sub-section (5) of section 11; or
(ii) any funds15 of the trust or institution invested or deposited15 before the 1st day of March, 1983 otherwise than in any one or more of the forms or modes specified in sub-section (5) of section 11 continue to remain so invested or deposited after the 30th day of November, 1983; or
16[(iii) any shares in a company, other than—
(A) shares in a public sector company ;
(B) shares prescribed as a form or mode of investment under clause (xii) of sub-section (5) of section 11,
are held by the trust or institution after the 30th day of November, 1983:]
Provided that nothing in this clause shall apply in relation to—
(i) any assets held by the trust or institution where such assets form part of the corpus of the trust or institution as on the 1st day of June, 1973 17[***];
18[(ia) any accretion to the shares, forming part of the corpus mentioned in clause (i), by way of bonus shares allotted to the trust or institution;]
(ii) any assets (being debentures issued by, or on behalf of, any company or corporation) acquired by the trust or institution before the 1st day of March, 1983;
19[(iia) any asset, not being an investment or deposit in any of the forms or modes specified in sub-section (5) of section 11, where such asset is not held by the trust or institution, otherwise than in any of the forms or modes specified in sub-section (5) of section 11, after the expiry of one year from the end of the previous year in which such asset is acquired or the 31st day of March, 20[1993], whichever is later;]
(iii) any funds representing the profits and gains of business, being profits and gains of any previous year relevant to the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1984 or any subsequent assessment year.
- —Where the trust or institution has any other income in addition to profits and gains of business, the provisions of clause (iii) of this proviso shall not apply unless the trust or institution maintains separate books of account in respect of such business.]
21[Explanation.—For the purposes of sub-clause (ii) of clause (c), in determining whether any part of the income or any property of any trust or institution is during the previous year used or applied, directly or indirectly, for the benefit of any person referred to in sub-section (3), in so far as such use or application relates to any period before the 1st day of July, 1972, no regard shall be had to the amendments made to this section by section 7 [other than sub-clause (ii) of clause (a) thereof] of the Finance Act, 1972.]
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of clause (c) 22[and clause (d)] of sub-section (1), the income or the property23 of the trust or institution or any part of such income or property shall, for the purposes of that clause, be deemed to have been used or applied for the benefit of a person referred to in sub-section (3),—
(a) if any part of the income or property24 of the trust or institution is, or continues to be, lent24 to any person referred to in sub-section (3) for any period during the previous year without either adequate security or adequate interest or both;
(b) if any land, building or other property24 of the trust or institution is, or continues to be, made available for the use of any person referred to in sub-section (3), for any period during the previous year without charging adequate rent or other compensation;
(c) if any amount is paid by way of salary, allowance or otherwise during the previous year to any person referred to in sub-section (3) out of the resources of the trust or institution for services rendered by that person to such trust or institution and the amount so paid is in excess of what may be reasonably paid for such services;
(d) if the services of the trust or institution are made available to any person referred to in sub-section (3) during the previous year without adequate remuneration or other compensation;
(e) if any share, security or other property is purchased by or on behalf of the trust or institution from any person referred to in sub-section (3) during the previous year for consideration which is more than adequate;
(f) if any share, security or other property is sold by or on behalf of the trust or institution to any person referred to in sub-section (3) during the previous year for consideration which is less than adequate;
25[(g) if any income or property of the trust or institution is diverted during the previous year in favour of any person referred to in sub-section (3):
Provided that this clause shall not apply where the income, or the value of the property or, as the case may be, the aggregate of the income and the value of the property, so diverted does not exceed one thousand rupees;]
(h) if any funds26 of the trust or institution are, or continue to remain, invested26 for any period during the previous year (not being a period before the 1st day of January, 1971), in any concern26 in which any person referred to in sub-section (3) has a substantial interest.
(3) The persons referred to in clause (c) of sub-section (1) and sub-section (2) are the following, namely :—
(a) the author of the trust or the founder26 of the institution26;
(b) any person who has made a substantial contribution to the trust or institution, 27[that is to say, any person whose total contribution up to the end of the relevant previous year exceeds 28[fifty] thousand rupees];
(c) where such author, founder or person is a Hindu undivided family, a member of the family;
29[(cc) any trustee of the trust or manager (by whatever name called) of the institution;]
(d) any relative of any such author, founder, person, 30[member, trustee or manager] as aforesaid;
(e) any concern in which any of the persons referred to in clauses (a), (b), (c) 31[, (cc)] and (d) has a substantial interest.
(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in clause (c) of sub-section (1) 32[but without prejudice to the provisions contained in clause (d) of that sub-section], in a case where the aggregate of the funds of the trust or institution invested in a concern in which any person referred to in sub-section (3) has a substantial interest, does not exceed five per cent of the capital33 of that concern, the exemption under section 11 34[or section 12] shall not be denied in relation to any income other than the income arising to the trust or the institution from such investment, by reason only that the 35[funds] of the trust or the institution have been invested in a concern in which such person has a substantial interest.
36[(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in clause (d) of sub-section (1), where any assets (being debentures issued by, or on behalf of, any company or corpora-tion) are acquired by the trust or institution after the 28th day of February, 1983 but before the 25th day of July, 1991, the exemption under section 11 or section 12 shall not be denied in relation to any income other than the income arising to the trust or the institution from such assets, by reason only that the funds of the trust or the institution have been invested in such assets if such funds do not continue to remain so invested in such assets after the 31st day of March, 1992.]
37[(6) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) or sub-section (2), but without prejudice to the provisions contained in sub-section (2) of section 12, in the case of a charitable or religious trust running an educational institution or a medical institution or a hospital, the exemption under section 11 or section 12 shall not be denied in relation to any income, other than the income referred to in sub-section (2) of section 12, by reason only that such trust has provided educational or medical facilities to persons referred to in clause (a) or clause (b) or clause (c) or clause (cc) or clause (d) of sub-section (3).]
38[(7) Nothing contained in section 11 or section 12 shall operate so as to exclude from the total income of the previous year of the person in receipt thereof, any anonymous donation referred to in section 115BBC on which tax is payable in accordance with the provisions of that section.]
39[(8) Nothing contained in section 11 or section 12 shall operate so as to exclude any income from the total income of the previous year of the person in receipt thereof if the provisions of the first proviso to clause (15) of section 2 become applicable in the case of such person in the said previous year.]
40[Explanation 1.—For the purposes of sections 11, 12, 12A and this section, “trust” includes any other legal obligation and for the purposes of this section “relative”, in relation to an individual, means—
(i) spouse of the individual;
(ii) brother or sister of the individual;
(iii) brother or sister of the spouse of the individual;
(iv) any lineal ascendant or descendant of the individual;
(v) any lineal ascendant or descendant of the spouse of the individual;
(vi) spouse of a person referred to in sub-clause (ii), sub-clause (iii), sub-clause (iv) or sub-clause (v);
(vii) any lineal descendant of a brother or sister of either the individual or of the spouse of the individual.]
Explanation 2.—A trust or institution created or established for the benefit of Scheduled Castes, backward classes, Scheduled Tribes or women and children shall not be deemed to be a trust or institution created or established for the benefit of a religious community or caste within the meaning of clause (b) of sub-section (1).
Explanation 3.—For the purposes of this section, a person shall be deemed to have a substantial interest in a concern,—
(i) in a case where the concern is a company, if its shares (not being shares entitled to a fixed rate of dividend whether with or without a further right to participate in profits) carrying not less than twenty per cent of the voting power are, at any time during the previous year, owned beneficially by such person or partly by such person and partly by one or more of the other persons referred to in sub-section (3);
(ii) in the case of any other concern, if such person is entitled, or such person and one or more of the other persons referred to in sub-section (3) are entitled in the aggregate, at any time during the previous year, to not less than twenty per cent of the profits of such concern.]
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Section 13A: 41[Special provision relating to incomes of political parties.
- Any income of a political party which is chargeable under the head 42[***] “Income from house property” or “Income from other sources” or 43[“Capital gains” or] any income by way of voluntary contributions received by a political party from any person shall not be included in the total income of the previous year of such political party :
Provided that—
(a) such political party keeps and maintains such books of account and other documents as would enable the 44[Assessing] Officer to properly deduce its income therefrom;
(b) in respect of each such voluntary contribution in excess of 45[twenty] thousand rupees, such political party keeps and maintains a record of such contribution and the name and address of the person who has made such contribution; and
(c) the accounts of such political party are audited by an accountant as defined in the Explanation below sub-section (2) of section 288 :
46[Provided further that if the treasurer of such political party or any other person authorised by that political party in this behalf fails to submit a report under sub-section (3) of section 29C of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (43 of 1951) for a financial year, no exemption under this section shall be available for that political party for such financial year.]
47[Explanation.—For the purposes of this section, “political party” means a political party registered under section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (43 of 1951).]
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Section 13B: 48[Special provisions relating to voluntary contributions received by electoral trust.
- Any voluntary contributions received by an electoral trust shall not be included in the total income of the previous year of such electoral trust, if—
(a) such electoral trust distributes to any political party, registered under section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (43 of 1951), during the said previous year, ninety-five per cent of the aggregate donations received by it during the said previous year along with the surplus, if any, brought forward from any earlier previous year; and
(b) such electoral trust functions in accordance with the rules49 made by the Central Government.]
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Chapter IV: Computation of total income
Section -14: Heads of income
Heads of income.
- 50 Save as otherwise provided by this Act, all income shall, for the purposes of charge of income-tax and computation of total income, be classified under the following heads of income :—
- —Salaries.
- —51[***]
- —Income from house property.
- —Profits and gains of business or profession.
- —Capital gains.
- —Income from other sources.
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Section 14A: 52[Expenditure incurred in relation to income not includible in total income53.
- 54[(1)] For the purposes of computing the total income under this Chapter, no deduction shall be allowed in respect of expenditure incurred55 by the assessee in relation to55 income which does not form part of the total income55 under this Act.]
54[(2) The Assessing Officer shall determine the amount of expenditure incurred in relation to such income which does not form part of the total income under this Act in accordance with such method as may be prescribed56, if the Assessing Officer, having regard to the accounts of the assessee, is not satisfied with the correctness of the claim of the assessee in respect of such expenditure in relation to income which does not form part of the total income under this Act.
(3) The provisions of sub-section (2) shall also apply in relation to a case where an assessee claims that no expenditure has been incurred by him in relation to income which does not form part of the total income under this Act :]
57[Provided that nothing contained in this section shall empower the Assessing Officer either to reassess under section 147 or pass an order enhancing the assessment or reducing a refund already made or otherwise increasing the liability of the assessee under section 154, for any assessment year beginning on or before the 1st day of April, 2001.]
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Section 15: Salaries
- 58 59The following income60 shall be chargeable to income-tax under the head “Salaries” —
(a) any salary due60 from an employer or a former employer to an assessee in the previous year, whether paid60 or not;
(b) any salary paid60 or allowed60 to him in the previous year by or on behalf of an employer or a former employer though not due or before it became due to him;
(c) any arrears of salary paid or allowed to him in the previous year by or on behalf of an employer or a former employer, if not charged to income-tax for any earlier previous year.
61[Explanation 1].—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that where any salary paid in advance is included in the total income of any person for any previous year it shall not be included again in the total income of the person when the salary becomes due.
62[Explanation 2.—Any salary, bonus, commission or remuneration, by whatever name called, due to, or received by, a partner of a firm from the firm shall not be regarded as “salary” for the purposes of this section.]
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Section 16: Deductions from salaries.
- 63 The income chargeable under the head “Salaries” shall be computed after making the following deductions, namely :—
(i) 64[***]
65[(ii) a deduction in respect of any allowance in the nature of an entertainment allowance specifically granted by an employer to the assessee who is in receipt of a salary from the Government, a sum equal to one-fifth of his salary (exclusive of any allowance, benefit or other perquisite) or five thousand rupees, whichever is less;]
66[(iii) a deduction of any sum paid by the assessee on account of a tax on employment within the meaning of clause (2) of article 27667 of the Constitution, leviable by or under any law.]
(iv) 68[***]
(v) 69[***]
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Section 17: “Salary”, “perquisite” and “profits in lieu of salary” defined.
- 70 71For the purposes of sections 15 and 16 and of this section,—
(1) “salary” 72 includes72—
(i) wages;
(ii) any annuity or pension;
(iii) any gratuity72;
(iv) any fees72, commissions, perquisites or profits72 in lieu of or in addition to any salary or wages;
(v) any advance of salary;
73[(va) any payment received by an employee in respect of any period of leave not availed of by him;]
(vi) the annual accretion to the balance at the credit of an employee participating in a recognised provident fund, to the extent to which it is chargeable to tax under rule 6 of Part A of the Fourth Schedule;
(vii) the aggregate of all sums that are comprised in the transferred balance as referred to in sub-rule (2) of rule 11 of Part A of the Fourth Schedule of an employee participating in a recognised provident fund, to the extent to which it is chargeable to tax under sub-rule (4) thereof; and
74[(viii) the contribution made by the Central Government 75[or any other employer] in the previous year, to the account of an employee under a pension scheme referred to in section 80CCD;]
76(2) “perquisite” includes—
77(i) the value of rent-free accommodation provided to the assessee by his employer;
(ii) the value of any concession in the matter of rent78 respecting any accommodation provided to the assessee by his employer;
79[Explanation 1.—For the purposes of this sub-clause, concession in the matter of rent shall be deemed to have been provided if,—
80[(a) in a case where an unfurnished accommodation is provided by any employer other than the Central Government or any State Government and—
(i) the accommodation is owned by the employer, the value of the accommodation determined at the specified rate in respect of the period during which the said accommodation was occupied by the assessee during the previous year, exceeds the rent recoverable from, or payable by, the assessee;
(ii) the accommodation is taken on lease or rent by the employer, the value of the accommodation being the actual amount of lease rental paid or payable by the employer or fifteen per cent of salary, whichever is lower, in respect of the period during which the said accommodation was occupied by the assessee during the previous year, exceeds the rent recoverable from, or payable by, the assessee;]
(b) in a case where a furnished accommodation is provided by the Central Government or any State Government, the licence fee determined by the Central Government or any State Government in respect of the accommodation in accordance with the rules framed by such Government as increased by the value of furniture and fixtures in respect of the period during which the said accommodation was occupied by the assessee during the previous year, exceeds the aggregate of the rent recoverable from, or payable by, the assessee and any charges paid or payable for the furniture and fixtures by the assessee;
(c) in a case where a furnished accommodation is provided by an employer other than the Central Government or any State Government and—
(i) the accommodation is owned by the employer, the value of the accommodation determined under sub-clause (i) of clause (a) as increased by the value of the furniture and fixtures in respect of the period during which the said accommodation was occupied by the assessee during the previous year, exceeds the rent recoverable from, or payable by, the assessee;
(ii) the accommodation is taken on lease or rent by the employer, the value of the accommodation determined under sub-clause (ii) of clause (a) as increased by the value of the furniture and fixtures in respect of the period during which the said accommodation was occupied by the assessee during the previous year, exceeds the rent recoverable from, or payable by, the assessee;
(d) in a case where the accommodation is provided by the employer in a hotel (except where the assessee is provided such accommodation for a period not exceeding in aggregate fifteen days on his transfer from one place to another), the value of the accommodation determined at the rate of twenty-four per cent of salary paid or payable for the previous year or the actual charges paid or payable to such hotel, whichever is lower, for the period during which such accommodation is provided, exceeds the rent recoverable from, or payable by, the assessee.
Explanation 2.—For the purposes of this sub-clause, value of furniture and fixture shall be ten per cent per annum of the cost of furniture (including television sets, radio sets, refrigerators, other household appliances, air-conditioning plant or equipment or other similar appliances or gadgets) or if such furniture is hired from a third party, the actual hire charges payable for the same as reduced by any charges paid or payable for the same by the assessee during the previous year.
Explanation 3.—For the purposes of this sub-clause, “salary” includes the pay, allowances, bonus or commission payable monthly or otherwise or any monetary payment, by whatever name called, from one or more employers, as the case may be, but does not include the following, namely:—
(a) dearness allowance or dearness pay unless it enters into the computation of superannuation or retirement benefits of the employee concerned;
(b) employer’s contribution to the provident fund account of the employee;
(c) allowances which are exempted from the payment of tax;
(d) value of the perquisites specified in this clause;
(e) any payment or expenditure specifically excluded under the proviso to this clause.]
81[Explanation 4.—For the purposes of this sub-clause, “specified rate” shall be—
(i) fifteen per cent of salary in cities having population exceeding twenty-five lakhs as per 2001 census;
(ii) ten per cent of salary in cities having population exceeding ten lakhs but not exceeding twenty-five lakhs as per 2001 census; and
(iii) seven and one-half per cent of salary in any other place;]
(iii) the value of any benefit or amenity granted or provided free of cost or at concessional rate in any of the following cases—
(a) by a company to an employee who is a director thereof;
(b) by a company to an employee being a person who has a substantial interest in the company;
(c) by any employer (including a company) to an employee to whom the provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this sub-clause do not apply and whose income 82[under the head “Salaries” (whether due from, or paid or allowed by, one or more employers), exclusive of the value of all benefits or amenities not provided for by way of monetary payment, exceeds 83[fifty] thousand rupees:]
84[***]
85[Explanation.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that the use of any vehicle provided by a company or an employer for journey by the assessee from his residence to his office or other place of work, or from such office or place to his residence, shall not be regarded as a benefit or amenity granted or provided to him free of cost or at concessional rate for the purposes of this sub-clause;]
(iiia) 86[***]
(iv) any sum paid by the employer in respect of any obligation which, but for such payment, would have been payable by the assessee;
(v) any sum payable by the employer, whether directly or through a fund, other than a recognised provident fund or an approved superannuation fund 87[or a Deposit-linked Insurance Fund established under section 3G of the Coal Mines Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1948 (46 of 1948), or, as the case may be, section 6C of the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 (19 of 1952)], to effect an assurance on the life of the assessee or to effect a contract for an annuity; 88[***]
89[(vi) the value of any specified security or sweat equity shares allotted or transferred, directly or indirectly, by the employer, or former employer, free of cost or at concessional rate to the assessee.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-clause,—
(a) “specified security” means the securities as defined in clause (h) of section 290 of the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 (42 of 1956) and, where employees’ stock option has been granted under any plan or scheme therefor, includes the securities offered under such plan or scheme;
(b) “sweat equity shares” means equity shares issued by a company to its employees or directors at a discount or for consideration other than cash for providing know-how or making available rights in the nature of intellectual property rights or value additions, by whatever name called;
(c) the value of any specified security or sweat equity shares shall be the fair market value of the specified security or sweat equity shares, as the case may be, on the date on which the option is exercised by the assessee as reduced by the amount actually paid by, or recovered from, the assessee in respect of such security or shares;
(d) “fair market value” means the value determined in accordance with the method as may be prescribed;
(e) “option” means a right but not an obligation granted to an employee to apply for the specified security or sweat equity shares at a predetermined price;
(vii) the amount of any contribution to an approved superannuation fund by the employer in respect of the assessee, to the extent it exceeds one lakh rupees; and
(viii) the value of any other fringe benefit or amenity91 as may be prescribed92:]
93[Provided that nothing in this clause shall apply to,—
(i) the value of any medical treatment provided to an employee or any member of his family in any hospital maintained by the employer;
94[(ii) any sum paid by the employer in respect of any expenditure actually incurred by the employee on his medical treatment or treatment of any member of his family—
(a) in any hospital maintained by the Government or any local authority or any other hospital approved95 by the Government for the purposes of medical treatment of its employees;
(b) in respect of the prescribed diseases96 or ailments, in any hospital approved by the 96a[Principal Chief Commissioner or] Chief Commissioner having regard to the prescribed guidelines97 :
Provided that, in a case falling in sub-clause (b), the employee shall attach98 with his return of income a certificate from the hospital specifying the disease or ailment for which medical treatment was required and the receipt for the amount paid to the hospital;]
(iii) any portion of the premium paid by an employer in relation to an employee, to effect or to keep in force an insurance on the health of such employee under any scheme approved by the Central Government 99[or the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority established under sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999 (41 of 1999),] for the purposes of clause (ib) of sub-section (1) of section 36;
(iv) any sum paid by the employer in respect of any premium paid by the employee to effect or to keep in force an insurance on his health or the health of any member of his family under any scheme approved by the Central Government 1[or the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority established under sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999 (41 of 1999),] for the purposes of section 80D;
(v) any sum paid by the employer in respect of any expenditure actually incurred by the employee on his medical treatment or treatment of any member of his family [other than the treatment referred to in clauses (i) and (ii)]; so, however, that such sum does not exceed 2[fifteen] thousand rupees in the previous year;
(vi) any expenditure incurred by the employer on—
(1) medical treatment of the employee, or any member of the family of such employee, outside India;
(2) travel 3[and] stay abroad of the employee or any member of the family of such employee for medical treatment;
(3) travel and stay abroad of one attendant who accompanies the patient in connection with such treatment,
4[subject to the condition that—
(A) the expenditure on medical treatment and stay abroad shall be excluded from perquisite only to the extent permitted by the Reserve Bank of India; and
(B) the expenditure on travel shall be excluded from perquisite only in the case of an employee whose gross total income, as computed before including therein the said expenditure, does not exceed two lakh rupees;]
(vii) any sum paid by the employer in respect of any expenditure actually incurred by the employee for any of the purposes specified in clause (vi) subject to the conditions specified in or under that clause :
5[Provided further that for the assessment year beginning on the 1st day of April, 2002, nothing contained in this clause shall apply to any employee whose income under the head “Salaries” (whether due from, or paid or allowed by, one or more employers) exclusive of the value of all perquisites not provided for by way of monetary payment, does not exceed one lakh rupees.]
- —For the purposes of clause (2),—
(i) “hospital” includes a dispensary or a clinic 6[or a nursing home];
(ii) “family”, in relation to an individual, shall have the same meaning as in clause (5) of section 10; and
(iii) “gross total income” shall have the same meaning as in clause (5) of section 80B;]
7[* * *]
8(3) “profits9 in lieu of salary”9 includes—
(i) the amount of any compensation9 due to or received by an assessee from his employer or former employer at or in connection with the termination of his employment or the modification of the terms and conditions relating thereto;
(ii) any payment (other than any payment referred to in clause (10) 10[, clause (10A)] 11[, clause (10B)], clause (11), 12[clause (12) 13[, clause (13)] or clause (13A)] of section 10), due to or received by an assessee from an employer or a former employer or from a provident or other fund 14[* * *], to the extent to which it does not consist of contributions by the assessee or 15[interest on such contributions or any sum received under a Keyman insurance policy including the sum allocated by way of bonus on such policy.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-clause, the expression “Keyman insurance policy” shall have the meaning assigned to it in clause (10D) of section 10;]
16[(iii) any amount due to or received, whether in lump sum or otherwise, by any assessee from any person—
(A) before his joining any employment with that person; or
(B) after cessation of his employment with that person.]
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Section 18, Income-tax Act, 1961-2014
17[***]
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Section 19, Income-tax Act, 1961-2014
17[***]
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Section 20, Income-tax Act, 1961-2014
17[***]
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Section 21, Income-tax Act, 1961-2014
17[***]
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Section 22: Income from house property
Income from house property.
- 18 19The annual value of property consisting of any buildings20 or lands appurtenant20 thereto of which the assessee is the owner20, other than such portions of such property as he may occupy20 for the purposes of any business or profession carried on by him the profits of which are chargeable to income-tax, shall be chargeable to income-tax under the head “Income from house property” .
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Section 23: 21[Annual value how determined.
- (1) For the purposes of section 22, the annual value of any property shall be deemed to be—
(a) the sum for which the property might reasonably be expected to let from year to year; or
(b) where the property or any part of the property is let and the actual rent received or receivable20 by the owner in respect thereof is in excess of the sum referred to in clause (a), the amount so received or receivable; or
(c) where the property or any part of the property is let and was vacant during the whole or any part of the previous year and owing to such vacancy the actual rent received or receivable by the owner in respect thereof is less than the sum referred to in clause (a), the amount so received or receivable :
Provided that the taxes levied22 by any local authority in respect of the property shall be deducted (irrespective of the previous year in which the liability to pay such taxes was incurred by the owner according to the method of accounting regularly employed by him) in determining the annual value of the property of that previous year in which such taxes are actually paid by him.
Explanation.—For the purposes of clause (b) or clause (c) of this sub-section, the amount of actual rent received or receivable by the owner shall not include, subject to such rules23-24 as may be made in this behalf, the amount of rent which the owner cannot realise.
(2) Where the property consists of a house or part of a house which—
(a) is in the occupation of the owner for the purposes of his own residence; or
(b) cannot actually be occupied by the owner by reason of the fact that owing to his employment, business or profession carried on at any other place, he has to reside at that other place in a building not belonging to him,
the annual value of such house or part of the house shall be taken to be nil.
(3) The provisions of sub-section (2) shall not apply if—
(a) the house or part of the house is actually let during the whole or any part of the previous year; or
(b) any other benefit therefrom is derived by the owner.
(4) Where the property referred to in sub-section (2) consists of more than one house—
(a) the provisions of that sub-section shall apply only in respect of one of such houses, which the assessee may, at his option, specify in this behalf;
(b) the annual value of the house or houses, other than the house in respect of which the assessee has exercised an option under clause (a), shall be determined under sub-section (1) as if such house or houses had been let.]
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Section 24: 25[ Deductions from income from house property.
- Income chargeable under the head “Income from house property” shall be computed after making the following deductions, namely:—
(a) a sum equal to thirty per cent of the annual value;
(b) where the property has been acquired, constructed, repaired, renewed or reconstructed with borrowed capital, the amount of any interest payable on such capital:
Provided that in respect of property referred to in sub-section (2) of section 23, the amount of deduction shall not exceed thirty thousand rupees :
Provided further that where the property referred to in the first proviso is acquired or constructed with capital borrowed on or after the 1st day of April, 1999 and such acquisition or construction is completed 26[within three years from the end of the financial year in which capital was borrowed], the amount of deduction under this clause shall not exceed 26a[one lakh fifty thousand rupees].
Explanation.—Where the property has been acquired or constructed with borrowed capital, the interest, if any, payable on such capital borrowed for the period prior to the previous year in which the property has been acquired or constructed, as reduced by any part thereof allowed as deduction under any other provision of this Act, shall be deducted under this clause in equal instalments for the said previous year and for each of the four immediately succeeding previous years:]
27[Provided also that no deduction shall be made under the second proviso unless the assessee furnishes a certificate, from the person to whom any interest is payable on the capital borrowed, specifying the amount of interest payable by the assessee for the purpose of such acquisition or construction of the property, or, conversion of the whole or any part of the capital borrowed which remains to be repaid as a new loan.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this proviso, the expression “new loan” means the whole or any part of a loan taken by the assessee subsequent to the capital borrowed, for the purpose of repayment of such capital.]
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Section 25: Amounts not deductible from income from house property.
- Notwithstanding anything contained in section 24, any 28[***] interest chargeable under this Act which is payable outside India (not being interest on a loan issued for public subscription before the 1st day of April, 1938), on which tax has not been paid or deducted under Chapter XVII-B and in respect of which there is no person in India who may be treated as an agent under section 163 shall not be deducted in computing the income chargeable under the head “Income from house property” .
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Section 25A: 29[Special provision for cases where unrealised rent allowed as deduction is realised subsequently.
- Where a deduction has been made under clause (x) of sub-section (1) of section 24 30[as it stood immediately before its substitution by the Finance Act, 2001] in the assessment for any year in respect of rent from property let to a tenant which the assessee cannot realise and subsequently during any previous year the assessee has realised any amount in respect of such rent, the amount so realised shall be deemed to be income chargeable under the head “Income from house property” and accordingly charged to income-tax (without making any deduction under section 23 or section 24 31[as it stood immediately before its substitution by the Finance Act, 2001]) as the income of that previous year, whether the assessee is the owner of that property in that year or not.]
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Section 25AA: 31[Unrealised rent received subsequently to be charged to income-tax.
- Where the assessee cannot realise rent from a property let to a tenant and subsequently the assessee has realised any amount in respect of such rent, the amount so realised shall be deemed to be income chargeable under the head “Income from house property” and accordingly charged to income-tax as the income of that previous year in which such rent is realised whether or not the assessee is the owner of that property in that previous year.]
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Section 25B: 32[Special provision for arrears of rent received.
- Where the assessee—
(a) is the owner of any property consisting of any buildings or lands appurtenant thereto which has been let to a tenant; and
(b) has received any amount, by way of arrears of rent from such property, not charged to income-tax for any previous year,
the amount so received, after deducting 33[a sum equal to thirty per cent of such amount], shall be deemed to be the income chargeable under the head “Income from house property” and accordingly charged to income-tax as the income of that previous year in which such rent is received, whether the assessee is the owner of that property in that year or not.]
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Section 26: Property owned by co-owners.
- 34 35Where property consisting of buildings or buildings and lands appurtenant thereto is owned by two or more persons and their respective shares are definite and ascertainable, such persons shall not in respect of such property be assessed as an association of persons, but the share of each such person in the income from the property as computed in accordance with sections 22 to 25 shall be included in his total income.
36[Explanation.—For the purposes of this section, in applying the provisions of sub-section (2) of section 23 for computing the share of each such person as is referred to in this section, such share shall be computed, as if each such person is individually entitled to the relief provided in that sub-section.]
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Section 27: “Owner of house property”, “annual charge”, etc., defined.
- 37 For the purposes of sections 22 to 26—
(i) an individual who transfers otherwise than for adequate considera-tion any house property to his or her spouse, not being a transfer in connection with an agreement to live apart, or to a minor child not being a married daughter, shall be deemed to be the owner of the house property so transferred;
(ii) the holder of an impartible estate shall be deemed to be the individual owner of all the properties comprised in the estate ;
38[(iii) a member of a co-operative society, company or other association of persons to whom a building or part thereof is allotted or leased under a house building scheme of the society, company or association, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be the owner of that building or part thereof ;
(iiia) a person who is allowed to take or retain possession of any building or part thereof in part performance of a contract of the nature referred to in 39section 53A of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882 (4 of 1882), shall be deemed to be the owner of that building or part thereof ;
(iiib) a person who acquires any rights (excluding any rights by way of a lease from month to month or for a period not exceeding one year) in or with respect to any building or part thereof, by virtue of any such transaction as is referred to in clause (f) of section 269UA, shall be deemed to be the owner of that building or part thereof;]
(iv) 40[***]
(v) 40[***]
(vi) taxes levied by a local authority in respect of any property shall be deemed to include service taxes levied by the local authority in respect of the property.
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Section 28: Profits and gains of business or profession
Profits and gains of business or profession.
- 41 42The following income shall be chargeable to income-tax under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession”,—
(i) the profits and gains43 of any business or profession43 which was carried on by the assessee at any time during the previous year ;
(ii) any compensation43 or other payment due to43 or received by43,—
(a) any person, by whatever name called, managing the whole or substantially the whole of the affairs of an Indian company, at or in connection with the termination of his management or the modification of the terms and conditions relating thereto;
(b) any person, by whatever name called, managing the whole or substantially the whole of the affairs in India of any other company, at or in connection with the termination of his office or the modification of the terms and conditions relating thereto ;
(c) any person, by whatever name called, holding an agency in India for any part of the activities relating to the business of any other person, at or in connection with the termination of the agency or the modification of the terms and conditions relating thereto ;
44[(d) any person, for or in connection with the vesting in the Government, or in any corporation owned or controlled by the Government, under any law for the time being in force, of the management of any property or business ;]
(iii) income derived by a trade, professional or similar45 association from specific services45 performed for its members ;
46[(iiia) profits on sale of a licence granted under the Imports (Control) Order, 1955, made under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, 1947 (18 of 1947) ;]
47[(iiib) cash assistance (by whatever name called) received or receivable by any person against exports under any scheme of the Government of India ;]
48[(iiic) any duty of customs or excise re-paid or re-payable as drawback to any person against exports under the Customs and Central Excise Duties Drawback Rules, 1971 ;]
49[(iiid) any profit50 on the transfer of the Duty Entitlement Pass Book Scheme, being the Duty Remission Scheme under the export and import policy formulated and announced under section 5 of the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992 (22 of 1992);]
51[(iiie) any profit on the transfer of the Duty Free Replenishment Certificate, being the Duty Remission Scheme under the export and import policy formulated and announced under section 5 of the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992 (22 of 1992) ;]
52[(iv) the value of any benefit or perquisite, whether convertible into money or not, arising from business or the exercise of a profession ;]
53[(v) any interest, salary, bonus, commission or remuneration, by whatever name called, due to, or received by, a partner of a firm from such firm :
Provided that where any interest, salary, bonus, commission or remuneration, by whatever name called, or any part thereof has not been allowed to be deducted under clause (b) of section 40, the income under this clause shall be adjusted to the extent of the amount not so allowed to be deducted ;]
54[(va) any sum, whether received or receivable, in cash or kind, under an agreement for—
(a) not carrying out any activity in relation to any business; or
(b) not sharing any know-how, patent, copyright, trade-mark, licence, franchise or any other business or commercial right of similar nature or information or technique likely to assist in the manufacture or processing of goods or provision for services:
Provided that sub-clause (a) shall not apply to—
(i) any sum, whether received or receivable, in cash or kind, on account of transfer of the right to manufacture, produce or process any article or thing or right to carry on any business, which is chargeable under the head “Capital gains” ;
(ii) any sum received as compensation, from the multilateral fund of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone layer under the United Nations Environment Programme, in accordance with the terms of agreement entered into with the Government of India.
- —For the purposes of this clause,—
(i) “agreement” includes any arrangement or understanding or action in concert,—
(A) whether or not such arrangement, understanding or action is formal or in writing; or
(B) whether or not such arrangement, understanding or action is intended to be enforceable by legal proceedings;
(ii) “service” means service of any description which is made available to potential users and includes the provision of services in connection with business of any industrial or commercial nature such as accounting, banking, communication, conveying of news or information, advertising, entertainment, amusement, education, financing, insurance, chit funds, real estate, construction, transport, storage, processing, supply of electrical or other energy, boarding and lodging;]
55[(vi) any sum received under a Keyman insurance policy including the sum allocated by way of bonus on such policy.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, the expression “Keyman insurance policy” shall have the meaning assigned to it in clause (10D) of section 10;]
56[(vii) any sum, whether received or receivable, in cash or kind, on account of any capital asset (other than land or goodwill or financial instrument) being demolished, destroyed, discarded or transferred, if the whole of the expenditure on such capital asset has been allowed as a deduction under section 35AD.]
Explanation 1.—[Omitted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1-4-1989.]
Explanation 2.—Where speculative transactions carried on by an assessee are of such a nature as to constitute a business, the business (hereinafter referred to as “speculation business” ) shall be deemed to be distinct and separate from any other business.
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Section 29: Income from profits and gains of business or profession, how computed.
- 57The income referred to in section 28 shall be computed in accordance with the provisions contained in sections 30 to 58[43D].
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Section 30: Rent, rates, taxes, repairs and insurance for buildings.
- 57 In respect of rent, rates, taxes, repairs and insurance for premises, used for the purposes of the business59 or profession, the following deductions shall be allowed—
(a) where the premises are occupied by the assessee—
(i) as a tenant, the rent paid for such premises ; and further if he has undertaken to bear the cost of repairs to the premises, the amount paid on account of such repairs ;
(ii) otherwise than as a tenant, the amount paid by him on account of current repairs59 to the premises ;
(b) any sums paid on account of land revenue, local rates or municipal taxes ;
(c) the amount of any premium paid in respect of insurance against risk of damage or destruction of the premises.
60[Explanation.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that the amount paid on account of the cost of repairs referred to in sub-clause (i), and the amount paid on account of current repairs referred to in sub-clause (ii), of clause (a), shall not include any expenditure in the nature of capital expenditure.]
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Section 31: Repairs and insurance of machinery, plant and furniture.
- 61 62In respect of repairs and insurance of machinery, plant or furniture used for the purposes of the business or profession, the following deductions shall be allowed—
(i) the amount paid on account of current repairs63 thereto ;
(ii) the amount of any premium paid in respect of insurance against risk of damage or destruction thereof.
64[Explanation.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that the amount paid on account of current repairs shall not include any expenditure in the nature of capital expenditure.]
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Section 32: Depreciation.
- 65 (1) 66[In respect of depreciation of—
(i) buildings67, machinery67, plant or furniture, being tangible assets;
(ii) know-how, patents, copyrights, trade marks, licences, franchises or any other business or commercial rights of similar nature67, being intangible assets acquired on or after the 1st day of April, 1998,
owned67, wholly or partly, by the assessee67 and used for the purposes of the business67 or profession, the following deductions shall be allowed—]
68[(i) in the case of assets of an undertaking engaged in generation or generation and distribution of power, such percentage on the actual cost thereof to the assessee as may be prescribed69;]
(ii) 70[in the case of any block of assets, such percentage on the written down value thereof as may be prescribed71:]
72[***]
73[Provided 74[***] that no deduction shall be allowed under this clause in respect of—
(a) any motor car manufactured outside India, where such motor car is acquired by the assessee after the 28th day of February, 1975 75[but before the 1st day of April, 2001], unless it is used—
(i) in a business of running it on hire for tourists ; or
(ii) outside India in his business or profession in another country ; and
(b) any machinery or plant if the actual cost thereof is allowed as a deduction in one or more years under an agreement entered into by the Central Government under section 42 :]
76[Provided further that where an asset referred to in clause (i) or clause (ii) 77[or clause (iia)], as the case may be, is acquired by the assessee during the previous year and is put to use for the purposes of business or profession for a period of less than one hundred and eighty days in that previous year, the deduction under this sub-section in respect of such asset shall be restricted to fifty per cent of the amount calculated at the percentage prescribed for an asset under clause (i) or clause (ii) 77[or clause (iia)], as the case may be :]
78[Provided also that where an asset being commercial vehicle is acquired by the assessee on or after the 1st day of October, 1998 but before the 1st day of April, 1999 and is put to use before the 1st day of April, 1999 for the purposes of business or profession, the deduction in respect of such asset shall be allowed on such percentage on the written down value thereof as may be prescribed.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this proviso,—
(a) the expression “commercial vehicle” means “heavy goods vehicle”, “heavy passenger motor vehicle”, “light motor vehicle”, “medium goods vehicle” and “medium passenger motor vehicle” but does not include “maxi-cab”, “motor-cab”, “tractor” and “road-roller” ;
(b) the expressions “heavy goods vehicle” 79, “heavy passenger motor vehicle” 79, “light motor vehicle” 79, “medium goods vehicle” 79, “medium passenger motor vehicle” 79, “maxi-cab” 79, “motor-cab” 79, “tractor” 79 and “road roller” shall have the meanings respectively as assigned to them in section 2 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (59 of 1988):]
80[Provided also that, in respect of the previous year relevant to the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1991, the deduction in relation to any block of assets under this clause shall, in the case of a company, be restricted to seventy-five per cent of the amount calculated at the percentage, on the written down value of such assets, prescribed under this Act immediately before the commencement of the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 1991:]
81[Provided also that the aggregate deduction, in respect of depreciation of buildings, machinery, plant or furniture, being tangible assets or know-how, patents, copyrights, trademarks, licences, franchises or any other business or commercial rights of similar nature, being intangible assets allowable to the predecessor and the successor in the case of succession referred to in 82[clause (xiii), clause (xiiib) and clause (xiv)] of section 47 or section 170 or to the amalgamating company and the amalgamated company in the case of amalgamation, or to the demerged company and the resulting company in the case of demerger, as the case may be, shall not exceed in any previous year the deduction calculated at the prescribed rates as if the succession or the amalgamation or the demerger, as the case may be, had not taken place, and such deduction shall be apportioned between the predecessor and the successor, or the amalgamating company and the amalgamated company, or the demerged company and the resulting company, as the case may be, in the ratio of the number of days for which the assets were used by them.]
83[Explanation 1.—Where the business or profession of the assessee is carried on in a building not owned by him but in respect of which the assessee holds a lease or other right of occupancy and any capital expenditure is incurred by the assessee for the purposes of the business or profession on the construction of any structure or doing of any work in or in relation to, and by way of renovation or extension of, or improvement to, the building, then, the provisions of this clause shall apply as if the said structure or work is a building owned by the assessee.
Explanation 2.—For the purposes of this 84[sub-section] “written down value of the block of assets” shall have the same meaning as in clause* (c) of sub-section† (6) of section 43.]
85[Explanation 3.—For the purposes of this sub-section, 86[the expression “assets” ] shall mean—
(a) tangible assets, being buildings, machinery, plant or furniture;
(b) intangible assets, being know-how, patents, copyrights, trade marks, licences, franchises or any other business or commercial rights of similar nature87.
Explanation 4.—For the purposes of this sub-section, the expression “know-how” means any industrial information or technique likely to assist in the manufacture or processing87 of goods or in the working of a mine, oil-well or other sources of mineral deposits (including searching for discovery or testing of deposits for the winning of access thereto).
88[Explanation 5.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that the provisions of this sub-section shall apply whether or not the assessee has claimed the deduction in respect of depreciation in computing his total income;]
89[(iia) in the case of any new machinery or plant (other than ships and aircraft), which has been acquired and installed after the 31st day of March, 2005, by an assessee engaged in the business of manufacture or production of any article or thing 90[or in the business of generation or generation and distribution of power], a further sum equal to twenty per cent of the actual cost of such machinery or plant shall be allowed as deduction under clause (ii) :
Provided that no deduction shall be allowed in respect of—
(A) any machinery or plant which, before its installation by the assessee, was used either within or outside India by any other person; or
(B) any machinery or plant installed in any office premises or any residential accommodation, including accommodation in the nature of a guest-house; or
(C) any office appliances or road transport vehicles; or
(D) any machinery or plant, the whole of the actual cost of which is allowed as a deduction (whether by way of depreciation or otherwise) in computing the income chargeable under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” of any one previous year;]
91[(iii) in the case of any building, machinery, plant or furniture in respect of which depreciation is claimed and allowed under clause (i) and which is sold, discarded, demolished or destroyed in the previous year (other than the previous year in which it is first brought into use), the amount by which the moneys payable in respect of such building, machinery, plant or furniture, together with the amount of scrap value, if any, fall short of the written down value thereof :
Provided that such deficiency is actually written off in the books of the assessee.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause,—
(1) “moneys payable” in respect of any building, machinery, plant or furniture includes—
(a) any insurance, salvage or compensation moneys payable in respect thereof;
(b) where the building, machinery, plant or furniture is sold, the price for which it is sold,
so, however, that where the actual cost of a motor car is, in accordance with the proviso to clause (1) of section 43, taken to be twenty-five thousand rupees, the moneys payable in respect of such motor car shall be taken to be a sum which bears to the amount for which the motor car is sold or, as the case may be, the amount of any insurance, salvage or compensation moneys payable in respect thereof (including the amount of scrap value, if any) the same proportion as the amount of twenty-five thousand rupees bears to the actual cost of the motor car to the assessee as it would have been computed before applying the said proviso;
(2) “sold” includes a transfer by way of exchange or a compulsory acquisition under any law for the time being in force but does not include a transfer, in a scheme of amalgamation, of any asset by the amalgamating company to the amalgamated company where the amalgamated company is 92[an Indian company or in a scheme of amalgamation of a banking company, as referred to in clause (c) of section 5 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (10 of 1949) with a banking institution as referred to in sub-section (15) of section 45 of the said Act, sanctioned and brought into force by the Central Government under sub-section (7) of section 45 of that Act93, of any asset by the banking company to the banking institution.]]
(iv) 94[***]
(v) 95[***]
(vi) 96[***]
(1A) 97[***]
98[(2) Where, in the assessment of the assessee, full effect cannot be given to any allowance under sub-section (1) in any previous year, owing to there being no profits or gains chargeable for that previous year99, or owing to the profits or gains chargeable being less than the allowance, then, subject to the provisions of sub-section (2) of section 72 and sub-section (3) of section 73, the allowance or the part of the allowance to which effect has not been given, as the case may be, shall be added to the amount of the allowance for depreciation for the following previous year and deemed to be part of that allowance, or if there is no such allowance for that previous year, be deemed to be the allowance for that previous year, and so on for the succeeding previous years.]
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Section 32A: 1[Investment allowance.2
332A. (1) In respect of a ship or an aircraft or machinery or plant specified in sub-section (2), which is owned by the assessee and is wholly used for the purposes of the business4 carried on by him, there shall, in accordance with and subject to the provisions of this section, be allowed a deduction, in respect of the previous year in which the ship or aircraft was acquired or the machinery or plant was installed4 or, if the ship, aircraft, machinery or plant is first put to use in the immediately succeeding previous year, then, in respect of that previous year, of a sum by way of investment allowance equal to twenty-five per cent of the actual cost of the ship, aircraft, machinery or plant to the assessee :
5[Provided that in respect of a ship or an aircraft or machinery or plant specified in sub-section (8B), this sub-section shall have effect as if for the words “twenty-five per cent”, the words “twenty per cent” had been substituted :]
Provided 5[further] that no deduction shall be allowed under this section in respect of—
(a) any machinery or plant installed in any office premises or any residential accommodation, including any accommodation in the nature of a guest house ;
(b) any office appliances6 or road transport vehicles6 ;
(c) any ship, machinery or plant in respect of which the deduction by way of development rebate is allowable under section 33 ; and
(d) any machinery or plant, the whole of the actual cost of which is allowed as a deduction (whether by way of depreciation or otherwise) in computing the income chargeable under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” of any one previous year.
5[Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-section, “actual cost” means the actual cost of the ship, aircraft, machinery or plant to the assessee as reduced by that part of such cost which has been met out of the amount released to the assessee under sub-section (6) of section 32AB.]
(2) The ship or aircraft or machinery or plant referred to in sub-section (1) shall be the following, namely :—
(a) a new ship or new aircraft acquired after the 31st day of March, 1976, by an assessee engaged in the business of operation of ships or aircraft ;
(b) any new machinery or plant installed6 after the 31st day of March, 1976,—
(i) for the purposes of business of generation or distribution of electricity or any other form of power ; or
7[(ii) in a small-scale industrial undertaking8 for the purposes of business of manufacture8 or production8 of any article or thing8 ; or
(iii) in any other industrial undertaking8 for the purposes of business of construction, manufacture8 or production8 of any article or thing8, not being an article or thing8 specified in the list in the Eleventh Schedule :]
9[Provided that nothing contained in clauses (a) and (b) shall apply in relation to,—
(i) a new ship or new aircraft acquired, or
(ii) any new machinery or plant installed,
after the 31st day of March, 1987 but before the 1st day of April, 1988, unless such ship or aircraft is acquired or such machinery or plant is installed in the circumstances specified in clause (a) of sub-section (8B) and the assessee furnishes evidence to the satisfaction of the Assessing Officer as specified in that clause ;]
10[(c) any new machinery or plant installed after the 31st day of March, 1983, but before the 11[1st day of April, 1987], for the purposes of business of repairs to ocean-going vessels or other powered craft if the business is carried on by an Indian company and the business so carried on is for the time being approved12 for the purposes of this clause by the Central Government.]
- —For the purposes of this sub-section and 13[sub-sections (2B) 14[, (2C)] and (4)],—
15[(1)(a) “new ship” or “new aircraft” includes a ship or aircraft which before the date of acquisition by the assessee was used by any other person, if it was not at any time previous to the date of such acquisition owned by any person resident in India ;
(b) “new machinery or plant” includes machinery or plant which before its installation by the assessee was used outside India by any other person, if the following conditions are fulfilled, namely :—
(i) such machinery or plant was not, at any time previous to the date of such installation by the assessee, used in India ;
(ii) such machinery or plant is imported into India from any country outside India ; and
(iii) no deduction on account of depreciation in respect of such machinery or plant has been allowed or is allowable under the provisions of the Indian Income-tax Act, 1922 (11 of 1922), or this Act in computing the total income of any person for any period prior to the date of the installation of the machinery or plant by the assessee,]
(2) an industrial undertaking shall be deemed to be a small-scale industrial undertaking, if the aggregate value of the machinery and plant (other than tools, jigs, dies and moulds) installed, as on the last day of the previous year, for the purposes of the business of the undertaking 16[does not exceed,—
17[(i) in a case where the previous year ends before the 1st day of August, 1980, ten lakh rupees ;
(ii) in a case where the previous year ends after the 31st day of July, 1980, but before the 18th day of March, 1985, twenty lakh rupees; and
(iii) in a case where the previous year ends after the 17th day of March, 1985, thirty-five lakh rupees,]]
and for this purpose the value of any machinery or plant shall be,—
(a) in the case of any machinery or plant owned by the assessee, the actual cost thereof to the assessee ; and
(b) in the case of any machinery or plant hired by the assessee, the actual cost thereof as in the case of the owner of such machinery or plant.
18[(2A) The deduction under sub-section (1) shall not be denied in respect of any machinery or plant installed and used mainly for the purposes of business of construction, manufacture or production of any article or thing, not being an article or thing specified in the list in the Eleventh Schedule, by reason only that such machinery or plant is also used for the purposes of business of construction, manufacture or production of any article or thing specified in the said list.]
18[(2B) Where any new machinery or plant is installed after the 30th day of June, 1977, but before the 1st day of April, 19[1987], for the purposes of business of manufacture or production of any article or thing and such article or thing—
(a) is manufactured or produced by using any technology (including any process) or other know-how developed in, or
(b) is an article or thing invented in,
a laboratory owned or financed by the Government, or a laboratory owned by a public sector company or a University or by an institution recognised in this behalf by the prescribed authority,20
the provisions of sub-section (1) shall have effect in relation to such machinery or plant as if for the words “twenty-five per cent”, the words “thirty-five per cent” had been substituted, if the following conditions are fulfilled, namely :—
(i) the right to use such technology (including any process) or other know-how or to manufacture or produce such article or thing has been acquired from the owner of such laboratory or any person deriving title from such owner ;
(ii) the assessee furnishes, along with his return of income for the assessment year for which the deduction is claimed, a certificate from the prescribed authority20 to the effect that such article or thing is manufactured or produced by using such technology (including any process) or other know-how developed in such laboratory or is an article or thing invented in such laboratory ; and
(iii) the machinery or plant is not used for the purpose of business of manufacture or production of any article or thing specified in the list in the Eleventh Schedule.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-section,—
(a) “laboratory financed by the Government” means a laboratory owned by any body [including a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (21 of 1860)] and financed wholly or mainly by the Government;
(b) 21[***]
(c) “University” means a University established or incorporated by or under a Central, State or Provincial Act and includes an institution declared under section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 (3 of 1956) to be a University for the purposes of that Act.]
22[(2C) Where any new machinery or plant, being machinery or plant which would assist in control of pollution or protection of environment and which has been notified23 in this behalf by the Central Government in the Official Gazette, is installed after the 31st day of May, 1983 24[but before the 1st day of April, 1987], in any industrial undertaking referred to in sub-clause (i) or sub-clause (ii) or sub-clause (iii) of clause (b) of sub-section (2), the provisions of subsection (1) shall have effect in relation to such machinery or plant as if for the words “twenty-five per cent”, the words “thirty-five per cent” had been substituted.]
(3) Where the total income of the assessee assessable for the assessment year relevant to the previous year in which the ship or aircraft was acquired or the machinery or plant was installed, or, as the case may be, the immediately succeeding previous year (the total income for this purpose being computed after deduction of the allowances under section 33 and section 33A, but without making any deduction under sub-section (1) of this section or any deduction under Chapter VI-A) is nil or is less than the full amount of the investment allowance,—
(i) the sum to be allowed by way of investment allowance for that assessment year under sub-section (1) shall be only such amount as is sufficient to reduce the said total income to nil ; and
(ii) the amount of the investment allowance, to the extent to which it has not been allowed as aforesaid, shall be carried forward to the following assessment year, and the investment allowance to be allowed for the following assessment year shall be such amount as is sufficient to reduce the total income of the assessee assessable for that assessment year, computed in the manner aforesaid, to nil, and the balance of the investment allowance, if any, still outstanding shall be carried forward to the following assessment year and so on, so, however, that no portion of the investment allowance shall be carried forward for more than eight assessment years immediately succeeding the assessment year relevant to the previous year in which the ship or aircraft was acquired or the machinery or plant was installed or, as the case may be, the immediately succeeding previous year.
Explanation.—Where for any assessment year, investment allowance is to be allowed in accordance with the provisions of this sub-section in respect of any ship or aircraft acquired or any machinery or plant installed in more than one previous year, and the total income of the assessee assessable for that assessment year (the total income for this purpose being computed after deduction of the allowances under section 33 and section 33A, but without making any deduction under sub-section (1) of this section or any deduction under Chapter VI-A) is less than the aggregate of the amounts due to be allowed in respect of the assets aforesaid for that assessment year, the following procedure shall be followed, namely :—
(a) the allowance under clause (ii) shall be made before any allowance under clause (i) is made; and
(b) where an allowance has to be made under clause (ii) in respect of amounts carried forward from more than one assessment year, the amount carried forward from an earlier assessment year shall be allowed before any amount carried forward from a later assessment year.
(4) The deduction under sub-section (1) shall be allowed only if the following conditions are fulfilled, namely :—
(i) the particulars prescribed in this behalf have been furnished by the assessee in respect of the ship or aircraft or machinery or plant;
(ii) an amount equal to seventy-five per cent of the investment allowance to be actually allowed is debited to the profit and loss account of 25[any previous year in respect of which the deduction is to be allowed under sub-section (3) or any earlier previous year (being a previous year not earlier than the year in which the ship or aircraft was acquired or the machinery or plant was installed or the ship, aircraft, machinery or plant was first put to use)] and credited to a reserve account (to be called the “Investment Allowance Reserve Account” ) to be utilised—
(a) for the purposes of acquiring, before the expiry of a period of ten years next following the previous year in which the ship or aircraft was acquired or the machinery or plant was installed, a new ship or a new aircraft or new machinery or plant [other than machinery or plant of the nature referred to in clauses (a), (b) and (d) of the 26[second] proviso to sub-section (1)] for the purposes of the business of the undertaking; and
(b) until the acquisition of a new ship or a new aircraft or new machinery or plant as aforesaid, for the purposes of the business of the undertaking other than for distribution by way of dividends or profits or for remittance outside India as profits or for the creation of any asset outside India:
Provided that this clause shall have effect in respect of a ship as if for the word “seventy-five”, the word “fifty” had been substituted.
Explanation.—Where the amount debited to the profit and loss account and credited to the Investment Allowance Reserve Account under this sub-section is not less than the amount required to be so credited on the basis of the amount of deduction in respect of investment allowance claimed in the return made by the assessee under section 139, but a higher deduction in respect of the investment allowance is admissible on the basis of the total income as proposed to be computed by the 27[Assessing] Officer under section 143, the 27[Assessing] Officer shall, by notice in writing in this behalf, allow the assessee an opportunity to credit within the time specified in the notice or within such further time as the 27[Assessing] Officer may allow, a further amount to the Investment Allowance Reserve Account out of the profits and gains of the previous year in which such notice is served on the assessee or of the immediately preceding previous year, if the accounts for that year have not been made up; and, if the assessee credits any further amount to such account within the time aforesaid, the amount so credited shall be deemed to have been credited to the Investment Allowance Reserve Account of the previous year in which the deduction is admissible and such amount shall not be taken into account in determining the adequacy of the reserve required to be created by the assessee in respect of the previous year in which such further credit is made:
Provided that such opportunity shall not be allowed by the 27[Assessing] Officer in a case where the difference in the total income as proposed to be computed by him and the total income as returned by the assessee arises out of the application of the proviso to sub-section (1) of section 145 or sub-section (2) of that section or the omission by the assessee to disclose his income fully and truly.
(5) Any allowance made under this section in respect of any ship, aircraft, machinery or plant shall be deemed to have been wrongly made for the purposes of this Act—
(a) if the ship, aircraft, machinery or plant is sold or otherwise transferred28 by the assessee to any person at any time before the expiry of eight years from the end of the previous year in which it was acquired or installed; or
(b) if at any time before the expiry of ten years from the end of the previous year in which the ship or aircraft was acquired or the machinery or plant was installed, the assessee does not utilise the amount credited to the reserve account under sub-section (4) for the purposes of acquiring a new ship or a new aircraft or new machinery or plant [other than machinery or plant of the nature referred to in clauses (a), (b) and (d) of the 29[second] proviso to sub-section (1)] for the purposes of the business of the undertaking; or
(c) if at any time before the expiry of the ten years aforesaid, the assessee utilises the amount credited to the reserve account under sub-section (4) for distribution by way of dividends or profits or for remittance outside India as profits or for the creation of any assets outside India or for any other purpose which is not a purpose of the business of the undertaking,
and the provisions of sub-section (4A) of section 155 shall apply accordingly:
Provided that nothing in clause (a) shall apply—
(i) where the ship, aircraft, machinery or plant is sold or otherwise transferred by the assessee to the Government, a local authority, a corporation established by a Central, State or Provincial Act or a Government company as defined in section 617 of the Companies Act, 195630 (1 of 1956); or
(ii) where the sale or transfer of the ship, aircraft, machinery or plant is made in connection with the amalgamation or succession, referred to in sub-section (6) or sub-section (7).
(6) Where, in a scheme of amalgamation, the amalgamating company sells or otherwise transfers to the amalgamated company any ship, aircraft, machinery or plant, in respect of which investment allowance has been allowed to the amalgamating company under sub-section (1),—
(a) the amalgamated company shall continue to fulfil the conditions mentioned in sub-section (4) in respect of the reserve created by the amalgamating company and in respect of the period within which such ship, aircraft, machinery or plant shall not be sold or otherwise transferred and in default of any of these conditions, the provisions of sub-section (4A) of section 155 shall apply to the amalgamated company as they would have applied to the amalgamating company had it committed the default; and
(b) the balance of investment allowance, if any, still outstanding to the amalgamating company in respect of such ship, aircraft, machinery or plant, shall be allowed to the amalgamated company in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (3), so, however, that the total period for which the balance of investment allowance shall be carried forward in the assessments of the amalgamating company and the amalgamated company shall not exceed the period of eight years specified in sub-section (3) and the amalgamated company shall be treated as the assessee in respect of such ship, aircraft, machinery or plant for the purposes of this section.
(7) Where a firm is succeeded to by a company in the business carried on by it as a result of which the firm sells or otherwise transfers to the company any ship, aircraft, machinery or plant, the provisions of clauses (a) and (b) of sub-section (6) shall, so far as may be, apply to the firm and the company.
- —The provisions of this sub-section shall apply only where—
(i) all the property of the firm relating to the business immediately before the succession becomes the property of the company;
(ii) all the liabilities of the firm relating to the business immediately before the succession become the liabilities of the company; and
(iii) all the shareholders of the company were partners of the firm immediately before the succession.
(8) The Central Government, if it considers necessary or expedient so to do, may, by notification in the Official Gazette, direct that the deduction allowable under this section shall not be allowed in respect of any ship or aircraft acquired or any machinery or plant installed after such date 31[***] as may be specified therein.
32[(8A) The Central Government, if it considers necessary or expedient so to do, may, by notification in the Official Gazette, omit any article or thing from the list of articles or things specified in the Eleventh Schedule.]
33[(8B) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (8) or the notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue) No. GSR 870(E), dated the 12th June, 1986, issued thereunder, the provisions of this section shall apply in respect of,—
(a) (i) a new ship or new aircraft acquired after the 31st day of March, 1987 but before the 1st day of April, 1988, if the assessee furnishes evidence to the satisfaction of the Assessing Officer that he had, before the 12th day of June, 1986, entered into a contract for the purchase of such ship or aircraft with the builder or manu-facturer or owner thereof, as the case may be;
(ii) any new machinery or plant installed after the 31st day of March, 1987 but before the 1st day of April, 1988, if the assessee furnishes evidence to the satisfaction of the Assessing Officer that before the 12th day of June, 1986, he had purchased such machinery or plant or had entered into a contract for the purchase of such machinery or plant with the manufacturer or owner of, or a dealer in, such machinery or plant, or had, where such machinery or plant has been manufactured in an undertaking owned by the assessee, taken steps for the manufacture of such machinery or plant:
Provided that nothing contained in sub-section (1) shall entitle the assessee to claim deduction in respect of a ship or aircraft or machinery or plant referred to in this clause in any previous year except the previous year relevant to the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1989;
(b) a new ship or new aircraft acquired or any new machinery or plant installed after the 31st day of March, 1988, but before such date as the Central Government, if it considers necessary or expedient so to do, may, by notification in the Official Gazette34, specify in this behalf.
(8C) Subject to the provisions of clause (ii) of sub-section (3), where a deduction has been allowed to an assessee under sub-section (1) in any assessment year, no deduction shall be allowed to the assessee under section 32AB in the said assessment year (hereinafter referred to as the initial assessment year) and a block of further period of four years beginning with the assessment year immediately succeeding the initial assessment year.]
(9) [Omitted by the Finance Act, 1990, w.r.e.f. 1-4-1976.]
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Section 32AB: 35[Investment deposit account.
- (1) Subject to the other provisions of this section, where an assessee, whose total income includes income chargeable to tax under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession”, has, out of such income,—
(a) deposited any amount in an account (hereafter in this section referred to as deposit account) maintained by him with the Development Bank before the expiry of six months from the end of the previous year or before furnishing the return of his income, which-ever is earlier; or
(b) utilised any amount during the previous year for the purchase of any new ship, new aircraft, new machinery or plant, without depositing any amount in the deposit account under clause (a),
in accordance with, and for the purposes specified in, a scheme36 (hereafter in this section referred to as the scheme) to be framed by the Central Government, or if the assessee is carrying on the business of growing and manufacturing tea in India, to be approved in this behalf by the Tea Board, the assessee shall be allowed a deduction 37[(such deduction being allowed before the loss, if any, brought forward from earlier years is set off under section 72)] of—
(i) a sum equal to the amount, or the aggregate of the amounts, so deposited and any amount so utilised; or
(ii) a sum equal to twenty per cent of the profits of 38[***] business or profession as computed in the accounts of the assessee audited in accordance with sub-section (5),
whichever is less :
39[Provided that where such assessee is a firm, or any association of persons or any body of individuals, the deduction under this section shall not be allowed in the computation of the income of any partner, or as the case may be, any member of such firm, association of persons or body of individuals:]
40[Provided further that no such deduction shall be allowed in relation to the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1991, or any subsequent assessment year.]
(2) For the purposes of this section,—
(i) 41[***]
42[(ii) “new ship” or “new aircraft” includes a ship or aircraft which before the date of acquisition by the assessee was used by any other person, if it was not at any time previous to the date of such acquisition owned by any person resident in India;
(iii) “new machinery or plant” includes machinery or plant which before its installation by the assessee was used outside India by any other person, if the following conditions are fulfilled, namely :—
(a) such machinery or plant was not, at any time previous to the date of such installation by the assessee, used in India;
(b) such machinery or plant is imported into India from any country outside India; and
(c) no deduction on account of depreciation in respect of such machinery or plant has been allowed or is allowable under this Act in computing the total income of any person for any period prior to the date of the installation of the machinery or plant by the assessee;
(iv) “Tea Board” means the Tea Board established under section 4 of the Tea Act, 1953 (29 of 1953).]
(3) 43[The profits of business or profession of an assessee for the purposes of sub-section (1) shall] be an amount arrived at after deducting an amount equal to the depreciation computed in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (1) of section 32 from the amounts of profits computed in accordance with the requirements of Parts II and III of the 44[Schedule VI] to the Companies Act, 195645 (1 of 1956), 46[as increased by the aggregate of—
(i) the amount of depreciation;
(ii) the amount of income-tax paid or payable, and provision therefor;
(iii) the amount of surtax paid or payable under the Companies (Profits) Surtax Act, 1964 (7 of 1964);
(iv) the amounts carried to any reserves, by whatever name called;
(v) the amount or amounts set aside to provisions made for meeting liabilities, other than ascertained liabilities;
(vi) the amount by way of provision for losses of subsidiary companies; and
(vii) the amount or amounts of dividends paid or proposed,
if any debited to the profit and loss account; and as reduced by any amount or amounts withdrawn from reserves or provisions, if such amounts are credited to the profit and loss account 47[***].]
48[***]
(4) No deduction under sub-section (1) shall be allowed in respect of any amount utilised for the purchase of—
(a) any machinery or plant to be installed in any office premises or residential accommodation, including any accommodation in the nature of a guest-house;
(b) any office appliances (not being computers);
(c) any road transport vehicles;
(d) any machinery or plant, the whole of the actual cost of which is allowed as a deduction (whether by way of depreciation or otherwise) in computing the income chargeable under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” of any one previous year;
49[(e) any new machinery or plant to be installed in an industrial undertaking, other than a small-scale industrial undertaking, as defined in section 80HHA, for the purposes of business of construction, manufacture or production of any article or thing specified in the list in the Eleventh Schedule.]
(5) The deduction under sub-section (1) shall not be admissible50 unless the accounts of the business or profession of the assessee for the previous year relevant to the assessment year for which the deduction is claimed have been audited by an accountant as defined in the Explanation below sub-section (2) of section 288 and the assessee furnishes, along with his return of income, the report of such audit in the prescribed form51 duly signed and verified by such accountant :
Provided that in a case where the assessee is required by or under any other law to get his accounts audited, it shall be sufficient compliance with the provisions of this sub-section if such assessee gets the accounts of such business or profession audited under such law and furnishes the report of the audit as required under such other law and a further report in the form prescribed under this sub-section.
52[(5A) Any amount standing to the credit of the assessee in the deposit account shall not be allowed to be withdrawn before the expiry of a period of five years from the date of deposit except for the purposes specified in the scheme 53[or] in the circumstances specified below :—
(a) closure of business;
(b) death of an assessee;
(c) partition of a Hindu undivided family;
(d) dissolution of a firm;
(e) liquidation of a company.]
54[Explanation.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that nothing contained in this sub-section shall affect the operation of the provisions of sub-section (5AA) or sub-section (6) in relation to any withdrawals made from the deposit account either before or after the expiry of a period of five years from the date of deposit.]
54[(5AA) Where any amount, standing to the credit of the assessee in the deposit account, is withdrawn during any previous year by the assessee in the circumstance specified in clause (a) or clause (d) of sub-section (5A), the whole of such amount shall be deemed to be the profits and gains of business or profession of that previous year and shall accordingly be chargeable to income-tax as the income of that previous year, as if the business had not closed or, as the case may be, the firm had not been dissolved.]
55[(5B) Where any amount standing to the credit of the assessee in the deposit account is utilised by the assessee for the purposes of any expenditure in connection with the 56[***] business or profession in accordance with the scheme, such expenditure shall not be allowed in computing the income chargeable under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” .]
(6) Where any amount, standing to the credit of the assessee in the deposit account, released during any previous year by the Development Bank for being utilised by the assessee for the purposes specified in the scheme or at the closure of the account 57[[in circumstances other than the circumstances specified in clauses (b), (c) and (e) of sub-section (5A)]], is not utilised in accordance with 58[, and within the time specified in,] the scheme, either wholly or in part, 59[***] the whole of such amount or, as the case may be, part thereof which is not so utilised shall be deemed to be the profits and gains of business or profession of that previous year and shall accordingly be chargeable to income-tax as the income of that previous year.
(7) Where any asset acquired in accordance with the scheme is sold or otherwise transferred in any previous year by the assessee to any person at any time before the expiry of eight years from the end of the previous year in which it was acquired, such part of the cost of such asset as is relatable to the deductions allowed under sub-section (1) shall be deemed to be the profits and gains of business or profession of the previous year in which the asset is sold or otherwise transferred and shall accordingly be chargeable to income-tax as the income of that previous year:
Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall apply—
(i) where the asset is sold or otherwise transferred by the assessee to Government, a local authority, a corporation established by or under a Central, State or Provincial Act or a Government company as defined in section 617 of the Companies Act, 195660 (1 of 1956); or
(ii) where the sale or transfer of the asset is made in connection with the succession of a firm by a company in the business or profession carried on by the firm as a result of which the firm sells or otherwise transfers to the company any asset and the scheme continues to apply to the company in the manner applicable to the firm.
Explanation.—The provisions of clause (ii) of the proviso shall apply only where—
(i) all the properties of the firm relating to the business or profession immediately before the succession become the properties of the company;
(ii) all the liabilities of the firm relating to the business or profession immediately before the succession become the liabilities of the company; and
(iii) all the shareholders of the company were partners of the firm immediately before the succession.
(8) The Central Government may, if it considers it necessary or expedient so to do, by notification in the Official Gazette, omit any article or thing from the list of articles or things specified in the Eleventh Schedule.
(9) The Central Government may, after making such inquiry as it may think fit, direct, by notification in the Official Gazette, that the provisions of this section shall not apply to any class of assessees, with effect from such date as it may specify in the notification.
61[(10) Where a deduction has been allowed to an assessee under this section in any assessment year, no deduction shall be allowed to the assessee under sub-section (1) of section 32A in the said assessment year (hereinafter referred to as the initial assessment year) and a block of further period of four years beginning with the assessment year immediately succeeding the initial assessment year].
- —In this section,—
(a) “computers” does not include calculating machines and calculating devices;
(b) “Development Bank” means—
(i) in the case of an assessee carrying on business of growing and manufacturing tea in India, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development established under section 3 of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development Act, 1981 (61 of 1981);
(ii) in the case of other assessees, the Industrial Development Bank of India established under the Industrial Development Bank of India Act, 1964 (18 of 1964) and includes such bank or institution as may be specified in the scheme in this behalf.]
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Section 32AC: 62[Investment in new plant or machinery.
- (1) Where an assessee, being a company, engaged in the business of manufacture or production of any article or thing, acquires and installs new asset after the 31st day of March, 2013 but before the 1st day of April, 2015 and the aggregate amount of actual cost of such new assets exceeds one hundred crore rupees, then, there shall be allowed a deduction,—
(a) for the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 2014, of a sum equal to fifteen per cent of the actual cost of new assets acquired and installed after the 31st day of March, 2013 but before the 1st day of April, 2014, if the aggregate amount of actual cost of such new assets exceeds one hundred crore rupees; and
(b) for the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 2015, of a sum equal to fifteen per cent of the actual cost of new assets acquired and installed after the 31st day of March, 2013 but before the 1st day of April, 2015, as reduced by the amount of deduction allowed, if any, under clause (a).
The following sub-sections (1A) and (1B) shall be inserted after sub-section (1) of section 32AC by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2014, w.e.f. 1-4-2015 :
(1A) Where an assessee, being a company, engaged in the business of manufacture or production of any article or thing, acquires and installs new assets and the amount of actual cost of such new assets acquired and installed during any previous year exceeds twenty-five crore rupees, then, there shall be allowed a deduction of a sum equal to fifteen per cent of the actual cost of such new assets for the assessment year relevant to that previous year:
Provided that no deduction under this sub-section shall be allowed for the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 2015 to the assessee, which is eligible to claim deduction under sub-section (1) for the said assessment year.
(1B) No deduction under sub-section (1A) shall be allowed for any assessment year commencing on or after the 1st day of April, 2018.
(2) If any new asset acquired and installed by the assessee is sold or otherwise transferred, except in connection with the amalgamation or demerger, within a period of five years from the date of its installation, the amount of deduction allowed under sub-section (1) 62a[or sub-section (1A)] in respect of such new asset shall be deemed to be the income of the assessee chargeable under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” of the previous year in which such new asset is sold or otherwise transferred, in addition to taxability of gains, arising on account of transfer of such new asset.
(3) Where the new asset is sold or otherwise transferred in connection with the amalgamation or demerger within a period of five years from the date of its installation, the provisions of sub-section (2) shall apply to the amalgamated company or the resulting company, as the case may be, as they would have applied to the amalgamating company or the demerged company.
(4) For the purposes of this section, “new asset” means any new plant or machinery (other than ship or aircraft) but does not include—
(i) any plant or machinery which before its installation by the assessee was used either within or outside India by any other person;
(ii) any plant or machinery installed in any office premises or any residential accommodation, including accommodation in the nature of a guest house;
(iii) any office appliances including computers or computer software;
(iv) any vehicle; or
(v) any plant or machinery, the whole of the actual cost of which is allowed as deduction (whether by way of depreciation or otherwise) in computing the income chargeable under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” of any previous year.]
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Section 33: Development rebate.
- 63[(1)(a) In respect of a new ship64 or new machinery or plant (other than office appliances or road transport vehicles) which is owned by the assessee and is wholly used for the purposes of the business carried on by him, there shall, in accordance with and subject to the provisions of this section and of section 34, be allowed a deduction, in respect of the previous year in which the ship was acquired or the machinery or plant was installed or, if the ship, machinery or plant is first put to use in the immediately succeeding previous year, then, in respect of that previous year, a sum by way of development rebate as specified in clause (b).
(b) The sum referred to in clause (a) shall be—
(A) in the case of a ship, forty per cent of the actual cost thereof to the assessee;
(B) in the case of machinery or plant,—
(i) where the machinery or plant is installed for the purposes of business of construction, manufacture or production of any one or more of the articles or things specified in the list in the Fifth Schedule,—
(a) thirty-five per cent of the actual cost of the machinery or plant to the assessee, where it is installed before the 1st day of April, 1970, and
(b) twenty-five per cent of such cost, where it is installed after the 31st day of March, 1970;
(ii) where the machinery or plant is installed after the 31st day of March, 1967, by an assessee being an Indian company in premises used by it as a hotel and such hotel is for the time being approved in this behalf by the Central Government,—
(a) thirty-five per cent of the actual cost of the machinery or plant to the assessee, where it is installed before the 1st day of April, 1970, and
(b) twenty-five per cent of such cost, where it is installed after the 31st day of March, 1970;
(iii) where the machinery or plant is installed after the 31st day of March, 1967, being an asset representing expenditure of a capital nature on scientific research related to the business carried on by the assessee,—
(a) thirty-five per cent of the actual cost of the machinery or plant to the assessee, where it is installed before the 1st day of April, 1970, and
(b) twenty-five per cent of such cost, where it is installed after the 31st day of March, 1970;
(iv) in any other case,—
(a) twenty per cent of the actual cost of the machinery or plant to the assessee, where it is installed before the 1st day of April, 1970, and
(b) fifteen per cent of such cost, where it is installed after the 31st day of March, 1970.]
65[66(1A)(a) An assessee who, after the 31st day of March, 1964, acquires any ship which before the date of acquisition by him was used by any other person shall, subject to the provisions of section 34, also be allowed as a deduction a sum by way of development rebate at such rate or rates as may be prescribed, provided that the following conditions are fulfilled, namely :—
(i) such ship was not previous to the date of such acquisition owned at any time by any person resident in India;
(ii) such ship is wholly used for the purposes of the business carried on by the assessee; and
(iii) such other conditions as may be prescribed.
(b) An assessee who installs any machinery or plant (other than office appliances or road transport vehicles) which before such installation by the assessee was used outside India by any other person shall, subject to the provisions of section 34, also be allowed as a deduction a sum by way of development rebate at such rate or rates as may be prescribed, provided that the following conditions are fulfilled, namely :—
(i) such machinery or plant was not used in India at any time previous to the date of such installation by the assessee;
(ii) it is imported in India by the assessee from any country outside India;
(iii) no deduction on account of depreciation or development rebate in respect of such machinery or plant has been allowed or is allowable under the provisions of the Indian Income-tax Act, 1922 (11 of 1922), or this Act in computing the total income of any person for any period prior to the date of the installation of the machinery or plant by the assessee;
(iv) such machinery or plant is wholly used for the purposes of the business carried on by the assessee; and
(v) such other conditions as may be prescribed.
(c) The development rebate under this sub-section shall be allowed as a deduction in respect of the previous year in which the ship was acquired or the machinery or plant was installed or, if the ship, machinery or plant is first put to use in the immediately succeeding previous year, then, in respect of that previous year.]
(2) In the case of a ship acquired or machinery or plant installed after the 31st day of December, 1957, where the total income of the assessee assessable for the assessment year relevant to the previous year in which the ship was acquired or the machinery or plant installed or the immediately succeeding previous year, as the case may be (the total income for this purpose being computed without making any allowance under sub-section (1) 67[or sub-section (1A)] 68[of this section or sub-section (1) of section 33A] 69[or any deduction under Chapter VI-A 70[***]]) is nil or is less than the full amount of the development rebate calculated at the rate applicable thereto under 71[sub-section (1) or sub-section (1A), as the case may be],—
(i) the sum to be allowed by way of development rebate for that assessment year under sub-section (1) 72[or sub-section (1A)] shall be only such amount as is sufficient to reduce the said total income to nil ; and
(ii) the amount of the development rebate, to the extent to which it has not been allowed as aforesaid, shall be carried forward to the following assessment year, and the development rebate to be allowed for the following assessment year shall be such amount as is sufficient to reduce the total income of the assessee assessable for that assessment year, computed in the manner aforesaid, to nil, and the balance of the development rebate, if any, still outstanding shall be carried forward to the following assessment year and so on, so however, that no portion of the development rebate shall be carried forward for more than eight assessment years immediately succeeding the assessment year relevant to the previous year in which the ship was acquired or the machinery or plant installed or the immediately succeeding previous year, as the case may be.
Explanation.—Where for any assessment year development rebate is to be allowed in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (2) in respect of ships acquired or machinery or plant installed in more than one previous year, and the total income of the assessee assessable for that assessment year (the total income for this purpose being computed without making any allowance under sub-section (1) 73[or sub-section (1A)] 74[of this section or sub-section (1) of section 33A] 75[or any deduction under Chapter VI-A 76[***]]) is less than the aggregate of the amounts due to be allowed in respect of the assets aforesaid for that assessment year, the following procedure shall be followed, namely :—
(i) the allowance under clause (ii) of sub-section (2) shall be made before any allowance under clause (i) of that sub-section is made; and
(ii) where an allowance has to be made under clause (ii) of sub-section (2) in respect of amounts carried forward from more than one assessment year, the amount carried forward from an earlier assessment year shall be allowed before any amount carried forward from a later assessment year.
77[(3) Where, in a scheme of amalgamation, the amalgamating company sells or otherwise transfers to the amalgamated company any ship, machinery or plant in respect of which development rebate has been allowed to the amalgamating company under sub-section (1) or sub-section (1A),—
(a) the amalgamated company shall continue to fulfil the conditions mentioned in sub-section (3) of section 34 in respect of the reserve created by the amalgamating company and in respect of the period within which such ship, machinery or plant shall not be sold or otherwise transferred and in default of any of these conditions, the provisions of sub-section (5) of section 155 shall apply to the amalgamated company as they would have applied to the amalgamating company had it committed the default; and
(b) the balance of development rebate, if any, still outstanding to the amalgamating company in respect of such ship, machinery or plant shall be allowed to the amalgamated company in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (2), so, however, that the total period for which the balance of development rebate shall be carried forward in the assessments of the amalgamating company and the amalgamated company shall not exceed the period of eight years specified in sub-section (2) and the amalgamated company shall be treated as the assessee in respect of such ship, machinery or plant for the purposes of this section and section 34.]
(4) Where a firm is succeeded to by a company in the business carried on by it as a result of which the firm sells or otherwise transfers to the company any ship, machinery or plant, the provisions of clauses (a) and (b) of sub-section (3) shall, so far as may be, apply to the firm and the company.
Explanation.—The provisions of this clause shall apply only where—
(i) all the property of the firm relating to the business immediately before the succession becomes the property of the company;
(ii) all the liabilities of the firm relating to the business immediately before the succession become the liabilities of the company; and
(iii) all the shareholders of the company were partners of the firm immediately before the succession.
78[(5) The Central Government, if it considers it necessary or expedient so to do, may, by notification79 in the Official Gazette, direct that the deduction allowable under this section shall not be allowed in respect of a ship acquired or machinery or plant installed after such date, not being earlier than three years from the date of such notification, as may be specified therein.]
80[(6) Notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing provisions of this section, no deduction by way of development rebate shall be allowed in respect of any machinery or plant installed after the 31st day of March, 1965, in any office premises or any residential accommodation, including any accommodation in the nature of a guest-house:]
81[Provided that the provisions of this sub-section shall not apply in the case of an assessee being an Indian company, in respect of any machinery or plant installed by it in premises used by it as a hotel, where the hotel is for the time being approved in this behalf by the Central Government.]
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Section 33A: 82[Development allowance.
8333A. (1) In respect of planting of tea bushes on any land in India owned by an assessee who carries on business of growing and manufacturing tea in India, a sum by way of development allowance equivalent to—
(i) where tea bushes have been planted on any land not planted at any time with tea bushes or on any land which had been previously abandoned, 84[fifty] per cent of the actual cost of planting; and
(ii) where tea bushes are planted in replacement of tea bushes that have died or have become permanently useless on any land already planted, 85[thirty] per cent of the actual cost of planting,
shall, subject to the provisions of this section, be allowed as a deduction 86[in the manner specified hereunder, namely :—
(a) the amount of the development allowance shall, in the first instance, be computed with reference to that portion of the actual cost of planting which is incurred during the previous year in which the land is prepared for planting or replanting, as the case may be, and in the previous year next following, and the amount so computed shall be allowed as a deduction in respect of such previous year next following; and
(b) thereafter, the development allowance shall again be computed with reference to the actual cost of planting, and if the sum so computed exceeds the amount allowed as a deduction under clause (a), the amount of the excess shall be allowed as a deduction in respect of the third succeeding previous year next following the previous year in which the land has been prepared for planting or replanting, as the case may be :]
87[Provided that no deduction under clause (i) shall be allowed unless the planting has commenced after the 31st day of March, 1965, and been completed before the 1st day of April, 1990 :
Provided further that no deduction shall be allowed under clause (ii) unless the planting has commenced after the 31st day of March, 1965, and been completed before the 1st day of April, 1970.]
(2) Where the total income of the assessee assessable for the assessment year relevant to 88[the previous year in respect of which the deduction is required to be allowed under sub-section (1)] 89[(the total income for this purpose being computed after deduction of the allowance under sub-section (1) or sub-section (1A) or clause (ii) of sub-section (2) of section 33, but without making any deduction under sub-section (1) of this section or any deduction under Chapter VI-A 90[***])] is nil or is less than the full amount of the development allowance calculated at the rates 91[and in the manner] specified in sub-section (1)—
(i) the sum to be allowed by way of development allowance for that assessment year under sub-section (1) shall be only such amount as is sufficient to reduce the said total income to nil ; and
(ii) the amount of the development allowance, to the extent to which it has not been allowed as aforesaid, shall be carried forward to the following assessment year, and the development allowance to be allowed for the following assessment year shall be such amount as is sufficient to reduce the total income of the assessee assessable for that assessment year, computed in the manner aforesaid, to nil, and the balance of the development allowance, if any, still outstanding shall be carried forward to the following assessment year and so on, so, however, that no portion of the development allowance shall be carried forward for more than eight assessment years immediately succeeding the assessment year in which the deduction was first allowable.
Explanation.—Where for any assessment year development allowance is to be allowed in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (2) in respect of more than one previous year, and the total income of the assessee assessable for that assessment year 92[(the total income for this purpose being computed after deduction of the allowance under sub-section (1) or sub-section (1A) or clause (ii) of sub-section (2) of section 33, but without making any deduction under sub-section (1) of this section or any deduction under Chapter VI-A 93[***])] is less than the amount of the development allowance due to be made in respect of that assessment year, the following procedure shall be followed, namely :—
(i) the allowance under clause (ii) of sub-section (2) of this section shall be made before any allowance under clause (i) of that sub-section is made; and
(ii) where an allowance has to be made under clause (ii) of sub-section (2) of this section in respect of amounts carried forward from more than one assessment year, the amount carried forward from an earlier assessment year shall be allowed before any amount carried forward from a later assessment year.
(3) The deduction under sub-section (1) shall be allowed only if the following conditions are fulfilled, namely :—
(i) the particulars prescribed94 in this behalf have been furnished by the assessee;
(ii) an amount equal to seventy-five per cent of the development allowance to be actually allowed is debited to the profit and loss account of the relevant previous year and credited to a reserve account to be utilised by the assessee during a period of eight years next following for the purposes of the business of the undertaking, other than—
(a) for distribution by way of dividends or profits; or
(b) for remittance outside India as profits or for the creation of any asset outside India; and
(iii) such other conditions as may be prescribed.
(4) If any such land is sold or otherwise transferred by the assessee to any person at any time before the expiry of eight years from the end of the previous year in which the deduction under sub-section (1) was allowed, any allowance under this section shall be deemed to have been wrongly made for the purposes of this Act, and the provisions of sub-section (5A) of section 155 shall apply accordingly :
Provided that this sub-section shall not apply—
(i) where the land is sold or otherwise transferred by the assessee to the Government, a local authority, a corporation established by a Central, State or Provincial Act, or a Government company as defined in section 617 of the Companies Act, 195695 (1 of 1956); or
(ii) where the sale or transfer of the land is made in connection with the amalgamation or succession referred to in sub-section (5) or sub-section (6).
96[(5) Where, in a scheme of amalgamation, the amalgamating company sells or otherwise transfers to the amalgamated company any land in respect of which development allowance has been allowed to the amalgamating company under sub-section (1),—
(a) the amalgamated company shall continue to fulfil the conditions mentioned in sub-section (3) in respect of the reserve created by the amalgamating company and in respect of the period within which such land shall not be sold or otherwise transferred and in default of any of these conditions, the provisions of sub-section (5A) of section 155 shall apply to the amalgamated company as they would have applied to the amalgamating company had it committed the default; and
(b) the balance of development allowance, if any, still outstanding to the amalgamating company in respect of such land shall be allowed to the amalgamated company in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (2), so, however, that the total period for which the balance of development allowance shall be carried forward in the assessments of the amalgamating company and the amalgamated company shall not exceed the period of eight years specified in sub-section (2) and the amalgamated company shall be treated as the assessee in respect of such land for the purposes of this section.]
(6) Where a firm is succeeded to by a company in the business carried on by it as a result of which the firm sells or otherwise transfers to the company any land on which development allowance has been allowed, the provisions of clauses (a) and (b) of sub-section (5) shall, so far as may be, apply to the firm and the company.
Explanation.—The provisions of this sub-section shall apply if the conditions laid down in the Explanation to sub-section (4) of section 33 are fulfilled.
(7) For the purposes of this section, “actual cost of planting” means the aggregate of—
(i) the cost of preparing the land;
(ii) the cost of seeds, cutting and nurseries;
(iii) the cost of planting and replanting; and
(iv) the cost of upkeep thereof for the previous year in which the land has been prepared and the three successive previous years next following such previous year,
reduced by that portion of the cost, if any, as has been met directly or indirectly by any other person or authority:
97[Provided that where such cost exceeds—
(i) forty thousand rupees per hectare in respect of land situate in a hilly area comprised in the district of Darjeeling; or
(ii) thirty-five thousand rupees per hectare in respect of land situate in a hilly area comprised in an area other than the district of Darjeeling; or
(iii) thirty thousand rupees per hectare in any other area,
then, the excess shall be ignored.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this proviso, “district of Darjeeling” means the district of Darjeeling as on the 28th day of February, 1981, being the date of introduction of the Finance Bill, 1981, in the House of the People.]
(8) The Board may, having regard to the elevation and topography, by general or special order, declare any areas to be 98hilly areas for the purposes of this section and such order shall not be questioned before any court of law or any other authority.
99[Explanation.—For the purposes of this section, an assessee having a leasehold or other right of occupancy in any land shall be deemed to own such land and where the assessee transfers such right, he shall be deemed to have sold or otherwise transferred such land.]
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Section 33AB: 1[Tea development account 2[,coffee development account and rubber development account].
- (1) Where an assessee carrying on business of growing and manufacturing tea 2[or coffee or rubber] in India has, before the expiry of six months from the end of the previous year or before 2[the due date of] furnishing the return of his income, 3[whichever is earlier,—
(a) deposited with the National Bank any amount or amounts in an account (hereafter in this section referred to as the special account) maintained by the assessee with that Bank in accordance with, and for the purposes specified in, a scheme (hereafter in this section referred to as the scheme) approved in this behalf by the Tea Board 4[or the Coffee Board or the Rubber Board] ; or
(b) 5[deposited any amount in an account (hereafter in this section referred to as the Deposit Account) opened by the assessee in accordance with, and for the purposes specified in, a scheme framed by the Tea Board or the Coffee Board or the Rubber Board, as the case may be (hereafter in this section referred to as the deposit scheme), with the previous approval of the Central Government,]
the assessee shall, subject to the provisions of this section,] be allowed a deduction (such deduction being allowed before the loss, if any, brought forward from earlier years is set off under section 72) of—
(a) a sum equal to the amount or the aggregate of the amounts so deposited ; or
(b) a sum equal to 6[forty] per cent of the profits of such business (computed under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” before making any deduction under this section),
whichever is less :
Provided that where such assessee is a firm, or any association of persons or any body of individuals, the deduction under this section shall not be allowed in the computation of the income of any partner, or as the case may be, any member of such firm, association of persons or body of individuals :
Provided further that where any deduction, in respect of any amount deposited in the special account 7[, or in the 8[***] Deposit Account], has been allowed under this sub-section in any previous year, no deduction shall be allowed in respect of such amount in any other previous year.
(2) The deduction under sub-section (1) shall not be admissible unless the accounts of such business of the assessee for the previous year relevant to the assessment year for which the deduction is claimed have been audited by an accountant as defined in the Explanation below sub-section (2) of section 288 and the assessee furnishes, along with his return of income, the report of such audit in the prescribed form9 duly signed and verified by such accountant :
Provided that in a case where the assessee is required by or under any other law to get his accounts audited, it shall be sufficient compliance with the provisions of this sub-section if such assessee gets the accounts of such business audited under such law and furnishes the report of the audit as required under such other law and a further report in the form prescribed under this sub-section.
(3) Any amount standing to the credit of the assessee in 10[the special account or the 11[***] Deposit Account shall not be allowed to be withdrawn except for the purposes specified in the scheme or, as the case may be, in the deposit scheme] or in the circumstances specified below :—
(a) closure of business ;
(b) death of an assessee ;
(c) partition of a Hindu undivided family ;
(d) dissolution of a firm ;
(e) liquidation of a company.
12[(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (3), where any amount standing to the credit of the assessee in the special account or in the Deposit Account is released during any previous year by the National Bank or withdrawn by the assessee from the Deposit Account, and such amount is utilised for the purchase of—
(a) any machinery or plant to be installed in any office premises or residential accommodation, including any accommodation in the nature of a guest-house;
(b) any office appliances (not being computers);
(c) any machinery or plant, the whole of the actual cost of which is allowed as a deduction (whether by way of depreciation or otherwise) in computing the income chargeable under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” of any one previous year;
(d) any new machinery or plant to be installed in an industrial undertaking for the purposes of business of construction, manufacture or production of any article or thing specified in the list in the Eleventh Schedule,
the whole of such amount so utilised shall be deemed to be the profits and gains of business of that previous year and shall accordingly be chargeable to income-tax as the income of that previous year.]
(5) Where any amount, standing to the credit of the assessee in the special account 13[or in the 14[***] Deposit Account], is withdrawn during any previous year by the assessee in the circumstance specified in clause (a) or clause (d) of sub-section (3), the whole of such amount shall be deemed to be the profits and gains of business or profession of that previous year and shall accordingly be chargeable to income-tax as the income of that previous year, as if the business had not closed or, as the case may be, the firm had not been dissolved.
(6) Where any amount standing to the credit of the assessee in the special account 15[or in the 14[***] Deposit Account] is utilised by the assessee for the purposes of any expenditure in connection with such business in accordance with the scheme 15[or the deposit scheme], such expenditure shall not be allowed in computing the income chargeable under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” .
(7) Where any amount, standing to the credit of the assessee in the special account 16[or in the 17[***] Deposit Account], which is released during any previous year by the National Bank 16[or which is withdrawn by the assessee from the 17[***] Deposit Account] for being utilised by the assessee for the purposes of such business in accordance with the scheme 16[or the deposit scheme] is not so utilised, either wholly or in part, within that previous year, the whole of such amount or, as the case may be, part thereof which is not so utilised shall be deemed to be profits and gains of business and accordingly chargeable to income-tax as the income of that previous year :
Provided that this sub-section shall not apply in a case where such amount is released during any previous year at the closure of the account in circumstances specified in clauses (b), (c) and (e) of sub-section (3).
(8) Where any asset acquired in accordance with the scheme 16[or the deposit scheme] is sold or otherwise transferred in any previous year by the assessee to any person at any time before the expiry of eight years from the end of the previous year in which it was acquired, such part of the cost of such asset as is relatable to the deduction allowed under sub-section (1) shall be deemed to be the profits and gains of business or profession of the previous year in which the asset is sold or otherwise transferred and shall accordingly be chargeable to income-tax as the income of that previous year :
Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall apply—
(i) where the asset is sold or otherwise transferred by the assessee to Government, a local authority, a corporation established by or under a Central, State or Provincial Act or a Government company18 as defined in section 617 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956) ; or
(ii) where the sale or transfer of the asset is made in connection with the succession of a firm by a company in the business or profession carried on by the firm as a result of which the firm sells or otherwise transfers to the company any asset and the scheme 19[or the deposit scheme] continues to apply to the company in the manner applicable to the firm.
- —The provisions of clause (ii) of the proviso shall apply only where—
(i) all the properties of the firm relating to the business or profession immediately before the succession become the properties of the company ;
(ii) all the liabilities of the firm relating to the business or profession immediately before the succession become the liabilities of the company ; and
(iii) all the shareholders of the company were partners of the firm immediately before the succession.
(9) The Central Government, if it considers necessary or expedient so to do, may, by notification in the Official Gazette, direct that the deduction allowable under this section shall not be allowed after such date as may be specified therein.
- —In this section,—
20[(a) “Coffee Board” means the Coffee Board constituted under section 4 of the Coffee Act, 1942 (7 of 1942);
(aa) “National Bank” means the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development established under section 3 of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development Act, 1981 (61 of 1981);
(ab) “Rubber Board” means the Rubber Board constituted under sub-section (1) of section 4 of the Rubber Act, 1947 (24 of 1947);]
(b) “Tea Board” means the Tea Board established under section 4 of the Tea Act, 1953 (29 of 1953).]
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Section 33ABA: 21[Site Restoration Fund.22
- (1) Where an assessee is carrying on business consisting of the prospecting for, or extraction or production of, petroleum or natural gas or both in India and in relation to which the Central Government has entered into an agreement with such assessee for such business, has before the end of the previous year—
(a) deposited with the State Bank of India any amount or amounts in an account (hereafter in this section referred to as the special account) maintained by the assessee with that Bank in accordance with, and for the purposes specified in, a scheme (hereafter in this section referred to as the scheme) approved in this behalf by the Government of India in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas; or
(b) deposited any amount in an account (hereafter in this section referred to as the Site Restoration Account) opened by the assessee in accordance with, and for the purposes specified in, a scheme framed by the Ministry referred to in clause (a) (hereafter in this section referred to as the deposit scheme),
the assessee shall, subject to the provisions of this section, be allowed a deduction (such deduction being allowed before the loss, if any, brought forward from earlier years is set off under section 72) of—
(i) a sum equal to the amount or the aggregate of the amounts so deposited; or
(ii) a sum equal to twenty per cent of the profits of such business (computed under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” before making any deduction under this section),
whichever is less :
Provided that where such assessee is a firm, or any association of persons or any body of individuals, the deduction under this section shall not be allowed in the computation of the income of any partner or, as the case may be, any member of such firm, association of persons or body of individuals :
Provided further that where any deduction, in respect of any amount deposited in the special account, or in the Site Restoration Account, has been allowed under this sub-section in any previous year, no deduction shall be allowed in respect of such amount in any other previous year :
Provided also that any amount credited in the special account or the Site Restoration Account by way of interest shall be deemed to be a deposit.
(2) The deduction under sub-section (1) shall not be admissible unless the accounts of such business of the assessee for the previous year relevant to the assessment year for which the deduction is claimed have been audited by an accountant as defined in the Explanation below sub-section (2) of section 288 and the assessee furnishes, along with his return of income, the report of such audit in the prescribed form23 duly signed and verified by such accountant :
Provided that in a case where the assessee is required by or under any other law to get his accounts audited, it shall be sufficient compliance with the provisions of this sub-section if such assessee gets the accounts of such business audited under such law and furnishes the report of the audit as required under such other law and a further report in the form prescribed under this sub-section.
(3) Any amount standing to the credit of the assessee in the special account or the Site Restoration Account shall not be allowed to be withdrawn except for the purposes specified in the scheme or, as the case may be, in the deposit scheme.
(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (3), no deduction under sub-section (1) shall be allowed in respect of any amount utilised for the purchase of—
(a) any machinery or plant to be installed in any office premises or residential accommodation, including any accommodation in the nature of a guest-house;
(b) any office appliances (not being computers);
(c) any machinery or plant, the whole of the actual cost of which is allowed as a deduction (whether by way of depreciation or otherwise) in computing the income chargeable under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” of any one previous year;
(d) any new machinery or plant to be installed in an industrial undertaking for the purposes of business of construction, manufacture or production of any article or thing specified in the list in the Eleventh Schedule.
(5) Where any amount standing to the credit of the assessee in the special account or in the Site Restoration Account is withdrawn on closure of the account during any previous year by the assessee, the amount so withdrawn from the account, as reduced by the amount, if any, payable to the Central Government by way of profit or production share as provided in the agreement referred to in section 42, shall be deemed to be the profits and gains of business or profession of that previous year and shall accordingly be chargeable to income-tax as the income of that previous year.
Explanation.—Where any amount is withdrawn on closure of the account in a previous year in which the business carried on by the assessee is no longer in existence, the provisions of this sub-section shall apply as if the business is in existence in that previous year.
(6) Where any amount standing to the credit of the assessee in the special account or in the Site Restoration Account is utilised by the assessee for the purposes of any expenditure in connection with such business in accordance with the scheme or the deposit scheme, such expenditure shall not be allowed in computing the income chargeable under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” .
(7) Where any amount, standing to the credit of the assessee in the special account or in the Site Restoration Account, which is released during any previous year by the State Bank of India or which is withdrawn by the assessee from the Site Restoration Account for being utilised by the assessee for the purposes of such business in accordance with the scheme or the deposit scheme is not so utilised, either wholly or in part, within that previous year, the whole of such amount or, as the case may be, part thereof which is not so utilised shall be deemed to be profits and gains of business and accordingly chargeable to income-tax as the income of that previous year.
24[***]
(8) Where any asset acquired in accordance with the scheme or the deposit scheme is sold or otherwise transferred in any previous year by the assessee to any person at any time before the expiry of eight years from the end of the previous year in which it was acquired, such part of the cost of such asset as is relatable to the deduction allowed under sub-section (1) shall be deemed to be the profits and gains of business or profession of the previous year in which the asset is sold or otherwise transferred and shall accordingly be chargeable to income-tax as the income of that previous year :
Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall apply—
(i) where the asset is sold or otherwise transferred by the assessee to Government, a local authority, a corporation established by or under a Central, State or Provincial Act or a Government company25 as defined in section 617 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956); or
(ii) where the sale or transfer of the asset is made in connection with the succession of a firm by a company in the business or profession carried on by the firm as a result of which the firm sells or otherwise transfers to the company any asset and the scheme or the deposit scheme continues to apply to the company in the manner applicable to the firm.
Explanation.—The provisions of clause (ii) of the proviso shall apply only where—
(i) all the properties of the firm relating to the business or profession immediately before the succession become the properties of the company;
(ii) all the liabilities of the firm relating to the business or profession immediately before the succession become the liabilities of the company; and
(iii) all the shareholders of the company were partners of the firm immediately before the succession.
(9) The Central Government may, if it considers necessary or expedient so to do, by notification in the Official Gazette, direct that the deduction allowable under this section shall not be allowed after such date as may be specified therein.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this section,—
(a) “State Bank of India” means the State Bank of India constituted under the State Bank of India Act, 1955 (23 of 1955);
(b) the expression “amount standing to the credit of the assessee in the special account or the Site Restoration Account” includes interest accrued to such accounts.]
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Section 33AC: 26[Reserves for shipping business.
- (1) 27[In the case of an assessee, being a Government company or a public company formed and registered in India with the main object of carrying on the business of operation of ships, there shall, in accordance with and subject to the provisions of this section, be allowed a deduction of an amount not exceeding fifty per cent of profits derived from the business of operation of ships (computed under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” and before making any deduction under this section), as is debited to the profit and loss account of the previous year in respect of which the deduction is to be allowed and credited to a reserve account, to be utilised in the manner laid down in sub-section (2) :]
28[Provided that where the aggregate of the amounts carried to such reserve account from time to time exceeds twice the aggregate of the amounts of the paid-up share capital, the general reserves and amount credited to the share premium account of the assessee, no allowance under this sub-section shall be made in respect of such excess :]
29[Provided further that for five assessment years commencing on or after the 1st day of April, 2001 and ending before the 1st day of April, 2006, the provisions of this sub-section shall have effect as if for the words “an amount not exceeding fifty per cent of profits”, the words “an amount not exceeding the profits” had been substituted:]
30[Provided also that no deduction shall be allowed under this section for any assessment year commencing on or after the 1st day of April, 2005.]
(2) The amount credited to the reserve account under sub-section (1) shall be utilised by the assessee before the expiry of a period of eight years next following the previous year in which the amount was credited—
(a) for acquiring a new ship for the purposes of the business of the assessee ; and
(b) until the acquisition of a new ship, for the purposes of the business of the assessee other than for distribution by way of dividends or profits or for remittance outside India as profits or for the creation of any asset outside India.
(3) Where any amount credited to the reserve account under sub-section (1),—
(a) has been utilised for any purpose other than that referred to in clause (a) or clause (b) of sub-section (2), the amount so utilised ; or
(b) has not been utilised for the purpose specified in clause (a) of sub-section (2), the amount not so utilised ; or
(c) has been utilised for the purpose of acquiring a new ship as specified in clause (a) of sub-section (2), but such ship is sold or otherwise transferred 31[, other than in any scheme of demerger] by the asses-see to any person at any time before the expiry of 32[three] years from the end of the previous year in which it was acquired, the amount so utilised in acquiring the ship,
shall be deemed to be the profits,—
(i) in a case referred to in clause (a), in the year in which the amount was so utilised ; or
(ii) in a case referred to in clause (b), in the year immediately following the period of eight years specified in sub-section (2) ; or
(iii) in a case referred to in clause (c), in the year in which the sale or transfer took place,
and shall be charged to tax accordingly.
33[(4) Where the ship is sold or otherwise transferred (other than in any scheme of demerger) after the expiry of the period specified in clause (c) of sub-section (3) and the sale proceeds are not utilised for the purpose of acquiring a new ship within a period of one year from the end of the previous year in which such sale or transfer took place, 34[so much of such sale proceeds which represent the amount credited to the reserve account and utilised for the purposes mentioned in clause (c) of sub-section (3)] shall be deemed to be the profits of the assessment year immediately following the previous year in which the ship is sold or transferred.]
- —For the purposes of this section,—
(a) 35“public company” shall have the meaning assigned to it in section 3 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956) ;
36[(aa) 37“Government company” shall have the meaning assigned to it in section 617 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956) ;]
(b) “new ship” shall have the same meaning as in clause (ii) of sub-section (2) of section 32AB.]
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Section 33B: 38[Rehabilitation allowance.
- Where the business of any industrial undertaking carried on in India is discontinued in any previous year by reason of extensive damage to, or destruction of, any building, machinery, plant or furniture owned by the assessee and used for the purposes of such business as a direct result of—
(i) flood, typhoon, hurricane, cyclone, earthquake or other convulsion of nature ; or
(ii) riot or civil disturbance ; or
(iii) accidental fire or explosion ; or
(iv) action by an enemy or action taken in combating an enemy (whether with or without a declaration of war),
and, thereafter, at any time before the expiry of three years from the end of such previous year, the business is re-established, reconstructed or revived by the assessee, he shall, in respect of the previous year in which the business is so re-established, reconstructed or revived, be allowed a deduction of a sum by way of rehabilitation allowance equivalent to sixty per cent of the amount of the deduction allowable to him under clause (iii) of sub-section (1) of section 32 in respect of the building, machinery, plant or furniture so damaged or destroyed :
39[Provided that no deduction under this section shall be allowed in relation to the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1985, or any subsequent assessment year.]
- —In this section, “industrial undertaking” means any undertaking which is mainly engaged in the business of generation or distribution of electricity or any other form of power or in the construction of ships or in the manufacture or processing of goods or in mining.]
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Section 34: Conditions for depreciation allowance and development rebate.
- (1) 40[***]
(2) 41[***]
(3)(a) The deduction referred to in section 33 shall not be allowed unless an amount equal to seventy-five per cent of the development rebate to be actually allowed is debited to the profit and loss account of 42[any previous year in respect of which the deduction is to be allowed under sub-section (2) of that section or any earlier previous year (being a previous year not earlier than the year in which the ship was acquired or the machinery or plant was installed or the ship, machinery or plant was first put to use)] and credited to a reserve account to be utilised by the assessee during a period of eight years next following for the purposes of the business of the undertaking, other than—
(i) for distribution by way of dividends or profits ; or
(ii) for remittance outside India as profits or for the creation of any asset outside India :
Provided that this clause shall not apply where the assessee is a company, being a licensee within the meaning of the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948 (54 of 1948)43, or where the ship has been acquired or the machinery or plant has been installed before the 1st day of January, 1958 :
44[Provided further that where a ship has been acquired after the 28th day of February, 1966, this clause shall have effect in respect of such ship as if for the words “seventy-five”, the word “fifty” had been substituted.]
- —[Omitted by the Finance Act, 1990, w.r.e.f. 1-4-1962. Earlier, it was inserted by the Finance Act, 1966, w.r.e.f. 1-4-1962.]
(b) If any ship, machinery or plant is sold or otherwise transferred by the assessee to any person at any time before the expiry of eight years from the end of the previous year in which it was acquired or installed, any allowance made under section 33 or under the corresponding provisions of the Indian Income-tax Act, 1922 (11 of 1922), in respect of that ship, machinery or plant shall be deemed to have been wrongly made for the purposes of this Act, and the provisions of sub-section (5) of section 155 shall apply accordingly :
Provided that this clause shall not apply—
(i) where the ship has been acquired or the machinery or plant has been installed before the 1st day of January, 1958 ; or
(ii) where the ship, machinery or plant is sold or otherwise transferred by the assessee to the Government, a local authority, a corporation established by a Central, State or Provincial Act or a 45Government company as defined in section 617 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956) ; or
(iii) where the sale or transfer of the ship, machinery or plant is made in connection with the amalgamation or succession, referred to in sub-section (3) or sub-section (4) of section 33.
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Section 34A: 46[Restriction on unabsorbed depreciation and unabsorbed investment allowance for limited period in case of certain domestic companies.
- (1) In computing the profits and gains of the business of a domestic company in relation to the previous year relevant to the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1992, where effect is to be given to the unabsorbed depreciation allowance or unabsorbed investment allowance or both in relation to any previous year relevant to the assessment year commencing on or before the 1st day of April, 1991, the deduction shall be restricted to two-third of such allowance or allowances and the balance,—
(a) where it relates to depreciation allowance, be added to the depreciation allowance for the previous year relevant to the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1993 and be deemed to be part of that allowance or if there is no such allowance for that previous year, be deemed to be the allowance for that previous year and so on for the succeeding previous years ;
(b) where it relates to investment allowance, be carried forward to the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1993 and the balance of the investment allowance, if any, still outstanding shall be carried forward to the following assessment year and where the period of eight years has expired before the portion of such balance is adjusted, the said period shall be extended beyond eight years till such time the portion of the said balance is absorbed in the profits and gains of the business of the domestic company.
(2) For the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1992, the provisions of sub-section (2) of section 32 and sub-section (3) of section 32A shall apply to the extent such provisions are not inconsistent with the provisions of sub-section (1) of this section.
(3) Nothing contained in sub-section (1) shall apply where the amount of unabsorbed depreciation allowance or of the unabsorbed investment allowance, as the case may be, or the aggregate amount of such allowances in the case of a domestic company is less than one lakh rupees.
(4) Nothing contained in sections 234B and 234C shall apply to any shortfall in the payment of any tax due on the assessed tax or, as the case may be, returned income where such shortfall is on account of restricting the amount of depreciation allowance or investment allowance under this section and the assessee has paid the amount of shortfall before furnishing the return of income under sub-section (1) of section 139.]
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Section 35: 47[Expenditure on scientific research.
- 48 (1) In respect of expenditure on scientific research, the following deductions shall be allowed—
(i) any expenditure (not being in the nature of capital expenditure) laid out or expended on scientific research related to the 49business.
50[Explanation.—Where any such expenditure has been laid out or expended before the commencement of the business (not being expenditure laid out or expended before the 1st day of April, 1973) on payment of any salary [as defined in Explanation 251 below sub-section (5) of section 40A] to an employee engaged in such scientific research or on the purchase of materials used in such scientific research, the aggregate of the expenditure so laid out or expended within the three years immediately preceding the commencement of the business shall, to the extent it is certified by the prescribed authority52 to have been laid out or expended on such scientific research, be deemed to have been laid out or expended in the previous year in which the business is commenced ;]
53(ii) 54[an amount equal to 55[one and three-fourth] times of any sum paid] to a 56[research association] which has as its object the undertaking of scientific research or to a university, college or other institution to be used for scientific research :
57[Provided that such association, university, college or other institution for the purposes of this clause—
(A) is for the time being approved, in accordance with the guidelines, in the manner and subject to such conditions as may be pres-cribed; and
(B) such association, university, college or other institution is specified as such, by notification58 in the Official Gazette, by the Central Government;]
59[(iia) an amount equal to one and one-fourth times of any sum paid to a company to be used by it for scientific research:
Provided that such company—
(A) is registered in India,
(B) has as its main object the scientific research and development,
(C) is, for the purposes of this clause, for the time being approved by the prescribed authority in the prescribed manner, and
(D) fulfils such other conditions as may be prescribed60;]
61[62(iii) 63[an amount equal to one and one-fourth times of 64[any sum paid to a research association which has as its object the undertaking of research in social science or statistical research or to a university]], college or other institution to be used for research in social science or statistical research :
65[Provided that 66[such association, university], college or other institution for the purposes of this clause—
(A) is for the time being approved, in accordance with the guidelines, in the manner and subject to such conditions as may be pres-cribed; and
(B) 66[such association, university], college or other institution is specified as such, by notification67 in the Official Gazette, by the Central Government.]
68[Explanation.—The deduction, to which the assessee is entitled in respect of any sum paid to a 69[research association], university, college or other institution to which clause (ii) or clause (iii) applies, shall not be denied merely on the ground that, subsequent to the payment of such sum by the assessee, the approval granted to the association, university, college or other institution referred to in clause (ii) or clause (iii) has been withdrawn;]
(iv) in respect of any expenditure of a capital nature on scientific research related to the business carried on by the assessee, such deduction as may be admissible under the provisions of sub-section (2) :
70[Provided that the 69[research association], university, college or other institution referred to in clause (ii) or clause (iii) shall make an application in the prescribed form and manner to the 71[Central Government] for the purpose of grant of approval, or continuance thereof, under clause (ii) or, as the case may be, clause (iii) :
Provided further that the 71[Central Government] may, before granting approval under clause (ii) or clause (iii), call for such documents (including audited annual accounts) or information from the 69[research association], university, college or other institution as it thinks necessary in order to satisfy itself about the genuineness of the activities of the 69[research association], university, college or other institution and that 72[Government] may also make such inquiries as it may deem necessary in this behalf :
Provided also that any 73[notification issued, by the Central Government under clause (ii) or clause (iii), before the date on which the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2006 receives the assent of the President†, shall, at any one time, have effect for such assessment year or years, not exceeding three assessment years] (including an assessment year or years commencing before the date on which such notification is issued) as may be specified in the notification:]
74[Provided also that where an application under the first proviso is made on or after the date on which the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2006 receives the assent of the President†, every notification under clause (ii) or clause (iii) shall be issued or an order rejecting the application shall be passed within the period of twelve months from the end of the month in which such application was received by the Central Government.]
(2) For the purposes of clause (iv) of sub-section (1),—
75[(i) in a case where such capital expenditure is incurred before the 1st day of April, 1967, one-fifth of the capital expenditure incurred in any previous year shall be deducted for that previous year; and the balance of the expenditure shall be deducted in equal instalments for each of the four immediately succeeding previous years ;
(ia) in a case where such capital expenditure is incurred after the 31st day of March, 1967, the whole of such capital expenditure incurred in any previous year76 shall be deducted for that previous year :]
77[Provided that no deduction shall be admissible under this clause in respect of any expenditure incurred on the acquisition of any land, whether the land is acquired as such or as part of any property, after the 29th day of February, 1984.]
78[Explanation 1].—Where any capital expenditure has been incurred before the commencement of the business, the aggregate of the expenditure so incurred within the three years immediately preceding the commencement of the business shall be deemed to have been incurred in the previous year in which the business is commenced.
77[Explanation 2.—For the purposes of this clause,—
(a) “land” includes any interest in land ; and
(b) the acquisition of any land shall be deemed to have been made by the assessee on the date on which the instrument of transfer of such land to him has been registered under the Registration Act, 1908 (16 of 1908), or where he has taken or retained the possession of such land or any part thereof in part performance of a contract of the nature referred to in section 53A79 of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882 (4 of 1882), the date on which he has so taken or retained possession of such land or part ;]
(ii) notwithstanding anything contained in clause (i), where an asset representing expenditure of a capital nature 80[incurred before the 1st day of April, 1967,] ceases to be used in a previous year for scientific research related to the business and the value of the asset at the time of the cessation, together with the aggregate of deductions already allowed under clause (i) falls short of the said expenditure, then—
(a) there shall be allowed a deduction for that previous year of an amount equal to such deficiency, and
(b) no deduction shall be allowed under that clause for that previous year or for any subsequent previous year ;
(iii) if the asset mentioned in clause (ii) is sold, without having been used for other purposes, in the year of cessation, the sale price shall be taken to be the value of the asset at the time of the cessation ; and if the asset is sold, without having been used for other purposes, in a previous year subsequent to the year of cessation, and the sale price falls short of the value of the asset taken into account at the time of cessation, an amount equal to the deficiency shall be allowed as a deduction for the previous year in which the sale took place ;
(iv) where a deduction is allowed for any previous year under this section in respect of expenditure represented wholly or partly by an asset, no deduction shall be allowed under 81[clause (ii) of sub-section (1)] of section 32 for the same 82[or any other] previous year in respect of that asset ;
(v) where the asset 83[mentioned in clause (ii)] is used in the business after it ceases to be used for scientific research related to that business, depreciation shall be admissible under 84[clause (ii) of sub-section (1)] of section 32.
85[(2A) 86Where 87[, before the 1st day of March, 1984,] the assessee pays any sum 88[(being any sum paid with a specific direction that the sum shall not be used for the acquisition of any land or building or construction of any building)] to a scientific research association or university or college or other institution referred to in clause (ii) of sub-section (1) 89[or to a public sector company] to be used for scientific research undertaken under a programme approved in this behalf by the prescribed authority90 having regard to the social, economic and industrial needs of India, then,—
(a) there shall be allowed a deduction of a sum equal to one and one-third times the sum so paid ; and
(b) no deduction in respect of such sum shall be allowed under clause (ii) of sub-section (1) for the same or any other assessment year.]
91[Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-section, “public sector company” shall have the same meaning as in clause (b) of the Explanation below sub-section (2B) of section 32A.]
92[(2AA) 93Where the assessee pays any sum to a National Laboratory 94[or a 95[University or an Indian Institute of Technology or a specified person] with a specific direction that the said sum shall be used for scientific research undertaken under a programme approved in this behalf by the prescribed authority96, then—
(a) there shall be allowed a deduction of a sum equal to 97[two] times the sum so paid ; and
(b) no deduction in respect of such sum shall be allowed under any other provision of this Act :
98[Provided that the prescribed authority shall, before granting approval, satisfy itself about the feasibility of carrying out the scientific research and shall submit its report to the 98a[Principal Director General or] Director General in such form as may be prescribed.99]
1[Explanation 1.—The deduction, to which the assessee is entitled in respect of any sum paid to a National Laboratory, University, Indian Institute of Technology or a specified person for the approved programme referred to in this sub-section, shall not be denied merely on the ground that, subsequent to the payment of such sum by the assessee, the approval granted to,—
(a) such Laboratory, or specified person has been withdrawn; or
(b) the programme, undertaken by the National Laboratory, University, Indian Institute of Technology or specified person, has been withdrawn.]
2[Explanation 3[2].—For the purposes of this section,—
(a) “National Laboratory” means a scientific laboratory functioning at the national level under the aegis of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, the Indian Council of Medical Research, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, the Defence Research and Development Organisation, the Department of Electronics, the Department of Bio-Technology or the Department of Atomic Energy and which is approved as a National Laboratory by the prescribed authority in such manner as may be prescribed ;
(b) “University” shall have the same meaning as in Explanation to clause (ix) of section 47 ;
(c) “Indian Institute of Technology” shall have the same meaning as that of “Institute” in clause (g) of section 34 of the Institutes of Technology Act, 1961 (59 of 1961)];
5[(d) “specified person” means such person as is approved by the pres-cribed authority.]
6[(2AB)(1) Where a company engaged in the business of 7[bio-technology or in 8[any business of manufacture or production of any article or thing, not being an article or thing specified in the list of the Eleventh Schedule]] incurs any expenditure on scientific research (not being expenditure in the nature of cost of any land or building) on in-house research and development facility as approved by the prescribed authority9, then, there shall be allowed a deduction of 10[a sum equal to 11[two] times of the expenditure] so incurred.
12[Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, “expenditure on scientific research”, in relation to drugs and pharmaceuticals, shall include expenditure incurred on clinical drug trial, obtaining approval from any regulatory authority under any Central, State or Provincial Act and filing an application for a patent under the Patents Act, 1970 (39 of 1970).]
(2) No deduction shall be allowed in respect of the expenditure mentioned in clause (1) under any other provision of this Act.
(3) No company shall be entitled for deduction under clause (1) unless it enters into an agreement with the prescribed authority for co-operation in such research and development facility and for audit of the accounts maintained for that facility.
(4) The prescribed authority shall submit its report in relation to the approval of the said facility to the 12a[Principal Director General or] Director General in such form and within such time as may be prescribed.]
13[(5) No deduction shall be allowed in respect of the expenditure referred to in clause (1) which is incurred after the 31st day of March, 14[2017].
15[(6) No deduction shall be allowed to a company approved under sub-clause (C) of clause (iia) of sub-section (1) in respect of the expenditure referred to in clause (1) which is incurred after the 31st day of March, 2008.]
16[(2B)(a) Where 17[, before the 1st day of March, 1984,] an assessee has incurred any expenditure (not being in the nature of capital expenditure incurred on the acquisition of any land or building or construction of any building) on scientific research undertaken under a programme approved in this behalf by the prescribed authority having regard to the social, economic and industrial needs of India, he shall, subject to the provisions of this sub-section, be allowed a deduction of a sum equal to one and one-fourth times the amount of the expenditure certified by the prescribed authority to have been so incurred during the previous year.
(b) Where a deduction has been allowed under clause (a) for any previous year in respect of any expenditure, no deduction in respect of such expenditure shall be allowed under clause (i) of sub-section (1) or clause (ia) of sub-section (2) for the same or any other previous year.
(c) Where a deduction is allowed for any previous year under this sub-section in respect of expenditure represented wholly or partly by an asset, no deduction shall be allowed in respect of that asset under 18[clause (ii) of sub-section (1)] of section 32 for the same or any subsequent previous year.
(d) Any deduction made under this sub-section in respect of any expenditure on scientific research in excess of the expenditure actually incurred shall be deemed to have been wrongly made for the purposes of this Act if the assessee fails to furnish within one year of the period allowed by the prescribed authority for completion of the programme, a certificate of its completion obtained from that authority, and the provisions of sub-section (5B) of section 155 shall apply accordingly.]
19[(3) If any question arises under this section as to whether, and if so, to what extent, any activity constitutes or constituted, or any asset is or was being used for, scientific research, the Board shall refer the question to—
(a) the Central Government, when such question relates to any activity under clauses (ii) and (iii) of sub-section (1), and its decision shall be final;
(b) the prescribed authority20, when such question relates to any activity other than the activity specified in clause (a), whose decision shall be final.]
(4) The provisions of sub-section (2) of section 32 shall apply in relation to deductions allowable under clause (iv) of sub-section (1) as they apply in relation to deductions allowable in respect of depreciation.
21[(5) Where, in a scheme of amalgamation, the amalgamating company sells or otherwise transfers to the amalgamated company (being an Indian company) any asset representing expenditure of a capital nature on scientific research,—
(i) the amalgamating company shall not be allowed the deduction under clause (ii) or clause (iii) of sub-section (2); and
(ii) the provisions of this section shall, as far as may be, apply to the amalgamated company as they would have applied to the amalga-mating company if the latter had not so sold or otherwise transferred the asset.]]
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Section 35A: 22[Expenditure on acquisition of patent rights or copyrights.
- (1) In respect of any expenditure of a capital nature incurred after the 28th day of February, 1966 23[but before the 1st day of April, 1998], on the acquisition of patent rights or copyrights (hereafter, in this section, referred to as rights) used for the purposes of the business, there shall, subject to and in accordance with the provisions of this section, be allowed for each of the relevant previous years, a deduction equal to the appropriate fraction of the amount of such expenditure.
- —For the purposes of this section,—
(i) “relevant previous years” means the fourteen previous years beginning with the previous year in which such expenditure is incurred or, where such expenditure is incurred before the commencement of the business, the fourteen previous years beginning with the previous year in which the business commenced :
Provided that where the rights commenced, that is to say, became effective, in any year prior to the previous year in which expenditure on the acquisition thereof was incurred by the assessee, this clause shall have effect with the substitution for the reference to fourteen years of a reference to fourteen years less the number of complete years which, when the rights are acquired by the assessee, have elapsed since the commencement thereof, and if fourteen years have elapsed as aforesaid, of a reference to one year;
(ii) “appropriate fraction” means the fraction the numerator of which is one and the denominator of which is the number of the relevant previous years.
(2) Where the rights come to an end without being subsequently revived or where the whole or any part of the rights is sold and the proceeds of the sale (so far as they consist of capital sums) are not less than the cost of acquisition thereof remaining unallowed, no deduction under sub-section (1) shall be allowed in respect of the previous year in which the rights come to an end or, as the case may be, the whole or any part of the rights is sold or in respect of any subsequent previous year.
(3) Where the rights either come to an end without being subsequently revived or are sold in their entirety and the proceeds of the sale (so far as they consist of capital sums) are less than the cost of acquisition thereof remaining unallowed, a deduction equal to such cost remaining unallowed or, as the case may be, such cost remaining unallowed as reduced by the proceeds of the sale, shall be allowed in respect of the previous year in which the rights come to an end, or, as the case may be, are sold.
(4) Where the whole or any part of the rights is sold and the proceeds of the sale (so far as they consist of capital sums) exceed the amount of the cost of acquisition thereof remaining unallowed, so much of the excess as does not exceed the difference between the cost of acquisition of the rights and the amount of such cost remaining unallowed shall be chargeable to income-tax as income of the business of the previous year in which the whole or any part of the rights is sold.
- —Where the whole or any part of the rights is sold in a previous year in which the business is no longer in existence, the provisions of this sub-section shall apply as if the business is in existence in that previous year.
(5) Where a part of the rights is sold and sub-section (4) does not apply, the amount of the deduction to be allowed under sub-section (1) shall be arrived at by—
(a) subtracting the proceeds of the sale (so far as they consist of capital sums) from the amount of the cost of acquisition of the rights remaining unallowed; and
(b) dividing the remainder by the number of relevant previous years which have not expired at the beginning of the previous year during which the rights are sold.]
24[(6) Where, in a scheme of amalgamation, the amalgamating company sells or otherwise transfers the rights to the amalgamated company (being an Indian company),—
(i) the provisions of sub-sections (3) and (4) shall not apply in the case of the amalgamating company; and
(ii) the provisions of this section shall, as far as may be, apply to the amalgamated company as they would have applied to the amalga-mating company if the latter had not so sold or otherwise transferred the rights.]
25[(7) Where in a scheme of demerger, the demerged company sells or otherwise transfers the rights to the resulting company (being an Indian company),—
(i) the provisions of sub-sections (3) and (4) shall not apply in the case of the demerged company; and
(ii) the provisions of this section shall, as far as may be, apply to the resulting company as they would have applied to the demerged company, if the latter had not sold or otherwise transferred the rights.]
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Section 35AB: 26[Expenditure on know-how.
- (1) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), where the assessee has paid in any previous year 27[relevant to the assessment year commencing on or before the 1st day of April, 1998] any lump sum consideration for acquiring28 any know-how for use 28for the purposes of his business, one-sixth of the amount so paid shall be deducted in computing the profits and gains of the business for that previous year, and the balance amount shall be deducted in equal instalments for each of the five immediately succeeding previous years.
(2) Where the know-how referred to in sub-section (1) is developed in a laboratory, university or institution referred to in sub-section (2B) of section 32A, one-third of the said lump sum consideration paid in the previous year by the assessee shall be deducted in computing the profits and gains of the business for that year, and the balance amount shall be deducted in equal instalments for each of the two immediately succeeding previous years.
29[(3) Where there is a transfer of an undertaking under a scheme of amalgamation or demerger and the amalgamating or the demerged company is entitled to a deduction under this section, then, the amalgamated company or the resulting company, as the case may be, shall be entitled to claim deduction under this section in respect of such undertaking to the same extent and in respect of the residual period as it would have been allowable to the amalgamating company or the demerged company, as the case may be, had such amalgamation or demerger not taken place.]
Explanation.—For the purposes of this section, “know-how” means any industrial information or technique likely to assist in the manufacture or processing of goods or in the working of a mine, oil well or other sources of mineral deposits (including the searching for, discovery or testing of deposits or the winning of access thereto).]
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Section 35ABB: 30[Expenditure for obtaining licence to operate telecommunication services.
- (1) In respect of any expenditure, being in the nature of capital expenditure, incurred for acquiring any right to operate telecommunication services 31[either before the commencement of the business to operate telecommunication services or thereafter at any time during any previous year] and for which payment has actually been made to obtain a licence, there shall, subject to and in accordance with the provisions of this section, be allowed for each of the relevant previous years, a deduction equal to the appropriate fraction of the amount of such expenditure.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this section,—
32[(i) “relevant previous years” means,—
(A) in a case where the licence fee is actually paid before the commencement of the business to operate telecommunication services, the previous years beginning with the previous year in which such business commenced;
(B) in any other case, the previous years beginning with the previous year in which the licence fee is actually paid,
and the subsequent previous year or years during which the licence, for which the fee is paid, shall be in force;]
(ii) “appropriate fraction” means the fraction the numerator of which is one and the denominator of which is the total number of the relevant previous years;
(iii) “payment has actually been made” means the actual payment of expenditure irrespective of the previous year in which the liability for the expenditure was incurred according to the method of accounting regularly employed by the assessee.
(2) Where the licence is transferred and the proceeds of the transfer (so far as they consist of capital sums) are less than the expenditure incurred remaining unallowed, a deduction equal to such expenditure remaining unallowed, as reduced by the proceeds of the transfer, shall be allowed in respect of the previous year in which the licence is transferred.
(3) Where the whole or any part of the licence is transferred and the proceeds of the transfer (so far as they consist of capital sums) exceed the amount of the expenditure incurred remaining unallowed, so much of the excess as does not exceed the difference between the expenditure incurred to obtain the licence and the amount of such expenditure remaining unallowed shall be chargeable to income-tax as profits and gains of the business in the previous year in which the licence has been transferred.
Explanation.—Where the licence is transferred in a previous year in which the business is no longer in existence, the provisions of this sub-section shall apply as if the business is in existence in that previous year.
(4) Where the whole or any part of the licence is transferred and the proceeds of the transfer (so far as they consist of capital sums) are not less than the amount of expenditure incurred remaining unallowed, no deduction for such expenditure shall be allowed under sub-section (1) in respect of the previous year in which the licence is transferred or in respect of any subsequent previous year or years.
(5) Where a part of the licence is transferred in a previous year and sub-section (3) does not apply, the deduction to be allowed under sub-section (1) for expenditure incurred remaining unallowed shall be arrived at by—
(a) subtracting the proceeds of transfer (so far as they consist of capital sums) from the expenditure remaining unallowed; and
(b) dividing the remainder by the number of relevant previous years which have not expired at the beginning of the previous year during which the licence is transferred.
(6) Where, in a scheme of amalgamation, the amalgamating company sells or otherwise transfers the licence to the amalgamated company (being an Indian company),—
(i) the provisions of sub-sections (2), (3) and (4) shall not apply in the case of the amalgamating company; and
(ii) the provisions of this section shall, as far as may be, apply to the amalgamated company as they would have applied to the amalga-mating company if the latter had not transferred the licence.]
33[(7) Where, in a scheme of demerger, the demerged company sells or otherwise transfers the licence to the resulting company (being an Indian company),—
(i) the provisions of sub-sections (2), (3) and (4) shall not apply in the case of the demerged company; and
(ii) the provisions of this section shall, as far as may be, apply to the resulting company as they would have applied to the demerged company if the latter had not transferred the licence.]
34[(8) Where a deduction for any previous year under sub-section (1) is claimed and allowed in respect of any expenditure referred to in that sub-section, no deduction shall be allowed under sub-section (1) of section 32 for the same previous year or any subsequent previous year.]
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Section 35AC: 35[Expenditure on eligible projects or schemes.36
- (1) Where an assessee incurs any expenditure by way of payment of any sum to a public sector company or a local authority or to an association or institution approved37 by the National Committee38 for carrying out any eligible project or scheme, the assessee shall, subject to the provisions of this section, be allowed a deduction of the amount of such expenditure incurred during the previous year :
Provided that a company may, for claiming the deduction under this sub-section, incur expenditure either by way of payment of any sum as aforesaid or directly on the eligible project or scheme.
(2) The deduction under sub-section (1) shall not be allowed unless the assessee furnishes along with his return of income a certificate—
39(a) where the payment is to a public sector company or a local authority or an association or institution referred to in sub-section (1), from such public sector company or local authority or, as the case may be, association or institution;
40(b) in any other case, from an accountant, as defined in the Explanation below sub-section (2) of section 288,
in such form, manner and containing such particulars (including particulars relating to the progress in the work relating to the eligible project or scheme during the previous year) as may be prescribed.
41[Explanation.—The deduction, to which the assessee is entitled in respect of any sum paid to a public sector company or a local authority or to an association or institution for carrying out the eligible project or scheme referred to in this section applies, shall not be denied merely on the ground that subsequent to the payment of such sum by the assessee,—
(a) the approval granted to such association or institution has been withdrawn; or
(b) the notification notifying the eligible project or scheme carried out by the public sector company or local authority or association or institution has been withdrawn.]
(3) Where a deduction under this section is claimed and allowed for any assessment year in respect of any expenditure referred to in sub-section (1), deduction shall not be allowed in respect of such expenditure under any other provision of this Act for the same or any other assessment year.
42[(4) Where an association or institution is approved by the National Committee under sub-section (1), and subsequently—
(i) that Committee is satisfied that the project or the scheme is not being carried on in accordance with all or any of the conditions subject to which approval was granted; or
(ii) such association or institution, to which approval has been granted, has not furnished to the National Committee, after the end of each financial year, a report in such form and setting forth such particulars and within such time as may be prescribed43,
the National Committee may, at any time, after giving a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against the proposed withdrawal to the concerned association or institution, withdraw the approval:
Provided that a copy of the order withdrawing the approval shall be forwarded by the National Committee to the Assessing Officer having jurisdiction over the concerned association or institution.
(5) Where any project or scheme has been notified as an eligible project or scheme under clause (b) of the Explanation, and subsequently—
(i) the National Committee is satisfied that the project or the scheme is not being carried on in accordance with all or any of the conditions subject to which such project or scheme was notified; or
(ii) a report in respect of such eligible project or scheme has not been furnished after the end of each financial year, in such form and setting forth such particulars and within such time as may be prescribed44,
such notification may be withdrawn in the same manner in which it was issued:
Provided that a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against the proposed withdrawal shall be given by the National Committee to the concerned association, institution, public sector company or local authority, as the case may be:
Provided further that a copy of the notification by which the notification of the eligible project or scheme is withdrawn shall be forwarded to the Assessing Officer having jurisdiction over the concerned association, institution, public sector company or local authority, as the case may be, carrying on such eligible project or scheme.]
45[(6) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provision of this Act, where—
(i) the approval of the National Committee, granted to an association or institution, is withdrawn under sub-section (4) or the notification in respect of eligible project or scheme is withdrawn in the case of a public sector company or local authority or an association or institution under sub-section (5); or
(ii) a company has claimed deduction under the proviso to sub-section (1) in respect of any expenditure incurred directly on the eligible project or scheme and the approval for such project or scheme is withdrawn by the National Committee under sub-section (5),
the total amount of the payment received by the public sector company or the local authority or the association or the institution, as the case may be, in respect of which such company or authority or association or institution has furnished a certificate referred to in clause (a) of sub-section (2) or the deduction claimed by a company under the proviso to sub-section (1) shall be deemed to be the income of such company or authority or association or institution, as the case may be, for the previous year in which such approval or notification is withdrawn and tax shall be charged on such income at the maximum marginal rate in force for that year.]
- —For the purposes of this section,—
(a) “National Committee” means the Committee constituted by the Central Government, from amongst persons of eminence in public life, in accordance with the rules made under this Act;
(b) “eligible project or scheme” means such project or scheme for promoting the social and economic welfare of, or the uplift of, the public as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify46 in this behalf on the recommendations of the National Committee.]
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Section 35AD: 47[Deduction in respect of expenditure on specified business.
- (1) An assessee shall be allowed a deduction in respect of the whole of any expenditure of capital nature incurred, wholly and exclusively, for the purposes of any specified business carried on by him during the previous year in which such expenditure is incurred by him :
Provided that the expenditure incurred, wholly and exclusively, for the purposes of any specified business, shall be allowed as deduction during the previous year in which he commences operations of his specified business, if—
(a) the expenditure is incurred prior to the commencement of its operations; and
(b) the amount is capitalised in the books of account of the assessee on the date of commencement of its operations.
48[(1A) Where the specified business is of the nature referred to in sub-clause (i) or sub-clause (ii) or sub-clause (v) or sub-clause (vii) or sub-clause (viii) of clause (c) of sub-section (8) and has commenced its operations on or after the 1st day of April, 2012, the deduction under sub-section (1) shall be allowed of an amount equal to one and one-half times of the expenditure referred to therein.]
(2) This section applies to the specified business which fulfils all the following conditions, namely :—
(i) it is not set up by splitting up, or the reconstruction, of a business already in existence;
(ii) it is not set up by the transfer to the specified business of machinery or plant previously used for any purpose;
(iii) where the business is of the nature referred to in sub-clause (iii) of clause (c) of sub-section (8), such business,—
(a) is owned by a company formed and registered in India under the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956)48a or by a consortium of such companies or by an authority or a board or a corporation established or constituted under any Central or State Act;
(b) has been approved by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board established under sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board Act, 2006 (19 of 2006) and notified by the Central Government in the Official Gazette in this behalf;
(c) has made not less than 49[such proportion of its total pipeline capacity as specified by regulations made by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board established under sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board Act, 2006 (19 of 2006)] available for use on common carrier basis by any person other than the assessee or an associated person; and
(d) fulfils any other condition as may be prescribed.
50[(3) Where a deduction under this section is claimed and allowed in respect of the specified business for any assessment year, no deduction shall be allowed under the provisions of 50a[section 10AA and] Chapter VI-A under the heading “C.—Deductions in respect of certain incomes” in relation to such specified business for the same or any other assessment year.]
(4) No deduction in respect of the expenditure referred to in sub-section (1) shall be allowed to the assessee under any other section in any previous year or under this section in any other previous year.
(5) The provisions of this section shall apply to the specified business referred to in sub-section (2) if it commences its operations,—
(a) on or after the 1st day of April, 2007, where the specified business is in the nature of laying and operating a cross-country natural gas pipeline network for distribution, including storage facilities being an integral part of such network; 51[***]
52[(aa) on or after the 1st day of April, 2010, where the specified business is in the nature of building and operating a new hotel of two-star or above category as classified by the Central Government;
(ab) on or after the 1st day of April, 2010, where the specified business is in the nature of building and operating a new hospital with at least one hundred beds for patients;
(ac) on or after the 1st day of April, 2010, where the specified business is in the nature of developing and building a housing project under a scheme for slum redevelopment or rehabilitation framed by the Central Government or a State Government, as the case may be, and which is notified by the Board in this behalf in accordance with the guidelines as may be prescribed; 53[***]]
54[(ad) on or after the 1st day of April, 2011, where the specified business is in the nature of developing and building a housing project under a scheme for affordable housing framed by the Central Government or a State Government, as the case may be, and notified by the Board in this behalf in accordance with the guidelines as may be prescribed;
(ae) on or after the 1st day of April, 2011, in a new plant or in a newly installed capacity in an existing plant for production of fertilizer; 55[***]]
56[(af) on or after the 1st day of April, 2012, where the specified business is in the nature of setting up and operating an inland container depot or a container freight station notified or approved under the Customs Act, 1962 (52 of 1962);
(ag) on or after the 1st day of April, 2012, where the specified business is in the nature of bee-keeping and production of honey and beeswax;
(ah) on or after the 1st day of April, 2012, where the specified business is in the nature of setting up and operating a warehousing facility for storage of sugar; 56a[and]]
The following clauses (ai) and (aj) shall be inserted after clause (ah) of sub-section (5) of section 35AD by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2014, w.e.f. 1-4-2015 :
(ai) on or after the 1st day of April, 2014, where the specified business is in the nature of laying and operating a slurry pipeline for the transportation of iron ore;
(aj) on or after the 1st day of April, 2014, where the specified business is in the nature of setting up and operating a semi-conductor wafer fabrication manufacturing unit, and which is notified by the Board in accordance with such guidelines as may be prescribed; and
(b) on or after the 1st day of April, 2009, in all other cases not falling under 57[any of the above clauses].
(6) The assessee carrying on the business of the nature referred to in clause (a) of sub-section (5) shall be allowed, in addition to deduction under sub-section (1), a further deduction in the previous year relevant to the assessment year beginning on the 1st day of April, 2010, of an amount in respect of expenditure of capital nature incurred during any earlier previous year, if—
(a) the business referred to in clause (a) of sub-section (5) has commenced its operation at any time during the period beginning on or after the 1st day of April, 2007 and ending on the 31st day of March, 2009; and
(b) no deduction for such amount has been allowed or is allowable to the assessee in any earlier previous year.
58[(6A) Where the assessee builds a hotel of two-star or above category as classified by the Central Government and subsequently, while continuing to own the hotel, transfers the operation thereof to another person, the assessee shall be deemed to be carrying on the specified business referred to in sub-clause (iv) of clause (c) of sub-section (8).]
(7) The provisions contained in sub-section (6) of section 80A and the provisions of sub-sections (7) and (10) of section 80-IA shall, so far as may be, apply to this section in respect of goods or services or assets held for the purposes of the specified business.
The following sub-sections (7A), (7B) and (7C) shall be inserted after sub-section (7) of section 35AD by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2014, w.e.f. 1-4-2015 :
(7A) Any asset in respect of which a deduction is claimed and allowed under this section shall be used only for the specified business, for a period of eight years beginning with the previous year in which such asset is acquired or constructed.
(7B) Where any asset, in respect of which a deduction is claimed and allowed under this section, is used for a purpose other than the specified business during the period specified in sub-section (7A), otherwise than by way of a mode referred to in clause (vii) of section 28, the total amount of deduction so claimed and allowed in one or more previous years, as reduced by the amount of depreciation allowable in accordance with the provisions of section 32, as if no deduction under this section was allowed, shall be deemed to be the income of the assessee chargeable under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” of the previous year in which the asset is so used.
(7C) Nothing contained in sub-section (7B) shall apply to a company which has become a sick industrial company under sub-section (1) of section 17 of the Sick Industrial Companies (Special Provisions) Act, 1985 (1 of 1986)58a, during the period specified in sub-section (7A).
(8) For the purposes of this section,—
(a) an “associated person”, in relation to the assessee, means a person,—
(i) who participates, directly or indirectly, or through one or more intermediaries in the management or control or capital of the assessee;
(ii) who holds, directly or indirectly, shares carrying not less than twenty-six per cent of the voting power in the capital of the assessee;
(iii) who appoints more than half of the Board of directors or members of the governing board, or one or more executive directors or executive members of the governing board of the assessee; or
(iv) who guarantees not less than ten per cent of the total borrowings of the assessee;
(b) “cold chain facility” means a chain of facilities for storage or transportation of agricultural and forest produce, meat and meat products, poultry, marine and dairy products, products of horticulture, floriculture and apiculture and processed food items under scientifically controlled conditions including refrigeration and other facilities necessary for the preservation of such produce;
(c) “specified business” means any one or more of the following business, namely :—
(i) setting up and operating a cold chain facility;
(ii) setting up and operating a warehousing facility for storage of agricultural produce;
(iii) laying and operating a cross-country natural gas or crude or petroleum oil pipeline network for distribution, including storage facilities being an integral part of such network;
59[(iv) building and operating, anywhere in India, a 60[hotel] of two-star or above category as classified by the Central Government;
(v) building and operating, anywhere in India, a 61[hospital] with at least one hundred beds for patients;
(vi) developing and building a housing project under a scheme for slum redevelopment or rehabilitation framed by the Central Government or a State Government, as the case may be, and notified by the Board in this behalf in accordance with the guidelines as may be prescribed;]
62[(vii) developing and building a housing project under a scheme for affordable housing framed by the Central Government or a State Government, as the case may be, and notified by the Board in this behalf in accordance with the guidelines as may be prescribed63;
(viii) production of fertilizer in India;]
64[(ix) setting up and operating an inland container depot or a container freight station notified or approved under the Customs Act, 1962 (52 of 1962);
(x) bee-keeping and production of honey and beeswax;
(xi) setting up and operating a warehousing facility for storage of sugar;]
The following sub-clauses (xii) and (xiii) shall be inserted after sub-clause (xi) of clause (c) of sub-section (8) of section 35AD by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2014, w.e.f. 1-4-2015 :
(xii) laying and operating a slurry pipeline for the transportation of iron ore;
(xiii) setting up and operating a semi-conductor wafer fabrication manufacturing unit notified by the Board in accordance with such guidelines as may be prescribed;
(d) any machinery or plant which was used outside India by any person other than the assessee shall not be regarded as machinery or plant previously used for any purpose, if—
(i) such machinery or plant was not, at any time prior to the date of the installation by the assessee, used in India;
(ii) such machinery or plant is imported into India from any country outside India; and
(iii) no deduction on account of depreciation in respect of such machinery or plant has been allowed or is allowable under the provisions of this Act in computing the total income of any person for any period prior to the date of installation of the machinery or plant by the assessee;
(e) where in the case of a specified business, any machinery or plant or any part thereof previously used for any purpose is transferred to the specified business and the total value of the machinery or plant or part so transferred does not exceed twenty per cent of the total value of the machinery or plant used in such business, then, for the purposes of clause (ii) of sub-section (2), the condition specified therein shall be deemed to have been complied with;
(f) any expenditure of capital nature shall not include any expenditure incurred on the acquisition of any land or goodwill or financial instrument.]
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Section 35B: Export markets development allowance.
- 65[Omitted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, as amended by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1989, w.e.f. 1-4-1989. Original section 35B was inserted by the Finance Act, 1968, w.e.f. 1-4-1968.]
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Section 35C: Agricultural development allowance.
- 66[Omitted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, as amended by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1989, w.e.f. 1-4-1989. Original section 35C was inserted by the Finance Act, 1968, w.e.f. 1-4-1968.]
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Section 35CC: Rural development allowance.
- 67[Omitted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, as amended by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1989, w.e.f. 1-4-1989. Original section 35CC was inserted by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1977, w.e.f. 1-9-1977.]
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Section 35CCA: 68[Expenditure by way of payment to associations and institutions for carrying out rural development programmes.
6935CCA. 70[(1) Where an assessee incurs any expenditure by way of payment of any sum—
(a) to an association or institution, which has as its object the undertaking of any programme of rural development, to be used for carrying out any programme of rural development approved by the prescribed authority71; or
(b) to an association or institution, which has as its object the training of persons for implementing programmes of rural development; 72[or]
72[(c) to a rural development fund set up and notified73 by the Central Government in this 74[behalf; or]
75[(d) to the National Urban Poverty Eradication Fund set up and notified by the Central Government in this behalf,]
the assessee shall, subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), be allowed a deduction of the amount of such expenditure incurred during the previous year.]
76[(2) The deduction under clause (a) of sub-section (1) shall not be allowed in respect of expenditure by way of payment of any sum to any association or institution referred to in the said clause unless the assessee furnishes a certificate from such association or institution to the effect that—
(a) the programme of rural development had been approved by the prescribed authority before the 1st day of March, 1983; and
(b) where such payment is made after the 28th day of February, 1983, such programme involves work by way of construction of any building or other structure (whether for use as a dispensary, school, training or welfare centre, workshop or for any other purpose) or the laying of any road or the construction or boring of a well or tube-well or the installation of any plant or machinery, and such work has commenced before the 1st day of March, 1983.]
77[(2A) The deduction under clause (b) of sub-section (1) shall not be allowed in respect of expenditure by way of payment of any sum to any association or institution unless the assessee furnishes a certificate from such association or institution to the effect that—
(a) the prescribed authority had approved the association or institution before the 1st day of March, 1983; and
(b) the training of persons for implementing any programme of rural development had been started by the association or institution before the 1st day of March, 1983.]
78[Explanation.—The deduction, to which the assessee is entitled in respect of any sum paid to an association or institution for carrying out the programme of rural development referred to in sub-section (1), shall not be denied merely on the ground that subsequent to the payment of such sum by the assessee, the approval granted to such programme of rural development, or as the case may be, to the association or institution has been withdrawn.]
79[(2B) No certificate of the nature referred to in sub-section (2) or sub-section (2A) shall be issued by any association or institution unless such association or institution has obtained from the prescribed authority authorisation in writing to issue certificates of such nature.]
- —For the purposes of this section, “programme of rural development” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Explanation to sub-section (1) of section 35CC80.
(3) Where a deduction under this section is claimed and allowed for any assessment year in respect of any expenditure referred to in sub-section (1), deduction shall not be allowed in respect of such expenditure under section 35C80 or section 35CC80 or section 80G or any other provision of this Act for the same or any other assessment year.]
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Section 35CCB: 81[Expenditure by way of payment to associations and institutions for carrying out programmes of conservation of natural resources.
- 82[(1) Where an assessee incurs any expenditure 83[on or before the 31st day of March, 2002] by way of payment of any sum—
(a) to an association or institution, which has as its object the undertaking of any programme of conservation of natural resources or of affore-station, to be used for carrying out any programme of conservation of natural resources or afforestation approved84 by the prescribed authority85; or
(b) to such fund for afforestation as may be notified by the Central Government,
the assessee shall, subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), be allowed a deduction of the amount of such expenditure incurred during the previous year.]
(2) The deduction under 86[clause (a) of] sub-section (1) shall not be allowed with respect to expenditure by way of payment of any sum to any association or institution, unless such association or institution is for the time being approved in this behalf by the prescribed authority87 :
Provided that the prescribed authority shall not grant such approval for more than three years at a time.
(3) Where a deduction under this section is claimed and allowed for any assessment year in respect of any expenditure referred to in sub-section (1), deduction shall not be allowed in respect of such expenditure under any other provision of this Act for the same or any other assessment year.]
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Section 35CCC: 88[Expenditure on agricultural extension project.
- (1) Where an assessee incurs any expenditure on agricultural extension project notified by the Board in this behalf in accordance with the guidelines as may be prescribed88a, then, there shall be allowed a deduction of a sum equal to one and one-half times of such expenditure.
(2) Where a deduction under this section is claimed and allowed for any assessment year in respect of any expenditure referred to in sub-section (1), deduction shall not be allowed in respect of such expenditure under any other provisions of this Act for the same or any other assessment year.]
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Section 35CCD: 89[Expenditure on skill development project.
- (1) Where a company incurs any expenditure (not being expenditure in the nature of cost of any land or building) on any skill development project notified by the Board in this behalf in accordance with the guidelines as may be prescribed89a, then, there shall be allowed a deduction of a sum equal to one and one-half times of such expenditure.
(2) Where a deduction under this section is claimed and allowed for any assessment year in respect of any expenditure referred to in sub-section (1), deduction shall not be allowed in respect of such expenditure under any other provisions of this Act for the same or any other assessment year.]
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Section 35D: 90[Amortisation of certain preliminary expenses.
9135D. (1) Where an assessee, being an Indian company or a person (other than a company) who is resident in India, incurs, after the 31st day of March, 1970, any expenditure specified in sub-section (2),—
(i) before the commencement of his business, or
(ii) after the commencement of his business, in connection with the extension of his 92[***] undertaking or in connection with his setting up a new 92[***] unit,
the assessee shall, in accordance with and subject to the provisions of this section, be allowed a deduction of an amount equal to one-tenth of such expenditure for each of the ten successive previous years beginning with the previous year in which the business commences or, as the case may be, the previous year in which the extension of the 92[***] undertaking is completed or the new 92[***] unit commences production or operation :
93[Provided that where an assessee incurs after the 31st day of March, 1998, any expenditure specified in sub-section (2), the provisions of this sub-section shall have effect as if for the words “an amount equal to one-tenth of such expenditure for each of the ten successive previous years”, the words “an amount equal to one-fifth of such expenditure for each of the five successive previous years” had been substituted.]
(2) The expenditure referred to in sub-section (1) shall be the expenditure specified in any one or more of the following clauses, namely :—
(a) expenditure in connection with—
(i) preparation of feasibility report;
(ii) preparation of project report;
(iii) conducting market survey or any other survey necessary for the business of the assessee;
(iv) engineering services relating to the business of the assessee :
Provided that the work in connection with the preparation of the feasibility report or the project report or the conducting of market survey or of any other survey or the engineering services referred to in this clause is carried out by the assessee himself or by a concern which is for the time being approved94 in this behalf by the Board;
(b) legal charges for drafting any agreement between the assessee and any other person for any purpose relating to the setting up or conduct of the business of the assessee;
(c) where the assessee is a company, also expenditure—
(i) by way of legal charges for drafting the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the company;
(ii) on printing of the Memorandum and Articles of Association;
(iii) by way of fees for registering the company under the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956)94a;
(iv) in connection with the issue, for public subscription, of shares in or debentures of the company, being underwriting commission, brokerage and charges for drafting, typing, printing and advertisement of the prospectus;
(d) such other items of expenditure (not being expenditure eligible for any allowance or deduction under any other provision of this Act) as may be prescribed.
(3) Where the aggregate amount of the expenditure referred to in sub-section (2) exceeds an amount calculated at two and one-half per cent—
(a) of the cost of the project, or
(b) where the assessee is an Indian company, at the option of the company, of the capital employed in the business of the company,
the excess shall be ignored for the purpose of computing the deduction allowable under sub-section (1) :
95[Provided that where the aggregate amount of expenditure referred to in sub-section (2) is incurred after the 31st day of March, 1998, the provisions of this sub-section shall have effect as if for the words “two and one-half per cent”, the words “five per cent” had been substituted.]
- —In this sub-section—
(a) “cost of the project” means—
(i) in a case referred to in clause (i) of sub-section (1), the actual cost of the fixed assets, being land, buildings, leaseholds, plant, machinery, furniture, fittings and railway sidings (including expenditure on development of land and buildings), which are shown in the books of the assessee as on the last day of the previous year in which the business of the assessee commences;
(ii) in a case referred to in clause (ii) of sub-section (1), the actual cost of the fixed assets, being land, buildings, leaseholds, plant, machinery, furniture, fittings and railway sidings (including expenditure on development of land and buildings), which are shown in the books of the assessee as on the last day of the previous year in which the extension of the 96[***] undertaking is completed or, as the case may be, the new 96[***] unit commences production or operation, in so far as such fixed assets have been acquired or developed in connection with the extension of the 96[***] undertaking or the setting up of the new 96[***] unit of the assessee;
(b) “capital employed in the business of the company” means—
(i) in a case referred to in clause (i) of sub-section (1), the aggregate of the issued share capital, debentures and long-term borrowings as on the last day of the previous year in which the business of the company commences;
(ii) in a case referred to in clause (ii) of sub-section (1), the aggregate of the issued share capital, debentures and long-term borrowings as on the last day of the previous year in which the extension of the 97[***] undertaking is completed or, as the case may be, the new 97[***] unit commences production or operation, in so far as such capital, debentures and long-term borrowings have been issued or obtained in connection with the extension of the 97[***] undertaking or the setting up of the new 97[***] unit of the company;
(c) “long-term borrowings” means—
(i) any moneys borrowed by the company from Government or the Industrial Finance Corporation of India or the Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India or any other financial institution 98[which is eligible for deduction under clause (viii) of sub-section (1) of section 36] or any banking institution (not being a financial institution referred to above), or
(ii) any moneys borrowed or debt incurred by it in a foreign country in respect of the purchase outside India of capital plant and machinery, where the terms under which such moneys are borrowed or the debt is incurred provide for the repayment thereof during a period of not less than seven years.
(4) Where the assessee is a person other than a company or a co-operative society, no deduction shall be admissible under sub-section (1) unless the accounts of the assessee for the year or years in which the expenditure specified in sub-section (2) is incurred have been audited by an accountant as defined in the Explanation below sub-section (2) of section 288, and the assessee furnishes, along with his return of income for the first year in which the deduction under this section is claimed, the report of such audit in the prescribed form99 duly signed and verified by such accountant and setting forth such particulars as may be prescribed.
(5) Where the undertaking of an Indian company which is entitled to the deduction under sub-section (1) is transferred, before the expiry of the period of ten years specified in sub-section (1), to another Indian company in a scheme of amalgamation,—
(i) no deduction shall be admissible under sub-section (1) in the case of the amalgamating company for the previous year in which the amalgamation takes place; and
(ii) the provisions of this section shall, as far as may be, apply to the amalgamated company as they would have applied to the amalga-mating company if the amalgamation had not taken place.
1[(5A) Where the undertaking of an Indian company which is entitled to the deduction under sub-section (1) is transferred, before the expiry of the period specified in sub-section (1), to another company in a scheme of demerger,—
(i) no deduction shall be admissible under sub-section (1) in the case of the demerged company for the previous year in which the demerger takes place; and
(ii) the provisions of this section shall, as far as may be, apply to the resulting company, as they would have applied to the demerged company, if the demerger had not taken place.]
(6) Where a deduction under this section is claimed and allowed for any assessment year in respect of any expenditure specified in sub-section (2), the expenditure in respect of which deduction is so allowed shall not qualify for deduction under any other provision of this Act for the same or any other assessment year.]
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Section 35DD: 1[Amortisation of expenditure in case of amalgamation or demerger.
- (1) Where an assessee, being an Indian company, incurs any expenditure, on or after the 1st day of April, 1999, wholly and exclusively for the purposes of amalgamation or demerger of an undertaking, the assessee shall be allowed a deduction of an amount equal to one-fifth of such expenditure for each of the five successive previous years beginning with the previous year in which the amalgamation or demerger takes place.
(2) No deduction shall be allowed in respect of the expenditure mentioned in sub-section (1) under any other provision of this Act.]
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Section 35DDA: 2[Amortisation of expenditure incurred under voluntary retirement scheme.
- (1) Where an assessee incurs any expenditure in any previous year by way of payment of any sum to an employee 3[in connection with] his voluntary retirement, in accordance with any scheme or schemes of voluntary retirement, one-fifth of the amount so paid shall be deducted in computing the profits and gains of the business for that previous year, and the balance shall be deducted in equal instalments for each of the four immediately succeeding previous years.
4[(2) Where the assessee, being an Indian company, is entitled to the deduction under sub-section (1) and the undertaking of such Indian company entitled to the deduction under sub-section (1) is transferred, before the expiry of the period specified in that sub-section, to another Indian company in a scheme of amalgamation, the provisions of this section shall, as far as may be, apply to the amalgamated company as they would have applied to the amalgamating company if the amalgamation had not taken place.
(3) Where the undertaking of an Indian company entitled to the deduction under sub-section (1) is transferred, before the expiry of the period specified in that sub-section, to another company in a scheme of demerger, the provisions of this section shall, as far as may be, apply to the resulting company, as they would have applied to the demerged company, if the demerger had not taken place.
(4) Where there has been reorganisation of business, whereby a firm is succeeded by a company fulfilling the conditions laid down in clause (xiii) of section 47 or a proprietary concern is succeeded by a company fulfilling the conditions laid down in clause (xiv) of section 47, the provisions of this section shall, as far as may be, apply to the successor company, as they would have applied to the firm or the proprietary concern, if reorganisation of business had not taken place.
5[(4A) Where there has been reorganisation of business, whereby a private company or unlisted public company is succeeded by a limited liability partnership fulfilling the conditions laid down in the proviso to clause (xiiib) of section 47, the provisions of this section shall, as far as may be, apply to the successor limited liability partnership, as they would have applied to the said company, if reorganisation of business had not taken place.]
(5) No deduction shall be allowed in respect of the expenditure mentioned in sub-section (1) in the case of the amalgamating company referred to in sub-section (2), in the case of demerged company referred to in 6[sub-section (3), in the case of a firm or proprietary concern referred to in sub-section (4) and in the case of a company referred to in sub-section (4A)] of this section, for the previous year in which amalgamation, demerger or succession, as the case may be, takes place.
(6) No deduction shall be allowed in respect of the expenditure mentioned in sub-section (1) under any other provision of this Act.]]
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Section 35E: 7[Deduction for expenditure on prospecting, etc., for certain minerals.
- (1) Where an assessee, being an Indian company or a person (other than a company) who is resident in India, is engaged in any operations relating to prospecting for, or extraction or production of, any mineral and incurs, after the 31st day of March, 1970, any expenditure specified in sub-section (2), the assessee shall, in accordance with and subject to the provisions of this section, be allowed for each one of the relevant previous years a deduction of an amount equal to one-tenth of the amount of such expenditure.
(2) The expenditure referred to in sub-section (1) is that incurred by the assessee after the date specified in that sub-section at any time during the year of commercial production and any one or more of the four years immediately preceding that year, wholly and exclusively on any operations relating to prospecting for any mineral or group of associated minerals specified in Part A or Part B, respectively, of the Seventh Schedule or on the development of a mine or other natural deposit of any such mineral or group of associated minerals :
Provided that there shall be excluded from such expenditure any portion thereof which is met directly or indirectly by any other person or authority and any sale, salvage, compensation or insurance moneys realised by the assessee in respect of any property or rights brought into existence as a result of the expenditure.
(3) Any expenditure—
(i) on the acquisition of the site of the source of any mineral or group of associated minerals referred to in sub-section (2) or of any rights in or over such site;
(ii) on the acquisition of the deposits of such mineral or group of associated minerals or of any rights in or over such deposits; or
(iii) of a capital nature in respect of any building, machinery, plant or furniture for which allowance by way of depreciation is admissible under section 32,
shall not be deemed to be expenditure incurred by the assessee for any of the purposes specified in sub-section (2).
(4) The deduction to be allowed under sub-section (1) for any relevant previous year shall be—
(a) an amount equal to one-tenth of the expenditure specified in sub-section (2) (such one-tenth being hereafter in this sub-section referred to as the instalment); or
(b) such amount as is sufficient to reduce to nil the income (as computed before making the deduction under this section) of that previous year arising from the commercial exploitation [whether or not such commercial exploitation is as a result of the operations or development referred to in sub-section (2)] of any mine or other natural deposit of the mineral or any one or more of the minerals in a group of associated minerals as aforesaid in respect of which the expenditure was incurred,
whichever amount is less :
Provided that the amount of the instalment relating to any relevant previous year, to the extent to which it remains unallowed, shall be carried forward and added to the instalment relating to the previous year next following and deemed to be part of that instalment, and so on, for succeeding previous years, so, however, that no part of any instalment shall be carried forward beyond the tenth previous year as reckoned from the year of commercial production.
(5) For the purposes of this section,—
(a) “operation relating to prospecting” means any operation undertaken for the purposes of exploring, locating or proving deposits of any mineral, and includes any such operation which proves to be infructuous or abortive;
(b) “year of commercial production” means the previous year in which as a result of any operation relating to prospecting, commercial production of any mineral or any one or more of the minerals in a group of associated minerals specified in Part A or Part B, respectively, of the Seventh Schedule, commences;
(c) “relevant previous years” means the ten previous years beginning with the year of commercial production.
(6) Where the assessee is a person other than a company or a co-operative society, no deduction shall be admissible under sub-section (1) unless the accounts of the assessee for the year or years in which the expenditure specified in sub-section (2) is incurred have been audited by an accountant as defined in the Explanation below sub-section (2) of section 288, and the assessee furnishes, along with his return of income for the first year in which the deduction under this section is claimed, the report of such audit in the prescribed form8 duly signed and verified by such accountant and setting forth such particulars as may be prescribed.
(7) Where the undertaking of an Indian company which is entitled to the deduction under sub-section (1) is transferred, before the expiry of the period of ten years specified in sub-section (1), to another Indian company in a scheme of amalgamation—
(i) no deduction shall be admissible under sub-section (1) in the case of the amalgamating company for the previous year in which the amalgamation takes place; and
(ii) the provisions of this section shall, as far as may be, apply to the amalgamated company as they would have applied to the amalga-mating company if the amalgamation had not taken place.
9[(7A) Where the undertaking of an Indian company which is entitled to the deduction under sub-section (1) is transferred, before the expiry of the period of ten years specified in sub-section (1), to another Indian company in a scheme of demerger,—
(i) no deduction shall be admissible under sub-section (1) in the case of the demerged company for the previous year in which the demerger takes place; and
(ii) the provisions of this section shall, as far as may be, apply to the resulting company as they would have applied to the demerged company, if the demerger had not taken place.]
(8) Where a deduction under this section is claimed and allowed for any assessment year in respect of any expenditure specified in sub-section (2), the expenditure in respect of which deduction is so allowed shall not qualify for deduction under any other provision of this Act for the same or any other assessment year.]
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Section 36: Other deductions.
- 10 (1) The deductions provided for in the following clauses shall be allowed in respect of the matters dealt with therein, in computing the income referred to in section 28—
11(i) the amount of any premium paid in respect of insurance against risk of damage12 or destruction12 of stocks or stores12 used for the purposes of the business or profession;
13[(ia) the amount of any premium paid by a federal milk co-operative society to effect or to keep in force an insurance on the life of the cattle owned by a member of a co-operative society, being a primary society engaged in supplying milk raised by its members to such federal milk co-operative society;]
14[(ib) the amount of any premium 15[paid by any mode of payment other than cash] by the assessee as an employer to effect or to keep in force an insurance on the health of his employees under a scheme framed in this behalf by—
(A) the General Insurance Corporation of India formed under section 9 of the General Insurance Business (Nationalisation) Act, 1972 (57 of 1972) and approved by the Central Government; or
(B) any other insurer and approved by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority established under sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999 (41 of 1999);]
16(ii) any sum paid to an employee as bonus or commission17 for services rendered, where such sum would not have been payable to him as profits or dividend if it had not been paid as bonus or commission;
18[* * *]
19[* * *]
(iia) 20[Omitted by the Finance Act, 1999, w.e.f. 1-4-2000.]
21(iii) the amount of the interest22 paid in respect of capital22 borrowed22 for the purposes of the business22 or profession :
23[Provided that any amount of the interest paid, in respect of capital borrowed for acquisition of an asset for extension of existing business or profession (whether capitalised in the books of account or not); for any period beginning from the date on which the capital was borrowed for acquisition of the asset till the date on which such asset was first put to use, shall not be allowed as deduction.]
- —Recurring subscriptions paid periodically by shareholders, or subscribers in Mutual Benefit Societies which fulfil such conditions as may be prescribed, shall be deemed to be capital borrowed within the meaning of this clause;
24[(iiia) the pro rata amount of discount on a zero coupon bond having regard to the period of life of such bond calculated in the manner as may be prescribed25.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, the expressions—
(i) “discount” means the difference between the amount received or receivable by the infrastructure capital company or infrastructure capital fund or public sector company 26[or scheduled bank] issuing the bond and the amount payable by such company or fund or public sector company 26[or scheduled bank] on maturity or redemption of such bond;
(ii) “period of life of the bond” means the period commencing from the date of issue of the bond and ending on the date of the maturity or redemption of such bond;
(iii) 27[***]]
28(iv) 29any sum paid30 by the assessee as an employer by way of contribution towards a recognised provident fund or an approved superannuation fund, subject to such limits as may be prescribed for the purpose of recognising the provident fund or approving the super-annuation fund, as the case may be; and subject to such 31conditions as the Board may think fit to specify in cases where the contributions are not in the nature of annual contributions of fixed amounts or annual contributions fixed on some definite basis by reference to the income chargeable under the head “Salaries” or to the contributions or to the number of members of the fund;
32[(iva) any sum paid by the assessee as an employer by way of contribution towards a pension scheme, as referred to in section 80CCD, on account of an employee to the extent it does not exceed ten per cent of the salary of the employee in the previous year.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, “salary” includes dearness allowance, if the terms of employment so provide, but excludes all other allowances and perquisites;]
33(v) 34any sum paid35 by the assessee as an employer by way of contribution towards an approved gratuity fund created by him for the exclusive benefit of his employees under an irrevocable trust;
36[(va) any sum received by the assessee from any of his employees to which the provisions of sub-clause (x) of clause (24) of section 2 apply, if such sum is credited by the assessee to the employee’s account in the relevant fund or funds on or before the due date.
- —For the purposes of this clause, “due date” means the date by which the assessee is required as an employer to credit an employee’s contribution to the employee’s account in the relevant fund under any Act, rule, order or notification issued thereunder or under any standing order, award, contract of service or otherwise;]
37(vi) in respect of animals which have been used for the purposes of the business or profession otherwise than as stock-in-trade and have died or become permanently useless for such purposes, the difference between the actual cost to the assessee of the animals and the amount, if any, realised in respect of the carcasses or animals;
37(vii) subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), the amount of 38[any 39bad debt or part thereof39 which is written off as irrecoverable in the accounts of the assessee for the previous year]:
40[Provided that in the case of 41[an assessee] to which clause (viia) applies, the amount of the deduction relating to any such debt or part thereof shall be limited to the amount by which such debt or part thereof exceeds the credit balance in the provision for bad and doubtful debts account made under that clause.]
42[43[Explanation 1].—For the purposes of this clause, any bad debt or part thereof written off as irrecoverable in the accounts of the assessee shall not include any provision for bad and doubtful debts made in the accounts of the assessee;]
44[Explanation 2.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby clarified that for the purposes of the proviso to clause (vii) of this sub-section and clause (v) of sub-section (2), the account referred to therein shall be only one account in respect of provision for bad and doubtful debts under clause (viia) and such account shall relate to all types of advances, including advances made by rural branches;]
45[(viia) 46[47 in respect of any provision for bad and doubtful debts made by—
(a) a scheduled bank [not being 48[* * *] a bank incorporated by or under the laws of a country outside India] or a non-scheduled bank 49[or a co-operative bank other than a primary agricultural credit society or a primary co-operative agricultural and rural development bank], an amount 50[not exceeding seven and one-half per cent] of the total income (computed before making any deduction under this clause and Chapter VIA) and an amount not exceeding 51[ten] per cent of the aggregate average advances made by the rural branches of such bank computed in the prescribed manner :
52[Provided that a scheduled bank or a non-scheduled bank referred to in this sub-clause shall, at its option, be allowed in any of the relevant assessment years, deduction in respect of any provision made by it for any assets classified by the Reserve Bank of India as doubtful assets or loss assets in accordance with the guidelines issued by it in this behalf, for an amount not exceeding five per cent of the amount of such assets shown in the books of account of the bank on the last day of the previous year:]
53[Provided further that for the relevant assessment years com-mencing on or after the 1st day of April, 2003 and ending before the 1st day of April, 2005, the provisions of the first proviso shall have effect as if for the words “five per cent”, the words “ten per cent” had been substituted :]
54[Provided also that a scheduled bank or a non-scheduled bank referred to in this sub-clause shall, at its option, be allowed a further deduction in excess of the limits specified in the foregoing provisions, for an amount not exceeding the income derived from redemption of securities in accordance with a scheme framed by the Central Government:
Provided also that no deduction shall be allowed under the third proviso unless such income has been disclosed in the return of income under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession.” ]
55[Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-clause, “relevant assessment years” means the five consecutive assessment years commencing on or after the 1st day of April, 2000 and ending before the 1st day of April, 2005;]
(b) a bank, being a bank incorporated by or under the laws of a country outside India, an amount not exceeding five per cent of the total income (computed before making any deduction under this clause and Chapter VI-A);]
56[(c) a public financial institution or a State financial corporation or a State industrial investment corporation, an amount not exceeding five per cent of the total income (computed before making any deduction under this clause and Chapter VI-A) :]
57[Provided that a public financial institution or a State financial corporation or a State industrial investment corporation referred to in this sub-clause shall, at its option, be allowed in any of the two consecutive assessment years commencing on or after the 1st day of April, 2003 and ending before the 1st day of April, 2005, deduction in respect of any provision made by it for any assets classified by the Reserve Bank of India as doubtful assets or loss assets in accordance with the guidelines issued by it in this behalf, of an amount not exceeding ten per cent of the amount of such assets shown in the books of account of such institution or corporation, as the case may be, on the last day of the previous year.]
- —For the purposes of this clause,—
58[(i) “non-scheduled bank” means a 59banking company as defined in clause (c) of section 5 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (10 of 1949), which is not a scheduled bank;]
60[(ia)] “rural branch” means a branch of a scheduled bank 61[or a non-scheduled bank] situated in a place62 which has a population of not more than ten thousand according to the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published before the first day of the previous year;
63[(ii) “scheduled bank” means the State Bank of India constituted under the State Bank of India Act, 1955 (23 of 1955), a subsidiary bank as defined in the State Bank of India (Subsidiary Banks) Act, 1959 (38 of 1959), a corresponding new bank constituted under section 3 of the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970 (5 of 1970), or under section 3 of the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1980 (40 of 1980), or any other bank being a bank included in the Second Schedule to the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934) 64[***];]
65[(iii) “public financial institution” shall have the meaning assigned to it in section 4A66 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956);
(iv) “State financial corporation” means a financial corporation established under section 3 or section 3A or an institution notified under section 46 of the State Financial Corporations Act, 1951 (63 of 1951);
(v) “State industrial investment corporation” means a Government company67 within the meaning of section 617 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), engaged in the business of providing long-term finance for industrial projects and 68[eligible for deduction under clause (viii) of this sub-section];]
69[(vi) “co-operative bank”, “primary agricultural credit society” and “primary co-operative agricultural and rural development bank” shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in the Explanation to sub-section (4) of section 80P;]
70[(viii) in respect of any special reserve created and maintained by a specified entity, an amount not exceeding twenty per cent of the profits derived from eligible business computed under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” (before making any deduction under this clause) carried to such reserve account:
Provided that where the aggregate of the amounts carried to such reserve account from time to time exceeds twice the amount of the paid up share capital and of the general reserves of the specified entity, no allowance under this clause shall be made in respect of such excess.
Explanation.—In this clause,—
(a) “specified entity” means,—
(i) a financial corporation specified in section 4A of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956)71;
(ii) a financial corporation which is a public sector company;
(iii) a banking company;
(iv) a co-operative bank other than a primary agricultural credit society or a primary co-operative agricultural and rural development bank;
(v) a housing finance company; and
(vi) any other financial corporation including a public company;
(b) “eligible business” means,—
72[(i) in respect of the specified entity referred to in sub-clause (i) or sub-clause (ii) or sub-clause (iii) or sub-clause (iv) of clause (a), the business of providing long-term finance for—
(A) industrial or agricultural development;
(B) development of infrastructure facility in India; or
(C) development of housing in India;]
(ii) in respect of the specified entity referred to in sub-clause (v) of clause (a), the business of providing long-term finance for the construction or purchase of houses in India for residential purposes; and
(iii) in respect of the specified entity referred to in sub-clause (vi) of clause (a), the business of providing long-term finance for development of infrastructure facility in India;
(c) “banking company” means a company to which the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (10 of 1949) applies and includes any bank or banking institution referred to in section 51 of that Act;
(d) “co-operative bank”, “primary agricultural credit society” and “primary co-operative agricultural and rural development bank” shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in the Explanation to sub-section (4) of section 80P;
(e) “housing finance company” means a public company formed or registered in India with the main object of carrying on the business of providing long-term finance for construction or purchase of houses in India for residential purposes;
(f) 73“public company” shall have the meaning assigned to it in section 3 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956);
(g) “infrastructure facility” means—
(i) an infrastructure facility as defined in the Explanation to clause (i) of sub-section (4) of section 80-IA, or any other public facility of a similar nature as may be notified74 by the Board in this behalf in the Official Gazette and which fulfils the conditions as may be prescribed75;
(ii) an undertaking referred to in clause (ii) or clause (iii) or clause (iv) or clause (vi) of sub-section (4) of section 80-IA; and
(iii) an undertaking referred to in sub-section (10) of section 80-IB;
(h) “long-term finance” 75a means any loan or advance where the terms under which moneys are loaned or advanced provide for repayment along with interest thereof during a period of not less than five years;]
(viiia) 76[* * *]
77[(ix) any expenditure bona fide incurred by a company for the purpose of promoting family planning amongst its employees :
Provided that where such expenditure or any part thereof is of a capital nature, one-fifth of such expenditure shall be deducted for the previous year in which it was incurred; and the balance thereof shall be deducted in equal instalments for each of the four immediately succeeding previous years :
Provided further that the provisions of sub-section (2) of section 32 and of sub-section (2) of section 72 shall apply in relation to deductions allowable under this clause as they apply in relation to deductions allowable in respect of depreciation :
Provided further that the provisions of clauses (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v) of sub-section (2) 78[and sub-section (5)] of section 35, of sub-section (3) of section 41 and of Explanation 1 to clause (1) of section 43 shall, so far as may be, apply in relation to an asset representing expenditure of a capital nature for the purposes of promoting family planning as they apply in relation to an asset representing expenditure of a capital nature on scientific research;]
(x) 79[***]
80[(xi) any expenditure incurred by the assessee, on or after the 1st day of April, 1999 but before the 1st day of April, 2000, wholly and exclusively in respect of a non-Y2K compliant computer system, owned by the assessee and used for the purposes of his business or profession, so as to make such computer system Y2K compliant computer system :
Provided that no such deduction shall be allowed in respect of such expenditure under any other provisions of this Act :
Provided further that no such deduction shall be admissible unless the assessee furnishes in the prescribed form81, along with the return of income, the report of an accountant, as defined in the Explanation below sub-section (2) of section 288, certifying that the deduction has been correctly claimed in accordance with the provisions of this clause.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause,—
(a) “computer system” means a device or collection of devices including input and output support devices and excluding calculators which are not programmable and capable of being used in conjunction with external files, or more of which contain computer programmes, electronic instructions, input data and output data, that performs functions including, but not limited to, logic, arithmetic, data storage and retrieval, communication and control;
(b) “Y2K compliant computer system” means a computer system capable of correctly processing, providing or receiving data relating to date within and between the twentieth and twenty-first century;]
82[(xii) any expenditure (not being in the nature of capital expenditure) incurred by a corporation or a body corporate, by whatever name called, if,—
(a) it is constituted or established by a Central, State or Provincial Act;
(b) such corporation or body corporate, having regard to the objects and purposes of the Act referred to in sub-clause (a), is notified83 by the Central Government in the Official Gazette for the purposes of this clause; and
(c) the expenditure is incurred for the objects and purposes authorised by the Act under which it is constituted or established;]
84[(xiii) any amount of banking cash transaction tax paid by the assessee during the previous year on the taxable banking transactions entered into by him.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, the expressions “banking cash transaction tax” and “taxable banking transaction” shall have the same meanings respectively assigned to them under Chapter VII of the Finance Act, 2005;]
85[(xiv) any sum paid by a public financial institution by way of contribution to such credit guarantee fund trust for small industries as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette86, specify in this behalf.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, “public financial institution” shall have the meaning assigned to it in section 4A87 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956);]
88[(xv) an amount equal to the securities transaction tax paid by the assessee in respect of the taxable securities transactions entered into in the course of his business during the previous year, if the income arising from such taxable securities transactions is included in the income computed under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” .
Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, the expressions “securities transaction tax” and “taxable securities transaction” shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them under Chapter VII of the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2004 (23 of 2004);
89[(xvi) an amount equal to the commodities transaction tax paid by the assessee in respect of the taxable commodities transactions entered into in the course of his business during the previous year, if the income arising from such taxable commodities transactions is included in the income computed under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” .
- —For the purposes of this clause, the expressions “comm-odities transaction tax” and “taxable commodities transaction” shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them under Chapter VII of the Finance Act, 2013.]]
90(2) In making any deduction for a bad debt or part thereof, the following provisions shall apply—
91[(i) no such deduction shall be allowed unless such debt or part thereof has been taken into account in computing the income of the assessee of the previous year in which the amount of such debt or part thereof is written off or of an earlier previous year, or represents money lent in the ordinary course of the business of banking or money-lending which is carried on by the assessee;]
(ii) if the amount ultimately recovered on any such debt or part of debt is less than the difference between the debt or part and the amount so deducted, the deficiency shall be deductible in the previous year in which the ultimate recovery is made;
(iii) any such debt or part of debt may be deducted if it has already been written off as irrecoverable92 in the accounts of an earlier previous year 93[(being a previous year relevant to the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1988, or any earlier assessment year)], but the 94[Assessing] Officer had not allowed it to be deducted on the ground that it had not been established to have become a bad debt in that year;
(iv) where any such debt or part of debt is written off as irrecoverable in the accounts of the previous year 95[(being a previous year relevant to the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1988, or any earlier assessment year)] and the 94[Assessing] Officer is satisfied that such debt or part became a bad debt in any earlier previous year not falling beyond a period of four previous years immediately preceding the previous year in which such debt or part is written off, the provisions of sub-section (6) of section 155 shall apply;
96[(v) where such debt or part of debt relates to advances made by an assessee to which clause (viia) of sub-section (1) applies, no such deduction shall be allowed unless the assessee has debited the amount of such debt or part of debt in that previous year to the provision for bad and doubtful debts account made under that clause.]
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Section 37: General.
- 97 98(1) 99Any expenditure1 (not being expenditure of the nature described in sections 30 to 36 2[***] and not being in the nature of capital expenditure3 or personal expenses of the assessee), laid out or expended wholly and exclusively3 for the purposes of the business3 or profession shall be allowed in computing the income chargeable under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” .
4[4a[Explanation.]—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that any expenditure incurred by an assessee for any purpose which is an offence or which is prohibited by law5 shall not be deemed to have been incurred for the purpose of business or profession and no deduction or allowance shall be made in respect of such expenditure.]
The following Explanation 2 shall be inserted after renumbered Explanation 1 to sub-section (1) of section 37 by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2014, w.e.f. 1-4-2015 :
Explanation 2.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that for the purposes of sub-section (1), any expenditure incurred by an assessee on the activities relating to corporate social responsibility referred to in section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013 (18 of 2013)5a shall not be deemed to be an expenditure incurred by the assessee for the purposes of the business or profession.
(2) 6[* * *]
7[8(2B) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), no allowance shall be made in respect of expenditure incurred by an assessee on advertisement in any souvenir, brochure, tract, pamphlet or the like published by a political party.]
(3) 9[* * *]
(3A) 10[* * *]
(3B) 11[* * *]
(3C) 12[* * *]
(3D) 13[* * *]
(4) 14[* * *]
(5) 15[* * *]
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Section 38: Building, etc., partly used for business, etc., or not exclusively so used.
- 16 (1) Where a part of any premises is used as dwelling house by the assessee,—
(a) the deduction under sub-clause (i) of clause (a) of section 30, in the case of rent, shall be such amount as the 17[Assessing] Officer may determine having regard to the proportionate annual value of the part used for the purpose of the business or profession, and in the case of any sum paid for repairs, such sum as is proportionate to the part of the premises used for the purpose of the business or profession;
(b) the deduction under clause (b) of section 30 shall be such sum as the 17[Assessing] Officer may determine having regard to the part so used.
(2) Where any building, machinery, plant or furniture is not exclusively used for the purposes of the business or profession, the deductions under sub-clause (ii) of clause (a) and clause (c) of section 30, clauses (i) and (ii) of section 31 and 18[clause (ii) of sub-section (1)] of section 32 shall be restricted to a fair proportionate part thereof which the 17[Assessing] Officer may determine, having regard to the user of such building, machinery, plant or furniture for the purposes of the business or profession.
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Section 39: Managing agency commission.
- [Omitted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1-4-1989.]
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Section 40: Amounts not deductible.
- Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in sections 30 to 19[38], the following amounts shall not be deducted in computing the income chargeable under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession”,—
20(a) in the case of any assessee—
21[(i) any interest (not being interest on a loan issued for public subscription before the 1st day of April, 1938), royalty, fees for technical services or other sum chargeable under this Act, which is payable,—
(A) outside India; or
(B) in India to a non-resident, not being a company or to a foreign company,
on which tax is deductible at source under Chapter XVII-B and such tax has not been deducted or, after deduction, has not been paid 22[during the previous year, or in the subsequent year before the expiry of the time prescribed under sub-section (1) of section 200] :
Provided that where in respect of any such sum, tax has been deducted in any subsequent year or, has been deducted in the previous year but paid in any subsequent year after the expiry of the time prescribed under sub-section (1) of section 200, such sum shall be allowed as a deduction in computing the income of the previous year in which such tax has been paid.
The following proviso shall be substituted for the existing proviso to sub-clause (i) of clause (a) of section 40 by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2014, w.e.f 1-4-2015 :
Provided that where in respect of any such sum, tax has been deducted in any subsequent year, or has been deducted during the previous year but paid after the due date specified in sub-section (1) of section 139, such sum shall be allowed as a deduction in computing the income of the previous year in which such tax has been paid.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-clause,—
(A) “royalty” shall have the same meaning as in Explanation 2 to clause (vi) of sub-section (1) of section 9;
(B) “fees for technical services” shall have the same meaning as in Explanation 2 to clause (vii) of sub-section (1) of section 9;
22a(ia) 22b[any interest, commission or brokerage, 23[rent, royalty,] fees for professional services or fees for technical services payable23a to a resident, or amounts payable23a to a contractor or sub-contractor, being resident, for carrying out any work (including supply of labour for carrying out any work)], on which tax is deductible at source under Chapter XVII-B and such tax has not been deducted or, after deduction, 24[has not been paid23a on or before the due date23a specified in sub-section (1) of section 139 :]
25[Provided that where in respect of any such sum, tax has been deducted in any subsequent year, or has been deducted during the previous year but paid after the due date specified in sub-section (1) of section 139, 25a[thirty per cent of] such sum shall be allowed as a deduction in computing the income of the previous year in which such tax has been paid :]
26[Provided further that where an assessee fails to deduct the whole or any part of the tax in accordance with the provisions of Chapter XVII-B on any such sum but is not deemed to be an assessee in default under the first proviso to sub-section (1) of section 201, then, for the purpose of this sub-clause, it shall be deemed that the assessee has deducted and paid the tax on such sum on the date of furnishing of return of income by the resident payee referred to in the said proviso.]
Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-clause,—
(i) “commission or brokerage” shall have the same meaning as in clause (i) of the Explanation to section 194H;
(ii) “fees for technical services” shall have the same meaning as in Explanation 2 to clause (vii) of sub-section (1) of section 9;
(iii) “professional services” shall have the same meaning as in clause (a) of the Explanation to section 194J;
(iv) “work” shall have the same meaning as in Explanation III to section 194C;
27[(v) “rent” shall have the same meaning as in clause (i) to the Explanation to section 194-I;
(vi) “royalty” shall have the same meaning as in Explanation 2 to clause (vi) of sub-section (1) of section 9;]
(ib) 28[***]]
29[(ic) any sum paid on account of fringe benefit tax under Chapter XIIH;]
30(ii) any sum paid on account of any rate or tax levied31 on the profits or gains of any business or profession31 or assessed at a proportion of, or otherwise on the basis of, any such profits or gains.
32[Explanation 1.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that for the purposes of this sub-clause, any sum paid on account of any rate or tax levied includes and shall be deemed always to have included any sum eligible for relief of tax under section 90 or, as the case may be, deduction from the Indian income-tax payable under section 91.]
33[Explanation 2.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that for the purposes of this sub-clause, any sum paid on account of any rate or tax levied includes any sum eligible for relief of tax under section 90A;]
34[35(iia) any sum paid on account of wealth-tax.
- —For the purposes of this sub-clause, “wealth-tax” means wealth-tax chargeable under the Wealth-tax Act, 1957 (27 of 1957), or any tax of a similar character chargeable under any law in force in any country outside India or any tax chargeable under such law with reference to the value of the assets of, or the capital employed in, a business or profession carried on by the assessee, whether or not the debts of the business or profession are allowed as a deduction in computing the amount with reference to which such tax is charged, but does not include any tax chargeable with reference to the value of any particular asset of the business or profession;]
36[(iib) any amount—
(A) paid by way of royalty, licence fee, service fee, privilege fee, service charge or any other fee or charge, by whatever name called, which is levied exclusively on; or
(B) which is appropriated, directly or indirectly, from,
a State Government undertaking by the State Government.
- —For the purposes of this sub-clause, a State Government undertaking includes—
(i) a corporation established by or under any Act of the State Government;
(ii) a company in which more than fifty per cent of the paid-up equity share capital is held by the State Government;
(iii) a company in which more than fifty per cent of the paid-up equity share capital is held by the entity referred to in clause (i) or clause (ii) (whether singly or taken together);
(iv) a company or corporation in which the State Government has the right to appoint the majority of the directors or to control the management or policy decisions, directly or indirectly, including by virtue of its shareholding or management rights or shareholders agreements or voting agreements or in any other manner;
(v) an authority, a board or an institution or a body established or constituted by or under any Act of the State Government or owned or controlled by the State Government;]
37[(iii) any payment which is chargeable under the head “Salaries”, if it is payable—
(A) outside India; or
(B) to a non-resident,
and if the tax has not been paid thereon nor deducted therefrom under Chapter XVII-B;]
(iv) any payment to a provident or other fund established for the benefit of employees of the assessee, unless the assessee has made effective arrangements to secure that tax shall be deducted at source from any payments made from the fund which are chargeable to tax under the head “Salaries” ;
38[(v) any tax actually paid by an employer referred to in clause (10CC) of section 10;]
39[(b) in the case of any firm assessable as such,—
(i) any payment of salary, bonus, commission or remuneration, by whatever name called (hereinafter referred to as “remuneration” ) to any partner who is not a working partner; or
(ii) any payment of remuneration to any partner who is a working partner, or of interest to any partner, which, in either case, is not authorised by, or is not in accordance with, the terms of the partnership deed; or
(iii) any payment of remuneration to any partner who is a working partner, or of interest to any partner, which, in either case, is authorised by, and is in accordance with, the terms of the partnership deed, but which relates to any period (falling prior to the date of such partnership deed) for which such payment was not authorised by, or is not in accordance with, any earlier partnership deed, so, however, that the period of authorisation for such payment by any earlier partnership deed does not cover any period prior to the date of such earlier partnership deed; or
(iv) any payment of interest to any partner which is authorised by, and is in accordance with, the terms of the partnership deed and relates to any period falling after the date of such partnership deed in so far as such amount exceeds the amount calculated at the rate of 40[twelve] per cent simple interest per annum; or
41(v) any payment of remuneration to any partner who is a working partner, which is authorised by, and is in accordance with, the terms of the partnership deed and relates to any period falling after the date of such partnership deed in so far as the amount of such payment to all the partners during the previous year exceeds the aggregate amount computed as hereunder :—
42[(a) on the first Rs. 3,00,000 of the book-profit or in case of a loss |
Rs. 1,50,000 or at the rate of 90 per cent of the book-profit, whichever is more; |
(b) on the balance of the book-profit |
at the rate of 60 per cent :] |
Provided that in relation to any payment under this clause to the partner during the previous year relevant to the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1993, the terms of the partnership deed may, at any time during the said previous year, provide for such payment.
Explanation 1.—Where an individual is a partner in a firm on behalf, or for the benefit, of any other person (such partner and the other person being hereinafter referred to as “partner in a representative capacity” and “person so represented”, respectively),—
(i) interest paid by the firm to such individual otherwise than as partner in a representative capacity, shall not be taken into account for the purposes of this clause;
(ii) interest paid by the firm to such individual as partner in a representative capacity and interest paid by the firm to the person so represented shall be taken into account for the purposes of this clause.
Explanation 2.—Where an individual is a partner in a firm otherwise than as partner in a representative capacity, interest paid by the firm to such individual shall not be taken into account for the purposes of this clause, if such interest is received by him on behalf, or for the benefit, of any other person.
Explanation 3.—For the purposes of this clause, “book-profit” means the net profit, as shown in the profit and loss account for the relevant previous year, computed in the manner laid down in Chapter IV-D as increased by the aggregate amount of the remuneration paid or payable to all the partners of the firm if such amount has been deducted while computing the net profit.
Explanation 4.—For the purposes of this clause, “working partner” means an individual who is actively engaged in conducting the affairs of the business or profession of the firm of which he is a partner;]
43[(ba) in the case of an association of persons or body of individuals [other than a company or a co-operative society or a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (21 of 1860), or under any law corresponding to that Act in force in any part of India], any payment of interest, salary, bonus, commission or remuneration, by whatever name called, made by such association or body to a member of such association or body.
Explanation 1.—Where interest is paid by an association or body to any member thereof who has also paid interest to the association or body, the amount of interest to be disallowed under this clause shall be limited to the amount by which the payment of interest by the association or body to the member exceeds the payment of interest by the member to the association or body.
Explanation 2.—Where an individual is a member of an association or body on behalf, or for the benefit, of any other person (such member and the other person being hereinafter referred to as “member in a representative capacity” and “person so represented”, respectively),—
(i) interest paid by the association or body to such individual or by such individual to the association or body otherwise than as member in a representative capacity, shall not be taken into account for the purposes of this clause;
(ii) interest paid by the association or body to such individual or by such individual to the association or body as member in a representative capacity and interest paid by the association or body to the person so represented or by the person so represented to the association or body, shall be taken into account for the purposes of this clause.
Explanation 3.—Where an individual is a member of an association or body otherwise than as member in a representative capacity, interest paid by the association or body to such individual shall not be taken into account for the purposes of this clause, if such interest is received by him on behalf, or for the benefit, of any other person.]
(c) [Omitted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1-4-1989. Earlier, it was amended by the Finance Act, 1963, w.e.f. 1-4-1963, Finance Act, 1964, w.e.f. 1-4-1964, Finance Act, 1965, w.e.f. 1-4-1965, Finance Act, 1968, w.e.f. 1-4-1969, Finance (No. 2) Act, 1971, w.e.f. 1-4-1972, Finance Act, 1984, w.e.f. 1-4-1985 and Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1-4-1988.]
(d) [Omitted by the Finance Act, 1988, w.e.f. 1-4-1989.]
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Section 40A: 44[Expenses or payments not deductible in certain circumstances.
4540A. (1) The provisions of this section shall have effect notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any other provision of this Act relating to the computation of income under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” .
46(2)(a) Where the assessee incurs any expenditure in respect of which payment has been or is to be made to any person47 referred to in clause (b) of this sub-section, and the 48[Assessing] Officer is of opinion that such expenditure is excessive or unreasonable having regard to the fair market value of the goods, services or facilities for which the payment is made or the legitimate needs of the business or profession of the assessee or the benefit derived by or accruing to him therefrom, so much of the expenditure as is so considered by him to be excessive or unreasonable shall not be allowed as a deduction :
49[Provided that no disallowance, on account of any expenditure being excessive or unreasonable having regard to the fair market value, shall be made in respect of a specified domestic transaction referred to in section 92BA, if such transaction is at arm’s length price as defined in clause (ii) of section 92F.]
(b) The persons referred to in clause (a) are the following, namely :—
(i) where the assessee is an individual |
|
any relative of the assessee; |
(ii) where the assessee is a company, firm, association of persons or Hindu undivided family |
|
any director of the company, partner of the firm, or member of the association or family, or any relative of such director, partner or member; |
(iii) any individual who has a substantial interest in the business or profession of the assessee, or any relative of such individual;
(iv) a company, firm, association of persons or Hindu undivided family having a substantial interest in the business or profession of the assessee or any director, partner or member of such company, firm, association or family, or any relative of such director, partner or member 50[or any other company carrying on business or profession in which the first mentioned company has substantial interest];
(v) a company, firm, association of persons or Hindu undivided family of which a director, partner or member, as the case may be, has a substantial interest in the business or profession of the assessee; or any director, partner or member of such company, firm, association or family or any relative of such director, partner or member;
(vi) any person who carries on a business or profession,—
(A) where the assessee being an individual, or any relative of such assessee, has a substantial interest in the business or profession of that person; or
(B) where the assessee being a company, firm, association of persons or Hindu undivided family, or any director of such company, partner of such firm or member of the association or family, or any relative of such director, partner or member, has a substantial interest in the business or profession of that person.
- —For the purposes of this sub-section, a person shall be deemed to have a substantial interest in a business or profession, if,—
(a) in a case where the business or profession is carried on by a company, such person is, at any time during the previous year, the beneficial owner of shares (not being shares entitled to a fixed rate of dividend whether with or without a right to participate in profits) carrying not less than twenty per cent of the voting power; and
(b) in any other case, such person is, at any time during the previous year, beneficially entitled to not less than twenty per cent of the profits of such business or profession.
51[52(3) Where the assessee incurs any expenditure in respect of which a payment or aggregate of payments made to a person in a day, otherwise than by an account payee cheque drawn on a bank or account payee bank draft, exceeds twenty thousand rupees, no deduction shall be allowed in respect of such expenditure.53
(3A) Where an allowance has been made in the assessment for any year in respect of any liability incurred by the assessee for any expenditure and subsequently during any previous year (hereinafter referred to as subsequent year) the assessee makes payment in respect thereof, otherwise than by an account payee cheque drawn on a bank or account payee bank draft, the payment so made shall be deemed to be the profits and gains of business or profession and accordingly chargeable to income-tax as income of the subsequent year if the payment or aggregate of payments made to a person in a day, exceeds twenty thousand rupees:
Provided that no disallowance shall be made and no payment shall be deemed to be the profits and gains of business or profession under sub-section (3) and this sub-section where a payment or aggregate of payments made to a person in a day, otherwise than by an account payee cheque drawn on a bank or account payee bank draft, exceeds twenty thousand rupees, in such cases and under such circumstances as may be prescribed54, having regard to the nature and extent of banking facilities available, considerations of business expediency and other relevant factors :]
55[Provided further that in the case of payment made for plying, hiring or leasing goods carriages, the provisions of sub-sections (3) and (3A) shall have effect as if for the words “twenty thousand rupees”, the words “thirty-five thousand rupees” had been substituted.]
56[(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force or in any contract, where any payment in respect of any expenditure has to be made by 57[an account payee cheque drawn on a bank or account payee bank draft] in order that such expenditure may not be disallowed as a deduction under sub-section (3), then the payment may be made by such cheque or draft; and where the payment is so made or tendered, no person shall be allowed to raise, in any suit or other proceeding, a plea based on the ground that the payment was not made or tendered in cash or in any other manner.]
(5) 58[Omitted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1-4-1989. Original sub-section (5) was inserted by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1971, w.e.f. 1-4-1972.]
(6) 59[Omitted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1-4-1989. Original sub-section (6) was inserted by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1971, w.e.f. 1-4-1972.]
60[61(7) (a) Subject to the provisions of clause (b), no deduction shall be allowed in respect of any provision62 (whether called as such or by any other name) made by the assessee for the payment of gratuity to his employees on their retirement or on termination of their employment for any reason.
(b) Nothing in clause (a) shall apply in relation to any provision made by the assessee for the purpose of payment of a sum by way of any contribution towards an approved gratuity fund, or for the purpose of payment of any gratuity, that has become payable during the previous year63.
Explanation.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that where any provision made by the assessee for the payment of gratuity to his employees on their retirement or termination of their employment for any reason has been allowed as a deduction in computing the income of the assessee for any assessment year, any sum paid out of such provision by way of contribution towards an approved gratuity fund or by way of gratuity to any employee shall not be allowed as a deduction in computing the income of the assessee of the previous year in which the sum is so paid.]
(8) 64[* * *]
65[(9) No deduction shall be allowed in respect of any sum paid by the assessee as an employer towards the setting up or formation of, or as contribution to, any fund, trust, company, association of persons, body of individuals, society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (21 of 1860), or other institution for any purpose, except where such sum is so paid, for the purposes and to the extent provided by or under clause (iv) 66[or clause (iva)] or clause (v) of sub-section (1) of section 36, or as required by or under any other law for the time being in force.
(10) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (9), where the 67[Assessing] Officer is satisfied that the fund, trust, company, association of persons, body of individuals, society or other institution referred to in that sub-section has, before the 1st day of March, 1984, bona fide laid out or expended any expenditure (not being in the nature of capital expenditure) wholly and exclusively for the welfare of the employees of the assessee referred to in sub-section (9) out of the sum referred to in that sub-section, the amount of such expenditure shall, in case no deduction has been allowed to the assessee in respect of such sum and subject to the other provisions of this Act, be deducted in computing the income referred to in section 28 of the assessee of the previous year in which such expenditure is so laid out or expended, as if such expenditure had been laid out or expended by the assessee.]
68[(11) Where the assessee has, before the 1st day of March, 1984, paid any sum to any fund, trust, company, association of persons, body of individuals, society or other institution referred to in sub-section (9), then, notwithstanding anything contained in any other law or in any instrument, he shall be entitled—
(i) to claim that so much of the amount paid by him as has not been laid out or expended by such fund, trust, company, association of persons, body of individuals, society or other institution (such amount being hereinafter referred to as the unutilised amount) be repaid to him, and where any claim is so made, the unutilised amount shall be repaid, as soon as may be, to him;
(ii) to claim that any asset, being land, building, machinery, plant or furniture acquired or constructed by the fund, trust, company, association of persons, body of individuals, society or other institution out of the sum paid by the assessee, be transferred to him, and where any claim is so made, such asset shall be transferred, as soon as may be, to him.]
(12) 69[Omitted by the Finance Act, 1992, w.e.f. 1-4-1993.]
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Section 41: Profits chargeable to tax.
- 70[71(1) Where an allowance or deduction has been made in the assessment for any year in respect of loss, expenditure or trading liability incurred by the assessee (hereinafter referred to as the first-mentioned person) and subse-quently during any previous year,—
(a) the first-mentioned person has obtained72, whether in cash or in any other manner whatsoever, any amount in respect of such72 loss or expenditure72 or some benefit in respect of such trading liability72 by way of remission or cessation thereof72, the amount obtained by such person or the value of benefit accruing to him shall be deemed to be profits and gains of business or profession and accordingly chargeable to income-tax as the income of that previous year, whether the business or profession in respect of which the allowance or deduction has been made is in existence in that year or not; or
(b) the successor in business has obtained72, whether in cash or in any other manner whatsoever, any amount in respect of which loss or expenditure was incurred by the first-mentioned person or some benefit in respect of the trading liability referred to in clause (a) by way of remission or cessation thereof72, the amount obtained72 by the successor in business or the value of benefit accruing to the successor in business shall be deemed to be profits and gains of the business or profession, and accordingly chargeable to income-tax as the income of that previous year.
73[Explanation 1.—For the purposes of this sub-section, the expression “loss or expenditure or some benefit in respect of any such trading liability by way of remission or cessation thereof” shall include the remission or cessation of any liability by a unilateral act by the first mentioned person under clause (a) or the successor in business under clause (b) of that sub-section by way of writing off such liability in his accounts.]
74[Explanation 2].—For the purposes of this sub-section, “successor in business” means,—
(i) where there has been an amalgamation of a company with another company, the amalgamated company;
(ii) where the first-mentioned person is succeeded by any other person in that business or profession, the other person;
(iii) where a firm carrying on a business or profession is succeeded by another firm, the other firm;]
75[(iv) where there has been a demerger, the resulting company.]
76[(2) Where any building, machinery, plant or furniture,—
(a) which is owned by the assessee;
(b) in respect of which depreciation is claimed under clause (i) of sub-section (1) of section 32; and
(c) which was or has been used for the purposes of business,
is sold77, discarded, demolished or destroyed77 and the moneys payable77 in respect of such building, machinery, plant or furniture, as the case may be, together with the amount of scrap value, if any, exceeds the written down value, so much of the excess as does not exceed the difference between the actual cost and the written down value shall be chargeable to income-tax as income of the business of the previous year in which the moneys payable for the building, machinery, plant or furniture became due77.
Explanation.—Where the moneys payable in respect of the building, machinery, plant or furniture referred to in this sub-section become due in a previous year in which the business for the purpose of which the building, machinery, plant or furniture was being used is no longer in existence, the provision of this sub-section shall apply as if the business is in existence in that previous year.]
(2A) 78[***]
(3) Where an asset representing expenditure of a capital nature on scientific research within the meaning of clause (iv) of sub-section (1), 79[or clause (c) of sub-section (2B),] of section 35, read with clause (4) of section 43, is sold, without having been used for other purposes, and the proceeds of the sale together with the total amount of the deductions made under clause (i) 80[or, as the case may be, the amount of the deduction under clause (ia)] of sub-section (2), 81[or clause (c) of sub-section (2B),] of section 35 exceed the amount of the capital expenditure, the excess or the amount of the deductions so made, whichever is the less, shall be chargeable to income-tax as income of the business or profession of the previous year in which the sale took place.
- —Where the moneys payable in respect of any asset referred to in this sub-section become due in a previous year in which the business is no longer in existence, the provisions of this sub-section shall apply as if the business is in existence in that previous year.
82(4) Where a deduction has been allowed in respect of a bad debt or part of debt under the provisions of clause (vii) of sub-section (1) of section 36, then, if the amount subsequently recovered on any such debt or part is greater than the difference between the debt or part of debt and the amount so allowed, the excess shall be deemed to be profits and gains of business or profession, and accordingly chargeable to income-tax as the income of the previous year in which it is recovered, whether the business or profession in respect of which the deduction has been allowed is in existence in that year or not.
83[Explanation.—For the purposes of sub-section (3),—
(1) “moneys payable” in respect of any building, machinery, plant or furniture includes—
(a) any insurance, salvage or compensation moneys payable in respect thereof;
(b) where the building, machinery, plant or furniture is sold, the price for which it is sold,
so, however, that where the actual cost of a motor car is, in accordance with the proviso to clause (1) of section 43, taken to be twenty-five thousand rupees, the moneys payable in respect of such motor car shall be taken to be a sum which bears to the amount for which the motor car is sold or, as the case may be, the amount of any insurance, salvage or compensation moneys payable in respect thereof (including the amount of scrap value, if any) the same proportion as the amount of twenty-five thousand rupees bears to the actual cost of the motor car to the assessee as it would have been computed before applying the said proviso;
(2) “sold” includes a transfer by way of exchange or a compulsory acquisition under any law for the time being in force but does not include a transfer, in a scheme of amalgamation, of any asset by the amalgamating company to the amalgamated company where the amalgamated company is an Indian company.]
84[(4A) Where a deduction has been allowed in respect of any special reserve created and maintained under clause (viii) of sub-section (1) of section 36, any amount subsequently withdrawn from such special reserve shall be deemed to be the profits and gains of business or profession and accordingly be chargeable to income-tax as the income of the previous year in which such amount is withdrawn.
Explanation.—Where any amount is withdrawn from the special reserve in a previous year in which the business is no longer in existence, the provisions of this sub-section shall apply as if the business is in existence in that previous year.]
(5) Where the business or profession referred to in this section is no longer in existence and there is income chargeable to tax under sub-section (1), 85[***] sub-section (3) 86[, sub-section (4) or sub-section (4A)] in respect of that business or profession, any loss, not being a loss sustained in speculation business 87[***], which arose in that business or profession during the previous year in which it ceased to exist and which could not be set off against any other income of that previous year shall, so far as may be, be set off against the income chargeable to tax under the sub-sections aforesaid.
88[(6) References in sub-section (3) to any other provision of this Act which has been amended or omitted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987 shall, notwithstanding such amendment or omission, be construed, for the purposes of that sub-section, as if such amendment or omission had not been made.]
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Section 42: Special provision for deductions in the case of business for prospecting, etc., for mineral oil.
- 89[(1)] For the purpose of computing the profits or gains of any business consisting of the prospecting for or extraction or production of mineral oils in relation to which the Central Government has entered into an agreement with any person for the association or participation 90[of the Central Government or any person authorised by it in such business] (which agreement has been laid on the Table of each House of Parliament), there shall be made in lieu of, or in addition to, the allowances admissible under this Act, such allowances as are specified in the agreement in relation—
(a) to expenditure by way of infructuous or abortive exploration expen-ses in respect of any area surrendered prior to the beginning of commercial production by the assessee ;
(b) after the beginning of commercial production, to expenditure incurred by the assessee, whether before or after such commercial production, in respect of drilling or exploration activities or services or in respect of physical assets used in that connection, except assets on which allowance for depreciation is admissible under section 32 :
91[***]
92[Provided that in relation to any agreement entered into after the 31st day of March, 1981, this clause shall have effect subject to the modification that the words and figures “except assets on which allowance for depreciation is admissible under section 32″ had been omitted; and]
(c) to the depletion of mineral oil in the mining area in respect of the assessment year relevant to the previous year in which commercial production is begun and for such succeeding year or years as may be specified in the agreement;
and such allowances shall be computed and made in the manner specified in the agreement, the other provisions of this Act being deemed for this purpose to have been modified to the extent necessary to give effect to the terms of the agreement.
93[(2) Where the business of the assessee consisting of the prospecting for or extraction or production of petroleum and natural gas is transferred wholly or partly or any interest in such business is transferred in accordance with the agreement referred to in sub-section (1), subject to the provisions of the said agreement and where the proceeds of the transfer (so far as they consist of capital sums)—
(a) are less than the expenditure incurred remaining unallowed, a deduction equal to such expenditure remaining unallowed, as reduced by the proceeds of transfer, shall be allowed in respect of the previous year in which such business or interest, as the case may be, is transferred;
(b) exceed the amount of the expenditure incurred remaining unallowed, so much of the excess as does not exceed the difference between the expenditure incurred in connection with the business or to obtain interest therein and the amount of such expenditure remaining unallowed, shall be chargeable to income-tax as profits and gains of the business in the previous year in which the business or interest therein, whether wholly or partly, had been transferred :
Provided that in a case where the provisions of this clause do not apply, the deduction to be allowed for expenditure incurred remaining unallowed shall be arrived at by subtracting the proceeds of transfer (so far as they consist of capital sums) from the expenditure remaining unallowed.
Explanation.—Where the business or interest in such business is transferred in a previous year in which such business carried on by the assessee is no longer in existence, the provisions of this clause shall apply as if the business is in existence in that previous year;
(c) are not less than the amount of the expenditure incurred remaining unallowed, no deduction for such expenditure shall be allowed in respect of the previous year in which the business or interest in such business is transferred or in respect of any subsequent year or years:
94[Provided that where in a scheme of amalgamation or demerger, the amalga-mating or the demerged company sells or otherwise transfers the business to the amalgamated or the resulting company (being an Indian company), the provisions of this sub-section—
(i) shall not apply in the case of the amalgamating or the demerged company; and
(ii) shall, as far as may be, apply to the amalgamated or the resulting company as they would have applied to the amalgamating or the demerged company if the latter had not transferred the business or interest in the business.]]
95[Explanation.—For the purposes of this section, “mineral oil” includes petroleum and natural gas.]
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Section 43: Definitions of certain terms relevant to income from profits and gains of business or profession.
- In sections 28 to 41 and in this section, unless the context otherwise requires96—
97(1) “actual cost” means the actual cost96 of the assets to the assessee, reduced by that portion of the cost thereof, if any, as has been met96 directly or indirectly by any other person or authority:
98[Provided that where the actual cost of an asset, being a motor car which is acquired by the assessee after the 31st day of March, 1967, 99[but before the 1st day of March, 1975,] and is used otherwise than in a business of running it on hire for tourists, exceeds twenty-five thousand rupees, the excess of the actual cost over such amount shall be ignored, and the actual cost thereof shall be taken to be twenty-five thousand rupees.]
Explanation 1.—Where an asset is used in the business after it ceases to be used for scientific research related to that business and a deduction has to be made under 1[clause (ii) of sub-section (1)] of section 32 in respect of that asset, the actual cost of the asset to the assessee shall be the actual cost to the assessee as reduced by the amount of any deduction allowed under clause (iv) of sub-section (1) of section 35 or under any corresponding provision of the Indian Income-tax Act, 1922 (11 of 1922).
2[Explanation 2.—Where an asset is acquired by the assessee by way of gift or inheritance, the actual cost of the asset to the assessee shall be the actual cost to the previous owner, as reduced by—
(a) the amount of depreciation actually allowed under this Act and the corresponding provisions of the Indian Income-tax Act, 1922 (11 of 1922), in respect of any previous year relevant to the assessment year commencing before the 1st day of April, 1988; and
(b) the amount of depreciation that would have been allowable to the assessee for any assessment year commencing on or after the 1st day of April, 1988, as if the asset was the only asset in the relevant block of assets.]
Explanation 3.—Where, before the date of acquisition by the assessee, the assets were at any time used by any other person for the purposes of his business or profession and the 3[Assessing] Officer is satisfied that the main purpose of the transfer of such assets, directly or indirectly to the assessee, was the reduction of a liability to income-tax (by claiming depreciation with reference to an enhanced cost), the actual cost to the assessee shall be such an amount as the 3[Assessing] Officer may, with the previous approval of the 4[Joint Commissioner], determine having regard to all the circumstances of the case.
5[Explanation 4.—Where any asset which had once belonged to the assessee and had been used by him for the purposes of his business or profession and thereafter ceased to be his property by reason of transfer or otherwise, is re-acquired by him, the actual cost to the assessee shall be—
(i) the actual cost to him when he first acquired the asset as reduced by—
(a) the amount of depreciation actually allowed to him under this Act or under the corresponding provisions of the Indian Income-tax Act, 1922 (11 of 1922), in respect of any previous year relevant to the assessment year commencing before the 1st day of April, 1988; and
(b) the amount of depreciation that would have been allowable to the assessee for any assessment year commencing on or after the 1st day of April, 1988, as if the asset was the only asset in the relevant block of assets; or
(ii) the actual price for which the asset is re-acquired by him,
whichever is less.]
6[Explanation 4A.—Where before the date of acquisition by the assessee (hereinafter referred to as the first mentioned person), the assets were at any time used by any other person (hereinafter referred to as the second mentioned person) for the purposes of his business or profession and depreciation allowance has been claimed in respect of such assets in the case of the second mentioned person and such person acquires on lease, hire or otherwise assets from the first mentioned person, then, notwithstanding anything contained in Explanation 3, the actual cost of the transferred assets, in the case of first mentioned person, shall be the same as the written down value of the said assets at the time of transfer thereof by the second mentioned person.]
Explanation 5.—Where a building previously the property of the assessee is brought into use for the purpose of the business or profession after the 28th day of February, 1946, the actual cost to the assessee shall be the actual cost of the building to the assessee, as reduced by an amount equal to the depreciation calculated at the rate in force on that date that would have been allowable had the building been used for the aforesaid purposes since the date of its acquisition by the assessee.
7[Explanation 6.—When any capital asset is transferred by a holding company to its subsidiary company or by a subsidiary company to its holding company, then, if the conditions of clause (iv) or, as the case may be, of clause (v) of section 47 are satisfied, the actual cost of the transferred capital asset to the transferee-company shall be taken to be the same as it would have been if the transferor-company had continued to hold the capital asset for the purposes of its business.]
8[Explanation 7.—Where, in a scheme of amalgamation, any capital asset is transferred by the amalgamating company to the amalga-mated company and the amalgamated company is an Indian com-pany, the actual cost of the transferred capital asset to the amalga-mated company shall be taken to be the same as it would have been if the amalgamating company had continued to hold the capital asset for the purposes of its own business.]
9[Explanation 7A.—Where, in a demerger, any capital asset is transferred by the demerged company to the resulting company and the resulting company is an Indian company, the actual cost of the transferred capital asset to the resulting company shall be taken to be the same as it would have been if the demerged company had continued to hold the capital asset for the purpose of its own business :
Provided that such actual cost shall not exceed the written down value of such capital asset in the hands of the demerged company.]
10[Explanation 8.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that where any amount is paid or is payable as interest in connection with the acquisition of an asset, so much of such amount as is relatable to any period after such asset is first put to use shall not be included, and shall be deemed never to have been included, in the actual cost of such asset.]
11[Explanation 9.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that where an asset is or has been acquired on or after the 1st day of March, 1994 by an assessee, the actual cost of asset shall be reduced by the amount of duty of excise or the additional duty leviable under section 3 of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 (51 of 1975) in respect of which a claim of credit has been made and allowed under the Central Excise Rules, 1944.]
12[Explanation 10.—Where a portion of the cost of an asset acquired by the assessee has been met directly or indirectly by the Central Government or a State Government or any authority established under any law or by any other person, in the form of a subsidy or grant or reimbursement (by whatever name called), then, so much of the cost as is relatable to such subsidy or grant or reimbursement shall not be included in the actual cost of the asset to the assessee :
Provided that where such subsidy or grant or reimbursement is of such nature that it cannot be directly relatable to the asset acquired, so much of the amount which bears to the total subsidy or reimbursement or grant the same proportion as such asset bears to all the assets in respect of or with reference to which the subsidy or grant or reimbursement is so received, shall not be included in the actual cost of the asset to the assessee.]
13[Explanation 11.—Where an asset which was acquired outside India by an assessee, being a non-resident, is brought by him to India and used for the purposes of his business or profession, the actual cost of the asset to the assessee shall be the actual cost to the assessee, as reduced by an amount equal to the amount of depreciation calculated at the rate in force that would have been allowable had the asset been used in India for the said purposes since the date of its acquisition by the assessee.]
14[Explanation 12.—Where any capital asset is acquired by the assessee under a scheme for corporatisation of a recognised stock exchange in India, approved by the Securities and Exchange Board of India established under section 3 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992), the actual cost of the asset shall be deemed to be the amount which would have been regarded as actual cost had there been no such corporatisation;]
15[Explanation 13.—The actual cost of any capital asset on which deduction has been allowed or is allowable to the assessee under section 35AD, shall be treated as “nil,—
(a) in the case of such assessee; and
(b) in any other case if the capital asset is acquired or received,—
(i) by way of gift or will or an irrevocable trust;
(ii) on any distribution on liquidation of the company; and
(iii) by such mode of transfer as is referred to in clauses (i), (iv), (v), (vi), (vib), 16[(xiii), (xiiib) and (xiv)] of section 47;]
(2) “paid” means actually paid17 or incurred according to the method of accounting upon the basis of which the profits or gains are computed under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” ;
18(3) “plant” 19 includes ships, vehicles, books19, scientific apparatus and surgical equipment used for the purposes of the business or profession 20[but does not include tea bushes or livestock] 21[or buildings or furniture and fittings];
(4) 22[(i) “scientific research” 19 means any activities for the extension of knowledge in the fields of natural or applied science including agriculture, animal husbandry or fisheries;]
(ii) references to expenditure incurred on scientific research include all expenditure incurred for the prosecution, or the provision of facilities for the prosecution, of scientific research, but do not include any expenditure incurred in the acquisition of rights in, or arising out of, scientific research;
(iii) references to scientific research related to a business or class of business include—
(a) any scientific research which may lead to or facilitate an extension of that business or, as the case may be, all businesses of that class;
(b) any scientific research of a medical nature which has a special relation to the welfare of workers employed in that business or, as the case may be, all businesses of that class;
23(5) 24“speculative transaction” 25 means a transaction in which a contract25 for the purchase or sale of any commodity25, including stocks and shares25, is periodically or ultimately25 settled25 otherwise than by the actual delivery25 or transfer of the commodity or scrips:
Provided that for the purposes of this clause—
(a) a contract in respect of raw materials or merchandise entered into by a person in the course of his manufacturing or merchanting business to guard against loss through future price fluctuations in respect of his contracts for actual delivery of goods manufactured by him or merchandise sold by him; or
(b) a contract in respect of stocks and shares entered into by a dealer or investor therein to guard against loss in his holdings of stocks and shares through price fluctuations; or
(c) a contract entered into by a member of a forward market or a stock exchange in the course of any transaction in the nature of jobbing or arbitrage to guard against loss which may arise in the ordinary course of his business as such member; 26[or]
26[(d) an eligible transaction in respect of trading in derivatives26a referred to in clause 27[(ac)] of section 228 of the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 (42 of 1956) carried out in a recognised stock exchange; 29[or]]
29[(e) an eligible transaction in respect of trading in commodity derivatives26a carried out in a recognised association 29a[, which is chargeable to commodities transaction tax under Chapter VII of the Finance Act, 2013 (17 of 2013),]]
shall not be deemed to be a speculative transaction.
30[31[Explanation 1].—For the purposes of 32[clause (d)], the expressions—
(i) “eligible transaction” means any transaction,—
(A) carried out electronically on screen-based systems through a stock broker or sub-broker or such other intermediary registered under section 12 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992) in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 (42 of 1956) or the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992) or the Depositories Act, 1996 (22 of 1996) and the rules, regulations or bye-laws made or directions issued under those Acts or by banks or mutual funds on a recognised stock exchange; and
(B) which is supported by a time stamped contract note issued by such stock broker or sub-broker or such other intermediary to every client indicating in the contract note the unique client identity number allotted under any Act referred to in sub-clause (A) and permanent account number allotted under this Act;
(ii) “recognised stock exchange” means a recognised stock exchange as referred to in clause (f) of section 233 of the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 (42 of 1956) and which fulfils such conditions as may be prescribed and notified34 by the Central Government for this purpose;]
35[Explanation 2.—For the purposes of clause (e), the expressions—
(i) “commodity derivative” shall have the meaning as assigned to it in Chapter VII of the Finance Act, 2013;
(ii) “eligible transaction” means any transaction,—
(A) carried out electronically on screen-based systems through member or an intermediary, registered under the bye-laws, rules and regulations of the recognised association for trading in commodity derivative in accordance with the provisions of the Forward Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1952 (74 of 1952) and the rules, regulations or bye-laws made or directions issued under that Act on a recognised association; and
(B) which is supported by a time stamped contract note issued by such member or intermediary to every client indicating in the contract note, the unique client identity number allotted under the Act, rules, regulations or bye-laws referred to in sub-clause (A), unique trade number and permanent account number allotted under this Act;
(iii) “recognised association” means a recognised association as referred to in clause (j) of section 236 of the Forward Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1952 (74 of 1952) and which fulfils such conditions as may be prescribed36a and is notified36b by the Central Government for this purpose;]
37(6) “written down value” means—
(a) in the case of assets acquired in the previous year, the actual cost to the assessee;
(b) in the case of assets acquired before the previous year, the actual cost to the assessee less all depreciation actually allowed38 to him under this Act, or under the Indian Income-tax Act, 1922 (11 of 1922), or any Act repealed by that Act, or under any executive orders issued when the Indian Income-tax Act, 1886 (2 of 1886), was in force:
39[Provided that in determining the written down value in respect of buildings, machinery or plant for the purposes of clause (ii) of sub-section (1) of section 32, “depreciation actually allowed” shall not include depreciation allowed under sub-clauses (a), (b) and (c) of clause (vi) of sub-section (2) of section 10 of the Indian Income-tax Act, 1922 (11 of 1922), where such depreciation was not deductible in determining the written down value for the pur-poses of the said clause (vi);]
40[(c) in the case of any block of assets,—
(i) in respect of any previous year relevant to the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1988, the aggregate of the written down values of all the assets falling within that block of assets at the beginning of the previous year and adjusted,—
(A) by the increase by the actual cost of any asset falling within that block, acquired during the previous year;
(B) by the reduction of the moneys payable in respect of any asset falling within that block, which is sold or discarded or demolished or destroyed during that previous year together with the amount of the scrap value, if any, so, however, that the amount of such reduction does not exceed the written down value as so increased; and
41[(C) in the case of a slump sale, decrease by the actual cost of the asset falling within that block as reduced—
(a) by the amount of depreciation actually allowed to him under this Act or under the corresponding provisions of the Indian Income-tax Act, 1922 (11 of 1922) in respect of any previous year relevant to the assessment year commencing before the 1st day of April, 1988; and
(b) by the amount of depreciation that would have been allowable to the assessee for any assessment year commencing on or after the 1st day of April, 1988 as if the asset was the only asset in the relevant block of assets,
so, however, that the amount of such decrease does not exceed the written down value;]
(ii) in respect of any previous year relevant to the assessment year commencing on or after the 1st day of April, 1989, the written down value of that block of assets in the immediately preceding previous year as reduced by the depreciation actually allowed in respect of that block of assets in relation to the said preceding previous year and as further adjusted by the increase or the reduction referred to in item (i).]
Explanation 1.—When in a case of succession in business or profession, an assessment is made on the successor under sub-section (2) of section 170 the written down value of 42[any asset or any block of assets] shall be the amount which would have been taken as its written down value if the assessment had been made directly on the person succeeded to.
43[Explanation 2.—Where in any previous year, any block of assets is transferred,—
(a) by a holding company to its subsidiary company or by a subsidiary company to its holding company and the conditions of clause (iv) or, as the case may be, of clause (v) of section 47 are satisfied; or
(b) by the amalgamating company to the amalgamated company in a scheme of amalgamation, and the amalgamated company is an Indian company,
then, notwithstanding anything contained in clause (1), the actual cost of the block of assets in the case of the transferee-company or the amalgamated company, as the case may be, shall be the written down value of the block of assets as in the case of the transferor-company or the amalgamating company for the immediately preceding previous year as reduced by the amount of depreciation actually allowed in relation to the said preceding previous year.]
44[Explanation 2A.—Where in any previous year, any asset forming part of a block of assets is transferred by a demerged company to the resulting company, then, notwithstanding anything contained in clause (1), the written down value of the block of assets of the demerged company for the immediately preceding previous year shall be reduced by the 45[written down value of the assets] trans-ferred to the resulting company pursuant to the demerger.
Explanation 2B.—Where in a previous year, any asset forming part of a block of assets is transferred by a demerged company to the resulting company, then, notwithstanding anything contained in clause (1), the written down value of the block of assets in the case of the resulting company shall be the 46[written down value of the transferred assets 47[***] of the demerged company immediately before the demerger.
48[Explanation 2C.—Where in any previous year, any block of assets is transferred by a private company or unlisted public company to a limited liability partnership and the conditions specified in the proviso to clause (xiiib) of section 47 are satisfied, then, notwithstanding anything contained in clause (1), the actual cost of the block of assets in the case of the limited liability partnership shall be the written down value of the block of assets as in the case of the said company on the date of conversion of the company into the limited liability partnership.]
49[***]]
Explanation 3.—Any allowance in respect of any depreciation carried forward under sub-section (2) of section 32 shall be deemed to be depreciation “actually allowed” .
50[Explanation 4.—For the purposes of this clause, the expressions “moneys payable” and “sold” shall have the same meanings as in the Explanation below sub-section (4) of section 41.]
51[Explanation 5.—Where in a previous year, any asset forming part of a block of assets is transferred by a recognised stock exchange in India to a company under a scheme for corporatisation approved by the Securities and Exchange Board of India established under section 3 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992), the written down value of the block of assets in the case of such company shall be the written down value of the transferred assets immediately before such transfer.]
52[Explanation 6.—Where an assessee was not required to compute his total income for the purposes of this Act for any previous year or years preceding the previous year relevant to the assessment year under consideration,—
(a) the actual cost of an asset shall be adjusted by the amount attributable to the revaluation of such asset, if any, in the books of account;
(b) the total amount of depreciation on such asset, provided in the books of account of the assessee in respect of such previous year or years preceding the previous year relevant to the assessment year under consideration shall be deemed to be the depreciation actually allowed under this Act for the purposes of this clause; and
(c) the depreciation actually allowed under clause (b) shall be adjusted by the amount of depreciation attributable to such revaluation of the asset.]
53[Explanation 7.—For the purposes of this clause, where the income of an assessee is derived, in part from agriculture and in part from business chargeable to income-tax under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession”, for computing the written down value of assets acquired before the previous year, the total amount of depreciation shall be computed as if the entire income is derived from the business of the assessee under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” and the depreciation so computed shall be deemed to be the depreciation actually allowed under this Act.]
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Section 43A: 54[Special provisions consequential to changes in rate of exchange of currency.
- Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provision of this Act, where an assessee has acquired any asset in any previous year from a country outside India for the purposes of his business or profession and, in consequence of a change in the rate of exchange during any previous year after the acquisition of such asset, there is an increase or reduction in the liability of the assessee as expressed in Indian currency (as compared to the liability existing at the time of acquisition of the asset) at the time of making payment—
(a) towards the whole or a part of the cost of the asset; or
(b) towards repayment of the whole or a part of the moneys borrowed by him from any person, directly or indirectly, in any foreign currency specifically for the purpose of acquiring the asset along with interest, if any,
the amount by which the liability as aforesaid is so increased or reduced during such previous year and which is taken into account at the time of making the payment, irrespective of the method of accounting adopted by the assessee, shall be added to, or, as the case may be, deducted from—
(i) the actual cost of the asset as defined in clause (1) of section 43; or
(ii) the amount of expenditure of a capital nature referred to in clause (iv) of sub-section (1) of section 35; or
(iii) the amount of expenditure of a capital nature referred to in section 35A; or
(iv) the amount of expenditure of a capital nature referred to in clause (ix) of sub-section (1) of section 36; or
(v) the cost of acquisition of a capital asset (not being a capital asset referred to in section 50) for the purposes of section 48,
and the amount arrived at after such addition or deduction shall be taken to be the actual cost of the asset or the amount of expenditure of a capital nature or, as the case may be, the cost of acquisition of the capital asset as aforesaid:
Provided that where an addition to or deduction from the actual cost or expenditure or cost of acquisition has been made under this section, as it stood immediately before its substitution by the Finance Act, 2002, on account of an increase or reduction in the liability as aforesaid, the amount to be added to, or, as the case may be, deducted under this section from, the actual cost or expendi-ture or cost of acquisition at the time of making the payment shall be so adjusted that the total amount added to, or, as the case may be, deducted from, the actual cost or expenditure or cost of acquisition, is equal to the increase or reduction in the aforesaid liability taken into account at the time of making payment.
Explanation 1.—In this section, unless the context otherwise requires,—
(a) “rate of exchange” means the rate of exchange determined or recognised by the Central Government for the conversion of Indian currency into foreign currency or foreign currency into Indian currency;
(b) 55“foreign currency” and “Indian currency” have the meanings respectively assigned to them in section 2 of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (42 of 1999).
Explanation 2.—Where the whole or any part of the liability aforesaid is met, not by the assessee, but, directly or indirectly, by any other person or authority, the liability so met shall not be taken into account for the purposes of this section.
Explanation 3.—Where the assessee has entered into a contract with an authorised dealer56 as defined in section 2 of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (42 of 1999), for providing him with a specified sum in a foreign currency on or after a stipulated future date at the rate of exchange specified in the contract to enable him to meet the whole or any part of the liability aforesaid, the amount, if any, to be added to, or deducted from, the actual cost of the asset or the amount of expenditure of a capital nature or, as the case may be, the cost of acquisition of the capital asset under this section shall, in respect of so much of the sum specified in the contract as is available for discharging the liability aforesaid, be computed with reference to the rate of exchange specified therein.]
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Section 43B: 57[Certain deductions to be only on actual payment57a.
5843B. 59Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provision of this Act, a deduction otherwise allowable under this Act in respect of—
60[(a) any sum payable by the assessee by way of tax61, duty, cess or fee, by whatever name called, under any law for the time being in force, or]
(b) any sum payable by the assessee as an employer by way of contribution to any provident fund or superannuation fund or gratuity fund or any other fund for the welfare of employees, 62[or]
62[(c) any sum referred to in clause (ii) of sub-section (1) of section 36,] 63[or]
63[(d) any sum payable by the assessee as interest on any loan or borrowing from any public financial institution 64[or a State financial corporation or a State industrial investment corporation], in accordance with the terms and conditions of the agreement governing such loan or borrowing 65[, or]
65[(e) any sum payable by the assessee as interest on any 66[loan or advances] from a scheduled bank in accordance with the terms and conditions of the agreement governing such loan 67[or advances],] 68[or]
68[(f) any sum payable by the assessee as an employer in lieu of any leave at the credit of his employee,]
shall be allowed (irrespective of the previous year in which the liability to pay such sum was incurred by the assessee according to the method of accounting regularly employed by him) only in computing the income referred to in section 28 of that previous year in which such sum is actually paid by him :
69[Provided that nothing contained in this section shall apply in relation to any sum 70[***] which is actually paid by the assessee on or before the due date applicable in his case for furnishing the return of income under sub-section (1) of section 139 in respect of the previous year in which the liability to pay such sum was incurred as aforesaid and the evidence of such payment is furnished by the assessee along with such return71.
72[***]]
Explanation 73[1].—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that where a deduction in respect of any sum referred to in clause (a) or clause (b) of this section is allowed in computing the income referred to in section 28 of the previous year (being a previous year relevant to the assessment year commenc-ing on the 1st day of April, 1983, or any earlier assessment year) in which the liability to pay such sum was incurred by the assessee, the assessee shall not be entitled to any deduction under this section in respect of such sum in computing the income of the previous year in which the sum is actually paid by him.]
74[Explanation 2.—For the purposes of clause (a), as in force at all material times, “any sum payable” means a sum for which the assessee incurred liability in the previous year even though such sum might not have been payable within that year under the relevant law.]
75[76[Explanation 3].—For the removal of doubts it is hereby declared that where a deduction in respect of any sum referred to in clause (c) 77[or clause (d)] of this section is allowed in computing the income referred to in section 28 of the previous year (being a previous year relevant to the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1988, or any earlier assessment year) in which the liability to pay such sum was incurred by the assessee, the assessee shall not be entitled to any deduction under this section in respect of such sum in computing the income of the previous year in which the sum is actually paid by him.]
78[Explanation 3A.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that where a deduction in respect of any sum referred to in clause (e) of this section is allowed in computing the income referred to in section 28 of the previous year (being a previous year relevant to the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1996, or any earlier assessment year) in which the liability to pay such sum was incurred by the assessee, the assessee shall not be entitled to any deduction under this section in respect of such sum in computing the income of the previous year in which the sum is actually paid by him.]
79[Explanation 3B.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that where a deduction in respect of any sum referred to in clause (f) of this section is allowed in computing the income, referred to in section 28, of the previous year (being a previous year relevant to the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 2001, or any earlier assessment year) in which the liability to pay such sum was incurred by the assessee, the assessee shall not be entitled to any deduction under this section in respect of such sum in computing the income of the previous year in which the sum is actually paid by him.]
80[Explanation 3C.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that a deduction of any sum, being interest payable under clause (d) of this section, shall be allowed if such interest has been actually paid and any interest referred to in that clause which has been converted into a loan or borrowing shall not be deemed to have been actually paid.]
81[Explanation 3D.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that a deduction of any sum, being interest payable under clause (e) of this section, shall be allowed if such interest has been actually paid and any interest referred to in that clause which has been converted into a loan or advance shall not be deemed to have been actually paid.]
82[Explanation 4.—For the purposes of this section,—
(a) “public financial institutions” shall have the meaning assigned to it in section 4A83 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956);
84[(aa) “scheduled bank” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Explanation to clause (iii) of sub-section (5) of section 11;]
(b) “State financial corporation” means a financial corporation established under section 3 or section 3A or an institution notified under section 46 of the State Financial Corporations Act, 1951 (63 of 1951);
(c) “State industrial investment corporation” means a Government company85 within the meaning of section 617 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), engaged in the business of providing long-term finance for industrial projects and 86[eligible for deduction under clause (viii) of sub-section (1) of section 36].]
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Section 43C: 87[Special provision for computation of cost of acquisition of certain assets.
- (1) Where an asset [not being an asset referred to in sub-section (2) of section 45] which becomes the property of an amalgamated company under a scheme of amalgamation, is sold after the 29th day of February, 1988, by the amalgamated company as stock-in-trade of the business carried on by it, the cost of acquisition of the said asset to the amalgamated company in computing the profits and gains from the sale of such asset shall be the cost of acquisition of the said asset to the amalgamating company, as increased by the cost, if any, of any improvement made thereto, and the expenditure, if any, incurred, wholly and exclusively in connection with such transfer by the amalgamating company.
(2) Where an asset [not being an asset referred to in sub-section (2) of section 45] which becomes the property of the assessee on the total or partial partition of a Hindu undivided family or under a gift or will or an irrevocable trust, is sold after the 29th day of February, 1988, by the assessee as stock-in-trade of the business carried on by him, the cost of acquisition of the said asset to the assessee in computing the profits and gains from the sale of such asset shall be the cost of acquisition of the said asset to the transferor or the donor, as the case may be, as increased by the cost, if any, of any improvement made thereto, and the expenditure, if any, incurred, wholly and exclusively in connection with such transfer (by way of effecting the partition, acceptance of the gift, obtaining probate in respect of the will or the creation of the trust), including the payment of gift-tax, if any, incurred by the transferor or the donor, as the case may be.]
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Section 43CA: 88[Special provision for full value of consideration for transfer of assets other than capital assets in certain cases.
- (1) Where the consideration received or accruing as a result of the transfer by an assessee of an asset (other than a capital asset), being land or building or both, is less than the value adopted or assessed or assessable by any authority of a State Government for the purpose of payment of stamp duty in respect of such transfer, the value so adopted or assessed or assessable shall, for the purposes of computing profits and gains from transfer of such asset, be deemed to be the full value of the consideration received or accruing as a result of such transfer.
(2) The provisions of sub-section (2) and sub-section (3) of section 50C shall, so far as may be, apply in relation to determination of the value adopted or assessed or assessable under sub-section (1).
(3) Where the date of agreement fixing the value of consideration for transfer of the asset and the date of registration of such transfer of asset are not the same, the value referred to in sub-section (1) may be taken as the value assessable by any authority of a State Government for the purpose of payment of stamp duty in respect of such transfer on the date of the agreement.
(4) The provisions of sub-section (3) shall apply only in a case where the amount of consideration or a part thereof has been received by any mode other than cash on or before the date of agreement for transfer of the asset.]
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Section 43D: 89[Special provision in case of income of public financial institutions, public companies, etc.
- Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any other provision of this Act,—
(a) in the case of a public financial institution or a scheduled bank or a State financial corporation or a State industrial investment corporation, the income by way of interest in relation to such categories of bad or doubtful debts as may be prescribed90 having regard to the guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank of India in relation to such debts;
(b) in the case of a public company, the income by way of interest in relation to such categories of bad or doubtful debts as may be prescribed91 having regard to the guidelines issued by the National Housing Bank in relation to such debts,
shall be chargeable to tax in the previous year in which it is credited by the public financial institution or the scheduled bank or the State financial corporation or the State industrial investment corporation or the public company to its profit and loss account for that year or, as the case may be, in which it is actually received by that institution or bank or corporation or company, whichever is earlier.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this section,—
(a) “National Housing Bank” means the National Housing Bank established under section 3 of the National Housing Bank Act, 1987 (53 of 1987);
(b) “public company” means a company,—
(i) which is a public company within the meaning of section 392 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956);
(ii) whose main object is carrying on the business of providing long-term finance for construction or purchase of houses in India for residential purposes; and
(iii) which is registered in accordance with the Housing Finance Companies (NHB) Directions, 1989 given under section 30 and section 31 of the National Housing Bank Act, 1987 (53 of 1987);
(c) “public financial institution” shall have the meaning assigned to it in section 4A93 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956);
(d) “scheduled bank” shall have the meaning assigned to it in clause (ii) of the Explanation to clause (viia) of sub-section (1) of section 36;
(e) “State financial corporation” means a financial corporation established under section 3 or section 3A or an institution notified under section 46 of the State Financial Corporations Act, 1951 (63 of 1951);
(f) “State industrial investment corporation” means a Government company within the meaning of section 61794 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), engaged in the business of providing long-term finance for industrial projects.]
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Section 44: Insurance business.
- 95 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the provisions of this Act relating to the computation of income chargeable under the head “Interest on securities”, “Income from house property”, “Capital gains” or “Income from other sources”, or in section 199 or in sections 28 to 96[43B], the profits and gains of any business of insurance, including any such business carried on by a mutual insurance company or by a co-operative society, shall be computed in accordance with the rules contained in the First Schedule.
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Section 44A: 97[Special provision for deduction in the case of trade, professional or similar association.
9844A. (1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Act, where the amount received during a previous year by any trade, professional or 99similar association 1[(other than an association or institution referred to in clause (23A) of section 10)] from its members, whether by way of subscription or otherwise (not being remuneration received for rendering any specific services to such members) falls short of the expenditure incurred by such association during that previous year (not being expenditure deductible in computing the income under any other provision of this Act and not being in the nature of capital expenditure) solely for the purposes of protection or advancement of the common interests of its members, the amount so fallen short (hereinafter referred to as deficiency) shall, subject to the provisions of this section, be allowed as a deduction in computing the income of the association assessable for the relevant assessment year under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” and if there is no income assessable under that head or the deficiency allowable exceeds such income, the whole or the balance of the deficiency, as the case may be, shall be allowed as a deduction in computing the income of the association assessable for the relevant assessment year under any other head.
(2) In computing the income of the association for the relevant assessment year under sub-section (1), effect shall first be given to any other provision of this Act under which any allowance or loss in respect of any earlier assessment year is carried forward and set off against the income for the relevant assessment year.
(3) The amount of deficiency to be allowed as a deduction under this section shall in no case exceed one-half of the total income of the association as computed before making any allowance under this section.
(4) This section applies only to that trade, professional or similar association the income of which or any part thereof is not distributed to its members except as grants to any association or institution affiliated to it.]
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Section 44AA: 2[Maintenance of accounts by certain persons carrying on profession or business.
344AA. (1) Every person carrying on legal, medical, engineering or architectural profession or the profession of accountancy or technical consultancy or interior decoration or any other profession as is notified4 by the Board in the Official Gazette shall keep and maintain such books of account and other documents as may enable the 5[Assessing] Officer to compute his total income in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
(2) Every person carrying on business or profession [not being a profession referred to in sub-section (1)] shall,—
(i) if his income from business or profession exceeds 6[one lakh twenty] thousand rupees or his total sales, turnover or gross receipts, as the case may be, in business or profession exceed or exceeds 7[ten lakh] rupees in any one of the three years immediately preceding the previous year; or
(ii) where the business or profession is newly set up in any previous year, if his income from business or profession is likely to exceed 8[one lakh twenty] thousand rupees or his total sales, turnover or gross receipts, as the case may be, in business or profession are or is likely to exceed 9[ten lakh] rupees, 10[during such previous year; or
(iii) where the profits and gains from the business are deemed to be the profits and gains of the assessee under 11[section 44AE] 12[or section 44BB or section 44BBB], as the case may be, and the assessee has claimed his income to be lower than the profits or gains so deemed to be the profits and gains of his business, as the case may be, during such 13[previous year; or]]
14[(iv) where the profits and gains from the business are deemed to be the profits and gains of the assessee under section 44AD and he has claimed such income to be lower than the profits and gains so deemed to be the profits and gains of his business and his income exceeds the maximum amount which is not chargeable to income-tax during such previous year,]
keep and maintain such books of account and other documents as may enable the 15[Assessing] Officer to compute his total income in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
(3) The Board may, having regard to the nature of the business or profession carried on by any class of persons, prescribe16, by rules, the books of account and other documents (including inventories, wherever necessary) to be kept and maintained under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2), the particulars to be contained therein and the form and the manner in which and the place at which they shall be kept and maintained.
(4) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (3), the Board may prescribe, by rules, the period for which the books of account and other documents to be kept and maintained under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) shall be retained.]
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Section 44AB: 17[Audit of accounts of certain persons carrying on business or profession.
1844AB. 19Every person,—
(a) carrying on business shall, if his total sales, turnover or gross receipts, as the case may be, in business exceed or exceeds 20[one crore rupees] in any previous year 21[***]; or
(b) carrying on profession shall, if his gross receipts in profession exceed 22[twenty-five lakh rupees] in any 23[previous year; or
(c) carrying on the business shall, if the profits and gains from the business are deemed to be the profits and gains of such person under 24[section 44AE ] 25[or section 44BB or section 44BBB], as the case may be, and he has claimed his income to be lower than the profits or gains so deemed to be the profits and gains of his business, as the case may be, in any 26[previous year; or]] 27[***]
28[(d) carrying on the business shall, if the profits and gains from the business are deemed to be the profits and gains of such person under section 44AD and he has claimed such income to be lower than the profits and gains so deemed to be the profits and gains of his business and his income exceeds the maximum amount which is not chargeable to income-tax in any previous year,]
get his accounts of such previous year 29[***] audited by an accountant before the specified date and 30[furnish by] that date the report of such audit in the prescribed form duly signed and verified by such accountant and setting forth such particulars as may be prescribed :
31[Provided that this section shall not apply to the person, who derives income of the nature referred to in 32[***] section 44B or 33[section 44BBA], on and from the 1st day of April, 1985 or, as the case may be, the date on which the relevant section came into force, whichever is later :
Provided further that] in a case where such person is required by or under any other law to get his accounts audited 34[***], it shall be sufficient compliance with the provisions of this section if such person gets the accounts of such business or profession audited under such law before the specified date and 35[furnishes by] that date the report of the audit as required under such other law and a further report 36[by an accountant] in the form prescribed under this section.
- —For the purposes of this section,—
(i) “accountant” shall have the same meaning as in the Explanation below sub-section (2) of section 288;
37[(ii) “specified date”, in relation to the accounts of the assessee of the previous year relevant to an assessment year, means 38[the due date for furnishing the return of income under sub-section (1) of section 139].]]
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Section 44AC: Special provision for computing profits and gains from the business of trading in certain goods.
- 39[Omitted by the Finance Act, 1992, w.e.f. 1-4-1993.]
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Section 44AD: 40[41Special provision for computing profits and gains of business on presumptive basis.
- (1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in sections 28 to 43C, in the case of an eligible assessee engaged in an eligible business, a sum equal to eight per cent of the total turnover or gross receipts of the assessee in the previous year on account of such business or, as the case may be, a sum higher than the aforesaid sum claimed to have been earned by the eligible assessee, shall be deemed to be the profits and gains of such business chargeable to tax under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” .
(2) Any deduction allowable under the provisions of sections 30 to 38 shall, for the purposes of sub-section (1), be deemed to have been already given full effect to and no further deduction under those sections shall be allowed :
Provided that where the eligible assessee is a firm, the salary and interest paid to its partners shall be deducted from the income computed under sub-section (1) subject to the conditions and limits specified in clause (b) of section 40.
(3) The written down value of any asset of an eligible business shall be deemed to have been calculated as if the eligible assessee had claimed and had been actually allowed the deduction in respect of the depreciation for each of the relevant assessment years.
(4) The provisions of Chapter XVII-C shall not apply to an eligible assessee in so far as they relate to the eligible business.
(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing provisions of this section, an eligible assessee who claims that his profits and gains from the eligible business are lower than the profits and gains specified in sub-section (1) and whose total income exceeds the maximum amount which is not chargeable to income-tax, shall be required to keep and maintain such books of account and other documents as required under sub-section (2) of section 44AA and get them audited and furnish a report of such audit as required under section 44AB.
42[(6) The provisions of this section, notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing provisions, shall not apply to—
(i) a person carrying on profession as referred to in sub-section (1) of section 44AA;
(ii) a person earning income in the nature of commission or brokerage; or
(iii) a person carrying on any agency business.]
Explanation.—For the purposes of this section,—
(a) “eligible assessee” means,—
(i) an individual, Hindu undivided family or a partnership firm, who is a resident, but not a 43limited liability partnership firm as defined under clause (n) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008 (6 of 2009); and
(ii) who has not claimed deduction under any of the sections 10A, 10AA, 10B, 10BA or deduction under any provisions of Chapter VIA under the heading “C. – Deductions in respect of certain incomes” in the relevant assessment year;
(b) “eligible business” means,—
(i) any business except the business of plying, hiring or leasing goods carriages referred to in section 44AE; and
(ii) whose total turnover or gross receipts in the previous year does not exceed an amount of 44[one crore rupees].]
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Section 44AE: 45[Special provision for computing profits and gains of business of plying, hiring or leasing goods carriages.
- (1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in sections 28 to 43C, in the case of an assessee, who owns not more than ten goods carriages 46[at any time during the previous year] and who is engaged in the business of plying, hiring or leasing such goods carriages, the income of such business chargeable to tax under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” shall be deemed47 to be the aggregate of the profits and gains, from all the goods carriages owned by him in the previous year, computed in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (2).
48[(2) For the purposes of sub-section (1), the profits and gains from each goods carriage,—
(i) being a heavy goods vehicle, shall be an amount equal to five thousand rupees for every month or part of a month during which the heavy goods vehicle is owned by the assessee in the previous year or an amount claimed to have been actually earned from such vehicle, whichever is higher;
(ii) other than a heavy goods vehicle, shall be an amount equal to four thousand five hundred rupees for every month or part of a month during which the goods carriage is owned by the assessee in the previous year or an amount claimed to have been actually earned from such vehicle, whichever is higher.]
The following sub-section (2) shall be substituted for the existing sub-section (2) of section 44AE by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2014, w.e.f. 1-4-2015 :
(2) For the purpose of sub-section (1), the profits and gains from each goods carriage shall be an amount equal to seven thousand five hundred rupees for every month or part of a month during which the goods carriage is owned by the assessee in the previous year or an amount claimed to have been actually earned from the vehicle, whichever is higher.
(3) Any deduction allowable under the provisions of sections 30 to 38 shall, for the purposes of sub-section (1), be deemed to have been already given full effect to and no further deduction under those sections shall be allowed :
49[Provided that where the assessee is a firm, the salary and interest paid to its partners shall be deducted from the income computed under sub-section (1) subject to the conditions and limits specified in clause (b) of section 40.]
(4) The written down value of any asset used for the purpose of the business referred to in sub-section (1) shall be deemed to have been calculated as if the assessee had claimed and had been actually allowed the deduction in respect of the depreciation for each of the relevant assessment years.
(5) The provisions of sections 44AA and 44AB shall not apply in so far as they relate to the business referred to in sub-section (1) and in computing the monetary limits under those sections, the gross receipts or, as the case may be, the income from the said business shall be excluded.
50[(6) Nothing contained in the foregoing provisions of this section shall apply, where the assessee claims and produces evidence to prove that the profits and gains from the aforesaid business during the previous year relevant to the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1997 or any earlier assessment year, are lower than the profits and gains specified in sub-sections (1) and (2), and thereupon the Assessing Officer shall proceed to make an assessment of the total income or loss of the assessee and determine the sum payable by the assessee on the basis of assessment made under sub-section (3) of section 143.]
51[(7) Notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing provisions of this section, an assessee may claim lower profits and gains than the profits and gains specified in sub-sections (1) and (2), if he keeps and maintains such books of account and other documents as required under sub-section (2) of section 44AA and gets his accounts audited and furnishes a report of such audit as required under section 44AB.]
- —For the purposes of this section,—
(a) the expressions “goods carriage” 52 and “heavy goods vehicle” 52 shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in section 2 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (59 of 1988);
The following clause (a) shall be substituted for the existing clause (a) in Explanation to section 44AE by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2014, w.e.f. 1-4-2015 :
(a) the expression “goods carriage” shall have the meaning assigned to it in section 2 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (59 of 1988);
(b) an assessee, who is in possession of a goods carriage, whether taken on hire purchase or on instalments and for which the whole or part of the amount payable is still due, shall be deemed to be the owner of such goods carriage.]
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Section 44AF: 53[Special provisions for computing profits and gains of retail business.
- (1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in sections 28 to 43C, in the case of an assessee engaged in retail trade in any goods or merchandise, a sum equal to five per cent of the total turnover in the previous year on account of such business or, as the case may be, a sum higher than the aforesaid sum as declared by the assessee in his return of income shall be deemed to be the profits and gains of such business chargeable to tax under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” :
Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall apply in respect of an assessee whose total turnover exceeds an amount of forty lakh rupees in the previous year.
(2) Any deduction allowable under the provisions of sections 30 to 38 shall, for the purposes of sub-section (1), be deemed to have been already given full effect to and no further deduction under those sections shall be allowed :
Provided that where the assessee is a firm, the salary and interest paid to its partners shall be deducted from the income computed under sub-section (1) subject to the conditions and limits specified in clause (b) of section 40.
(3) The written down value of any asset used for the purpose of the business referred to in sub-section (1) shall be deemed to have been calculated as if the assessee had claimed and had been actually allowed the deduction in respect of the depreciation for each of the relevant assessment years.
(4) The provisions of sections 44AA and 44AB shall not apply in so far as they relate to the business referred to in sub-section (1) and in computing the monetary limits under those sections, the total turnover or, as the case may be, the income from the said business shall be excluded.]
54[(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing provisions of this section, an assessee may claim lower profits and gains than the profits and gains specified in sub-section (1), if he keeps and maintains such books of account and other documents as required under sub-section (2) of section 44AA and gets his accounts audited and furnishes a report of such audit as required under section 44AB.]
55[(6) Nothing contained in this section shall apply to any assessment year beginning on or after the 1st day of April, 2011.]
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Section 44B: 56[Special provision for computing profits and gains of shipping business in the case of non-residents.
5744B. (1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in sections 28 to 43A, in the case of an assessee, being a non-resident, engaged in the business of operation of ships, a sum equal to seven and a half per cent of the aggregate of the amounts specified in sub-section (2) shall be deemed to be the profits and gains of such business chargeable to tax under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” .
(2) The amounts referred to in sub-section (1) shall be the following, namely :—
(i) the amount paid or payable (whether in or out of India) to the assessee or to any person on his behalf on account of the carriage of passengers, livestock, mail or goods shipped at any port in India; and
(ii) the amount received or deemed to be received in India by or on behalf of the assessee on account of the carriage of passengers, livestock, mail or goods shipped at any port outside India.]
58[Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-section, the amount referred to in clause (i) or clause (ii) shall include the amount paid or payable or received or deemed to be received, as the case may be, by way of demurrage charges or handling charges or any other amount of similar nature.]
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Section 44BB: 59[Special provision for computing profits and gains in connection with the business of exploration, etc., of mineral oils.
- (1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in sections 28 to 41 and sections 43 and 43A, in the case of an assessee 60[, being a non-resident,] engaged in the business of providing services or facilities in connection with, or supplying plant and machinery on hire used, or to be used, in the prospecting for, or extraction or production of, mineral oils, a sum equal to ten per cent of the aggregate of the amounts specified in sub-section (2) shall be deemed to be the profits and gains of such business chargeable to tax under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” :
Provided that this sub-section shall not apply in a case where the provisions of section 42 or section 44D or 61[section 44DA or] section 115A or section 293A apply for the purposes of computing profits or gains or any other income referred to in those sections.
(2) The amounts referred to in sub-section (1) shall be the following, namely :—
(a) the amount paid or payable (whether in or out of India) to the assessee or to any person on his behalf on account of the provision of services and facilities in connection with, or supply of plant and machinery on hire used, or to be used, in the prospecting for, or extraction or production of, mineral oils in India; and
(b) the amount received or deemed to be received in India by or on behalf of the assessee on account of the provision of services and facilities in connection with, or supply of plant and machinery on hire used, or to be used, in the prospecting for, or extraction or production of, mineral oils outside India.
62[(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), an assessee may claim lower profits and gains than the profits and gains specified in that sub-section, if he keeps and maintains such books of account and other documents as required under sub-section (2) of section 44AA and gets his accounts audited and furnishes a report of such audit as required under section 44AB, and thereupon the Assessing Officer shall proceed to make an assessment of the total income or loss of the assessee under sub-section (3) of section 143 and determine the sum payable by, or refundable to, the assessee.]
- —For the purposes of this section,—
(i) “plant” includes ships, aircraft, vehicles, drilling units, scientific apparatus and equipment, used for the purposes of the said business;
(ii) “mineral oil” includes petroleum and natural gas.]
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Section 44BBA: 63[Special provision for computing profits and gains of the business of operation of aircraft in the case of non-residents.
- (1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in sections 28 to 43A, in the case of an assessee, being a non-resident, engaged in the business of operation of aircraft, a sum equal to five per cent of the aggregate of the amounts specified in sub-section (2) shall be deemed to be the profits and gains of such business chargeable to tax under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” .
(2) The amounts referred to in sub-section (1) shall be the following, namely :—
(a) the amount paid or payable (whether in or out of India) to the assessee or to any person on his behalf on account of the carriage of passengers, livestock, mail or goods from any place in India; and
(b) the amount received or deemed to be received in India by or on behalf of the assessee on account of the carriage of passengers, livestock, mail or goods from any place outside India.]
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Section 44BBB: 64[Special provision for computing profits and gains of foreign companies engaged in the business of civil construction, etc., in certain turnkey power projects.
6544BBB. 66[(1)] Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in sections 28 to 44AA, in the case of an assessee, being a foreign company, engaged in the business of civil construction or the business of erection of plant or machinery or testing or commissioning thereof, in connection with a turnkey power project approved by the Central Government in this behalf 67[***], a sum equal to ten per cent of the amount paid or payable (whether in or out of India) to the said assessee or to any person on his behalf on account of such civil construction, erection, testing or commissioning shall be deemed to be the profits and gains of such business chargeable to tax under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” .]
68[(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), an assessee may claim lower profits and gains than the profits and gains specified in that sub-section, if he keeps and maintains such books of account and other documents as required under sub-section (2) of section 44AA and gets his accounts audited and furnishes a report of such audit as required under section 44AB, and thereupon the Assessing Officer shall proceed to make an assessment of the total income or loss of the assessee under sub-section (3) of section 143 and determine the sum payable by, or refundable to, the assessee.]
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Section 44C: 69[Deduction of head office expenditure in the case of non-residents.70
7144C. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in sections 28 to 43A, in the case of an assessee, being a non-resident, no allowance shall be made, in computing the income chargeable under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession”, in respect of so much of the expenditure in the nature of head office expenditure as is in excess of the amount computed as hereunder, namely:—
(a) an amount equal to five per cent of the adjusted total income; or
(b) 72[***]
(c) the amount of so much of the expenditure in the nature of head office expenditure incurred by the assessee as is attributable to the business or profession of the assessee in India73,
whichever is the least :
Provided that in a case where the adjusted total income of the assessee is a loss, the amount under clause (a) shall be computed at the rate of five per cent of the average adjusted total income of the assessee.
- —For the purposes of this section,—
(i) “adjusted total income” means the total income computed in accordance with the provisions of this Act, without giving effect to the allowance referred to in this section or in sub-section (2) of section 32 or the deduction referred to in section 32A or section 33 or section 33A or the first proviso to clause (ix) of sub-section (1) of section 36 or any loss carried forward under sub-section (1) of section 72 or sub-section (2) of section 73 or sub-section (1) 74[or sub-section (3)] of section 74 or sub-section (3) of section 74A or the deductions under Chapter VI-A;
(ii) “average adjusted total income” means,—
(a) in a case where the total income of the assessee is assessable for each of the three assessment years immediately preceding the relevant assessment year, one-third of the aggregate amount of the adjusted total income in respect of the previous years relevant to the aforesaid three assessment years;
(b) in a case where the total income of the assessee is assessable only for two of the aforesaid three assessment years, one-half of the aggregate amount of the adjusted total income in respect of the previous years relevant to the aforesaid two assessment years;
(c) in a case where the total income of the assessee is assessable only for one of the aforesaid three assessment years, the amount of the adjusted total income in respect of the previous year relevant to that assessment year;
(iii) 75[***]
(iv) “head office expenditure” means executive and general administration expenditure incurred by the assessee outside India, including expenditure incurred in respect of—
(a) rent, rates, taxes, repairs or insurance of any premises outside India used for the purposes of the business or profession;
(b) salary, wages, annuity, pension, fees, bonus, commission, gratuity, perquisites or profits in lieu of or in addition to salary, whether paid or allowed to any employee or other person employed in, or managing the affairs of, any office outside India;
(c) travelling by any employee or other person employed in, or managing the affairs of, any office outside India; and
(d) such other matters connected with executive and general administration as may be prescribed.]
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Section 44D: 76[Special provisions for computing income by way of royalties, etc., in the case of foreign companies.
- Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in sections 28 to 44C, in the case of an assessee, being a foreign company,—
(a) the deductions admissible under the said sections in computing the income by way of royalty or fees for technical services received 77[from Government or an Indian concern in pursuance of an agreement made by the foreign company with Government or with the Indian concern] before the 1st day of April, 1976, shall not exceed in the aggregate twenty per cent of the gross amount of such royalty or fees as reduced by so much of the gross amount of such royalty as consists of lump sum consideration for the transfer outside India of, or the imparting of information outside India in respect of, any data, documentation, drawing or specification relating to any patent, invention, model, design, secret formula or process or trade mark or similar property;
(b) no deduction in respect of any expenditure or allowance shall be allowed under any of the said sections in computing the income by way of royalty or fees for technical services received 77[from Government or an Indian concern in pursuance of an agreement made by the foreign company with Government or with the Indian concern] after the 31st day of March, 1976 78[but before the 1st day of April, 2003];
(c) 79[***]
(d) 80[***]
- —For the purposes of this section,—
(a) “fees for technical services” shall have the same meaning as in 81[Explanation 2] to clause (vii) of sub-section (1) of section 9;
(b) “foreign company” shall have the same meaning as in section 80B;
(c) “royalty” shall have the same meaning as in 82[Explanation 2] to clause (vi) of sub-section (1) of section 9;
(d) royalty received 83[from Government or an Indian concern in pursuance of an agreement made by a foreign company with Government or with the Indian concern] after the 31st day of March, 1976, shall be deemed to have been received in pursuance of an agreement made before the 1st day of April, 1976, if such agreement is deemed, for the purposes of the proviso to clause (vi) of sub-section (1) of section 9, to have been made before the 1st day of April, 1976.]
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Section 44DA: 84[Special provision for computing income by way of royalties, etc., in case of non-residents.
- (1) The income by way of royalty or fees for technical services received from Government or an Indian concern in pursuance of an agreement made by a non-resident (not being a company) or a foreign company with Government or the Indian concern after the 31st day of March, 2003, where such non-resident (not being a company) or a foreign company carries on business in India through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs professional services from a fixed place of profession situated therein, and the right, property or contract in respect of which the royalties or fees for technical services are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed place of profession, as the case may be, shall be computed under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” in accordance with the provisions of this Act :
Provided that no deduction shall be allowed,—
(i) in respect of any expenditure or allowance which is not wholly and exclusively incurred for the business of such permanent establishment or fixed place of profession in India; or
(ii) in respect of amounts, if any, paid (otherwise than towards reimbursement of actual expenses) by the permanent establishment to its head office or to any of its other offices :
85[Provided further that the provisions of section 44BB shall not apply in respect of the income referred to in this section.]
(2) Every non-resident (not being a company) or a foreign company shall keep and maintain books of account and other documents in accordance with the provisions contained in section 44AA and get his accounts audited by an accountant as defined in the Explanation below sub-section (2) of section 288 and furnish along with the return of income, the report of such audit in the prescribed form86 duly signed and verified by such accountant.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this section,—
(a) “fees for technical services” shall have the same meaning as in Explanation 2 to clause (vii) of sub-section (1) of section 9;
(b) “royalty” shall have the same meaning as in Explanation 2 to clause (vi) of sub-section (1) of section 9;
(c) “permanent establishment” shall have the same meaning as in clause (iiia) of section 92F.]
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Section 44DB: 87[Special provision for computing deductions in the case of business reorganization of co-operative banks.
- (1) The deduction under section 32, section 35D, section 35DD or section 35DDA shall, in a case where business reorganisation of a co-operative bank has taken place during the financial year, be allowed in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(2) The amount of deduction allowable to the predecessor co-operative bank under section 32, section 35D, section 35DD or section 35DDA shall be determined in accordance with the formula—
where A = the amount of deduction allowable to the predecessor co-operative bank if the business reorganisation had not taken place;
B = the number of days comprised in the period beginning with the 1st day of the financial year and ending on the day immediately preceding the date of business reorganisation; and
C = the total number of days in the financial year in which the business reorganisation has taken place.
(3) The amount of deduction allowable to the successor co-operative bank under section 32, section 35D, section 35DD or section 35DDA shall be determined in accordance with the formula—
where A = the amount of deduction allowable to the predecessor co-operative bank if the business reorganisation had not taken place;
B = the number of days comprised in the period beginning with the date of business reorganisation and ending on the last day of the financial year; and
C = the total number of days in the financial year in which the business reorganisation has taken place.
(4) The provisions of section 35D, section 35DD or section 35DDA shall, in a case where an undertaking of the predecessor co-operative bank entitled to the deduction under the said section is transferred before the expiry of the period specified therein to a successor co-operative bank on account of business reorganisation, apply to the successor co-operative bank in the financial years subsequent to the year of business reorganisation as they would have applied to the predecessor co-operative bank, as if the business reorganisation had not taken place.
(5) For the purposes of this section,—
(a) “amalgamated co-operative bank” means—
(i) a co-operative bank with which one or more amalgamating co-operative banks merge; or
(ii) a co-operative bank formed as a result of merger of two or more amalgamating co-operative banks;
(b) “amalgamating co-operative bank” means—
(i) a co-operative bank which merges with another co-operative bank; or
(ii) every co-operative bank merging to form a new co-operative bank;
(c) “amalgamation” means the merger of an amalgamating co-operative bank or banks with an amalgamated co-operative bank, in such manner that—
(i) all the assets and liabilities of the amalgamating co-operative bank or banks immediately before the merger (other than the assets transferred, by sale or distribution on winding up, to the amalgamated co-operative bank) become the assets and liabilities of the amalgamated co-operative bank;
(ii) the members holding seventy-five per cent or more voting rights in the amalgamating co-operative bank become members of the amalgamated co-operative bank; and
(iii) the shareholders holding seventy-five per cent or more in value of the shares in the amalgamating co-operative bank (other than the shares held by the amalgamated co-operative bank or its nominee or its subsidiary, immediately before the merger) become shareholders of the amalgamated co-operative bank;
(d) “business reorganisation” means the reorganisation of business involving the amalgamation or demerger of a co-operative bank;
(e) “co-operative bank” shall have the meaning assigned to it in clause (cci) of section 5 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (10 of 1949)88;
(f) “demerger” means the transfer by a demerged co-operative bank of one or more of its undertakings to any resulting co-operative bank, in such manner that—
(i) all the assets and liabilities of the undertaking or undertakings immediately before the transfer become the assets and liabilities of the resulting co-operative bank;
(ii) the assets and the liabilities are transferred to the resulting co-operative bank at values (other than change in the value of assets consequent to their revaluation) appearing in its books of account immediately before the transfer;
(iii) the resulting co-operative bank issues, in consideration of the transfer, its membership to the members of the demerged co-operative bank on a proportionate basis;
(iv) the shareholders holding seventy-five per cent or more in value of the shares in the demerged co-operative bank (other than shares already held by the resulting bank or its nominee or its subsidiary immediately before the transfer), become shareholders of the resulting co-operative bank, otherwise than as a result of the acquisition of the assets of the demerged co-operative bank or any undertaking thereof by the resulting co-operative bank;
(v) the transfer of the undertaking is on a going concern basis; and
(vi) the transfer is in accordance with the conditions specified by the Central Government, by notification in the Official Gazette, having regard to the necessity to ensure that the transfer is for genuine business purposes;
(g) “demerged co-operative bank” means the co-operative bank whose undertaking is transferred, pursuant to a demerger, to a resulting bank;
(h) “predecessor co-operative bank” means the amalgamating co-operative bank or the demerged co-operative bank, as the case may be;
(i) “successor co-operative bank” means the amalgamated co-operative bank or the resulting bank, as the case may be;
(j) “resulting co-operative bank” means—
(i) one or more co-operative banks to which the undertaking of the demerged co-operative bank is transferred in a demerger; or
(ii) any co-operative bank formed as a result of demerger.]
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Section 45: Capital gains
Capital gains.
- 89 90[(1)] Any profits or gains arising from the transfer91 of a capital asset91 effected91 in the previous year shall, save as otherwise provided in sections 92[***] 93[54, 54B, 94[***] 95[96[54D, 97[54E, 98[54EA, 54EB,] 54F 99[, 54G and 54H]]]]], be chargeable to income-tax under the head “Capital gains”, and shall be deemed to be the income of the previous year in which the transfer took place.
1[(1A) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where any person receives at any time during any previous year any money or other assets under an insurance from an insurer on account of damage to, or destruction of, any capital asset, as a result of—
(i) flood, typhoon, hurricane, cyclone, earthquake or other convulsion of nature; or
(ii) riot or civil disturbance; or
(iii) accidental fire or explosion; or
(iv) action by an enemy or action taken in combating an enemy (whether with or without a declaration of war),
then, any profits or gains arising from receipt of such money or other assets shall be chargeable to income-tax under the head “Capital gains” and shall be deemed to be the income of such person of the previous year in which such money or other asset was received and for the purposes of section 48, value of any money or the fair market value of other assets on the date of such receipt shall be deemed to be the full value of the consideration received or accruing as a result of the transfer of such capital asset.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-section, the expression “insurer” shall have the meaning assigned to it in clause (9) of section 22 of the Insurance Act, 1938 (4 of 1938).]
3[(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the profits or gains arising from the transfer by way of conversion by the owner of a capital asset into, or its treatment by him as stock-in-trade of a business carried on by him shall be chargeable to income-tax as his income of the previous year in which such stock-in-trade is sold or otherwise transferred by him and, for the purposes of section 48, the fair market value of the asset on the date of such conversion or treatment shall be deemed to be the full value of the consideration received or accruing as a result of the transfer of the capital asset.]
4[(2A) 5Where any person has had at any time during previous year any beneficial interest in any securities, then, any profits or gains arising from transfer made by the depository or participant of such beneficial interest in respect of securities shall be chargeable to income-tax as the income of the beneficial owner of the previous year in which such transfer took place and shall not be regarded as income of the depository who is deemed to be the registered owner of securities by virtue of sub-section (1) of section 10 of the Depositories Act, 1996, and for the purposes of—
(i) section 48; and
(ii) proviso to clause (42A) of section 2,
the cost of acquisition and the period of holding of any securities shall be determined on the basis of the first-in-first-out method.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-section, the expressions “beneficial owner” 6, “depository” 6 and “security” 6 shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in clauses (a), (e) and (l) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Depositories Act, 1996.]
7[(3) The profits or gains arising from the transfer of a capital asset by a person to a firm or other association of persons or body of individuals (not being a company or a co-operative society) in which he is or becomes a partner or member, by way of capital contribution or otherwise, shall be chargeable to tax as his income of the previous year in which such transfer takes place and, for the purposes of section 48, the amount recorded in the books of account of the firm, association or body as the value of the capital asset shall be deemed to be the full value of the consideration received or accruing as a result of the transfer of the capital asset.
(4) The profits or gains arising from the transfer of a capital asset by way of distribution of capital assets on the dissolution of a firm or other association of persons or body of individuals (not being a company or a co-operative society) or otherwise8, shall be chargeable to tax as the income of the firm, association or body, of the previous year in which the said transfer takes place and, for the purposes of section 48, the fair market value of the asset on the date of such transfer shall be deemed to be the full value of the consideration received or accruing as a result of the transfer.]
9[(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where the capital gain arises from the transfer of a capital asset, being a transfer by way of compulsory acquisition under any law, or a transfer the consideration for which was determined or approved by the Central Government or the Reserve Bank of India, and the compensation or the consideration for such transfer is enhanced or further enhanced by any court, Tribunal or other authority, the capital gain shall be dealt with in the following manner, namely :—
(a) the capital gain computed with reference to the compensation awarded in the first instance10 or, as the case may be, the consideration determined or approved in the first instance by the Central Government or the Reserve Bank of India shall be chargeable as 11[income under the head “Capital gains” of the previous year in which such compensation or part thereof, or such consideration or part thereof, was first received]; and
(b) the amount by which the compensation or consideration is enhanced or further enhanced by the court, Tribunal or other authority shall be deemed to be income chargeable under the head “Capital gains” of the previous year in which such amount is received by the assessee;
The following proviso shall be inserted after clause (b) of sub-section (5) of section 45 by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2014, w.e.f. 1-4-2015 :
Provided that any amount of compensation received in pursuance of an interim order of a court, Tribunal or other authority shall be deemed to be income chargeable under the head “Capital gains” of the previous year in which the final order of such court, Tribunal or other authority is made;
12[(c) where in the assessment for any year, the capital gain arising from the transfer of a capital asset is computed by taking the compensation or consideration referred to in clause (a) or, as the case may be, enhanced compensation or consideration referred to in clause (b), and subsequently such compensation or consideration is reduced by any court, Tribunal or other authority, such assessed capital gain of that year shall be recomputed by taking the compensation or consi-deration as so reduced by such court, Tribunal or other authority to be the full value of the consideration.]
Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-section,—
(i) in relation to the amount referred to in clause (b), the cost of acquisition and the cost of improvement shall be taken to be nil;
(ii) the provisions of this sub-section shall apply also in a case where the transfer took place prior to the 1st day of April, 1988;
(iii) where by reason of the death of the person who made the transfer, or for any other reason, the enhanced compensation or consideration is received by any other person, the amount referred to in clause (b) shall be deemed to be the income, chargeable to tax under the head “Capital gains”, of such other person.]
13[(6) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the difference between the repurchase price of the units referred to in sub-section (2) of section 80CCB and the capital value of such units shall be deemed to be the capital gains arising to the assessee in the previous year in which such repurchase takes place or the plan referred to in that section is terminated and shall be taxed accordingly.
- —For the purposes of this sub-section, “capital value of such units” means any amount invested by the assessee in the units referred to in sub-section (2) of section 80CCB.]
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Section 46: Capital gains on distribution of assets by companies in liquidation.
- 14 (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 45, where the assets of a company are distributed to its shareholders on its liquidation15, such distribution shall not be regarded as a transfer by the company for the purposes of section 45.
(2) Where a shareholder on the liquidation of a company receives any money or other assets15 from the company, he shall be chargeable to income-tax under the head “Capital gains”, in respect of the money so received or the market value of the other assets on the date of distribution, as reduced by the amount assessed as dividend within the meaning of sub-clause (c) of clause (22) of section 2 and the sum so arrived at shall be deemed to be the full value of the consideration for the purposes of section 48.
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Section 46A: 16[Capital gains on purchase by company of its own shares or other specified securities.
- Where a shareholder or a holder of other specified securities receives any consideration from any company for purchase of its own shares or other specified securities held by such shareholder or holder of other specified securities, then, subject to the provisions of section 48, the difference between the cost of acquisition and the value of consideration received by the shareholder or the holder of other specified securities, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be the capital gains arising to such shareholder or the holder of other specified securities, as the case may be, in the year in which such shares or other specified securities were purchased by the company.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this section, “specified securities” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Explanation to section 77A17 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956).]
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Section 47: Transactions not regarded as transfer18.
- 19 Nothing contained in section 45 shall apply to the following transfers :—
(i) any distribution of capital assets20 on the total or partial partition of a Hindu undivided family;
(ii) 21[***]
(iii) any transfer of a capital asset under a gift22 or will or an irrevocable trust :
23[Provided that this clause shall not apply to transfer under a gift or an irrevocable trust of a capital asset being shares, debentures or warrants allotted by a company directly or indirectly to its employees under 24[any Employees— Stock Option Plan or Scheme of the company offered to such employees in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Central Government in this behalf];]
(iv) any transfer of a capital asset by a company to its subsidiary company, if—
(a) the parent company or its nominees hold the whole of the share capital of the subsidiary company, and
(b) the subsidiary company is an Indian company;
25[(v) any transfer of a capital asset by a subsidiary company to the holding company, if—
(a) the whole of the share capital of the subsidiary company is held by the holding company, and
(b) the holding company is an Indian company :]
26[Provided that nothing contained in clause (iv) or clause (v) shall apply to the transfer of a capital asset made after the 29th day of February, 1988, as stock-in-trade;]
27[(vi) any transfer, in a scheme of amalgamation28, of a capital asset by the amalgamating company to the amalgamated company if the amalgamated company is an Indian company;]
29[(via) any transfer, in a scheme of amalgamation28, of a capital asset being a share or shares held in an Indian company, by the amalgamating foreign company to the amalgamated foreign company, if—
(a) at least twenty-five per cent of the shareholders of the amalga-mating foreign company continue to remain shareholders of the amalgamated foreign company, and
(b) such transfer does not attract tax on capital gains in the country, in which the amalgamating company is incorporated;]
30[(viaa) any transfer, in a scheme of amalgamation of a banking company with a banking institution sanctioned and brought into force by the Central Government under sub-section (7) of section 45 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (10 of 1949), of a capital asset by the banking company to the banking institution.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause,—
(i) “banking company” shall have the same meaning assigned to it in clause (c) of section 531 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (10 of 1949);
(ii) “banking institution” shall have the same meaning assigned to it in sub-section (15) of section 4531 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (10 of 1949);]
32[(vib) any transfer, in a demerger, of a capital asset by the demerged company to the resulting company, if the resulting company is an Indian company;
(vic) any transfer in a demerger, of a capital asset, being a share or shares held in an Indian company, by the demerged foreign company to the resulting foreign company, if—
(a) 33[the shareholders holding not less than three-fourths in value of the shares] of the demerged foreign company continue to remain shareholders of the resulting foreign company; and
(b) such transfer does not attract tax on capital gains in the country, in which the demerged foreign company is incorporated :
Provided that the provisions of sections 391 to 39434 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956) shall not apply in case of demergers referred to in this clause;
35[(vica) any transfer in a business reorganisation, of a capital asset by the predecessor co-operative bank to the successor co-operative bank;
(vicb) any transfer by a shareholder, in a business reorganisation, of a capital asset being a share or shares held by him in the predecessor co-operative bank if the transfer is made in consideration of the allotment to him of any share or shares in the successor co-operative bank.
Explanation.—For the purposes of clauses (vica) and (vicb), the expressions “business reorganisation”, “predecessor co-operative bank” and “successor co-operative bank” shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in section 44DB;]
(vid) any transfer or issue of shares by the resulting company, in a scheme of demerger to the shareholders of the demerged company if the transfer or issue is made in consideration of demerger of the undertaking;]
(vii) any transfer by a shareholder, in a scheme of amalgamation36, of a capital asset being a share or shares held by him in the amalgamating company, if—
(a) the transfer is made in consideration of the allotment to him of any share or shares in the 37[amalgamated company except where the shareholder itself is the amalgamated company, and]
(b) the amalgamated company is an Indian company;
38[(viia) any transfer of a capital asset, being bonds or 39[Global Depository Receipts] referred to in sub-section (1) of section 115AC, made outside India by a non-resident to another non-resident;]
The following clause (viib) and Explanation thereto shall be inserted after clause (viia) of section 47 by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2014, w.e.f. 1-4-2015 :
(viib) any transfer of a capital asset, being a Government Security carrying a periodic payment of interest, made outside India through an intermediary dealing in settlement of securities, by a non-resident to another non-resident.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, “Government Security” shall have the meaning assigned to it in clause (b) of section 239a of the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 (42 of 1956);
40[(viii) any transfer of agricultural land in India effected before the 1st day of March, 1970;]
41[(ix) any transfer of a capital asset, being any work of art, archaeological, scientific or art collection, book, manuscript, drawing, painting, photograph or print, to the Government or a University or the National Museum, National Art Gallery, National Archives or any such other public museum or institution as may be notified42 by the Central Government in the Official Gazette to be of national importance or to be of renown throughout any State or States.
- —For the purposes of this clause, “University” means a University established or incorporated by or under a Central, State or Provincial Act and includes an institution declared under section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 (3 of 1956), to be a University for the purposes of that Act;]
43[(x) any transfer by way of conversion of 44[bonds or] debentures, debenture-stock or deposit certificates in any form, of a company into shares or debentures of that company;]
45[(xa) any transfer by way of conversion of bonds referred to in clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 115AC into shares or debentures of any company;]
46[(xi) any transfer made on or before the 31st day of December, 47[1998] by a person (not being a company) of a capital asset being membership of a recognised stock exchange to a company in exchange of shares allotted by that company to the transferor.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, the expression “membership of a recognised stock exchange” means the membership of a stock exchange in India which is recognised under the provisions of the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 (42 of 1956);
(xii) any transfer of a capital asset, being land of a sick industrial company, made under a scheme prepared and sanctioned under section 1848 of the Sick Industrial Companies (Special Provisions) Act, 1985 (1 of 1986) where such sick industrial company is being managed by its workers— co-operative :
Provided that such transfer is made during the period commencing from the previous year in which the said company has become a sick industrial company under sub-section (1) of section 1749 of that Act and ending with the previous year during which the entire net worth of such company becomes equal to or exceeds the accumulated losses.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, “net worth” shall have the meaning assigned to it in clause (ga) of sub-section (1) of section 349 of the Sick Industrial Companies (Special Provisions) Act, 1985 (1 of 1986);]
50[(xiii) 51[any transfer of a capital asset or intangible asset by a firm to a company as a result of succession of the firm by a company in the business carried on by the firm, or any transfer of a capital asset to a company in the course of 52[demutualisation or] corporatisation of a recognised stock exchange in India as a result of which an association of persons or body of individuals is succeeded by such company :]
Provided that—
(a) all the assets and liabilities of the firm 53[or of the association of persons or body of individuals] relating to the business immediately before the succession become the assets and liabilities of the company;
(b) all the partners of the firm immediately before the succession become the shareholders of the company in the same proportion in which their capital accounts stood in the books of the firm on the date of the succession;
(c) the partners of the firm do not receive any consideration or benefit, directly or indirectly, in any form or manner, other than by way of allotment of shares in the company; and
(d) the aggregate of the shareholding in the company of the partners of the firm is not less than fifty per cent of the total voting power in the company and their shareholding continues to be as such for a period of five years from the date of the succession;
54[(e) the 55[demutualisation or] corporatisation of a recognised stock exchange in India is carried out in accordance with a scheme for 55[demutualisation or] corporatisation which is approved by the Securities and Exchange Board of India established under section 3 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992);]
55[(xiiia) any transfer of a capital asset being a membership right held by a member of a recognised stock exchange in India for acquisition of shares and trading or clearing rights acquired by such member in that recognised stock exchange in accordance with a scheme for demutualisation or corporatisation which is approved by the Securities and Exchange Board of India established under section 3 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992);]
56[(xiiib) any transfer of a capital asset or intangible asset by a private company or unlisted public company (hereafter in this clause referred to as the company) to a limited liability partnership or any transfer of a share or shares held in the company by a shareholder as a result of conversion of the company into a limited liability partnership in accordance with the provisions of section 56 or section 57 of the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008 (6 of 2009)57:
Provided that—
(a) all the assets and liabilities of the company immediately before the conversion become the assets and liabilities of the limited liability partnership;
(b) all the shareholders of the company immediately before the conversion become the partners of the limited liability partnership and their capital contribution and profit sharing ratio in the limited liability partnership are in the same proportion as their shareholding in the company on the date of conversion;
(c) the shareholders of the company do not receive any consideration or benefit, directly or indirectly, in any form or manner, other than by way of share in profit and capital contribution in the limited liability partnership;
(d) the aggregate of the profit sharing ratio of the shareholders of the company in the limited liability partnership shall not be less than fifty per cent at any time during the period of five years from the date of conversion;
(e) the total sales, turnover or gross receipts in the business of the company in any of the three previous years preceding the previous year in which the conversion takes place does not exceed sixty lakh rupees; and
(f) no amount is paid, either directly or indirectly, to any partner out of balance of accumulated profit standing in the accounts of the company on the date of conversion for a period of three years from the date of conversion.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, the expressions “private company” and “unlisted public company” shall have the meanings58 respectively assigned to them in the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008 (6 of 2009);]
(xiv) where a sole proprietary concern is succeeded by a company in the business carried on by it as a result of which the sole proprietary concern sells or otherwise transfers any capital asset or intangible asset to the company :
Provided that—
(a) all the assets and liabilities of the sole proprietary concern relating to the business immediately before the succession become the assets and liabilities of the company;
(b) the shareholding of the sole proprietor in the company is not less than fifty per cent of the total voting power in the company and his shareholding continues to remain as such for a period of five years from the date of the succession; and
(c) the sole proprietor does not receive any consideration or benefit, directly or indirectly, in any form or manner, other than by way of allotment of shares in the company;
(xv) any transfer in a scheme for lending of any securities under an agreement or arrangement, which the assessee has entered into with the borrower of such securities and which is subject to the guidelines issued by the Securities and Exchange Board of India, established under section 3 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992) 59[or the Reserve Bank of India constituted under sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934)], in this regard;]
60[(xvi) any transfer of a capital asset in a transaction of reverse mortgage under a scheme made and notified by the Central Government.]
The following clause (xvii) and Explanation thereto shall be inserted after clause (xvi) of section 47 by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2014, w.e.f. 1-4-2015 :
(xvii) any transfer of a capital asset, being share of a special purpose vehicle to a business trust in exchange of units allotted by that trust to the transferor.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, the expression “special purpose vehicle” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Explanation to clause (23FC) of section 10.
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Section 47A: 61[Withdrawal of exemption in certain cases.
- 62[(1)] Where at any time before the expiry of a period of eight years from the date of the transfer of a capital asset referred to in clause (iv) or, as the case may be, clause (v) of section 47,—
(i) such capital asset is converted by the transferee company into, or is treated by it as, stock-in-trade of its business; or
(ii) the parent company or its nominees or, as the case may be, the holding company ceases or cease to hold the whole of the share capital of the subsidiary company,
the amount of profits or gains arising from the transfer of such capital asset not charged under section 45 by virtue of the provisions contained in clause (iv) or, as the case may be, clause (v) of section 47 shall, notwithstanding anything contained in the said clauses, be deemed to be income chargeable under the head “Capital gains” of the previous year in which such transfer took place.]
62[(2) Where at any time, before the expiry of a period of three years from the date of the transfer of a capital asset referred to in clause (xi) of section 47, any of the shares allotted to the transferor in exchange of a membership in a recognised stock exchange are transferred, the amount of profits and gains not charged under section 45 by virtue of the provisions contained in clause (xi) of section 47 shall, notwithstanding anything contained in the said clause, be deemed to be the income chargeable under the head “Capital gains” of the previous year in which such shares are transferred.]
63[(3) Where any of the conditions laid down in the proviso to clause (xiii) or the proviso to clause (xiv) of section 47 are not complied with, the amount of profits or gains arising from the transfer of such capital asset or intangible asset not charged under section 45 by virtue of conditions laid down in the proviso to clause (xiii) or the proviso to clause (xiv) of section 47 shall be deemed to be the profits and gains chargeable to tax of the successor company for the previous year in which the requirements of the proviso to clause (xiii) or the proviso to clause (xiv), as the case may be, are not complied with.]
64[(4) Where any of the conditions laid down in the proviso to clause (xiiib) of section 47 are not complied with, the amount of profits or gains arising from the transfer of such capital asset or intangible assets or share or shares not charged under section 45 by virtue of conditions laid down in the said proviso shall be deemed to be the profits and gains chargeable to tax of the successor limited liability partnership or the shareholder of the predecessor company, as the case may be, for the previous year in which the requirements of the said proviso are not complied with.]
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Section 48: 65[Mode of computation.
- 66 The income chargeable under the head “Capital gains” shall be computed, by deducting from the full value of the consideration received or accruing67 as a result of the transfer of the capital asset the following amounts, namely :—
(i) expenditure incurred wholly and exclusively in connection with such transfer68;
(ii) the cost of acquisition of the asset and the cost of any improvement6 thereto:
69Provided that in the case of an assessee, who is a non-resident, capital gains arising from the transfer of a capital asset being shares in, or debentures of, an Indian company shall be computed by converting the cost of acquisition, expenditure incurred wholly and exclusively in connection with such transfer and the full value of the consideration received or accruing as a result of the transfer of the capital asset into the same foreign currency as was initially utilised in the purchase of the shares or debentures, and the capital gains so computed in such foreign currency shall be reconverted into Indian currency, so, however, that the aforesaid manner of computation of capital gains shall be applicable in respect of capital gains accruing or arising from every reinvestment thereafter in, and sale of, shares in, or debentures of, an Indian company :
Provided further that where long-term capital gain arises from the transfer of a long-term capital asset, other than capital gain arising to a non-resident from the transfer of shares in, or debentures of, an Indian company referred to in the first proviso, the provisions of clause (ii) shall have effect as if for the words “cost of acquisition” and “cost of any improvement”, the words “indexed cost of acquisition” and “indexed cost of any improvement” had respectively been substituted:
70[Provided also that nothing contained in the second proviso shall apply to the long-term capital gain arising from the transfer of a long-term capital asset being bond or debenture other than capital indexed bonds issued by the Government :]
71[Provided also that where shares, debentures or warrants referred to in the proviso to clause (iii) of section 47 are transferred under a gift or an irrevocable trust, the market value on the date of such transfer shall be deemed to be the full value of consideration received or accruing as a result of transfer for the purposes of this section :]
72[Provided also that no deduction shall be allowed in computing the income chargeable under the head “Capital gains” in respect of any sum paid on account of securities transaction tax under Chapter VII of the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2004.]
Explanation.—For the purposes of this section,—
(i) “foreign currency” 73 and “Indian currency” 73 shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in section 2 of 74[the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (42 of 1999)];
(ii) the conversion of Indian currency into foreign currency and the reconversion of foreign currency into Indian currency shall be at the rate of exchange prescribed in this behalf;
(iii) “indexed cost of acquisition” 75 means an amount which bears to the cost of acquisition the same proportion as Cost Inflation Index for the year in which the asset is transferred bears to the Cost Inflation Index for the first year in which the asset was held by the assessee75 or for the year beginning on the 1st day of April, 1981, whichever is later;
(iv) “indexed cost of any improvement” means an amount which bears to the cost of improvement the same proportion as Cost Inflation Index for the year in which the asset is transferred bears to the Cost Inflation Index for the year in which the improvement to the asset took place;
76[(v) “Cost Inflation Index”, in relation to a previous year, means such Index as the Central Government may, having regard to seventy-five per cent of average rise in the 76a[Consumer Price Index for urban non-manual employees] for the immediately preceding previous year to such previous year, by notification77 in the Official Gazette, specify, in this behalf.]]
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Section 49: Cost with reference to certain modes of acquisition.
- 78 79[(1)] Where the capital asset became the property of the assessee—
(i) on any distribution of assets on the total or partial partition of a Hindu undivided family;
(ii) under a gift or will;
(iii) (a) by succession, inheritance or devolution80, or
81[(b) on any distribution of assets on the dissolution of a firm, body of individuals, or other association of persons, where such dissolution had taken place at any time before the 1st day of April, 1987, or]
(c) on any distribution of assets on the liquidation of a company, or
(d) under a transfer to a revocable or an irrevocable trust, or
(e) under any such transfer as is referred to in clause (iv) 82[or clause (v)] 83[or clause (vi)] 84[or clause (via)] 85[or clause (viaa)] 86[or clause (vica) or 87[clause (vicb)] or 88[clause (xiii) or clause (xiiib) or clause (xiv) of section 47]];
89[(iv) such assessee being a Hindu undivided family, by the mode referred to in sub-section (2) of section 64 at any time after the 31st day of December, 1969,]
the cost of acquisition of the asset89a shall be deemed to be the cost for which the previous owner of the property acquired it, as increased by the cost of any improvement of the assets incurred or borne by the previous owner or the assessee, as the case may be.
90[Explanation.—In this 91[sub-section] the expression “previous owner of the property” in relation to any capital asset owned by an assessee means the last previous owner of the capital asset who acquired it by a mode of acquisition other than that referred to in clause (i) or clause (ii) or clause (iii) 92[or clause (iv)] of this 93[sub-section].]
94[(2) Where the capital asset being a share or shares in an amalgamated company which is an Indian company became the property of the assessee in consideration of a transfer referred to in clause (vii) of section 47, the cost of acquisition of the asset shall be deemed to be the cost of acquisition to him of the share or shares in the amalgamating company.]
95[(2A) Where the capital asset, being a share or debenture of a company, became the property of the assessee in consideration of a transfer referred to in clause (x) or clause (xa) of section 47, the cost of acquisition of the asset to the assessee shall be deemed to be that part of the cost of debenture, debenture-stock, bond or deposit certificate in relation to which such asset is acquired by the assessee.]
96[(2AA) Where the capital gain arises from the transfer of specified security or sweat equity shares referred to in sub-clause (vi) of clause (2) of section 17, the cost of acquisition of such security or shares shall be the fair market value which has been taken into account for the purposes of the said sub-clause.]
97[(2AAA) Where the capital asset, being rights of a partner referred to in section 42 of the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008 (6 of 2009), became the property of the assessee on conversion as referred to in clause (xiiib) of section 47, the cost of acquisition of the asset shall be deemed to be the cost of acquisition to him of the share or shares in the company immediately before its conversion.]
98[(2AB) Where the capital gain arises from the transfer of specified security or sweat equity shares, the cost of acquisition of such security or shares shall be the fair market value which has been taken into account while computing the value of fringe benefits under clause (ba) of sub-section (1) of section 115WC.]
The following sub-section (2AC) shall be inserted after sub-section (2AB) of section 49 by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2014, w.e.f. 1-4-2015 :
(2AC) Where the capital asset, being a unit of a business trust, became the property of the assessee in consideration of a transfer as referred to in clause (xvii) of section 47, the cost of acquisition of the asset shall be deemed to be the cost of acquisition to him of the share referred to in the said clause.
99[(2B) 1[***]
(2C) The cost of acquisition of the shares in the resulting company shall be the amount which bears to the cost of acquisition of shares held by the assessee in the demerged company the same proportion as the net book value of the assets transferred in a demerger bears to the net worth of the demerged company immediately before such demerger.
(2D) The cost of acquisition of the original shares held by the shareholder in the demerged company shall be deemed to have been reduced by the amount as so arrived at under sub-section (2C).]
2[(2E) The provisions of sub-section (2), sub-section (2C) and sub-section (2D) shall, as far as may be, also apply in relation to business reorganisation of a co-operative bank as referred to in section 44DB.]
Explanation.—For the purposes of this section, “net worth” shall mean the aggregate of the paid up share capital and general reserves as appearing in the books of account of the demerged company immediately before the demerger.]
3[(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where the capital gain arising from the transfer of a capital asset referred to in clause (iv) or, as the case may be, clause (v) of section 47 is deemed to be income chargeable under the head “Capital gains” by virtue of the provisions contained in section 47A, the cost of acquisition of such asset to the transferee-company shall be the cost for which such asset was acquired by it.]
4[(4) Where the capital gain arises from the transfer of a property, the value of which has been subject to income-tax under clause (vii) 5[or clause (viia)] of sub-section (2) of section 56, the cost of acquisition of such property shall be deemed to be the value which has been taken into account for the purposes of the said clause (vii) 5[or clause (viia)].]
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Section 50: 6[Special provision for computation of capital gains in case of depreciable assets.
- 7 Notwithstanding anything contained in clause (42A) of section 2, where the capital asset is an asset forming part of a block of assets8 in respect of which depreciation has been allowed under this Act or under the Indian Income-tax Act, 1922 (11 of 1922), the provisions of sections 48 and 49 shall be subject to the following modifications :—
(1) where the full value of the consideration received or accruing as a result of the transfer of the asset together with the full value of such consideration received or accruing as a result of the transfer of any other capital asset falling within the block of the assets during the previous year, exceeds the aggregate of the following amounts, namely :—
(i) expenditure incurred wholly and exclusively in connection with such transfer or transfers;
(ii) the written down value of the block of assets at the beginning of the previous year; and
(iii) the actual cost of any asset falling within the block of assets acquired during the previous year,
such excess shall be deemed to be the capital gains arising from the transfer of short-term capital assets;
(2) where any block of assets ceases to exist as such, for the reason that all the assets in that block are transferred during the previous year, the cost of acquisition of the block of assets shall be the written down value of the block of assets at the beginning of the previous year, as increased by the actual cost of any asset falling within that block of assets, acquired by the assessee during the previous year and the income received or accruing as a result of such transfer or transfers shall be deemed to be the capital gains arising from the transfer of short-term capital assets.]
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Section 50A: 9[Special provision for cost of acquisition in case of depreciable asset.
- Where the capital asset is an asset in respect of which a deduction on account of depreciation under clause (i) of sub-section (1) of section 32 has been obtained by the assessee in any previous year, the provisions of sections 48 and 49 shall apply subject to the modification that the written down value, as defined in clause (6) of section 43, of the asset, as adjusted, shall be taken as the cost of acquisition of the asset.]
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Section 50B: 10[Special provision for computation of capital gains in case of slump sale.
- (1) Any profits or gains arising from the slump sale effected in the previous year shall be chargeable to income-tax as capital gains arising from the transfer of long-term capital assets and shall be deemed to be the income of the previous year in which the transfer took place :
Provided that any profits or gains arising from the transfer under the slump sale of any capital asset being one or more undertakings owned and held by an assessee for not more than thirty-six months immediately preceding the date of its transfer shall be deemed to be the capital gains arising from the transfer of short-term capital assets.
(2) In relation to capital assets being an undertaking or division transferred by way of such sale, the “net worth” of the undertaking or the division, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be the cost of acquisition and the cost of improvement for the purposes of sections 48 and 49 and no regard shall be given to the provisions contained in the second proviso to section 48.
(3) Every assessee, in the case of slump sale, shall furnish in the prescribed form11 along with the return of income, a report of an accountant as defined in the Explanation below sub-section (2) of section 288, indicating the computation of the net worth of the undertaking or division, as the case may be, and certifying that the net worth of the undertaking or division, as the case may be, has been correctly arrived at in accordance with the provisions of this section.
12[Explanation 1.—For the purposes of this section, “net worth” shall be the aggregate value of total assets of the undertaking or division as reduced by the value of liabilities of such undertaking or division as appearing in its books of account :
Provided that any change in the value of assets on account of revaluation of assets shall be ignored for the purposes of computing the net worth.
Explanation 2.—For computing the net worth, the aggregate value of total assets shall be,—
(a) in the case of depreciable assets, the written down value of the block of assets determined in accordance with the provisions contained in sub-item (c) of item (i) of sub-clause (c) of clause (6) of section 43; 13[***]
14[(b) in the case of capital assets in respect of which the whole of the expenditure has been allowed or is allowable as a deduction under section 35AD, nil; and
(c) in the case of other assets, the book value of such assets.]]]
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Section 50C: 15[Special provision for full value of consideration in certain cases.
- (1) Where the consideration received or accruing as a result of the transfer by an assessee of a capital asset, being land or building or both, is less than the value adopted or assessed 16[or assessable] by any authority of a State Government (hereafter in this section referred to as the “stamp valuation authority” ) for the purpose of payment of stamp duty in respect of such transfer, the value so adopted or assessed 16[or assessable] shall, for the purposes of section 48, be deemed to be the full value of the consideration received or accruing as a result of such transfer.
(2) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (1), where—
(a) the assessee claims before any Assessing Officer that the value adopted or assessed 16[or assessable] by the stamp valuation authority under sub-section (1) exceeds the fair market value of the property as on the date of transfer;
(b) the value so adopted or assessed 16[or assessable] by the stamp valuation authority under sub-section (1) has not been disputed in any appeal or revision or no reference has been made before any other authority, court or the High Court,
the Assessing Officer may refer the valuation of the capital asset to a Valuation Officer and where any such reference is made, the provisions of sub-sections (2), (3), (4), (5) and (6) of section 16A, clause (i) of sub-section (1) and sub-sections (6) and (7) of section 23A, sub-section (5) of section 24, section 34AA, section 35 and section 37 of the Wealth-tax Act, 1957 (27 of 1957), shall, with necessary modi-fications, apply in relation to such reference as they apply in relation to a reference made by the Assessing Officer under sub-section (1) of section 16A of that Act.
17[Explanation 1].—For the purposes of this section, “Valuation Officer” shall have the same meaning as in clause (r) of section 2 of the Wealth-tax Act, 1957 (27 of 1957).
18[Explanation 2.—For the purposes of this section, the expression “assessable” means the price which the stamp valuation authority would have, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any other law for the time being in force, adopted or assessed, if it were referred to such authority for the purposes of the payment of stamp duty.]
(3) Subject to the provisions contained in sub-section (2), where the value ascertained under sub-section (2) exceeds the value adopted or assessed 18[or assessable] by the stamp valuation authority referred to in sub-section (1), the value so adopted or assessed 18[or assessable] by such authority shall be taken as the full value of the consideration received or accruing as a result of the transfer.]
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Section 50D: 19[Fair market value deemed to be full value of consideration in certain cases.
- Where the consideration received or accruing as a result of the transfer of a capital asset by an assessee is not ascertainable or cannot be determined, then, for the purpose of computing income chargeable to tax as capital gains, the fair market value of the said asset on the date of transfer shall be deemed to be the full value of the consideration received or accruing as a result of such transfer.]
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Section 51: Advance money received.
- Where any capital asset was on any previous occasion the subject of negotiations for its transfer, any advance or other money20 received and retained by the assessee in respect of such negotiations shall be deducted from the cost for which the asset was acquired or the written down value or the fair market value, as the case may be, in computing the cost of acquisition.
The following proviso shall be inserted in section 51 by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2014, w.e.f. 1-4-2015 :
Provided that where any sum of money, received as an advance or otherwise in the course of negotiations for transfer of a capital asset, has been included in the total income of the assessee for any previous year in accordance with the provisions of clause (ix) of sub-section (2) of section 56, then, such sum shall not be deducted from the cost for which the asset was acquired or the written down value or the fair market value, as the case may be, in computing the cost of acquisition.
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Section 52: Consideration for transfer in cases of understatement.
- 21[Omitted by the Finance Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1-4-1988.]
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Section 53: Exemption of capital gains from a residential house.
- 22[Omitted by the Finance Act, 1992, w.e.f. 1-4-1993.]
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Section 54: Profit on sale of property used for residence.
- 23 24[(1)] 25[26[Subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), where, in the case of an assessee27 being an individual or a Hindu undivided family], the capital gain arises from the transfer of a long-term capital asset 28[***], being buildings or 29lands appurtenant thereto, and being a residential house29, the income of which is chargeable under the head “Income from house property” (hereafter in this section referred to as the original asset), and the assessee has within a period of 30[one year before or two years after the date on which the transfer took place purchased31], or has within a period of three years after that date 31a[constructed, a residential house], then], instead of the capital gain being charged to income-tax as income of the previous year in which the transfer took place, it shall be dealt with in accordance with the following provisions of this section, that is to say,—
(i) if the amount of the capital gain 32[is greater than the cost of 33[the residential house] so purchased or constructed (hereafter in this section referred to as the new asset)], the difference between the amount of the capital gain and the cost of the new asset shall be charged under section 45 as the income of the previous year; and for the purpose of computing in respect of the new asset any capital gain arising from its transfer within a period of three years of its purchase or construction, as the case may be, the cost shall be nil; or
(ii) if the amount of the capital gain is equal to or less than the cost of the new asset, the capital gain shall not be charged under section 45; and for the purpose of computing in respect of the new asset any capital gain arising from its transfer within a period of three years of its purchase or construction, as the case may be, the cost shall be reduced by the amount of the capital gain.
34[***]
35[(2) The amount of the capital gain which is not appropriated by the assessee towards the purchase of the new asset made within one year before the date on which the transfer of the original asset took place, or which is not utilised by him for the purchase or construction of the new asset before the date of furnishing the return of income under section 139, shall be deposited by him before furnishing such return [such deposit being made in any case not later than the due date applicable in the case of the assessee for furnishing the return of income under sub-section (1) of section 139] in an account in any such bank or institution as may be specified in, and utilised in accordance with, any scheme36 which the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, frame in this behalf and such return shall be accompanied by proof of such deposit; and, for the purposes of sub-section (1), the amount, if any, already utilised by the assessee for the purchase or construction of the new asset together with the amount so deposited shall be deemed to be the cost of the new asset :
Provided that if the amount deposited under this sub-section is not utilised wholly or partly for the purchase or construction of the new asset within the period specified in sub-section (1), then,—
(i) the amount not so utilised shall be charged under section 45 as the income of the previous year in which the period of three years from the date of the transfer of the original asset expires; and
(ii) the assessee shall be entitled to withdraw such amount in accordance with the scheme aforesaid.
Explanation.—37[Omitted by the Finance Act, 1992, w.e.f. 1-4-1993.]
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Section 54B: 38[Capital gain on transfer of land used for agricultural purposes not to be charged in certain cases.
3954B. 40[(1)] 41[Subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), where the capital gain arises] from the transfer of a capital asset being land which, in the two years immediately preceding the date on which the transfer took place, was being used by 42[the assessee being an individual or his parent, or a Hindu undivided family] for agricultural purposes 43[(hereinafter referred to as the original asset)], and the assessee has, within a period of two years after that date, purchased any other land for being used for agricultural purposes, then, instead of the capital gain being charged to income-tax as income of the previous year in which the transfer took place, it shall be dealt with in accordance with the following provisions of this section, that is to say,—
(i) if the amount of the capital gain is greater than the cost of the land so purchased (hereinafter referred to as the new asset), the difference between the amount of the capital gain and the cost of the new asset shall be charged under section 45 as the income of the previous year; and for the purpose of computing in respect of the new asset any capital gain arising from its transfer within a period of three years of its purchase, the cost shall be nil; or
(ii) if the amount of the capital gain is equal to or less than the cost of the new asset, the capital gain shall not be charged under section 45; and for the purpose of computing in respect of the new asset any capital gain arising from its transfer within a period of three years of its purchase, the cost shall be reduced, by the amount of the capital gain.]
44[(2) The amount of the capital gain which is not utilised by the assessee for the purchase of the new asset before the date of furnishing the return of income under section 139, shall be deposited by him before furnishing such return [such deposit being made in any case not later than the due date applicable in the case of the assessee for furnishing the return of income under sub-section (1) of section 139] in an account in any such bank or institution as may be specified in, and utilised in accordance with, any scheme45 which the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, frame in this behalf and such return shall be accompanied by proof of such deposit; and, for the purposes of sub-section (1), the amount, if any, already utilised by the assessee for the purchase of the new asset together with the amount so deposited shall be deemed to be the cost of the new asset :
Provided that if the amount deposited under this sub-section is not utilised wholly or partly for the purchase of the new asset within the period specified in sub-section (1), then,—
(i) the amount not so utilised shall be charged under section 45 as the income of the previous year in which the period of two years from the date of the transfer of the original asset expires; and
(ii) the assessee shall be entitled to withdraw such amount in accordance with the scheme aforesaid.
Explanation.—46[Omitted by the Finance Act, 1992, w.e.f. 1-4-1993.]]
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Section 54C: Capital gain on transfer of jewellery held for personal use not to be charged in certain cases.
- [Omitted by the Finance Act, 1976, w.e.f. 1-4-1976. Original section was inserted by the Finance Act, 1972, w.e.f. 1-4-1973.]
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Section 54D: 47[Capital gain on compulsory acquisition of lands and buildings not to be charged in certain cases.
4854D. 49[(1)] 50[Subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), where the capital gain arises] from the transfer by way of compulsory acquisition under any law of a capital asset, being land or building or any right in land or building, forming part of an industrial undertaking51 belonging to the assessee which, in the two years immediately preceding the date on which the transfer took place, was being used by the assessee for the purposes of the business of the said undertaking 52[(hereafter in this section referred to as the original asset)], and the assessee has within a period of three years after that date purchased any other land or building or any right in any other land or building or constructed any other building for the purposes of shifting or re-establishing the said undertaking or setting up another industrial undertaking, then, instead of the capital gain being charged to income-tax as the income of the previous year in which the transfer took place, it shall be dealt with in accordance with the following provisions of this section, that is to say,—
(i) if the amount of the capital gain is greater than the cost of the land, building or right so purchased or the building so constructed (such land, building or right being hereafter in this section referred to as the new asset), the difference between the amount of the capital gain and the cost of the new asset shall be charged under section 45 as the income of the previous year; and for the purpose of computing in respect of the new asset any capital gain arising from its transfer within a period of three years of its purchase or construction, as the case may be, the cost shall be nil; or
(ii) if the amount of the capital gain is equal to or less than the cost of the new asset, the capital gain shall not be charged under section 45; and for the purpose of computing in respect of the new asset any capital gain arising from its transfer within a period of three years of its purchase or construction, as the case may be, the cost shall be reduced by the amount of the capital gain.]
53[(2) The amount of the capital gain which is not utilised by the assessee for the purchase or construction of the new asset before the date of furnishing the return of income under section 139, shall be deposited by him before furnishing such return [such deposit being made in any case not later than the due date applicable in the case of the assessee for furnishing the return of income under sub-section (1) of section 139] in an account in any such bank or institution as may be specified in, and utilised in accordance with, any scheme54 which the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, frame in this behalf and such return shall be accompanied by proof of such deposit; and, for the purposes of sub-section (1), the amount, if any, already utilised by the assessee for the purchase or construction of the new asset together with the amount so deposited shall be deemed to be the cost of the new asset:
Provided that if the amount deposited under this sub-section is not utilised wholly or partly for the purchase or construction of the new asset within the period specified in sub-section (1), then,—
(i) the amount not so utilised shall be charged under section 45 as the income of the previous year in which the period of three years from the date of the transfer of the original asset expires; and
(ii) the assessee shall be entitled to withdraw such amount in accordance with the scheme aforesaid.
Explanation.—55[Omitted by the Finance Act, 1992, w.e.f. 1-4-1993.]
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Section 54E: 56[Capital gain on transfer of capital assets not to be charged in certain cases.
5754E. (1) Where the capital gain arises from the transfer of a 58[long-term capital asset] 59[before the 1st day of April, 1992], (the capital asset so transferred being hereafter in this section referred to as the original asset) and the assessee has, within a period of six months after the date of such transfer, invested or deposited the 60[whole or any part of the net consideration] in any specified asset (such specified asset being hereafter in this section referred to as the new asset), the capital gain shall be dealt with in accordance with the following provisions of this section, that is to say,—
(a) if the cost of the new asset is not less than the 61[net consideration] in respect of the original asset, the whole of such capital gain shall not be charged under section 45;
(b) if the cost of the new asset is less than the 61[net consideration] in respect of the original asset, so much of the capital gain as bears to the whole of the capital gain the same proportion as the cost of acquisition of the new asset bears to the 62[net consideration] shall not be charged under section 45:
63[Provided that in a case where the original asset is transferred after the 28th day of February, 1983, the provisions of this sub-section shall not apply unless the assessee has invested or deposited the whole or, as the case may be, any part of the net consideration in the new asset by initially subscribing to such new asset:]
64[Provided further that in a case where the transfer of the original asset is by way of compulsory acquisition under any law and the full amount of compensation awarded for such acquisition is not received by the assessee on the date of such transfer, the period of six months referred to in this sub-section shall, in relation to so much of such compensation as is not received on the date of the transfer, be reckoned from the date immediately following the date on which such compensation is received by the assessee 65[or the 31st day of March, 1992, whichever is earlier].]
Explanation 1.—66[For the purposes of this sub-section, “specified asset” means,—
(a) in a case where the original asset is transferred before the 1st day of March, 1979, any of the following assets, namely:—]
(i) securities of the Central Government or a State Government;
(ii) 67savings certificates as defined in clause (c) of section 2 of the Government Savings Certificates Act, 1959 (46 of 1959);
(iii) units in the Unit Trust of India established under the Unit Trust of India Act, 1963 (52 of 1963);
(iv) debentures specified by the Central Government for the purposes of clause (ii) of sub-section (1) of section 80L;
(v) shares in any Indian company which are issued to the public or are listed in a recognised stock exchange in India in accordance with the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 (42 of 1956), and any rules made thereunder, 68[where the investment in such shares is made before the 1st day of March, 1978];
68[(va) equity shares forming part of any eligible issue of capital, where the investment in such shares is made after the 28th day of February, 1978;]
(vi) deposits for a period of not less than three years with the State Bank of India established under the State Bank of India Act, 1955 (23 of 1955), or any subsidiary bank as defined in the State Bank of India (Subsidiary Banks) Act, 1959 (38 of 1959) or any nationalised bank, that is to say, any corresponding new bank, constituted under section 3 of the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970 (5 of 1970), or any co-operative society engaged in carrying on the business of banking (including a co-operative land mortgage bank or a co-operative land development bank);
69[(b) in a case where the original asset is transferred after the 28th day of February, 1979 70[but before the 1st day of March, 1983], such National Rural Development Bonds as the Central Government may notify71 in this behalf in the Official Gazette;]
72[(c) in a case where the original asset is transferred after the 28th day of February, 1983 73[but before the 1st day of April, 1986], any of the following assets, namely :—
(i) securities of the Central Government which that Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf;
(ii) special series of units of the Unit Trust of India established under the Unit Trust of India Act, 1963 (52 of 1963), which the Central Government may, by notification74 in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf;
(iii) such National Rural Development Bonds as have been notified74 under clause (b) of Explanation 1 or as may be notified in this behalf under this clause by the Central Government;
(iv) such debentures issued by the Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited [a 75Government company as defined in section 617 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956)], as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf;]
76[(d) in a case where the original asset is transferred after the 31st day of March, 1986, any of the assets specified in clause (c) and such bonds issued by any public sector company, as the Central Government may, by notification77 in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf;
78[***]]
79[(e) in a case where the original asset is transferred after the 31st day of March, 1989, any of the assets specified in clauses (c) and (d) and such debentures or bonds issued by the National Housing Bank established under section 3 of the National Housing Bank Act, 1987 (53 of 1987), as the Central Government may, by notification80 in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf.]
81[Explanation 2.—”Eligible issue of capital” shall have the meaning assigned to it in sub-section (3) of section 80CC82.]
81[Explanation 3.—An assessee shall not be deemed to have invested the 83[whole or any part of the net consideration in any equity shares referred to in subclause (va) of clause (a)] of Explanation 1, unless the assessee has subscribed to or purchased the shares in the manner specified in sub-section (4) of section 80CC.]
Explanation 84[4].—”Cost”, in relation to any new asset, being a deposit referred to in 85[sub-clause (vi) of clause (a)] of Explanation 1, means the amount of such deposit.
86[Explanation 5.—”Net consideration”, in relation to the transfer of a capital asset, means the full value of the consideration received or accruing as a result of the transfer of the capital asset as reduced by any expenditure incurred wholly and exclusively in connection with such transfer.
87[(1A) Where the assessee deposits after the 27th day of April, 1978, the 88[whole or any part of the net consideration in respect] of the original asset in any new asset, being a deposit referred to in 89[sub-clause (vi) of clause (a)] of Explanation 1 below sub-section (1), the cost of such new asset shall not be taken into account for the purposes of that sub-section unless the following conditions are fulfilled, namely :—
(a) the assessee furnishes, along with the deposit, a declaration in writing, to the bank or the co-operative society referred to in the said 89[sub-clause (vi)] with which such deposit is made, to the effect that the assessee will not take any loan or advance on the security of such deposit during a period of three years from the date on which the deposit is made;
(b) the assessee furnishes, along with the return of income for the assessment year relevant to the previous year in which the transfer of the original asset was effected or within such further time as may be allowed by the 90[Assessing] Officer, a copy of the declaration referred to in clause (a) duly attested by an officer not below the rank of sub-agent, agent or manager of such bank or an officer of corresponding rank of such co-operative society.]
91[(1B) Where on the fulfilment of the conditions specified in sub-section (1A), the cost of the new asset referred to in that sub-section is taken into account for the purposes of sub-section (1), the assessee shall, within a period of ninety days from the expiry of the period of three years reckoned from the date of such deposit, furnish to the 92[Assessing] Officer a certificate from the officer referred to in clause (b) of sub-section (1A) to the effect that the assessee has not taken any loan or advance on the security of such deposit during the said period of three years.]
93[(1C) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where the capital gain arises from the transfer of the original asset, made after the 31st day of March, 1992, in respect of which the assessee had received any amount by way of advance on or before the 29th day of February, 1992 and had invested or deposited the whole or any part of such amount in the new asset on or before the later date, then, the provisions of clauses (a) and (b) of sub-section (1) shall apply in the case of such investment or deposit as they apply in the case of investment or deposit under that sub-section.]
(2) Where the new asset is transferred, or converted (otherwise than by transfer) into money, within a period of three years from the date of its acquisition, the amount of capital gain arising from the transfer of the original asset not charged under section 45 on the basis of the cost of such new asset as provided in clause (a) or, as the case may be, clause (b), of sub-section (1) shall be deemed to be income chargeable under the head “Capital gains” relating to 94[long-term capital assets] of the previous year in which the new asset is transferred or converted (otherwise than by transfer) into money.]
95[96[Explanation 1].—Where the assessee deposits after the 27th day of April, 1978, the 97[whole or any part of the net consideration in respect] of the original asset in any new asset, being a deposit referred to in 98[sub-clause (vi) of clause (a)] of Explanation 1 below sub-section (1), and such assessee takes any loan or advance on the security of such deposit, he shall be deemed to have converted (otherwise than by transfer) such deposit into money on the date on which such loan or advance is taken.]
99[Explanation 2.—In a case where the original asset is transferred after the 28th day of February, 1983 and the assessee invests the whole or any part of the net consideration in respect of the original asset in any new asset and such assessee takes any loan or advance on the security of such new asset, he shall be deemed to have converted (otherwise than by transfer) such new asset on the date on which such loan or advance is taken.]
1[***]
2[***]
3[***]
4[(3) Where the cost of the equity shares referred to in 5[sub-clause (va) of clause (a)] of Explanation 1 below sub-section (1) is taken into account for the purposes of clause (a) or clause (b) of sub-section (1) 6[***], a deduction with reference to such cost shall not be allowed under section 80CC7.]
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Section 54EA: 8[Capital gain on transfer of long-term capital assets not to be charged in the case of investment in 9[specified securities].
1054EA. (1) Where the capital gain arises from the transfer of a long-term capital asset 11[before the 1st day of April, 2000] (the capital asset so transferred being hereafter in this section referred to as the original asset) and the assessee has, at any time within a period of six months after the date of such transfer, invested the whole or any part of the net consideration in any of the 12[bonds, debentures, shares of a public company or units of any mutual fund referred to in clause (23D) of section 10,] specified13 by the Board in this behalf by notification in the Official Gazette (such assets hereafter in this section referred to as the 14[specified securities]), the capital gain shall be dealt with in accordance with the following provisions of this section, that is to say,—
(a) if the cost of the 14[specified securities] is not less than the net consideration in respect of the original asset, the whole of such capital gain shall not be charged under section 45;
(b) if the cost of the 14[specified securities] is less than the net consideration in respect of the original asset, so much of the capital gain as bears to the whole of the capital gain the same proportion as the cost of acquisition of the 14[specified securities] bears to the net consideration shall not be charged under section 45.
(2) Where the 14[specified securities] are transferred or converted (otherwise than by transfer) into money at any time within a period of three years from the date of their acquisition, the amount of capital gain arising from the transfer of the original asset not charged under section 45 on the basis of the cost of such 14[specified securities] as provided in clause (a) or clause (b) of sub-section (1) shall be deemed to be the income chargeable under the head “Capital gains” relating to long-term capital assets of the previous year in which the 15[specified securities] are transferred or converted (otherwise than by transfer) into money.
Explanation.—In a case where the original asset is transferred and the assessee invests the whole or any part of the net consideration in respect of the original asset in any 15[specified securities] and such assessee takes any loan or advance on the security of such 15[specified securities], he shall be deemed to have converted (otherwise than by transfer) such 15[specified securities] into money on the date on which such loan or advance is taken.
(3) Where the cost of the 15[specified securities] has been taken into account for the purposes of clause (a) or clause (b) of sub-section (1), a rebate with reference to such cost shall not be allowed under section 88.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this section,—
(a) “cost”, in relation to any 15[specified securities], means the amount invested in such 15[specified securities] out of the net consideration received or accruing as a result of the transfer of the original asset ;
(b) “net consideration”, in relation to the transfer of a capital asset, means the full value of the consideration received or accruing as a result of the transfer of the capital asset as reduced by the expenditure incurred wholly and exclusively in connection with such transfer.
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Section 54EB: Capital gain on transfer of long-term capital assets not to be charged in certain cases.
1654EB. (1) Where the capital gain arises from the transfer of a long-term capital asset 17[before the 1st day of April, 2000] (the capital asset so transferred being hereafter in this section referred to as the original asset), and the assessee has, at any time within a period of six months after the date of such transfer invested the whole or any part of capital gains, in any of the assets specified18 by the Board in this behalf by notification in the Official Gazette (such assets hereafter in this section referred to as the long-term specified assets), the capital gain shall be dealt with in accordance with the following provisions of this section, that is to say,—
(a) if the cost of the long-term specified asset is not less than the capital gain arising from the transfer of the original asset, the whole of such capital gain shall not be charged under section 45 ;
(b) if the cost of the long-term specified asset is less than the capital gain arising from the transfer of the original asset, so much of the capital gain as bears to the whole of the capital gain the same proportion as the cost of acquisition of the long-term specified asset bears to the whole of the capital gain, shall not be charged under section 45.
Explanation.—“Cost”, in relation to any long-term specified asset, means the amount invested in such specified asset out of capital gains received or accruing as a result of the transfer of the original asset.
(2) Where the long-term specified asset is transferred or converted (otherwise than by transfer) into money at any time within a period of seven years from the date of its acquisition, the amount of capital gains arising from the transfer of the original asset not charged under section 45 on the basis of the cost of such long-term specified asset as provided in clause (a), or as the case may be, clause (b) of sub-section (1) shall be deemed to be the income chargeable under the head “Capital gains” relating to long-term capital assets of the previous year in which the long-term specified asset is transferred or converted (otherwise than by transfer) into money.
- —In a case where the original asset is transferred and the assessee invests the whole or any part of the capital gain received or accrued as a result of transfer of the original asset in any long-term specified asset and such assessee takes any loan or advance on the security of such specified asset, he shall be deemed to have converted (otherwise than by transfer) such specified asset into money on the date on which such loan or advance is taken.
(3) Where the cost of the long-term specified asset has been taken into account for the purposes of clause (a) or clause (b) of sub-section (1), a deduction from the amount of income-tax with reference to such cost shall not be allowed under section 88.]
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Section 54EC: 19[Capital gain not to be charged on investment in certain bonds.
- (1) Where the capital gain arises from the transfer of a long-term capital asset (the capital asset so transferred being hereafter in this section referred to as the original asset) and the assessee has, at any time within a period of six months after the date of such transfer, invested the whole or any part of capital gains in the long-term specified asset, the capital gain shall be dealt with in accordance with the following provisions of this section, that is to say,—
(a) if the cost of the long-term specified asset is not less than the capital gain arising from the transfer of the original asset, the whole of such capital gain shall not be charged under section 45;
(b) if the cost of the long-term specified asset is less than the capital gain arising from the transfer of the original asset, so much of the capital gain as bears to the whole of the capital gain the same proportion as the cost of acquisition of the long-term specified asset bears to the whole of the capital gain, shall not be charged under section 45 :
20[Provided that the investment made on or after the 1st day of April, 2007 in the long-term specified asset by an assessee during any financial year does not exceed fifty lakh rupees.]
The following second proviso shall be inserted after the existing proviso to sub-section (1) of section 54EC by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2014, w.e.f. 1-4-2015 :
Provided further that the investment made by an assessee in the long-term specified asset, from capital gains arising from transfer of one or more original assets, during the financial year in which the original asset or assets are transferred and in the subsequent financial year does not exceed fifty lakh rupees.
(2) Where the long-term specified asset is transferred or converted (otherwise than by transfer) into money at any time within a period of three years from the date of its acquisition, the amount of capital gains arising from the transfer of the original asset not charged under section 45 on the basis of the cost of such long-term specified asset as provided in clause (a) or, as the case may be, clause (b) of sub-section (1) shall be deemed to be the income chargeable under the head “Capital gains” relating to long-term capital asset of the previous year in which the long-term specified asset is transferred or converted (otherwise than by transfer) into money.
Explanation.—In a case where the original asset is transferred and the assessee invests the whole or any part of the capital gain received or accrued as a result of transfer of the original asset in any long-term specified asset and such assessee takes any loan or advance on the security of such specified asset, he shall be deemed to have converted (otherwise than by transfer) such specified asset into money on the date on which such loan or advance is taken.
21[(3) Where the cost of the long-term specified asset has been taken into account for the purposes of clause (a) or clause (b) of sub-section (1),—
(a) a deduction from the amount of income-tax with reference to such cost shall not be allowed under section 88 for any assessment year ending before the 1st day of April, 2006;
(b) a deduction from the income with reference to such cost shall not be allowed under section 80C for any assessment year beginning on or after the 1st day of April, 2006.]
Explanation.—For the purposes of this section,—
(a) “cost”, in relation to any long-term specified asset, means the amount invested in such specified asset out of capital gains received or accruing as a result of the transfer of the original asset;
22[(b) “long-term specified asset” for making any investment under this section during the period commencing from the 1st day of April, 2006 and ending with the 31st day of March, 2007, means any bond, redeemable after three years and issued on or after the 1st day of April, 2006, but on or before the 31st day of March, 2007,—
(i) by the National Highways Authority of India constituted under section 3 of the National Highways Authority of India Act, 1988 (68 of 1988); or
(ii) by the Rural Electrification Corporation Limited, a company formed and registered under the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956),22a
and notified23 by the Central Government in the Official Gazette for the purposes of this section with such conditions (including the condition for providing a limit on the amount of investment by an assessee in such bond) as it thinks fit:]
24[Provided that where any bond has been notified before the 1st day of April, 2007, subject to the conditions specified in the notification, by the Central Government in the Official Gazette under the provisions of clause (b) as they stood immediately before their amendment by the Finance Act, 2007, such bond shall be deemed to be a bond notified under this clause;]
25[(ba) “long-term specified asset” for making any investment under this section on or after the 1st day of April, 2007 means any bond, redeemable after three years and issued on or after the 1st day of April, 2007 by the National Highways Authority of India constituted under section 3 of the National Highways Authority of India Act, 1988 (68 of 1988) or by the Rural Electrification Corporation Limited, a company formed and registered under the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956).25a]
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Section 54ED: 26[Capital gain on transfer of certain listed securities or unit not to be charged in certain cases.
- (1) Where the capital gain arises from the transfer 27[before the 1st day of April, 2006,] of a long-term capital asset, being listed securities or unit (the capital asset so transferred being hereafter in this section referred to as the original asset), and the assessee has, within a period of six months after the date of such transfer, invested the whole or any part of the capital gain in acquiring equity shares forming part of an eligible issue of capital (such equity shares being hereafter in this section referred to as the specified equity shares), the said capital gain shall be dealt with in accordance with the following provisions of this section, that is to say,—
(a) if the cost of the specified equity shares is not less than the capital gain arising from the transfer of the original asset, the whole of such capital gain shall not be charged under section 45;
(b) if the cost of the specified equity shares is less than the capital gain arising from the transfer of the original asset, so much of the capital gain as bears to the whole of the capital gain the same proportion as the cost of the specified equity shares acquired bears to the whole of the capital gain shall not be charged under section 45.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-section,—
(i) “eligible issue of capital” means an issue of equity shares which satisfies the following conditions, namely:—
(a) the issue is made by a public company formed and registered in India;
(b) the shares forming part of the issue are offered for subscription to the public;
(ii) “listed securities” shall have the same meaning as in clause (a) of the Explanation to sub-section (1) of section 112;
(iii) “unit” shall have the meaning assigned to it in clause (b) of the Explanation to section 115AB.
(2) Where the specified equity shares are sold or otherwise transferred within a period of one year from the date of their acquisition, the amount of capital gain arising from the transfer of the original asset not charged under section 45 on the basis of the cost of such specified equity shares as provided in clause (a) or, as the case may be, clause (b), of sub-section (1) shall be deemed to be the income chargeable under the head “Capital gains” relating to long-term capital assets of the previous year in which such equity shares are sold or otherwise transferred.
28[(3) Where the cost of the specified equity shares has been taken into account for the purposes of clause (a) or clause (b) of sub-section (1),—
(a) a deduction from the amount of income-tax with reference to such cost shall not be allowed under section 88 for any assessment year ending before the 1st day of April, 2006;
(b) a deduction from the income with reference to such cost shall not be allowed under section 80C for any assessment year beginning on or after the 1st day of April, 2006.]]
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Section 54F: 29[Capital gain on transfer of certain capital assets not to be charged in case of investment in residential house.30
- (1) 31[Subject to the provisions of sub-section (4), where, in the case of an assessee being an individual or a Hindu undivided family], the capital gain arises from the transfer of any long-term capital asset, not being a residential house (hereafter in this section referred to as the original asset), and the assessee has, within a period of one year before or 32[two years] after the date on which the transfer took place purchased, or has within a period of three years after that date 32a[constructed, a residential house] (hereafter in this section referred to as the new asset), the capital gain shall be dealt with in accordance with the following provisions of this section, that is to say,—
(a) if the cost of the new asset is not less than the net consideration in respect of the original asset, the whole of such capital gain shall not be charged under section 45 ;
(b) if the cost of the new asset is less than the net consideration in respect of the original asset, so much of the capital gain as bears to the whole of the capital gain the same proportion as the cost of the new asset bears to the net consideration, shall not be charged under section 45:
33[Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall apply where—
(a) the assessee,—
(i) owns more than one residential house, other than the new asset, on the date of transfer of the original asset; or
(ii) purchases any residential house, other than the new asset, within a period of one year after the date of transfer of the original asset; or
(iii) constructs any residential house, other than the new asset, within a period of three years after the date of transfer of the original asset; and
(b) the income from such residential house, other than the one residential house owned on the date of transfer of the original asset, is chargeable under the head “Income from house property” .]
- —For the purposes of this section,—
34[***]
35[***] “net consideration”, in relation to the transfer of a capital asset, means the full value of the consideration received or accruing as a result of the transfer of the capital asset as reduced by any expenditure incurred wholly and exclusively in connection with such transfer.
(2) Where the assessee purchases, within the period of 36[two years] after the date of the transfer of the original asset, or constructs, within the period of three years after such date, any residential house, the income from which is chargeable under the head “Income from house property”, other than the new asset, the amount of capital gain arising from the transfer of the original asset not charged under section 45 on the basis of the cost of such new asset as provided in clause (a), or, as the case may be, clause (b), of sub-section (1), shall be deemed to be income chargeable under the head “Capital gains” relating to long-term capital assets of the previous year in which such residential house is purchased or constructed.
(3) Where the new asset is transferred within a period of three years from the date of its purchase or, as the case may be, its construction, the amount of capital gain arising from the transfer of the original asset not charged under section 45 on the basis of the cost of such new asset as provided in clause (a) or, as the case may be, clause (b), of sub-section (1) shall be deemed to be income chargeable under the head “Capital gains” relating to long-term capital assets of the previous year in which such new asset is transferred.]
37[(4) The amount of the net consideration which is not appropriated by the assessee towards the purchase of the new asset made within one year before the date on which the transfer of the original asset took place, or which is not utilised by him for the purchase or construction of the new asset before the date of furnishing the return of income under section 139, shall be deposited by him before furnishing such return [such deposit being made in any case not later than the due date applicable in the case of the assessee for furnishing the return of income under sub-section (1) of section 139] in an account in any such bank or institution as may be specified in, and utilised in accordance with, any scheme38 which the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, frame in this behalf and such return shall be accompanied by proof of such deposit ; and, for the purposes of sub-section (1), the amount, if any, already utilised by the assessee for the purchase or construction of the new asset together with the amount so deposited shall be deemed to be the cost of the new asset :
Provided that if the amount deposited under this sub-section is not utilised wholly or partly for the purchase or construction of the new asset within the period specified in sub-section (1), then,—
(i) the amount by which—
(a) the amount of capital gain arising from the transfer of the original asset not charged under section 45 on the basis of the cost of the new asset as provided in clause (a) or, as the case may be, clause (b) of sub-section (1),
exceeds
(b) the amount that would not have been so charged had the amount actually utilised by the assessee for the purchase or construction of the new asset within the period specified in sub-section (1) been the cost of the new asset,
shall be charged under section 45 as income of the previous year in which the period of three years from the date of the transfer of the original asset expires ; and
(ii) the assessee shall be entitled to withdraw the unutilised amount in accordance with the scheme aforesaid.
- —39[Omitted by the Finance Act, 1992, w.e.f. 1-4-1993.]]
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Section 54G: 40[Exemption of capital gains on transfer of assets in cases of shifting of industrial undertaking from urban area.
- (1) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), where the capital gain arises from the transfer of a capital asset, being machinery or plant or building or land or any rights in building or land used for the purposes of the business of an industrial undertaking situate in an urban area, effected in the course of, or in consequence of, the shifting of such industrial undertaking (hereafter in this section referred to as the original asset) to any area (other than an urban area) and the assessee has within a period of one year before or three years after the date on which the transfer took place,—
(a) purchased new machinery or plant for the purposes of business of the industrial undertaking in the area to which the said undertaking is shifted ;
(b) acquired building or land or constructed building for the purposes of his business in the said area ;
(c) shifted the original asset and transferred the establishment of such undertaking to such area; and
(d) incurred expenses on such other purpose as may be specified in a scheme framed by the Central Government for the purposes of this section,
then, instead of the capital gain being charged to income-tax as income of the previous year in which the transfer took place, it shall be dealt with in accordance with the following provisions of this section, that is to say,—
(i) if the amount of the capital gain is greater than the cost and expenses incurred in relation to all or any of the purposes mentioned in clauses (a) to (d) (such cost and expenses being hereafter in this section referred to as the new asset), the difference between the amount of the capital gain and the cost of the new asset shall be charged under section 45 as the income of the previous year ; and for the purpose of computing in respect of the new asset any capital gain arising from its transfer within a period of three years of its being purchased, acquired, constructed or transferred, as the case may be, the cost shall be nil ; or
(ii) if the amount of the capital gain is equal to, or less than, the cost of the new asset, the capital gain shall not be charged under section 45 ; and for the purpose of computing in respect of the new asset any capital gain arising from its transfer within a period of three years of its being purchased, acquired, constructed or transferred, as the case may be, the cost shall be reduced by the amount of the capital gain.
- —In this sub-section, “urban area” means any such area within the limits of a municipal corporation or municipality as the Central Government may, having regard to the population, concentration of industries, need for proper planning of the area and other relevant factors, by general or special order, declare to be an urban area41 for the purposes of this sub-section.
(2) The amount of capital gain which is not appropriated by the assessee towards the cost and expenses incurred in relation to all or any of the purposes mentioned in clauses (a) to (d) of sub-section (1) within one year before the date on which the transfer of the original asset took place, or which is not utilised by him for all or any of the purposes aforesaid before the date of furnishing the return of income under section 139, shall be deposited by him before furnishing such return [such deposit being made in any case not later than the due date applicable in the case of the assessee for furnishing the return of income under sub-section (1) of section 139] in an account in any such bank or institution as may be specified in, and utilised in accordance with, any scheme42 which the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, frame in this behalf and such return shall be accompanied by proof of such deposit ; and, for the purposes of sub-section (1), the amount, if any, already utilised by the assessee for all or any of the purposes aforesaid together with the amount, so deposited shall be deemed to be the cost of the new asset :
Provided that if the amount deposited under this sub-section is not utilised wholly or partly for all or any of the purposes mentioned in clauses (a) to (d) of sub-section (1) within the period specified in that sub-section, then,—
(i) the amount not so utilised shall be charged under section 45 as the income of the previous year in which the period of three years from the date of the transfer of the original asset expires ; and
(ii) the assessee shall be entitled to withdraw such amount in accordance with the scheme aforesaid.
- —43[Omitted by the Finance Act, 1992, w.e.f. 1-4-1993.]
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Section 54GA: 44[Exemption of capital gains on transfer of assets in cases of shifting of industrial undertaking from urban area to any Special Economic Zone.
- (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 54G, where the capital gain arises from the transfer of a capital asset, being machinery or plant or building or land or any rights in building or land used for the purposes of the business of an industrial undertaking situate in an urban area, effected in the course of, or in consequence of the shifting of such industrial undertaking to any Special Economic Zone, whether developed in any urban area or any other area and the assessee has within a period of one year before or three years after the date on which the transfer took place,—
(a) purchased machinery or plant for the purposes of business of the industrial undertaking in the Special Economic Zone to which the said undertaking is shifted;
(b) acquired building or land or constructed building for the purposes of his business in the Special Economic Zone;
(c) shifted the original asset and transferred the establishment of such undertaking to the Special Economic Zone; and
(d) incurred expenses on such other purposes as may be specified in a scheme framed by the Central Government for the purposes of this section,
then, instead of the capital gain being charged to income-tax as income of the previous year in which the transfer took place, it shall, subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), be dealt with in accordance with the following provisions of this section, that is to say,—
(i) if the amount of the capital gain is greater than the cost and expenses incurred in relation to all or any of the purposes mentioned in clauses (a) to (d) (such cost and expenses being hereafter in this section referred to as the new asset), the difference between the amount of the capital gain and the cost of the new asset shall be charged under section 45 as the income of the previous year; and for the purpose of computing in respect of the new asset any capital gain arising from its transfer within a period of three years of its being purchased, acquired, constructed or transferred, as the case may be, the cost shall be Nil; or
(ii) if the amount of the capital gain is equal to, or less than, the cost of the new asset, the capital gain shall not be charged under section 45, and for the purpose of computing in respect of the new asset any capital gain arising from its transfer within a period of three years of its being purchased, acquired, constructed or transferred, as the case may be, the cost shall be reduced by the amount of the capital gain.
- —In this sub-section,—
(a) “Special Economic Zone” shall have the meaning assigned to it in clause (za) of *[section 2 of] the Special Economic Zones Act, 200545;
(b) “urban area” means any such area within the limits of a municipal corporation or municipality as the Central Government may, having regard to the population, concentration of industries, need for proper planning of the area and other relevant factors, by general or special order, declare to be an urban area for the purposes of this sub-section.
(2) The amount of capital gain which is not appropriated by the assessee towards the cost and expenses incurred in relation to all or any of the purposes mentioned in clauses (a) to (d) of sub-section (1) within one year before the date on which the transfer of the original asset took place, or which is not utilised by him for all or any of the purposes aforesaid before the date of furnishing the return of income under section 139, shall be deposited by him before furnishing such return [such deposit being made in any case not later than the due date applicable in the case of the assessee for furnishing the return of income under sub-section (1) of section 139] in an account in any such bank or institution as may be specified in, and utilised in accordance with, any scheme46 which the Central Government may, by notification, frame in this behalf and such return shall be accompanied by proof of such deposit; and, for the purposes of sub-section (1), the amount, if any, already utilised by the assessee for all or any of the aforesaid purposes together with the amount so deposited shall be deemed to be the cost of the new asset :
Provided that if the amount deposited under this sub-section is not utilised wholly or partly for all or any of the purposes mentioned in clauses (a) to (d) of sub-section (1) within the period specified in that sub-section, then,—
(i) the amount not so utilised shall be charged under section 45 as the income of the previous year in which the period of three years from the date of the transfer of the original asset expires; and
(ii) the assessee shall be entitled to withdraw such amount in accordance with the scheme aforesaid.]
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Section 54GB: 47[Capital gain on transfer of residential property not to be charged in certain cases
- (1) Where,—
(i) the capital gain arises from the transfer of a long-term capital asset, being a residential property (a house or a plot of land), owned by the eligible assessee (herein referred to as the assessee); and
(ii) the assessee, before the due date of furnishing of return of income under sub-section (1) of section 139, utilises the net consideration for subscription in the equity shares of an eligible company (herein-referred to as the company); and
(iii) the company has, within one year from the date of subscription in equity shares by the assessee, utilised this amount for purchase of new asset,
then, instead of the capital gain being charged to income-tax as the income of the previous year in which the transfer takes place, it shall be dealt with in accordance with the following provisions of this section, that is to say,—
(a) if the amount of the net consideration is greater than the cost of the new asset, then, so much of the capital gain as it bears to the whole of the capital gain the same proportion as the cost of the new asset bears to the net consideration, shall not be charged under section 45 as the income of the previous year; or
(b) if the amount of the net consideration is equal to or less than the cost of the new asset, the capital gain shall not be charged under section 45 as the income of the previous year.
(2) The amount of the net consideration, which has been received by the company for issue of shares to the assessee, to the extent it is not utilised by the company for the purchase of the new asset before the due date of furnishing of the return of income by the assessee under section 139, shall be deposited by the company, before the said due date in an account in any such bank or institution as may be specified and shall be utilised in accordance with any scheme which the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, frame in this behalf and the return furnished by the assessee shall be accompanied by proof of such deposit having been made.
(3) For the purposes of sub-section (1), the amount, if any, already utilised by the company for the purchase of the new asset together with the amount deposited under sub-section (2) shall be deemed to be the cost of the new asset:
Provided that if the amount so deposited is not utilised, wholly or partly, for the purchase of the new asset within the period specified in sub-section (1), then,—
(i) the amount by which—
(a) the amount of capital gain arising from the transfer of the residential property not charged under section 45 on the basis of the cost of the new asset as provided in sub-section (1),
exceeds—
(b) the amount that would not have been so charged had the amount actually utilised for the purchase of the new asset within the period specified in sub-section (1) been the cost of the new asset,
shall be charged under section 45 as income of the assessee for the previous year in which the period of one year from the date of the subscription in equity shares by the assessee expires; and
(ii) the company shall be entitled to withdraw such amount in accordance with the scheme.
(4) If the equity shares of the company or the new asset acquired by the company are sold or otherwise transferred within a period of five years from the date of their acquisition, the amount of capital gain arising from the transfer of the residential property not charged under section 45 as provided in sub-section (1) shall be deemed to be the income of the assessee chargeable under the head “Capital gains” of the previous year in which such equity shares or such new asset are sold or otherwise transferred, in addition to taxability of gains, arising on account of transfer of shares or of the new asset, in the hands of the assessee or the company, as the case may be.
(5) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any transfer of residential property made after the 31st day of March, 2017.
(6) For the purposes of this section,—
(a) “eligible assessee” means an individual or a Hindu undivided family;
(b) “eligible company” means a company which fulfils the following conditions, namely:—
(i) it is a company incorporated in India during the period from the 1st day of April of the previous year relevant to the assessment year in which the capital gain arises to the due date of furnishing of return of income under sub-section (1) of section 139 by the assessee;
(ii) it is engaged in the business of manufacture of an article or a thing;
(iii) it is a company in which the assessee has more than fifty per cent share capital or more than fifty per cent voting rights after the subscription in shares by the assessee; and
(iv) it is a company which qualifies to be a small or medium enterprise under the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Act, 2006 (27 of 2006);
(c) “net consideration” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Explanation to section 54F;
(d) “new asset” means new plant and machinery but does not include—
(i) any machinery or plant which, before its installation by the assessee, was used either within or outside India by any other person;
(ii) any machinery or plant installed in any office premises or any residential accommodation, including accommodation in the nature of a guest-house;
(iii) any office appliances including computers or computer software;
(iv) any vehicle; or
(v) any machinery or plant, the whole of the actual cost of which is allowed as a deduction (whether by way of depreciation or otherwise) in computing the income chargeable under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” of any previous year.]
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Section 54H: 48[Extension of time for acquiring new asset or depositing or investing amount of capital gain.
- Notwithstanding anything contained in sections 54, 54B, 54D 49[***] 50[, 54EC] and 54F, where the transfer of the original asset is by way of compulsory acquisition under any law and the amount of compensation awarded for such acquisition is not received by the assessee on the date of such transfer, the period for acquiring the new asset by the assessee referred to in those sections or, as the case may be, the period available to the assessee under those sections for depositing or investing the amount of capital gain in relation to such compensation as is not received on the date of the transfer, shall be reckoned from the date of receipt of such compensation :
Provided that where the compensation in respect of transfer of the original asset by way of compulsory acquisition under any law is received before the 1st day of April, 1991, the aforesaid period or periods, if expired, shall extend up to the 31st day of December, 1991.]
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Section 55: Meaning of “adjusted”, “cost of improvement” and “cost of acquisition” .
- 51 (1) For the purposes of 52[sections 48 and 49],—
(a) 53[***]
54[(b) “cost of any improvement”,—
(1) in relation to a capital asset being goodwill of a business 55[or a right to manufacture, produce or process any article or thing] 56[or right to carry on any business] shall be taken to be nil ; and
(2) in relation to any other capital asset,—]
(i) where the capital asset became the property of the previous owner or the assessee before the 57[1st day of April, 58[1981]], 59[***] means all expenditure of a capital nature incurred in making any additions or alterations to the capital asset on or after the said date by the previous owner or the assessee, and
(ii) in any other case, means all expenditure of a capital nature incurred in making any additions or alterations to the capital asset by the assessee after it became his property, and, where the capital asset became the property of the assessee by any of the modes specified in 60[sub-section (1) of] section 49, by the previous owner,
but does not include any expenditure which is deductible in computing the income chargeable under the head “Interest on securities”, “Income from house property”, “Profits and gains of business or profession”, or “Income from other sources”, and the expression “improvement” shall be construed accordingly.
61(2) 62[For the purposes of sections 48 and 49, “cost of acquisition” 63,—
64[(a) in relation to a capital asset, being goodwill of a business 65[or a trade mark or brand name associated with a business] 66[or a right to manufacture, produce or process any article or thing] 67[or right to carry on any business], tenancy rights, stage carriage permits or loom hours,—
(i) in the case of acquisition of such asset by the assessee by purchase from a previous owner, means the amount of the purchase price ; and
(ii) in any other case [not being a case falling under sub-clauses (i) to (iv) of sub-section (1) of section 49], shall be taken to be nil ;
(aa) 68[in a case where, by virtue of holding a capital asset, being a share or any other security69, within the meaning of clause (h) of section 2 of the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 (42 of 1956) (hereafter in this clause referred to as the financial asset), the assessee—
(A) becomes entitled to subscribe to any additional financial asset ; or
(B) is allotted any additional financial asset without any payment,
then, subject to the provisions of sub-clauses (i) and (ii) of clause (b)],—
(i) in relation to the original financial asset, on the basis of which the assessee becomes entitled to any additional financial asset, means the amount actually paid for acquiring the original financial asset ;
(ii) in relation to any right to renounce the said entitlement to subscribe to the financial asset, when such right is renounced by the assessee in favour of any person, shall be taken to be nil in the case of such assessee ;
(iii) in relation to the financial asset, to which the assessee has subscribed on the basis of the said entitlement, means the amount actually paid by him for acquiring such asset ;
70[(iiia) in relation to the financial asset allotted to the assessee without any payment and on the basis of holding of any other financial asset, shall be taken to be nil in the case of such assessee ;] and
(iv) in relation to any financial asset purchased by any person in whose favour the right to subscribe to such asset has been renounced, means the aggregate of the amount of the purchase price paid by him to the person renouncing such right and the amount paid by him to the company or institution, as the case may be, for acquiring such financial asset ;]
71[(ab) in relation to a capital asset, being equity share or shares allotted to a shareholder of a recognised stock exchange in India under a scheme for 72[demutualisation or] corporatisation approved by the Securities and Exchange Board of India established under section 3 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992), shall be the cost of acquisition of his original membership of the exchange:]
73[Provided that the cost of a capital asset, being trading or clearing rights of the recognised stock exchange acquired by a shareholder who has been allotted equity share or shares under such scheme of demutualisation or corporatisation, shall be deemed to be nil;]
(b) in relation to any other capital asset,—]
(i) where the capital asset became the property of the assessee74 before the 75[1st day of April, 76[1981]], means the cost of acquisition of the asset to the assessee or the fair77 market value of the asset on the 78[1st day of April, 79[1981]], at the option of the assessee ;
(ii) where the capital asset became the property of the assessee80 by any of the modes specified in 81[sub-section (1) of] section 49, and the capital asset became the property of the previous owner before the 82[1st day of April, 83[1981]], means the cost of the capital asset to the previous owner or the fair84 market value of the asset on the 82[1st day of April, 83[1981]], at the option of the assessee ;
(iii) where the capital asset became the property of the assessee80 on the distribution of the capital assets of a company on its liquidation and the assessee has been assessed to income-tax under the head “Capital gains” in respect of that asset under section 46, means the fair84 market value of the asset on the date of distribution ;
(iv) 85[***]
86[(v) where the capital asset, being a share or a stock of a company, became the property of the assessee on—
(a) the consolidation and division of all or any of the share capital of the company into shares of larger amount than its existing shares,
(b) the conversion of any shares of the company into stock,
(c) the re-conversion of any stock of the company into shares,
(d) the sub-division of any of the shares of the company into shares of smaller amount, or
(e) the conversion of one kind of shares of the company into another kind,
means the cost of acquisition of the asset calculated with reference to the cost of acquisition of the shares or stock from which such asset is derived.]
(3) Where the cost for which the previous owner acquired the property cannot be ascertained, the cost of acquisition to the previous owner means the fair market value on the date on which the capital asset became the property of the previous owner.
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Section 55A: 87[Reference to Valuation Officer.
8855A. With a view to ascertaining the fair market value of a capital asset for the purposes of this Chapter89, the 90[Assessing] Officer may refer the valuation of capital asset to a Valuation Officer—
(a) in a case where the value of the asset as claimed by the assessee is in accordance with the estimate made by a registered valuer, if the 90[Assessing] Officer is of opinion that the value so claimed 91[is at variance with its fair market value];
(b) in any other case, if the 90[Assessing] Officer is of opinion—
(i) that the fair market value of the asset exceeds the value of the asset as claimed by the assessee by more than such percentage92 of the value of the asset as so claimed or by more than such amount92 as may be prescribed in this behalf ; or
(ii) that having regard to the nature of the asset and other relevant circumstances, it is necessary so to do,
93and where any such reference is made, the provisions of sub-sections (2), (3), (4), (5) and (6) of section 16A, clauses (ha) and (i) of sub-section (1) and sub-sections (3A) and (4) of section 23, sub-section (5) of section 24, section 34AA, section 35 and section 37 of the Wealth-tax Act, 1957 (27 of 1957), shall with the necessary modifications, apply in relation to such reference as they apply in relation to a reference made by the 94[Assessing] Officer under sub-section (1) of section 16A of that Act.
- —In this section, “Valuation Officer” has the same meaning, as in clause (r) of section 2 of the Wealth-tax Act, 1957 (27 of 1957).]
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Section 56: Income from other sources
Income from other sources.
- 95 (1) Income of every kind which is not to be excluded from the total income under this Act shall be chargeable to income-tax under the head “Income from other sources”, if it is not chargeable to income-tax under any of the heads specified in section 14, items A to E.
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of sub-section (1), the following incomes, shall be chargeable to income-tax under the head “Income from other sources”, namely :—
(i) dividends ;
96[(ia) income referred to in sub-clause (viii) of clause (24) of section 2 ;]
97[(ib) income referred to in sub-clause (ix) of clause (24) of section 2 ;]
98[(ic) income referred to in sub-clause (x) of clause (24) of section 2, if such income is not chargeable to income-tax under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” ;]
99[(id) income by way of interest on securities, if the income is not chargeable to income-tax under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” ;]
(ii) income from machinery, plant or furniture belonging to the assessee and let on hire, if the income is not chargeable to income-tax under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” ;
(iii) where an assessee lets on hire machinery, plant or furniture belonging to him and also buildings, and the letting of the buildings is inseparable from the letting of the said machinery, plant or furniture, the income from such letting, if it is not chargeable to income-tax under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” ;
1[(iv) income referred to in sub-clause (xi) of clause (24) of section 2, if such income is not chargeable to income-tax under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” or under the head “Salaries” ;]
2[(v) where any sum of money exceeding twenty-five thousand rupees is received without consideration by an individual or a Hindu undivided family from any person on or after the 1st day of September, 2004 3[but before the 1st day of April, 2006], the whole of such sum :
Provided that this clause shall not apply to any sum of money received—
(a) from any relative; or
(b) on the occasion of the marriage of the individual; or
(c) under a will or by way of inheritance; or
(d) in contemplation of death of the payer; or
4[(e) from any local authority as defined in the Explanation to clause (20) of section 10; or
(f) from any fund or foundation or university or other educational institution or hospital or other medical institution or any trust or institution referred to in clause (23C) of section 10; or
(g) from any trust or institution registered under section 12AA.]
Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, “relative” means—
(i) spouse of the individual;
(ii) brother or sister of the individual;
(iii) brother or sister of the spouse of the individual;
(iv) brother or sister of either of the parents of the individual;
(v) any lineal ascendant or descendant of the individual;
(vi) any lineal ascendant or descendant of the spouse of the individual;
(vii) spouse of the person referred to in clauses (ii) to (vi);]
5[(vi) where any sum of money, the aggregate value of which exceeds fifty thousand rupees, is received without consideration, by an individual or a Hindu undivided family, in any previous year from any person or persons on or after the 1st day of April, 2006 6[but before the 1st day of October, 2009], the whole of the aggregate value of such sum:
Provided that this clause shall not apply to any sum of money received—
(a) from any relative; or
(b) on the occasion of the marriage of the individual6a; or
(c) under a will or by way of inheritance; or
(d) in contemplation of death of the payer; or
(e) from any local authority as defined in the Explanation to clause (20) of section 10; or
(f) from any fund or foundation or university or other educational institution or hospital or other medical institution or any trust or institution referred to in clause (23C) of section 10; or
(g) from any trust or institution registered under section 12AA.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, “relative” means—
(ii) brother or sister of the individual;
(iii) brother or sister of the spouse of the individual;
(iv) brother or sister of either of the parents of the individual;
(v) any lineal ascendant or descendant of the individual;
(vi) any lineal ascendant or descendant of the spouse of the individual;
(vii) spouse of the person referred to in clauses (ii) to (vi);]
7[(vii) where an individual or a Hindu undivided family receives, in any previous year, from any person or persons on or after the 1st day of October, 2009,—
(a) any sum of money, without consideration, the aggregate value of which exceeds fifty thousand rupees, the whole of the aggregate value of such sum;
8[(b) any immovable property,—
(i) without consideration, the stamp duty value of which exceeds fifty thousand rupees, the stamp duty value of such property;
(ii) for a consideration which is less than the stamp duty value of the property by an amount exceeding fifty thousand rupees, the stamp duty value of such property as exceeds such consideration:
Provided that where the date of the agreement fixing the amount of consideration for the transfer of immovable property and the date of registration are not the same, the stamp duty value on the date of the agreement may be taken for the purposes of this sub-clause:
Provided further that the said proviso shall apply only in a case where the amount of consideration referred to therein, or a part thereof, has been paid by any mode other than cash on or before the date of the agreement for the transfer of such immovable property;]
(c) any property, other than immovable property,—
(i) without consideration, the aggregate fair market value of which exceeds fifty thousand rupees, the whole of the aggregate fair market value of such property;
(ii) for a consideration which is less than the aggregate fair market value of the property by an amount exceeding fifty thousand rupees, the aggregate fair market value of such property as exceeds such consideration :
Provided that where the stamp duty value of immovable property as referred to in sub-clause (b) is disputed by the assessee on grounds mentioned in sub-section (2) of section 50C, the Assessing Officer may refer the valuation of such property to a Valuation Officer, and the provisions of section 50C and sub-section (15) of section 155 shall, as far as may be, apply in relation to the stamp duty value of such property for the purpose of sub-clause (b) as they apply for valuation of capital asset under those sections :
Provided further that this clause shall not apply to any sum of money or any property received—
(a) from any relative; or
(b) on the occasion of the marriage of the individual; or
(c) under a will or by way of inheritance; or
(d) in contemplation of death of the payer or donor, as the case may be; or
(e) from any local authority as defined in the Explanation to clause (20) of section 10; or
(f) from any fund or foundation or university or other educational institution or hospital or other medical institution or any trust or institution referred to in clause (23C) of section 10; or
(g) from any trust or institution registered under section 12AA.
- —For the purposes of this clause,—
(a) “assessable” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Explanation 2 to sub-section (2) of section 50C;
(b) “fair market value” of a property, other than an immovable property, means the value determined in accordance with the method as may be prescribed9;
(c) “jewellery” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Explanation to sub-clause (ii) of clause (14) of section 2;
(d) “property” 10[means the following capital asset of the assessee, namely:—]
(i) immovable property being land or building or both;
(ii) shares and securities;
(iii) jewellery;
(iv) archaeological collections;
(v) drawings;
(vi) paintings;
(vii) sculptures; 11[***]
(viii) any work of art; 12[or]
12[(ix) bullion;]
13[(e) “relative” means,—
(i) in case of an individual—
(A) spouse of the individual;
(B) brother or sister of the individual;
(C) brother or sister of the spouse of the individual;
(D) brother or sister of either of the parents of the individual;
(E) any lineal ascendant or descendant of the individual;
(F) any lineal ascendant or descendant of the spouse of the individual;
(G) spouse of the person referred to in items (B) to (F); and
(ii) in case of a Hindu undivided family, any member thereof;]
(f) “stamp duty value” means the value adopted or assessed or assessable by any authority of the Central Government or a State Government for the purpose of payment of stamp duty in respect of an immovable property;]
14[(viia) where a firm or a company not being a company in which the public are substantially interested, receives, in any previous year, from any person or persons, on or after the 1st day of June, 2010, any property, being shares of a company not being a company in which the public are substantially interested,—
(i) without consideration, the aggregate fair market value of which exceeds fifty thousand rupees, the whole of the aggregate fair market value of such property;
(ii) for a consideration which is less than the aggregate fair market value of the property by an amount exceeding fifty thousand rupees, the aggregate fair market value of such property as exceeds such consideration :
Provided that this clause shall not apply to any such property received by way of a transaction not regarded as transfer under clause (via) or clause (vic) or clause (vicb) or clause (vid) or clause (vii) of section 47.
- —For the purposes of this clause, “fair market value” of a property, being shares of a company not being a company in which the public are substantially interested, shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Explanation to clause (vii);]
15[(viib) where a company, not being a company in which the public are substantially interested, receives, in any previous year, from any person being a resident, any consideration for issue of shares that exceeds the face value of such shares, the aggregate consideration received for such shares as exceeds the fair market value of the shares:
Provided that this clause shall not apply where the consideration for issue of shares is received—
(i) by a venture capital undertaking from a venture capital company or a venture capital fund; or
(ii) by a company from a class or classes of persons as may be notified by the Central Government in this behalf.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause,—
(a) the fair market value of the shares shall be the value—
(i) as may be determined in accordance with such method as may be prescribed16; or
(ii) as may be substantiated by the company to the satisfaction of the Assessing Officer, based on the value, on the date of issue of shares, of its assets, including intangible assets being goodwill, know-how, patents, copyrights, trademarks, licences, franchises or any other business or commercial rights of similar nature,
whichever is higher;
(b) “venture capital company”, “venture capital fund” and “venture capital undertaking” shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in clause (a), clause (b) and clause (c) of 17[Explanation] to clause (23FB) of section 10;]
18[(viii) income by way of interest received on compensation or on enhanced compensation referred to in clause (b) of section 145A.]
The following clause (ix) shall be inserted after clause (viii) of sub-section (2) of section 56 by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2014 w.e.f. 1-4-2015 :
(ix) any sum of money received as an advance or otherwise in the course of negotiations for transfer of a capital asset, if,—
(a) such sum is forfeited; and
(b) the negotiations do not result in transfer of such capital asset.
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Section 57: Deductions.
- 19 The income chargeable under the head “Income from other sources” shall be computed after making the following deductions, namely :—
(i) in the case of dividends, 20[other than dividends referred to in section 115-O,] 21[or interest on securities], any reasonable sum paid by way of commission or remuneration to a banker or any other person for the purpose of realising such dividend 22[or interest] on behalf of the assessee ;
23[(ia) in the case of income of the nature referred to in sub-clause (x) of clause (24) of section 2 which is chargeable to income-tax under the head “Income from other sources”, deductions, so far as may be, in accordance with the provisions of clause (va) of sub-section (1) of section 36 ;]
(ii) in the case of income of the nature referred to in clauses (ii) and (iii) of sub-section (2) of section 56, deductions, so far as may be, in accordance with the provisions of sub-clause (ii) of clause (a) and clause (c) of section 30, section 31 and 24[sub-sections (1) 25[***] and (2)] of section 32 and subject to the provisions of 26[section 38] ;
27[(iia) in the case of income in the nature of family pension, a deduction of a sum equal to thirty-three and one-third per cent of such income or 28[fifteen] thousand rupees, whichever is less.
- —For the purposes of this clause, “family pension” means a regular monthly amount payable by the employer to a person belonging to the family of an employee in the event of his death ;]
(iii) any other expenditure (not being in the nature of capital expenditure) laid out or expended wholly and exclusively for the purpose29 of making or earning such income;
30[(iv) in the case of income of the nature referred to in clause (viii) of sub-section (2) of section 56, a deduction of a sum equal to fifty per cent of such income and no deduction shall be allowed under any other clause of this section.]
31[***]
- —[Omitted by the Finance Act, 1988, w.e.f. 1-4-1989.]
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Section 58: Amounts not deductible.
- 32 33[(1)] Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in section 57, the following amounts shall not be deductible in computing the income chargeable under the head “Income from other sources”, namely :—
(a) in the case of any assessee,—
(i) any personal expenses of the assessee ;
34[(ia) any expenditure of the nature referred to in sub-section (12)35 of section 40A ;]
(ii) any interest chargeable under this Act which is payable outside India (not being interest on a loan issued for public subscription before the 1st day of April, 1938) on which tax has not been paid or deducted under Chapter XVII-B 36[***] ;
(iii) any payment which is chargeable under the head “Salaries”, if it is payable outside India, unless tax has been paid thereon or deducted therefrom under Chapter XVII-B ;
(iv) 37[***]
(b) 38[***]
39[(1A) The provisions of sub-clause (iia) of clause (a) of section 40 shall, so far as may be, apply in computing the income chargeable under the head “Income from other sources” as they apply in computing the income chargeable under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” .]
40[(2) The provisions of section 40A shall, so far as may be, apply in computing the income chargeable under the head “Income from other sources” as they apply in computing the income chargeable under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” .]
41[(3) In the case of an assessee, being a foreign company, the provisions of section 44D shall, so far as may be, apply in computing the income chargeable under the head “Income from other sources” as they apply in computing the income chargeable under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” .]
42[(4) In the case of an assessee having income chargeable under the head “Income from other sources”, no deduction in respect of any expenditure or allowance in connection with such income shall be allowed under any provision of this Act in computing the income by way of any winnings from lotteries, crossword puzzles, races including horse races, card games and other games of any sort or from gambling or betting of any form or nature, whatsoever :
Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall apply in computing the income of an assessee, being the owner of horses maintained by him for running in horse races, from the activity of owning and maintaining such horses.
- —For the purposes of this sub-section, “horse race” means a horse race upon which wagering or betting may be lawfully made.]
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Section 59: Profits chargeable to tax.
- (1) The provisions of sub-section (1) of section 41 shall apply, so far as may be, in computing the income of an assessee under section 56, as they apply in computing the income of an assessee under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” .
(2) 43[***]
(3) 44[***]
45[***]
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CHAPTER V – INCOME OF OTHER PERSONS, INCLUDED IN ASSESSEE’S TOTAL INCOME
Section 60: Transfer of income where there is no transfer of assets.
- 46 All income arising to any person by virtue of a transfer47 whether revocable or not and whether effected before or after the commencement of this Act shall, where there is no transfer of the assets from which the income arises, be chargeable to income-tax as the income of the transferor and shall be included in his total income.
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Section 61: Revocable transfer of assets.
- All income arising to any person by virtue of a revocable transfer48 of assets shall be chargeable to income-tax as the income of the transferor and shall be included in his total income.
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Section 62: Transfer irrevocable for a specified period.
- 49 (1) The provisions of section 61 shall not apply to any income arising to any person by virtue of a transfer—
(i) by way of trust which is not revocable during the lifetime of the beneficiary, and, in the case of any other transfer, which is not revocable during the lifetime of the transferee ; or
(ii) made before the 1st day of April, 1961, which is not revocable for a period exceeding six years :
Provided that the transferor derives no direct or indirect benefit from such income in either case.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), all income arising to any person by virtue of any such transfer shall be chargeable to income-tax as the income of the transferor as and when the power to revoke the transfer arises, and shall then be included in his total income.
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Section 62: Transfer irrevocable for a specified period.
- 49 (1) The provisions of section 61 shall not apply to any income arising to any person by virtue of a transfer—
(i) by way of trust which is not revocable during the lifetime of the beneficiary, and, in the case of any other transfer, which is not revocable during the lifetime of the transferee ; or
(ii) made before the 1st day of April, 1961, which is not revocable for a period exceeding six years :
Provided that the transferor derives no direct or indirect benefit from such income in either case.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), all income arising to any person by virtue of any such transfer shall be chargeable to income-tax as the income of the transferor as and when the power to revoke the transfer arises, and shall then be included in his total income.
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Section 64: Income of individual to include income of spouse, minor child, etc.
- 52 53[54[(1)] In computing the total income of any individual, there shall be included all such income as arises directly or indirectly—
(i) 55[Omitted by the Finance Act, 1992, w.e.f. 1-4-1993.]
(ii) to the spouse56 of such individual56 by way of salary, commission, fees or any other form of remuneration whether in cash or in kind from a concern in which such individual has a substantial interest :
57[Provided that nothing in this clause shall apply in relation to any income arising to the spouse where the spouse56 possesses technical or professional qualifications56 and the income is solely attributable to the application of his or her technical or professional knowledge and experience ;]
(iii) 58[Omitted by the Finance Act, 1992, w.e.f. 1-4-1993.]
(iv) subject to the provisions of clause (i) of section 27, 59[* * *] to the spouse60 of such individual from assets transferred60 directly or indirectly to the spouse by such individual otherwise than for adequate consideration60 or in connection with an agreement to live apart ;
(v) 61[Omitted by the Finance Act, 1992, w.e.f. 1-4-1993.]
(vi) to the son’s wife, 62[* * *] of such individual, from assets transferred60 directly or indirectly on or after the 1st day of June, 1973, to the son’s wife 62[* * *] by such individual otherwise than for adequate consideration60; 63[* * *]
(vii) to any person64 or association of persons from assets transferred64 directly or indirectly otherwise than for adequate consideration64 to the person or association of persons by such individual, to the extent to which the income from such assets is for the immediate or deferred benefit64 of his or her spouse 65[* * *]; and]
66[(viii) to any person67 or association of persons from assets transferred67 directly or indirectly on or after the 1st day of June, 1973, otherwise than for adequate consideration67, to the person or association of persons by such individual, to the extent to which the income from such assets is for the immediate or deferred benefit67 of his son’s wife 68[* * *].]
69[Explanation 1.—For the purposes of clause (ii), the individual in computing whose total income the income referred to in that clause is to be included, shall be the husband or wife whose total income (excluding the income referred to in that clause) is greater ; and where any such income is once included in the total income of either spouse, any such income arising in any succeeding year shall not be included in the total income of the other spouse unless the Assessing Officer is satisfied, after giving that spouse an opportunity of being heard, that it is necessary70 so to do.]
Explanation 2.—For the purposes of clause (ii), an individual shall be deemed to have a substantial interest in a concern—
(i) in a case where the concern is a company, if its shares (not being shares entitled to a fixed rate of dividend whether with or without a further right to participate in profits) carrying not less than twenty per cent of the voting power are, at any time during the previous year, owned beneficially by such person or partly by such person and partly by one or more of his relatives ;
(ii) in any other case, if such person is entitled, or such person and one or more of his relatives are entitled in the aggregate, at any time during the previous year, to not less than twenty per cent of the profits of such concern.
Explanation 2A.—71[Omitted by the Finance Act, 1992, w.e.f. 1-4-1993.]
72[Explanation 3.—For the purposes of clauses (iv) and (vi), where the assets transferred directly or indirectly by an individual to his spouse or son’s wife (hereafter in this Explanation referred to as “the transferee” ) are invested by the transferee,—
(i) in any business, such investment being not in the nature of contribution of capital as a partner in a firm or, as the case may be, for being admitted to the benefits of partnership in a firm, that part of the income arising out of the business to the transferee in any previous year, which bears the same proportion to the income of the transferee from the business as the value of the assets aforesaid as on the first day of the previous year bears to the total investment in the business by the transferee as on the said day ;
(ii) in the nature of contribution of capital as a partner in a firm, that part of the interest receivable by the transferee from the firm in any previous year, which bears the same proportion to the interest receivable by the transferee from the firm as the value of investment aforesaid as on the first day of the previous year bears to the total investment by way of capital contribution as a partner in the firm as on the said day,
shall be included in the total income of the individual in that previous year.]
73[(1A) In computing the total income of any individual, there shall be included all such income as arises or accrues to his minor child 74[, not being a minor child suffering from any disability of the nature specified in section 80U] :
Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall apply in respect of such income as arises or accrues to the minor child on account of any—
(a) manual work done by him; or
(b) activity involving application of his skill, talent or specialised know-ledge and experience.
- —For the purposes of this sub-section, the income of the minor child shall be included,—
(a) where the marriage of his parents subsists, in the income of that parent whose total income (excluding the income includible under this sub-section) is greater ; or
(b) where the marriage of his parents does not subsist, in the income of that parent who maintains the minor child in the previous year,
and where any such income is once included in the total income of either parent, any such income arising in any succeeding year shall not be included in the total income of the other parent, unless the Assessing Officer is satisfied, after giving that parent an opportunity of being heard, that it is necessary so to do.]
75[(2) Where, in the case of an individual being a member of a Hindu undivided family, any property having been the separate property of the individual has, at any time after the 31st day of December, 1969, been converted by the individual into property belonging to the family through the act of impressing such separate property with the character of property belonging to the family or throwing it 76[into the common stock of the family or been transferred by the individual, directly or indirectly, to the family otherwise than for adequate consideration (the property so converted or transferred being hereinafter referred to as the converted property)], then, notwithstanding anything contained in any other provision of this Act or in any other law for the time being in force, for the purpose of computation of the total income of the individual under this Act for any assessment year commencing on or after the 1st day of April, 1971,—
(a) the individual shall be deemed to have transferred the converted property, through the family, to the members of the family for being held by them jointly ;
(b) the income derived from the converted property or any part thereof77 78[* * *] shall be deemed to arise to the individual and not to the family ;
79[(c) where the converted property has been the subject-matter of a partition (whether partial or total) amongst the members of the family, the income derived from such converted property as is received by the spouse 80[* * *] on partition shall be deemed to arise to the spouse 80[* * *] from assets transferred indirectly by the individual to the spouse 80[* * *] and the provisions of sub-section (1) shall, so far as may be, apply accordingly :]
Provided that the income referred to in clause (b) or clause (c) shall, on being included in the total income of the individual, be excluded from the total income of the family or, as the case may be, the spouse 81[* * *] of the individual.
Explanation 82[1].—For the purposes of sub-section (2),—
83[* * *] “property” includes any interest in property, movable or immovable, the proceeds of sale thereof and any money or investment for the time being representing the proceeds of sale thereof and where the property is converted into any other property by any method, such other property.
84[* * *]]
85[Explanation 2.—For the purposes of this section, “income” includes loss.]
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Section 65: Liability of person in respect of income included in the income of another person.
- Where, by reason of the provisions contained in this Chapter or in clause (i) of section 27, the income from any asset or from membership in a firm of a person other than the assessee is included in the total income of the assessee, the person in whose name such asset stands or who is a member of the firm shall, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any other law for the time being in force, be liable, on the service of a notice of demand by the 86[Assessing] Officer in this behalf, to pay that portion of the tax levied on the assessee which is attributable to the income so included, and the provisions of Chapter XVII-D shall, so far as may be, apply accordingly :
Provided that where any such asset is held jointly by more than one person, they shall be jointly and severally liable to pay the tax which is attributable to the income from the assets so included.
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CHAPTER VI – AGGREGATION OF INCOME AND SET OFF OR CARRY FORWARD OF LOSS
Section 66: Total income.
- In computing the total income of an assessee, there shall be included all income on which no income-tax is payable under Chapter VII 87[* * *].
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Section 67: Method of computing a partner’s share in the income of the firm.
- 88[Omitted by the Finance Act, 1992, w.e.f. 1-4-1993.]
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Section 67A: 89[Method of computing a member’s share in income of association of persons or body of individuals.
- (1) In computing the total income of an assessee who is a member of an association of persons or a body of individuals wherein the shares of the members are determinate and known [other than a company or a cooperative society or a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (21 of 1860), or under any law corresponding to that Act in force in any part of India], whether the net result of the computation of the total income of such association or body is a profit or a loss, his share (whether a net profit or net loss) shall be computed as follows, namely :—
(a) any interest, salary, bonus, commission or remuneration by whatever name called, paid to any member in respect of the previous year shall be deducted from the total income of the association or body and the balance ascertained and apportioned among the members in the proportions in which they are entitled to share in the income of the association or body ;
(b) where the amount apportioned to a member under clause (a) is a profit, any interest, salary, bonus, commission or remuneration aforesaid paid to the member by the association or body in respect of the previous year shall be added to that amount, and the result shall be treated as the member’s share in the income of the association or body ;
(c) where the amount apportioned to a member under clause (a) is a loss, any interest, salary, bonus, commission or remuneration aforesaid paid to the member by the association or body in respect of the previous year shall be adjusted against that amount, and the result shall be treated as the member’s share in the income of the association or body.
(2) The share of a member in the income or loss of the association or body, as computed under sub-section (1), shall, for the purposes of assessment, be apportioned under the various heads of income in the same manner in which the income or loss of the association or body has been determined under each head of income.
(3) Any interest paid by a member on capital borrowed by him for the purposes of investment in the association or body shall, in computing his share chargeable under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” in respect of his share in the income of the association or body, be deducted from his share.
- —In this section, “paid” has the same meaning as is assigned to it in clause (2) of section 43.]
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Section 68: Cash credits.
- 90 91Where any sum is found credited in the books92 of an assessee maintained for any previous year, and the assessee offers no explanation about the nature and source thereof or the explanation offered by him is not, in the opinion of the 93[Assessing] Officer, satisfactory, the sum so credited may be charged to income-tax as the income of the assessee of that previous year :
94[Provided that where the assessee is a company (not being a company in which the public are substantially interested), and the sum so credited consists of share application money, share capital, share premium or any such amount by whatever name called, any explanation offered by such assessee-company shall be deemed to be not satisfactory, unless—
(a) the person, being a resident in whose name such credit is recorded in the books of such company also offers an explanation about the nature and source of such sum so credited; and
(b) such explanation in the opinion of the Assessing Officer aforesaid has been found to be satisfactory:
Provided further that nothing contained in the first proviso shall apply if the person, in whose name the sum referred to therein is recorded, is a venture capital fund or a venture capital company as referred to in clause (23FB) of section 10.]
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Section 69: Unexplained investments.
- 95 Where in the financial year immediately preceding the assessment year the assessee has made investments which are not recorded in the books of account, if any, maintained by him for any source of income, and the assessee offers no explanation about the nature and source of the investments or the explanation offered by him is not, in the opinion of the 96[Assessing] Officer, satisfactory, the value of the investments may be deemed to be the income of the assessee of such financial year.
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Section 69A: 97[Unexplained money, etc.
9869A. Where in any financial year the assessee is found to be the owner of any money, bullion, jewellery or other valuable article and such money, bullion, jewellery or valuable article is not recorded in the books of account, if any, maintained by him for any source of income99, and the assessee offers no explanation about the nature and source of acquisition of the money, bullion, jewellery or other valuable article, or the explanation offered by him is not, in the opinion of the 1[Assessing] Officer, satisfactory, the money and the value of the bullion, jewellery or other valuable article may be deemed to be the income99 of the assessee for such financial year.]
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Section 69B: 2[Amount of investments, etc., not fully disclosed in books of account.
9869B. Where in any financial year the assessee has made investments or is found to be the owner of any bullion, jewellery or other valuable article, and the 3[Assessing] Officer finds that the amount expended on making such investments or in acquiring such bullion, jewellery or other valuable article exceeds the amount recorded in this behalf in the books of account maintained by the assessee for any source of income, and the assessee offers no explanation about such excess amount or the explanation offered by him is not, in the opinion of the 3[Assessing] Officer, satisfactory, the excess amount may be deemed to be the income of the assessee for such financial year.]
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Section 69C: 4[Unexplained expenditure, etc.
569C. Where in any financial year an assessee has incurred any expenditure and he offers no explanation about the source of such expenditure or part thereof, or the explanation, if any, offered by him is not, in the opinion of the 6[Assessing] Officer, satisfactory, the amount covered by such expenditure or part thereof, as the case may be, may be deemed to be the income of the assessee for such financial year :]
7[Provided that, notwithstanding anything contained in any other provision of this Act, such unexplained expenditure which is deemed to be the income of the assessee shall not be allowed as a deduction under any head of income.]
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Section 69D: 8[Amount borrowed or repaid on hundi.
969D. Where any amount is borrowed on a hundi from, or any amount due thereon is repaid to, any person otherwise than through an account payee cheque drawn on a bank, the amount so borrowed or repaid shall be deemed to be the income of the person borrowing or repaying the amount aforesaid for the previous year in which the amount was borrowed or repaid, as the case may be :
Provided that, if in any case any amount borrowed on a hundi has been deemed under the provisions of this section to be the income of any person, such person shall not be liable to be assessed again in respect of such amount under the provisions of this section on repayment of such amount.
- —For the purposes of this section, the amount repaid shall include the amount of interest paid on the amount borrowed.]
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Section 70: 10[Set off of loss from one source against income from another source under the same head of income.
- (1) Save as otherwise provided in this Act, where the net result for any assessment year in respect of any source falling under any head of income, other than “Capital gains”, is a loss, the assessee shall be entitled to have the amount of such loss set off against his income from any other source under the same head.
(2) Where the result of the computation made for any assessment year under sections 48 to 55 in respect of any short-term capital asset is a loss, the assessee shall be entitled to have the amount of such loss set off against the income, if any, as arrived at under a similar computation made for the assessment year in respect of any other capital asset.
(3) Where the result of the computation made for any assessment year under sections 48 to 55 in respect of any capital asset (other than a short-term capital asset) is a loss, the assessee shall be entitled to have the amount of such loss set off against the income, if any, as arrived at under a similar computation made for the assessment year in respect of any other capital asset not being a short-term capital asset.]
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Section 71: 11[Set off of loss from one head against income from another.
- 12 (1) Where in respect of any assessment year the net result of the computation under any head of income, other than “Capital gains”, is a loss and the assessee has no income under the head “Capital gains”, he shall, subject to the provisions of this Chapter, be entitled to13 have the amount of such loss set off against his income, if any, assessable for that assessment year under any other head.
(2) Where in respect of any assessment year, the net result of the computation under any head of income, other than “Capital gains”, is a loss and the assessee has income assessable under the head “Capital gains”, such loss may, subject to the provisions of this Chapter, be set off against his income, if any, assessable for that assessment year under any head of income including the head “Capital gains” (whether relating to short-term capital assets or any other capital assets).
14[(2A) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) or sub-section (2), where in respect of any assessment year, the net result of the computation under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” is a loss and the assessee has income assessable under the head “Salaries”, the assessee shall not be entitled to have such loss set off against such income.]
(3) Where in respect of any assessment year, the net result of the computation under the head “Capital gains” is a loss and the assessee has income assessable under any other head of income, the assessee shall not be entitled to have such loss set off against income under the other head.]
15[(4) Where the net result of the computation under the head “Income from house property” is a loss, in respect of the assessment years commencing on the 1st day of April, 1995 and the 1st day of April, 1996, such loss shall be first set off under sub-sections (1) and (2) and thereafter the loss referred to in section 71A shall be set off in the relevant assessment year in accordance with the provisions of that section.]
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Section 71A: 16[Transitional provisions for set off of loss under the head “Income from house property” .
- Where in respect of the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1993 or the 1st day of April, 1994, the net result of the computation under the head “Income from house property” is a loss, such loss in so far as it relates to interest on borrowed capital referred to in clause (vi) of sub-section (1) of section 24 and to the extent it has not been set off shall be carried forward and set off in the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1995, and the balance, if any, in the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1996, against the income under any head.]
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Section 71B: 17[Carry forward and set off of loss from house property.
- Where for any assessment year the net result of computation under the head “Income from house property” is a loss to the assessee and such loss cannot be or is not wholly set off against income from any other head of income in accordance with the provisions of section 71, so much of the loss as has not been so set-off or where he has no income under any other head, the whole loss shall, subject to the other provisions of this Chapter, be carried forward to the following assessment year and—
(i) be set off against the income from house property assessable for that assessment year; and
(ii) the loss, if any, which has not been set off wholly, the amount of loss not so set off,
shall be carried forward to the following assessment year, not being more than eight assessment years immediately succeeding the assessment year for which the loss was first computed.]
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Section 72: Carry forward and set off of business losses.
- 18 19[(1) Where for any assessment year, the net result of the computation under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” is a loss to the assessee, not being a loss sustained in a speculation business, and such loss cannot be or is not wholly set off against income under any head of income in accordance with the provisions of section 71, so much of the loss as has not been so set off or, 20[* * *] where he has no income under any other head, the whole loss shall, subject to the other provisions of this Chapter, be carried forward to the following assessment year, and—
(i) it shall be set off against the profits and gains, if any, of any business or profession carried on by him and assessable for that assessment year ;
21[* * *]
(ii) if the loss cannot be wholly so set off, the amount of loss not so set off shall be carried forward to the following assessment year and so on :]
22[Provided that where the whole or any part of such loss is sustained in any such business as is referred to in section 33B which is discontinued in the circumstances specified in that section, and, thereafter, at any time before the expiry of the period of three years referred to in that section, such business is re-established, reconstructed or revived by the assessee, so much of the loss as is attributable to such business shall be carried forward to the assessment year relevant to the previous year in which the business is so re-established, reconstructed or revived, and—
(a) it shall be set off against the profits and gains, if any, of that business or any other business carried on by him and assessable for that assessment year; and
(b) if the loss cannot be wholly so set off, the amount of loss not so set off shall, in case the business so re-established, reconstructed or revived continues to be carried on by the assessee, be carried forward to the following assessment year and so on for seven assessment years immediately succeeding.]
(2) Where any allowance or part thereof is, under sub-section (2) of section 32 or sub-section (4) of section 35, to be carried forward, effect shall first be given to the provisions of this section.
(3) No loss 23[(other than the loss referred to in the proviso to sub-section (1) of this section)] shall be carried forward under this section for more than eight assessment years immediately succeeding the assessment year for which the loss was first computed.
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Section 72A: 24[Provisions relating to carry forward and set off of accumulated loss and unabsorbed depreciation allowance in amalgamation or demerger, etc.25
- 26[(1) Where there has been an amalgamation of—
(a) a company owning an industrial undertaking or a ship or a hotel with another company; or
(b) a banking company referred to in clause (c) of section 5 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (10 of 1949)27 with a specified bank; or
(c) one or more public sector company or companies engaged in the business of operation of aircraft with one or more public sector company or companies engaged in similar business,
then, notwithstanding anything contained in any other provision of this Act, the accumulated loss and the unabsorbed depreciation of the amalgamating company shall be deemed to be the loss or, as the case may be, allowance for unabsorbed depreciation of the amalgamated company for the previous year in which the amalgamation was effected, and other provisions of this Act relating to set off and carry forward of loss and allowance for depreciation shall apply accordingly.]
28[(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the accumulated loss shall not be set off or carried forward and the unabsorbed depreciation shall not be allowed in the assessment of the amalgamated company unless—
(a) the amalgamating company—
(i) has been engaged in the business, in which the accumulated loss occurred or depreciation remains unabsorbed, for three or more years;
(ii) has held continuously as on the date of the amalgamation at least three-fourths of the book value of fixed assets held by it two years prior to the date of amalgamation;
(b) the amalgamated company—
(i) holds continuously for a minimum period of five years from the date of amalgamation at least three-fourths of the book value of fixed assets of the amalgamating company acquired in a scheme of amalgamation;
(ii) continues the business of the amalgamating company for a minimum period of five years from the date of amalgamation;
(iii) fulfils such other conditions as may be prescribed29 to ensure the revival of the business of the amalgamating company or to ensure that the amalgamation is for genuine business purpose.]
(3) In a case where any of the conditions laid down in sub-section (2) are not complied with, the set off of loss or allowance of depreciation made in any previous year in the hands of the amalgamated company shall be deemed to be the income of the amalgamated company chargeable to tax for the year in which such conditions are not complied with.
(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provisions of this Act, in the case of a demerger, the accumulated loss and the allowance for unabsorbed depreciation of the demerged company shall—
(a) where such loss or unabsorbed depreciation is directly relatable to the undertakings transferred to the resulting company, be allowed to be carried forward and set off in the hands of the resulting company;
(b) where such loss or unabsorbed depreciation is not directly relatable to the undertakings transferred to the resulting company, be apportioned between the demerged company and the resulting company in the same proportion in which the assets of the undertakings have been retained by the demerged company and transferred to the resulting company, and be allowed to be carried forward and set off in the hands of the demerged company or the resulting company, as the case may be.
(5) The Central Government may, for the purposes of this Act, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify such conditions as it considers necessary to ensure that the demerger is for genuine business purposes.
(6) Where there has been reorganisation of business, whereby, a firm is succeeded by a company fulfilling the conditions laid down in clause (xiii) of section 47 or a proprietary concern is succeeded by a company fulfilling the conditions laid down in clause (xiv) of section 47, then, notwithstanding anything contained in any other provision of this Act, the accumulated loss and the unabsorbed depreciation of the predecessor firm or the proprietary concern, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be the loss or allowance for depreciation of the successor company for the purpose of previous year in which business reorganisation was effected and other provisions of this Act relating to set off and carry forward of loss and allowance for depreciation shall apply accordingly :
Provided that if any of the conditions laid down in the proviso to clause (xiii) or the proviso to clause (xiv) to section 47 are not complied with, the set off of loss or allowance of depreciation made in any previous year in the hands of the successor company, shall be deemed to be the income of the company chargeable to tax in the year in which such conditions are not complied with.
30[(6A) Where there has been reorganisation of business whereby a private company or unlisted public company is succeeded by a limited liability partnership fulfilling the conditions laid down in the proviso to clause (xiiib) of section 47, then, notwithstanding anything contained in any other provision of this Act, the accumulated loss and the unabsorbed depreciation of the predecessor company, shall be deemed to be the loss or allowance for depreciation of the successor limited liability partnership for the purpose of the previous year in which business reorganisation was effected and other provisions of this Act relating to set off and carry forward of loss and allowance for depreciation shall apply accordingly :
Provided that if any of the conditions laid down in the proviso to clause (xiiib) of section 47 are not complied with, the set off of loss or allowance of depreciation made in any previous year in the hands of the successor limited liability partnership, shall be deemed to be the income of the limited liability partnership chargeable to tax in the year in which such conditions are not complied with.]
(7) For the purposes of this section,—
31[(a) “accumulated loss” means so much of the loss of the predecessor firm or the proprietary concern or the private company or unlisted public company before conversion into limited liability partnership or the amalgamating company or the demerged company, as the case may be, under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” (not being a loss sustained in a speculation business) which such predecessor firm or the proprietary concern or the company or amalgamating company or demerged company, would have been entitled to carry forward and set off under the provisions of section 72 if the reorganisation of business or conversion or amalgamation or demerger had not taken place;]
32[(aa) “industrial undertaking” means any undertaking which is engaged in—
(i) the manufacture or processing of goods; or
(ii) the manufacture of computer software; or
(iii) the business of generation or distribution of electricity or any other form of power; or
33[(iiia) the business of providing telecommunication services, whether basic or cellular, including radio paging, domestic satellite service, network of trunking, broadband network and internet services; or]
(iv) mining; or
(v) the construction of ships, aircrafts or rail systems;]
34[(b) “unabsorbed depreciation” means so much of the allowance for depreciation of the predecessor firm or the proprietary concern or the private company or unlisted public company before conversion into limited liability partnership or the amalgamating company or the demerged company, as the case may be, which remains to be allowed and which would have been allowed to the predecessor firm or the proprietary concern or the company or amalgamating company or demerged company, as the case may be, under the provisions of this Act, if the reorganisation of business or conversion or amalgamation or demerger had not taken place;]]
35[(c) “specified bank” means the State Bank of India constituted under the State Bank of India Act, 1955 (23 of 1955) or a subsidiary bank as defined in the State Bank of India (Subsidiary Banks) Act, 1959 (38 of 1959) or a corresponding new bank constituted under section 3 of the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970 (5 of 1970) or under section 3 of the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1980 (40 of 1980).]
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Section 72AA: 36[Provisions relating to carry forward and set-off of accumulated loss and unabsorbed depreciation allowance in scheme of amalgamation of banking company in certain cases.
- Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-clauses (i) to (iii) of clause (1B) of section 2 or section 72A, where there has been an amalgamation of a banking company with any other banking institution under a scheme sanctioned and brought into force by the Central Government under sub-section (7) of section 45 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (10 of 1949)37, the accumulated loss and the unabsorbed depreciation of such banking company shall be deemed to be the loss or, as the case may be, allowance for depreciation of such banking institution for the previous year in which the scheme of amalgamation was brought into force and other provisions of this Act relating to set-off and carry forward of loss and allowance for depreciation shall apply accordingly.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this section,—
(i) “accumulated loss” means so much of the loss of the amalgamating banking company under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” (not being a loss sustained in a speculation business) which such amalgamating banking company, would have been entitled to carry forward and set-off under the provisions of section 72 if the amalgamation had not taken place;
(ii) “banking company” shall have the same meaning assigned to it in clause (c) of section 5 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (10 of 1949)37;
(iii) “banking institution” shall have the same meaning assigned to it in sub-section (15) of section 45 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (10 of 1949)37;
(iv) “unabsorbed depreciation” means so much of the allowance for depreciation of the amalgamating banking company which remains to be allowed and which would have been allowed to such banking company if amalgamation had not taken place.]
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Section 72AB: 38[Provisions relating to carry forward and set off of accumulated loss and unabsorbed depreciation allowance in business reorganisation of co-operative banks.
- (1) The assessee, being a successor co-operative bank, shall, in a case where the amalgamation has taken place during the previous year, be allowed to set off the accumulated loss and the unabsorbed depreciation, if any, of the predecessor co-operative bank as if the amalgamation had not taken place, and all the other provisions of this Act relating to set off and carry forward of loss and allowance for depreciation shall apply accordingly.
(2) The provisions of this section shall apply if—
(a) the predecessor co-operative bank—
(i) has been engaged in the business of banking for three or more years; and
(ii) has held at least three-fourths of the book value of fixed assets as on the date of the business reorganisation, continuously for two years prior to the date of business reorganisation;
(b) the successor co-operative bank—
(i) holds at least three-fourths of the book value of fixed assets of the predecessor co-operative bank acquired through business reorganisation, continuously for a minimum period of five years immediately succeeding the date of business reorganisation;
(ii) continues the business of the predecessor co-operative bank for a minimum period of five years from the date of business reorganisation; and
(iii) fulfils such other conditions as may be prescribed to ensure the revival of the business of the predecessor co-operative bank or to ensure that the business reorganisation is for genuine business purpose.
(3) The amount of set-off of the accumulated loss and unabsorbed depreciation, if any, allowable to the assessee being a resulting co-operative bank shall be,—
(i) the accumulated loss or unabsorbed depreciation of the demerged co-operative bank if the whole of the amount of such loss or unabsorbed depreciation is directly relatable to the undertakings transferred to the resulting co-operative bank; or
(ii) the amount which bears the same proportion to the accumulated loss or unabsorbed depreciation of the demerged co-operative bank as the assets of the undertaking transferred to the resulting co-operative bank bears to the assets of the demerged co-operative bank if such accumulated loss or unabsorbed depreciation is not directly relatable to the undertakings transferred to the resulting co-operative bank.
(4) The Central Government may, for the purposes of this section, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify such other conditions as it considers necessary, other than those prescribed under sub-clause (iii) of clause (b) of sub-section (2), to ensure that the business reorganisation is for genuine business purposes.
(5) The period commencing from the beginning of the previous year and ending on the date immediately preceding the date of business reorganisation, and the period commencing from the date of such business reorganisation and ending with the previous year shall be deemed to be two different previous years for the purposes of set off and carry forward of loss and allowance for depreciation.
(6) In a case where the conditions specified in sub-section (2) or notified under sub-section (4) are not complied with, the set off of accumulated loss or unabsorbed depreciation allowed in any previous year to the successor co-operative bank shall be deemed to be the income of the successor co-operative bank chargeable to tax for the year in which the conditions are not complied with.
(7) For the purposes of this section,—
(a) “accumulated loss” means so much of loss of the amalgamating co-operative bank or the demerged co-operative bank, as the case may be, under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession” (not being a loss sustained in a speculation business) which such amalgamating co-operative bank or the demerged co-operative bank, would have been entitled to carry forward and set-off under the provisions of section 72 as if the business reorganisation had not taken place;
(b) “unabsorbed depreciation” means so much of the allowance for depreciation of the amalgamating co-operative bank or the demerged co-operative bank, as the case may be, which remains to be allowed and which would have been allowed to such bank as if the business reorganisation had not taken place;
(c) the expressions “amalgamated co-operative bank”, “amalgamating co-operative bank”, “amalgamation”, “business reorganisation”, “co-operative bank”, “demerged co-operative bank”, “demerger”, “predecessor co-operative bank”, “successor co-operative bank” and “resulting co-operative bank” shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in section 44DB.]
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Section 73: Losses in speculation business.
- 39 (1) Any loss, computed in respect of a speculation business carried on40 by the assessee, shall not be set off except against profits and gains, if any, of another speculation business.
(2) Where for any40 assessment year any loss computed in respect of a speculation business has not been wholly set off under sub-section (1), so much of the loss as is not so set off or the whole loss where the assessee had no income from any other speculation business, shall, subject to the other provisions of this Chapter, be carried forward to the following assessment year, and—
(i) it shall be set off against the profits and gains, if any, of any speculation business carried on by him assessable for that assessment year; and
(ii) if the loss cannot be wholly so set off, the amount of loss not so set off shall be carried forward to the following assessment year and so on.
(3) In respect of allowance on account of depreciation or capital expenditure on scientific research, the provisions of sub-section (2) of section 72 shall apply in relation to speculation business as they apply in relation to any other business.
(4) No loss shall be carried forward under this section for more than 41[four] assessment years immediately succeeding the assessment year for which the loss was first computed.
42[Explanation.—Where any part of the business of a company (43[other than a company whose gross total income consists mainly of income which is chargeable under the heads “Interest on securities”, “Income from house property”, “Capital gains” and “Income from other sources” ], or a company 43a[the principal business of which is the business of banking] or the granting of loans and advances) consists in the purchase and sale of shares of other companies, such company shall, for the purposes of this section, be deemed to be carrying on a speculation business44 to the extent to which the business consists of the purchase and sale of such shares.]
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Section 73A: 45[Carry forward and set off of losses by specified business.
- (1) Any loss, computed in respect of any specified business referred to in section 35AD shall not be set off except against profits and gains, if any, of any other specified business.
(2) Where for any assessment year any loss computed in respect of the specified business referred to in sub-section (1) has not been wholly set off under sub-section (1), so much of the loss as is not so set off or the whole loss where the assessee has no income from any other specified business, shall, subject to the other provisions of this Chapter, be carried forward to the following assessment year, and—
(i) it shall be set off against the profits and gains, if any, of any specified business carried on by him assessable for that assessment year; and
(ii) if the loss cannot be wholly so set off, the amount of loss not so set off shall be carried forward to the following assessment year and so on.]
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Section 74: 46[Losses under the head “Capital gains” .
- 47[(1) Where in respect of any assessment year, the net result of the computation under the head “Capital gains” is a loss to the assessee, the whole loss shall, subject to the other provisions of this Chapter, be carried forward to the following assessment year, and—
(a) in so far as such loss relates to a short-term capital asset, it shall be set off against income, if any, under the head “Capital gains” assessable for that assessment year in respect of any other capital asset;
(b) in so far as such loss relates to a long-term capital asset, it shall be set off against income, if any, under the head “Capital gains” assessable for that assessment year in respect of any other capital asset not being a short-term capital asset;
(c) if the loss cannot be wholly so set off, the amount of loss not so set off shall be carried forward to the following assessment year and so on.]
(2) No loss shall be carried forward under this section for more than eight assessment years immediately succeeding the assessment year for which the loss was first computed.
(3) 48[Omitted by the Finance Act, 2002, w.e.f. 1-4-2003.]]
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Section 74A: 49[Losses from certain specified sources falling under the head “Income from other sources”.
- (1) 50[* * *]
(2) 51[* * *]
52[(3) 53[* * *] In the case of an assessee, being the owner of horses maintained by him for running in horse races (such horses being hereafter in this sub-section referred to as race horses), 54[the amount of loss incurred by the assessee in the activity of owning and maintaining race horses in any assessment year shall not be set off against income, if any, from any source other than the activity of owning and maintaining race horses in that year and] shall, subject to the other provisions of this Chapter, be carried forward to the following assessment year and—
(a) it shall be set off against the income, if any, 55[from the activity of own-ing and maintaining race horses] assessable for that assessment year :
Provided that the activity of owning and maintaining race horses is carried on by him in the previous year relevant for that assessment year ; and
(b) if the loss cannot be wholly so set off, the amount of loss not so set off shall be carried forward to the following assessment year and so on; so, however, that no portion of the loss shall be carried forward for more than four assessment years immediately succeeding the assessment year for which the loss was first computed.
- —For the purposes of this sub-section—
(a) “amount of loss incurred by the assessee in the activity of owning and maintaining race horses” means—
(i) in a case where the assessee has no income by way of stake money, the amount of expenditure (not being in the nature of capital expenditure) laid out or expended by him wholly and exclusively for the purposes of maintaining race horses;
(ii) in a case where the assessee has income by way of stake money, the amount by which such income falls short of the amount of expenditure (not being in the nature of capital expenditure) laid out or expended by the assessee wholly and exclusively for the purposes of maintaining race horses;
(b) “horse race” means a horse race upon which wagering or betting may be lawfully made;
(c) “income by way of stake money” means the gross amount of prize money received on a race horse or race horses by the owner thereof on account of the horse or horses or any one or more of the horses winning or being placed second or in any lower position in horse races.]
Section 75: 56[Losses of firms.
- Where the assessee is a firm, any loss in relation to the assessment year commencing on or before the 1st day of April, 1992, which could not be set off against any other income of the firm and which had been apportioned to a partner of the firm but could not be set off by such partner prior to the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1993, then, such loss shall be allowed to be set off against the income of the firm subject to the condition that the partner continues in the said firm and to be carried forward for set off under sections 70, 71, 72, 73, 74 and 74A.]
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Section 76: 76. Omitted by the Finance Act, 1992, w.e.f. 1-4-1993.
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Section 77: 77. Omitted by the Finance Act, 1992, w.e.f. 1-4-1993.
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Section 78: Carry forward and set off of losses in case of change in constitution of firm or on succession.
- 57 58[(1) Where a change has occurred in the constitution of a firm, nothing in this Chapter shall entitle the firm to have carried forward and set off so much of the loss proportionate to the share of a retired or deceased partner as exceeds his share of profits, if any, in the firm in respect of the previous year.]
(2) Where any person carrying on any business or profession has been succeeded in such capacity by another person otherwise than by inheritance, nothing in this Chapter shall entitle any person other than the person incurring the loss to have it carried forward and set off against his income.
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Section 79: Carry forward and set off of losses in the case of certain companies.
- Notwithstanding anything contained in this Chapter, where a change in shareholding has taken place in a previous year in the case of a company, not being a company in which the public are substantially interested, no loss59 incurred in any year prior to the previous year shall be carried forward and set off against the income of the previous year unless—
(a) on the last day of the previous year the shares of the company carry-ing not less than fifty-one per cent of the voting power were beneficially held by persons who beneficially held shares of the company carrying not less than fifty-one per cent of the voting power on the last day of the year or years in which the loss was incurred 60[* * *] :
61[Provided that nothing contained in this section shall apply to a case where a change in the said voting power takes place in a previous year consequent upon the death of a shareholder or on account of transfer of shares by way of gift to any relative of the shareholder making such gift :]
62[Provided further that nothing contained in this section shall apply to any change in the shareholding of an Indian company which is a subsidiary of a foreign company as a result of amalgamation or demerger of a foreign company subject to the condition that fifty-one per cent shareholders of the amalgamating or demerged foreign company continue to be the shareholders of the amalgamated or the resulting foreign company.]
(b) 63[Omitted by the Finance Act, 1988, w.e.f. 1-4-1989.]
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Section 80: Submission of return for losses.
- Notwithstanding anything contained in this Chapter, no loss which has not been determined in pursuance of a return filed 64[in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (3) of section 139], shall be carried forward and set off under sub-section (1) of section 72 or sub-section (2) of section 73 or sub-section (1) 65[or sub-section (3)] of section 74 66[or sub-section (3) of section 74A].
67[CHAPTER VIA: DEDUCTIONS TO BE MADE IN COMPUTING TOTAL INCOME
Section 80A: Deductions to be made in computing total income.
A.—General
- (1) In computing the total income of an assessee, there shall be allowed from his gross total income, in accordance with and subject to the provisions of this Chapter, the deductions specified in sections 80C to 68[80U].
(2) The aggregate amount of the deductions69 under this Chapter shall not, in any case, exceed the gross total income of the assessee.
70[(3) Where, in computing the total income of an association of persons or a body of individuals, any deduction is admissible under section 80G or section 80GGA 71[or section 80GGC] or section 80HH or section 80HHA or section 80HHB or section 80HHC or section 80HHD or section 80-I or section 80-IA 72[or section 80-IB] 73[or section 80-IC] 74[or section 80-ID or section 80-IE] or section 80J75 or section 80JJ76, no deduction under the same section shall be made in computing the total income of a member of the association of persons or body of individuals in relation to the share of such member in the income of the association of persons or body of individuals.]
77[(4) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in section 10A or section 10AA or section 10B or section 10BA or in any provisions of this Chapter under the heading “C—Deductions in respect of certain incomes”, where, in the case of an assessee, any amount of profits and gains of an undertaking or unit or enterprise or eligible business is claimed and allowed as a deduction under any of those provisions for any assessment year, deduction in respect of, and to the extent of, such profits and gains shall not be allowed under any other provisions of this Act for such assessment year and shall in no case exceed the profits and gains of such undertaking or unit or enterprise or eligible business, as the case may be.
(5) Where the assessee fails to make a claim in his return of income for any deduction under section 10A or section 10AA or section 10B or section 10BA or under any provision of this Chapter under the heading “C.—Deductions in respect of certain incomes”, no deduction shall be allowed to him thereunder.]
78[(6) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in section 10A or section 10AA or section 10B or section 10BA or in any provisions of this Chapter under the heading “C—Deductions in respect of certain incomes”, where any goods or services held for the purposes of the undertaking or unit or enterprise or eligible business are transferred to any other business carried on by the assessee or where any goods or services held for the purposes of any other business carried on by the assessee are transferred to the undertaking or unit or enterprise or eligible business and, the consideration, if any, for such transfer as recorded in the accounts of the undertaking or unit or enterprise or eligible business does not correspond to the market value of such goods or services as on the date of the transfer, then, for the purposes of any deduction under this Chapter, the profits and gains of such undertaking or unit or enterprise or eligible business shall be computed as if the transfer, in either case, had been made at the market value of such goods or services as on that date.
- —For the purposes of this sub-section, the expression “market value”,—
(i) in relation to any goods or services sold or supplied, means the price that such goods or services would fetch if these were sold by the undertaking or unit or enterprise or eligible business in the open market, subject to statutory or regulatory restrictions, if any;
(ii) in relation to any goods or services acquired, means the price that such goods or services would cost if these were acquired by the undertaking or unit or enterprise or eligible business from the open market, subject to statutory or regulatory restrictions, if any;]
79[(iii) in relation to any goods or services sold, supplied or acquired means the arm’s length price as defined in clause (ii) of section 92F of such goods or services, if it is a specified domestic transaction referred to in section 92BA.]
80[(7) Where a deduction under any provision of this Chapter under the heading “C.—Deductions in respect of certain incomes” is claimed and allowed in respect of profits of any of the specified business referred to in clause (c) of sub-section (8) of section 35AD for any assessment year, no deduction shall be allowed under the provisions of section 35AD in relation to such specified business for the same or any other assessment year.]
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Section 80AA: Computation of deduction under section 80M.
- 81[Omitted by the Finance Act, 1997, w.e.f. 1-4-1998.]
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Section 80AB: 82[Deductions to be made with reference to the income included in the gross total income.
8380AB. Where any deduction is required to be made or allowed under any section 84[* * *] included in this Chapter under the heading “C.—Deductions in respect of certain incomes” in respect of any income of the nature specified in that section which is included in the gross total income of the assessee, then, notwithstanding anything contained in that section, for the purpose of computing the deduction under that section, the amount of income of that nature as computed in accordance with the provisions of this Act (before making any deduction under this Chapter) shall alone be deemed to be the amount of income of that nature which is derived or received by the assessee and which is included in his gross total income.]
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Section 80AC: 85[Deduction not to be allowed unless return furnished.
- Where in computing the total income of an assessee of the previous year relevant to the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 2006 or any subsequent assessment year, any deduction is admissible under section 80-IA or section 80-IAB or section 80-IB or section 80-IC 86[or section 80-ID or section 80-IE], no such deduction shall be allowed to him unless he furnishes a return of his income for such assessment year on or before the due date specified under sub-section (1) of section 139.]
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Section 80B: 87[Definitions.
- In this Chapter—
(1) 88[* * *]
(2) 89[* * *]
(3) 90[* * *]
(4) 91[* * *]
(5) “gross total income” means the total income computed in accordance with the provisions of this Act, before making any deduction under this Chapter 92[* * *] 93[* * *];
(6) 94[* * *]
(7) 95[* * *]
(8) 96[* * *]
(9) 97[* * *].]
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Section 80C: 98[Deduction in respect of life insurance premia, deferred annuity, contributions to provident fund, subscription to certain equity shares or debentures, etc.
B.—Deductions in respect of certain payments
9980C. 1(1) In computing the total income of an assessee, being an individual or a Hindu undivided family, there shall be deducted, in accordance with and subject to the provisions of this section, the whole of the amount paid or deposited in the previous year, being the aggregate of the sums referred to in sub-section (2), as does not exceed 1a[one lakh rupees].
(2) The sums referred to in sub-section (1) shall be any sums paid or deposited in the previous year by the assessee—
(i) to effect or to keep in force an insurance on the life of persons specified in sub-section (4);
(ii) to effect or to keep in force a contract for a deferred annuity, not being an annuity plan referred to in clause (xii), on the life of persons specified in sub-section (4):
Provided that such contract does not contain a provision for the exercise by the insured of an option to receive a cash payment in lieu of the payment of the annuity;
(iii) by way of deduction from the salary payable by or on behalf of the Government to any individual being a sum deducted in accordance with the conditions of his service, for the purpose of securing to him a deferred annuity or making provision for his spouse or children, in so far as the sum so deducted does not exceed one-fifth of the salary;
(iv) as a contribution by an individual to any provident fund to which the Provident Funds Act, 1925 (19 of 1925) applies;
(v) as a contribution to any provident fund set up by the Central Government and notified2 by it in this behalf in the Official Gazette, where such contribution is to an account standing in the name of any person specified in sub-section (4);
(vi) as a contribution by an employee to a recognised provident fund;
(vii) as a contribution by an employee to an approved superannuation fund;
(viii) as subscription to any such security of the Central Government or any such deposit scheme as that Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf;
(ix) as subscription to any such savings certificate as defined in clause (c) of section 23 of the Government Savings Certificates Act, 1959 (46 of 1959), as the Central Government may, by notification4 in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf;
(x) as a contribution, in the name of any person specified in sub-section (4), for participation in the Unit-linked Insurance Plan, 1971 (hereafter in this section referred to as the Unit-linked Insurance Plan) specified in Schedule II of the Unit Trust of India (Transfer of Undertaking and Repeal) Act, 2002 (58 of 2002);
(xi) as a contribution in the name of any person specified in sub-section (4) for participation in any such unit-linked insurance plan of the LIC Mutual Fund 5[referred to in] clause (23D) of section 10, as the Central Government may, by notification6 in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf;
(xii) to effect or to keep in force a contract for such annuity plan of the Life Insurance Corporation or any other insurer as the Central Government may, by notification7 in the Official Gazette, specify;
(xiii) as subscription to any units of any Mutual Fund 8[referred to in] clause (23D) of section 10 or from the Administrator or the specified company under any plan formulated in accordance with such scheme as the Central Government may, by notification9 in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf;
(xiv) as a contribution by an individual to any pension fund set up by any Mutual Fund 10[referred to in] clause (23D) of section 10 or by the Administrator or the specified company, as the Central Government may, by notification11 in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf;
(xv) as subscription to any such deposit scheme of, or as a contribution to any such pension fund set up by, the National Housing Bank established under section 3 of the National Housing Bank Act, 1987 (53 of 1987) (hereafter in this section referred to as the National Housing Bank), as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify12 in this behalf;
(xvi) as subscription to any such deposit scheme of—
(a) a public sector company which is engaged in providing long-term finance for construction or purchase of houses in India for residential purposes; or
(b) any authority constituted in India by or under any law enacted either for the purpose of dealing with and satisfying the need for housing accommodation or for the purpose of planning, development or improvement of cities, towns and villages, or for both,
as the Central Government may, by notification13 in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf;
(xvii) as tuition fees (excluding any payment towards any development fees or donation or payment of similar nature), whether at the time of admission or thereafter,—
(a) to any university, college, school or other educational institution situated within India;
(b) for the purpose of full-time education of any of the persons specified in sub-section (4);
(xviii) for the purposes of purchase or construction of a residential house property the income from which is chargeable to tax under the head “Income from house property” (or which would, if it had not been used for the assessee’s own residence, have been chargeable to tax under that head), where such payments are made towards or by way of—
(a) any instalment or part payment of the amount due under any self-financing or other scheme of any development authority, housing board or other authority engaged in the construction and sale of house property on ownership basis; or
(b) any instalment or part payment of the amount due to any company or co-operative society of which the assessee is a shareholder or member towards the cost of the house property allotted to him; or
(c) repayment of the amount borrowed by the assessee from—
(1) the Central Government or any State Government, or
(2) any bank, including a co-operative bank, or
(3) the Life Insurance Corporation, or
(4) the National Housing Bank, or
(5) any public company formed and registered in India with the main object of carrying on the business of providing long-term finance for construction or purchase of houses in India for residential purposes which is eligible for deduction under clause (viii) of sub-section (1) of section 36, or
(6) any company in which the public are substantially interested or any co-operative society, where such company or co-operative society is engaged in the business of financing the construction of houses, or
(7) the assessee’s employer where such employer is an authority or a board or a corporation or any other body established or constituted under a Central or State Act, or
(8) the assessee’s employer where such employer is a public company or a public sector company or a university established by law or a college affiliated to such university or a local authority or a co-operative society; or
(d) stamp duty, registration fee and other expenses for the purpose of transfer of such house property to the assessee,
but shall not include any payment towards or by way of—
(A) the admission fee, cost of share and initial deposit which a shareholder of a company or a member of a co-operative society has to pay for becoming such shareholder or member; or
(B) the cost of any addition or alteration to, or renovation or repair of, the house property which is carried out after the issue of the completion certificate in respect of the house property by the authority competent to issue such certificate or after the house property or any part thereof has either been occupied by the assessee or any other person on his behalf or been let out; or
(C) any expenditure in respect of which deduction is allowable under the provisions of section 24;
(xix) as subscription to equity shares or debentures forming part of any eligible issue of capital approved by the Board on an application made by a public company or as subscription to any eligible issue of capital by any public financial institution in the prescribed form14.
- —For the purposes of this clause,—
(i) “eligible issue of capital” means an issue made by a public company formed and registered in India or a public financial institution and the entire proceeds of the issue are utilised wholly and exclusively for the purposes of any business referred to in sub-section (4) of section 80-IA;
(ii) “public company” shall have the meaning assigned to it in section 315 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956);
(iii) “public financial institution” shall have the meaning assigned to it in section 4A16 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956);
(xx) as subscription to any units of any mutual fund referred to in clause (23D) of section 10 and approved by the Board on an application made by such mutual fund in the prescribed form17:
Provided that this clause shall apply if the amount of subscription to such units is subscribed only in the eligible issue of capital of any company.
- —For the purposes of this clause “eligible issue of capital” means an issue referred to in clause (i) of the Explanation to clause (xix) of sub-section (2);
18[(xxi) as term deposit—
(a) for a fixed period of not less than five years with a scheduled bank; and
(b) which is in accordance with a scheme19 framed and notified, by the Central Government, in the Official Gazette for the purposes of this clause.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, “scheduled bank” means the State Bank of India constituted under the State Bank of India Act, 1955 (23 of 1955), or a subsidiary bank as defined in the State Bank of India (Subsidiary Banks) Act, 1959 (38 of 1959), or a corresponding new bank constituted under section 3 of the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970 (5 of 1970), or under section 3 of the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1980 (40 of 1980), or any other bank, being a bank included in the Second Schedule to the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934);]
20[(xxii) as subscription to such bonds issued by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette21, specify in this behalf;]
22[(xxiii) in an account under the Senior Citizens Savings Scheme Rules, 200423;
(xxiv) as five year time deposit in an account under the Post Office Time Deposit Rules, 1981.]
(3) The provisions of sub-section (2) shall apply only to so much of any premium or other payment made on an 24[insurance policy, other than a contract for a deferred annuity, issued on or before the 31st day of March, 2012,] as is not in excess of twenty per cent of the actual capital sum assured.
- —In calculating any such actual capital sum assured, no account shall be taken—
(i) of the value of any premiums agreed to be returned, or
(ii) of any benefit by way of bonus or otherwise over and above the sum actually assured, which is to be or may be received under the policy by any person.
25[(3A) The provisions of sub-section (2) shall apply only to so much of any premium or other payment made on an insurance policy, other than a contract for a deferred annuity, issued on or after the 1st day of April, 2012 as is not in excess of ten per cent of the actual capital sum assured :
26[Provided that where the policy, issued on or after the 1st day of April, 2013, is for insurance on life of any person, who is—
(a) a person with disability or a person with severe disability as referred to in section 80U, or
(b) suffering from disease or ailment as specified in the rules made under section 80DDB,
the provisions of this sub-section shall have effect as if for the words “ten per cent”, the words “fifteen per cent” had been substituted.]
Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-section, “actual capital sum assured” in relation to a life insurance policy shall mean the minimum amount assured under the policy on happening of the insured event at any time during the term of the policy, not taking into account—
(i) the value of any premium agreed to be returned; or
(ii) any benefit by way of bonus or otherwise over and above the sum actually assured, which is to be or may be received under the policy by any person.]
(4) The persons referred to in sub-section (2) shall be the following, namely:—
(a) for the purposes of clauses (i), (v), (x) and (xi) of that sub-section,—
(i) in the case of an individual, the individual, the wife or husband and any child of such individual, and
(ii) in the case of a Hindu undivided family, any member thereof;
(b) for the purposes of clause (ii) of that sub-section, in the case of an individual, the individual, the wife or husband and any child of such individual;
(c) for the purposes of clause (xvii) of that sub-section, in the case of an individual, any two children of such individual.
(5) Where, in any previous year, an assessee—
(i) terminates his contract of insurance referred to in clause (i) of sub-section (2), by notice to that effect or where the contract ceases to be in force by reason of failure to pay any premium, by not reviving contract of insurance,—
(a) in case of any single premium policy, within two years after the date of commencement of insurance; or
(b) in any other case, before premiums have been paid for two years; or
(ii) terminates his participation in any unit-linked insurance plan referred to in clause (x) or clause (xi) of sub-section (2), by notice to that effect or where he ceases to participate by reason of failure to pay any contribution, by not reviving his participation, before contributions in respect of such participation have been paid for five years; or
(iii) transfers the house property referred to in clause (xviii) of sub-section (2) before the expiry of five years from the end of the financial year in which possession of such property is obtained by him, or receives back, whether by way of refund or otherwise, any sum specified in that clause,
then,—
(a) no deduction shall be allowed to the assessee under sub-section (1) with reference to any of the sums, referred to in clauses (i), (x), (xi) and (xviii) of sub-section (2), paid in such previous year; and
(b) the aggregate amount of the deductions of income so allowed in respect of the previous year or years preceding such previous year, shall be deemed to be the income of the assessee of such previous year and shall be liable to tax in the assessment year relevant to such previous year.
(6) If any equity shares or debentures, with reference to the cost of which a deduction is allowed under sub-section (1), are sold or otherwise transferred by the assessee to any person at any time within a period of three years from the date of their acquisition, the aggregate amount of the deductions of income so allowed in respect of such equity shares or debentures in the previous year or years preceding the previous year in which such sale or transfer has taken place shall be deemed to be the income of the assessee of such previous year and shall be liable to tax in the assessment year relevant to such previous year.
- —A person shall be treated as having acquired any shares or debentures on the date on which his name is entered in relation to those shares or debentures in the register of members or of debenture-holders, as the case may be, of the public company.
27[(6A) If any amount, including interest accrued thereon, is withdrawn by the assessee from his account referred to in clause (xxiii) or clause (xxiv) of sub-section (2), before the expiry of the period of five years from the date of its deposit, the amount so withdrawn shall be deemed to be the income of the assessee of the previous year in which the amount is withdrawn and shall be liable to tax in the assessment year relevant to such previous year:
Provided that the amount liable to tax shall not include the following amounts, namely:—
(i) any amount of interest, relating to deposits referred to in clause (xxiii) or clause (xxiv) of sub-section (2), which has been included in the total income of the assessee of the previous year or years preceding such previous year; and
(ii) any amount received by the nominee or legal heir of the assessee, on the death of such assessee, other than interest, if any, accrued thereon, which was not included in the total income of the assessee for the previous year or years preceding such previous year.]
(7) For the purposes of this section,—
(a) the insurance, deferred annuity, provident fund and superannuation fund referred to in clauses (i) to (vii);
(b) unit-linked insurance plan and annuity plan referred to in clauses (xii) to (xiiia);
(c) pension fund and subscription to deposit scheme referred to in clauses (xiiic) to (xiva);
(d) amount borrowed for purchase or construction of a residential house referred to in clause (xv),
of sub-section (2) of section 88 shall be eligible for deduction under the corresponding provisions of this section and the deduction shall be allowed in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(8) In this section,—
(i) “Administrator” 28 means the Administrator as referred to in clause (a) of section 2 of the Unit Trust of India (Transfer of Undertaking and Repeal) Act, 2002 (58 of 2002);
(ii) “contribution” to any fund shall not include any sums in repayment of loan;
(iii) “insurance” shall include—
(a) a policy of insurance on the life of an individual or the spouse or the child of such individual or a member of a Hindu undivided family securing the payment of specified sum on the stipulated date of maturity, if such person is alive on such date notwithstanding that the policy of insurance provides only for the return of premiums paid (with or without any interest thereon) in the event of such person dying before the said stipulated date;
(b) a policy of insurance effected by an individual or a member of a Hindu undivided family for the benefit of a minor with the object of enabling the minor, after he has attained majority to secure insurance on his own life by adopting the policy and on his being alive on a date (after such adoption) specified in the policy in this behalf;
(iv) “Life Insurance Corporation” means the Life Insurance Corporation of India established under the Life Insurance Corporation Act, 1956 (31 of 1956);
(v) “public company” shall have the same meaning as in section 329 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956);
(vi) “security” means a Government security as defined in clause (2) of section 230 of the Public Debt Act, 1944 (18 of 1944);
(vii) “specified company” means a company as referred to in clause (h) of section 231 of the Unit Trust of India (Transfer of Undertaking and Repeal) Act, 2002 (58 of 2002);
(viii) “transfer” shall be deemed to include also the transactions referred to in clause (f) of section 269UA.]
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Section 80CC: Deduction in respect of investment in certain new shares.
- 32[Omitted by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1996, w.r.e.f. 1-4-1993.]
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Section 80CCA: 33[Deduction in respect of deposits under National Savings Scheme or payment to a deferred annuity plan.
3480CCA. (1) Where an assessee, being—
(a) an individual, or
(b) a Hindu undivided family, 35[* * *]
(c) 36[* * *]
has in the previous year—
(i) deposited any amount in accordance with such scheme as the Central Government may, by notification37 in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf 38[* * *]; or
(ii) paid any amount to effect or to keep in force a contract for such annuity plan of the Life Insurance Corporation as the Central Government may, by notification39 in the Official Gazette, specify,
out of his income chargeable to tax, he shall, in accordance with, and subject to, the provisions of this section, be allowed a deduction in the computation of his total income of the whole of the amount deposited or paid (excluding interest or bonus accrued or credited to the assessee’s account, if any) as does not exceed the amount of twenty thousand rupees in the previous year :
40[Provided that in relation to—
(a) the assessment years commencing on the 1st day of April, 1989 and the 1st day of April, 1990, this sub-section shall have effect as if for the words “twenty thousand rupees”, the words “thirty thousand rupees” had been substituted;
(b) the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1991 and subsequent assessment years, this sub-section shall have effect as if for the words “twenty thousand rupees”, the words “forty thousand rupees” had been substituted:]
41[Provided further that no deduction under this sub-section shall be allowed in relation to any amount deposited or paid under clauses (i) and (ii) on or after the 1st day of April, 1992.]
(2) Where any amount—
(a) standing to the credit of the assessee 42[under the scheme referred to in clause (i) of sub-section (1)] in respect of which a deduction has been allowed under sub-section (1) together with the interest accrued on such amount is withdrawn in whole or in part in any previous year, or
(b) is received on account of the surrender of the policy or as annuity or bonus in accordance with the annuity plan of the Life Insurance Corporation in any previous year,
an amount equal to the whole of the amount referred to in clause (a) or clause (b) shall be deemed to be the income of the assessee of that previous year in which such withdrawal is made or, as the case may be, amount is received, and shall, accordingly, be chargeable to tax as the income of that previous year :
43[Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall apply to any amount received by the assessee on account of the surrender of the policy in accordance with the terms of the annuity plan of the Life Insurance Corporation where the assessee elects to surrender before the 1st day of October, 1992, the said annuity plan in respect of which he had paid any amount under clause (ii) of sub-section (1) before the 1st day of April, 1992.]
44[(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provision of this Act, where a partition has taken place among the members of a Hindu undivided family or where an association of persons has been dissolved after a deduction has been allowed under sub-section (1), the provisions of sub-section (2) shall apply as if the person in receipt of income referred to therein is the assessee.]
Explanation I.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that interest on the deposits made 45[under the scheme referred to in clause (i) of sub-section (1)] shall not be chargeable to tax except in the manner and to the extent specified in sub-section (2).
Explanation II.—For the purposes of this section, “Life Insurance Corporation” shall have the same meaning as in clause (a) of sub-section (8) of section 80C.]
November 30, 2014
Section 1. Short title, extent and commencement
THE BANKING REGULATION ACT, 19493
(Act No. 10 of 1949)
[10th March, 1949]
(1) This Act may be called the Banking 4[Regulation] Act, 1949.
5[(2) It extends to the whole of India 6[* * *].]
(3) It shall come into force on such date7as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint in this behalf.
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3. For Statement of Objects and Reasons, see Gazette of India, 1948, Pt. V, pp. 311 and 312, for Report of Select Committee, see Gazette of India, 1949, Pt. V, pp. 45 to 48.
Extended to Dadra and Nagar Haveli by Reg. 6 of 1963 Section 2 and Schedule I w.e.f. 1-7-1965 and to Goa, Daman and Diu by Reg. 11 of 1963, Section 3 and Schedule Nothing in this Acts (except section 34A) shall apply to the Industrial Development Bank of India vide Act 18 of 1964, Section 34.
4.Substituted by Act 23 of 1965, Section 11, for “Companies” w.e.f. 1-3-1966.
5.Substituted by Act 20 of 1950, Section 2, for sub-section (2).
6.The words “except the State of Jammu and Kashmir” omitted by Act 62 of 1956, Section 2 and Schedule.
7.Came into force on 16th March, 1949; see Notification NO. F.4(46)-FI/49, dated 10th March, 1949, published in the Gazette of India, 1949, Pt. I, P. 326.
Section 2. Application of other laws not barred
The provisions of this Act shall be in addition to, and not, save as hereunder expressly provided, in derogation of the 1[Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956)], and any other law for the time being in force.
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1.Substituted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 14 and Schedule, for “Indian Companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913)” w.e.f. 14-1- 1957.
Section 3. Act to apply to co-operative societies in certain cases
1[Act to apply to co-operative societies in certain cases. Nothing in this Act shall apply to. —
(a) a primary agricultural credit society;
(b) a co-operative land mortgage bank; and
(c) any other co-operative society, except in the manner and to the extent specified in Part V.]
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1. Substituted by Act 23 of 1956, Section 12, for the former Section 12, for the former section w.e.f. 1-3-1966.
Section 4. Power to suspend operation of Act
(1) The Central Government, if on a representation made by the Reserve Bank in this behalf it is satisfied that it is expedient so to do, may by notification in the Official Gazette suspend for such period, not exceeding sixty days, as may be specified in the notification, the operation of all or any of the provisions of this Act, either generally or in relation to any specified banking company.
(2) In a case of special emergency, the Governor of the Reserve Bank, or in his absence a Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank nominated by him in this behalf may, by order in writing, exercise the powers of the Central Government under sub-section (1) so however that the period of suspension shall not exceed thirty days, and where the Governor or the Deputy Governor, as the case may be, does so, he shall report the matter to the Central Government forthwith, and the order shall, as soon as may be, be published in the Gazette of India.
(3) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, extend from time to time the period of any suspension ordered under sub-section (1) or subsection (2) for such period, not exceeding sixty days at any one time, as it thinks fit so however that the total period does not exceed one year.
(4) A copy of any notification issued under sub-section (3) shall be laid on the table of 1[Parliament] as soon as may be after it is issued.
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1. Substituted by the A. O. 1950, for “the Dominion Legislature”.
Section 5. Interpretation
1[In this Act], unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context, —
2[(a) “approved securities” means—
(i) securities in which a trustee may invest money under clause (a), clause (b), clause (bb), clause (c) or clause (d) of section 20 of the Indian Trusts Act, 1882 (2 of 1882);
(ii) such of the securities authorised by the Central Government under clause (f) of section 20 of the Indian Trusts Act, 1882 (2 of 1882), as may be prescribed;]
(b) “banking” means the accepting, for the purpose of lending or investment, of deposits of money from the public, repayable on demand or otherwise, and withdrawal by cheque, draft, order or otherwise;
(c) “banking company” means any company which transacts the business of banking 3[in India];
Explanation. — Any company which is engaged in the manufacture of goods or carries on any trade and which accepts deposits of money from the public merely for the purpose of financing its business as such manufacturer or trader shall not be deemed to transact the business of banking within the meaning of this clause;
4[(ca) “banking policy” means any policy which is specified from time to time by the Reserve Bank in the interest of the banking system or in the interest of monetary stability or sound economic growth, having due regard to the interests of the depositors, the volume of deposits and other resources of the bank and the need for equitable allocation and the efficient use of these deposits and resources;]
5[(cc) “branch” or “branch office” , in relation to a banking company, means any branch or branch office, whether called a pay office or sub-pay office or by any other name, at which deposits are received, cheques cashed or moneys lent, and for the purposes of section 35 includes any place of business where any other form of business referred to in sub-section (1) of section 6 is transacted;]
6[(d) “company” means any company as defined in section 3 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956); and includes a foreign company within the meaning of section 591 of that Act;)
7[(da) “corresponding new bank” means a corresponding new bank constituted under section 3 of the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970 (5 of 1970); or under section 3 of the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1980 (40 of 1980);]
8[* * * * *]
(f) “demand liabilities” means liabilities which must be met on demand, and “time liabilities” means liabilities which are not demand liabilities;
9[(ff) “Deposit Insurance Corporation” means the Deposit Insurance Corporation established under section 3 of the Deposit Insurance Corporation Act, 1961 (47 of 1961);]
10[(ffa) “Development Bank” means the Industrial Development Bank of India established under section 3 of the Industrial Development Bank of India Act, 1964 (18 of 1964);
(ffb) “Exim Bank” means the Export-Import Bank of India established under section 3 of the Export-Import India Act, 1981 (28 of 1981);]
11[(ffc) “Reconstruction Bank” means the Industrial Reconstruction Bank of India established under section 3 of the Industrial Reconstruction Bank of India Act, 1984 (62 of 1984);]
12[(ffd) “National Housing Bank” means the National Housing Bank established under section 3 of the National Housing Bank Act, 1987;]
(g) “gold” includes gold in the form of coin, whether legal tender or not, or in the form of bullion or ingot, whether refined or not;
13[(gg) “managing agent” includes. —
(i) Secretaries and Treasurers;
(ii) Where the managing agent is a company, and director of such company, and any member thereof who holds substantial interest in such company;
(iii) Where the managing agent is a firm, any partner of such firm;]
14[(h) “managing director”, in relation to a banking company, means a director who, by virtue of an agreement with the banking company or of a resolution passed by the banking company in general meeting or by its Board of directors or, by virtue of its memorandum or articles of association, is entrusted with the management of the whole, or substantially the whole of the affairs of the company, and includes a director occupying the position of a managing director, by whatever name called:]
15[Provided that the managing director shall exercise his powers subject to the superintendence, control and direction of the Board of Directors;]
16[(ha) “National Bank” means the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development established under section 3 of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development Act, 1981;]
17[* * * * *]
(j) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
16[(ja) “regional rural bank” means a regional rural bank established under section 3 of the Regional Rural Banks Act, 1976 (21 of 1976);]
17[* * * * *]
18[(1) “Reserve Bank” means the Reserve Bank of India constituted under section 3 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934);]
17[* * * * *]
(n) “secured loan or advance” means a loan or advance made on the security of assets the market value of which is not at any time less than the amount of such loan or advance; and “unsecured loan or advance” means a loan or advance not so secured;
19[(ni) “Small Industries Bank” means the Small Industries Development Bank of India established under section 3 of the Small Industries Development Bank of India, 1989;]
20[(na) “small-scale industrial concern” means an industrial concern in which the investment in plant and machinery is not in excess of seven and a half lakhs of rupees or such higher amount, not exceeding twenty lakhs of rupees, as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf, having regard to the trends in industrial development and other relevant factors;]
21[(nb) “Sponsor Bank” has the meaning assigned to it in the Regional Rural Banks Act, 1976 (21 of 1976);
(nc) “State Bank of India” means the State Bank of India constituted under section 3 of the State Bank of India Act, 1955 (23 of 1955);]
22[(nd)] “subsidiary bank” has the meaning assigned to it in the State Bank of India (Subsidiary Banks) Act, 1959;
23[(ne)] ” substantial interest”. —
(i) in relation to a company, means the holding of a beneficial interest by an individual or his spouse or minor child, whether singly or taken together, in the shares thereof, the amount paid up on which exceeds five lakhs of rupees or ten percent of the paid-up capital of the company, whichever is less;
(ii) in relation to a firm, means the beneficial interest held therein by an individual or his spouse o r minor child, whether singly or taken together, which represents more than ten per cent of the total capital subscribed by all the partners of the said firm;]]
24[(o) all other words and expressions used herein but not defined and defined in the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in that Act.]
25[* * * * *]
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1. Substituted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 6, for “(1) In this Act,” w.e.f. 1-2-1964
2. Clause (a) Substituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 13 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
3. Substituted by Act 20 of 1950, Section 3, for “in any State”.
4. Inserted By Act 58 of 1958, Section 2 w.e.f. 1-2-1969.
5. Inserted By Act 58 of 1959, Section 2 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.
6. Substituted by Act 58 of 1959 Section 2, for clause (d) w.e.f. 1-10-1959.
7. Inserted By Act 1 of 1984, Section 13 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
8. Clause (e) omitted by Act 52 of 1953, Section 2.
9. Inserted By Act 47 of 1961, Section 51 and Schedule II, Pt. II w.e.f. 1-1-1962.
10. Inserted By Act 1 of 1984, Section 13 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
11. Inserted by Act 62 of 1984, Section 71 and Third Schedule w.e.f. 20-3-1985.
12. Inserted by Act 53 of 1987, Section 56 and Second Schedule w.e.f. 9-7-1988.
13. Inserted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 2 w.e.f. 1-2-1969.
14. Substituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 2, for clause (h) w.e.f. 1-10-1959.23Added by Act 58 of 1968, Section 2 w.e.f. 1-2-1969.
15. Added by Act 58 of 1968, Section 2 w.e.f. 1-2-1969.
16. Inserted by Act 61 of 1981, Section 61 and Second Schedule, Pt. II w.e.f. 1-5-1982.
17. Clauses (i), (k) and (m) omitted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 2 w.e.f. 1-5-1982.
18. Inserted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 13 w.e.f. 15-2-1984
19. Inserted by Act 39 of 1989, Section 53 and Second Schedule, Pt. III w.e.f. 25-10-1989
20. Inserted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 2 w.e.f. 1-2-1969.
21. Inserted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 2 w.e.f. 1-2-1969
22. Clause (nb) re/lettered as Clause (nb) by Act 1 of 1984, Section 13 w.e.f. 15-2-1984
23. Clause (nc) re/lettered as Clause (ne) by Act 1 of 1984, Section 13 w.e.f. 15-2-1984
24. Inserted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 2 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.
25. Sub-section (2) omitted by the A.O. 1950
Section 5A. Act to override memorandum, articles, etc.
1[Act to override memorandum, articles, etc. Save as otherwise expressly provided in this Act. (a) the provisions of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the memorandum or articles of a banking company, or in any agreement executed by it, or in any resolution passed by the banking company in general meeting or by its Board of Directors, whether the same be registered, executed or passed, as the case may be, before or after the commencement of the Banking Companies (Amendment) Act, 1959 (33 of 1959); and
(b) any provision contained in the memorandum, articles, agreement or resolution aforesaid shall, to the extent to which it is repugnant to the provisions of this Act, become or be void, as the case may be.]
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1. Inserted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 2 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.
Part II – Business of Banking Companies
Section 6. Forms of business in which banking companies may engage
(1) In addition to the business of banking, a banking company may engage in any one or more of the following forms of business, namely: —
(a) the borrowing, raising, or taking up of money; the lending or advancing of money either upon or without security; the drawing, making, accepting, discounting, buying, selling, collecting and dealing in bills of exchange, hoondees, promissory notes, coupons, drafts, bills of lading, railway receipts, warrants, debentures, certificates, scrips and other instruments and securities whether transferable or negotiable or not; the granting and issuing of letters of credit, traveller’s cheques and circular notes; the buying, selling and dealing in bullion and specie; the buying and selling of foreign exchange including foreign bank notes; the acquiring, holding, issuing on commission, underwriting and dealing in stock, funds, shares, debentures, debenture stock, bonds, obligations, securities and investments of all kinds; the purchasing and selling of bonds, scrips or other forms of securities on behalf of constituents or others, the negotiating of loans and advances; the receiving of all kinds of bonds, scrips or valuables on deposit or for safe custody or otherwise; the providing of safe deposit vaults; the collecting and transmitting of money and securities;
(b) acting as agents for any Government or local authority or any other person or persons; the carrying on of agency business of any description including the clearing and forwarding of goods, giving of receipts and discharges and otherwise acting as an attorney on behalf of customers, but excluding the business of a 1[managing agent or secretary and treasurer] of a company;
(c) contracting for public and private loans and negotiating and issuing the same;
(d) the effecting, insuring, guaranteeing, underwriting, participating in managing and carrying out of any issue, public or private, of State, municipal or other loans or of shares, stock, debentures, or debenture stock of any company, corporation or association and the lending of money for the purpose of any such issue;
(e) carrying on and transacting every kind of guarantee and indemnity business;
(f) managing, selling and realising any property which may come into the possession of the company in satisfaction or part satisfaction of any of its claims;
(g) acquiring and holding and generally dealing with any property or any right, title or interest in any such property which may form the security or part of the security for any loans or advances or which may be connected with any such security;
(h) undertaking and executing trusts;
(i) undertaking the administration of estates as executor, trustee or otherwise;
(j) establishing and supporting or aiding in the establishment and support of associations, institutions, funds, trusts and conveniences calculated to benefit employees or ex-employees of the company or the dependents or connections of such persons; granting pensions and allowances and making payments towards insurance; subscribing to or guaranteeing moneys for charitable or benevolent objects or for any exhibition or for any public, general or useful object;
(k) the acquisition, construction, maintenance and alteration of any building or works necessary or convenient for the purposes of the company;
(l) selling, improving, managing, developing, exchanging, leasing, mortgaging, disposing of or turning into account or otherwise dealing with all or any part of the property and rights of the company;
(m) acquiring and undertaking the whole or any part of the business of any person or company, when such business is of a nature enumerated or described in this sub- section;
(n) doing all such other things as are incidental or conducive to the promotion or advancement of the business of the company;
(o) any other form of business which the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify as a form of business in which it is lawful for a banking company to engage.
(2) No banking company shall engage in any form of business other than those referred to in sub-section (1).
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1. Substituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 4, for “managing agent” w.e.f. 1-10-1959
Section 7. Use of words “bank”, “banker”, “banking” or “banking company”
1[Use of words “bank”, “banker”, “banking” or “banking company”. (1) No company other than a banking company shall use as part of its name 2[or in connection with its business] any of the words “bank”, “banker” or “banking” and no company shall carry on the business of banking in India unless it uses as part of its name at least one of such words.
(2) No firm, individual or group of individuals shall, for the purpose of carrying on any business, use as part of its or his name any of the words “bank”, “banking” or “banking company”.
(3) Nothing in this section shall apply to. —
(a) a subsidiary of a banking company formed for one or more of the purposes mentioned in sub-section (1) of section 19, whose name indicates that it is a subsidiary of that banking company;
(b) any association of banks formed for the protection of their mutual interests and registered under section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956).]
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1. Subsituted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 7, for the former section 7 w.e.f. 1-2-1964.
2. Inserted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 14 w.e.f. 15-2-1984
Section 8. Prohibition of trading
Notwithstanding anything contained in section 6 or in any contract, no banking company shall directly or indirectly deal in the buying or selling or bartering of goods, except in connection with the realisation of security given to or held by it, or engage in any trade, or buy, sell or barter goods for others otherwise than in connection with bills of exchange received for collection or nego-tiation or with such of its business as is referred lo in clause (i) of sub-section (1) of section 6:
1[Provided that this section shall not apply to any such business as is specified in pursuance of clause (o) of sub-section (1) of section 6.
Explanation. — For the purposes of this section, “goods” means every kind of movable property, other than actionable claims, stocks, shares, money, bullion and specie, and all instruments referred to in clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 6.
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1. Subsituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 15 w.e.f. 15-2-194
Section 9. Disposal of non-banking assets
Notwithstanding anything contained in section 6, no banking company shall hold any immovable property howsoever acquired, except such as is required for its own use, for any period exceeding seven years from the acquisition thereof or from the commencement of this Act, whichever is later or any extension of such period as in this section provided, and such properly shall be disposed of within such period or extended period, as the case may be:
Provided that the banking company may, within the period of seven years as aforesaid deal or trade in any such property for the purpose of facilitating the disposal thereof:
Provided further that the Reserve Bank may in any particular case extend the aforesaid period of seven years by such period not exceeding five years where it is satisfied that such extension would be in the interests of the depositors of the banking company.
Section 10. Prohibition of employment of managing agents and restrictions on certain forms of employment
1[Prohibition of employment of managing agents and restrictions on certain forms of employment. (1) No banking company —
(a) shall employ or be managed by a managing agent; or
(b) shall employ or continue the employment of any person—
(i) who is, or at any time has been, adjudicated insolvent, or has suspended payment or has compounded with his creditors, or who is, or has been, convicted by a criminal court of an offence involving moral turpitude; or
(ii) whose remuneration or part of whose remuneration takes the form of commission or of a share in the profits of the company:
2[Provided that nothing contained in this sub-clause shall apply to the payment by a banking company of—
(a) any bonus in pursuance of a settlement or award arrived at or made under any law relating to industrial disputes or in accordance with any scheme framed by such banking company or in accordance with the usual practice prevailing in banking business;
(b) any commission to any broker (including guarantee broker), cashier-contractor, clearing and forwarding agent, auctioneer or any other person, employed by the banking company under a contract otherwise than as a regular member of the staff of the company; or]
(iii) whose remuneration is, in the opinion of the Reserve Bank, excessive; or
(c) shall be managed by any person—
3[(i) who is a director of any other company not being—
(a) a subsidiary of the banking company, or
(b) a company registered under section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956):
Provided that the prohibition in this sub-clause shall not apply in respect of any such director for a temporary period not exceeding three months or such further period not exceeding nine months as the Reserve Bank may allow; or]
(ii) who is engaged in any other business or vocation; or
(iii) 4[whose term of office as a person managing the company is] for period exceeding five years at any one time:
5[Provided that the term of office of any such person may be renewed or extended by further periods not exceeding five years on each occasion subject to the condition that such renewal/extension shall not be sanctioned earlier than two years from the date on which it is to come into force:
Provided also that where the term of office of such person is for an indefinite period, such term, unless it otherwise comes to an end earlier, shall come to an end immediately on the expiry of five years from the date of his appointment or on the expiry of three months from the date of commencement of section 8 of the Banking Laws (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1963 (55 of 1963), whichever is later:]
Provided further that nothing in this clause shall apply to a director, other than the managing director, of a banking company by reason only of his being such director.
Explanation. — For the purpose of sub-clause (iii) of clause (b), the expression “remuneration”, in relation to person employed or continued in employment, shall include salary, fees and perquisites but shall not include any allowances or other amounts paid to him for the purpose of reimbursing him in respect of the expense actually incurted by him in the performance of his duties.
(2) In forming its opinion under sub-clause (iii) of clause (b) of sub-section (1), the Reserve Bank may have regard among other matters to the following: —
(i) the financial condition and history of the banking company, its size and area of operation, its resources, the volume of its business, and the trend of its earning capacity;
(ii) the number of its branches or offices;
(iii) the qualifications, age and experience of the person concerned;
(iv) the remuneration paid to other persons employed by the banking company or to any person occupying a similar position in any other banking company similarly situated; and
(v) the interests of its depositors.
6[7[***].]
(6) Any decision or order of the Reserve Bank made under this section shall be final for all purposes.]
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1. Subsituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 6, for the proviso w.e.f. 1-10-1959
2. Subsituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 6 for sub-clause (i) w.e.f. 1-10-1959.
3. Subsituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 6 for sub-clause (i) w.e.f. 1-10-1959.
4. Subsituted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 8, for certain words w.e.f. 1-2-1964.
5. Subsituted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 8, for the first proviso w.e.f. 1-2-1964.
6. Subsituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 6, for sub-section (3) w.e.f. 1-10-1959.
7. Sub-sections (3), (4) and (5) omitted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 8 w.e.f. 1-2-1964.
Section 10A. Board of directors to include persons with professional or other experience
1[Board of directors to include persons with professional or other experience. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, every banking company,
(a) in existence on the commencement of section 3 of the Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 1968 (58 of 1968), or
(b) which comes into existence thereafter,
shall comply with the requirements of this section:
Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall apply to a banking company referred to in clause (a) for a period of three months from such commencement.
(2) Not less than fifty-one per cent, of the total number of members of the Board of directors of a banking company shall consist of persons, who—
(a) shall have special knowledge or practical experience in respect of one or more of the following matters, namely:—
(i) accountancy,
(ii) agriculture and rural economy,
(iii) banking,
(iv) co-operation,
(v) economics,
(vi) finance,
(vii) law,
(viii) small-scale industry,
(ix) any other matter the special knowledge of, and practical experience in, which would, in the opinion of the Reserve Bank, be useful to the banking company:
Provided that out of the aforesaid number of directors, not less than two shall be persons having special knowledge or practical experience in respect of agriculture and rural economy, co-operation or small-scale industry; and
(b) shall not—
(1) have substantial interest in, or be connected with, whether as employee, manager or managing agent,—
(i) any company, not being a company registered under section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), or
(ii) any firm,
which carries on any trade, commerce or industry and which, in either case, is not a small-scale industrial concern, or
(2) be proprietors of any trading, commercial or industrial concern, not being a small-scale industrial concern.
2[(2A) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), or in any other law for the time being in force, —
(i) no director of a banking company, other than its chairman or whole-time director, by whatever name called, shall hold office continuously for a period exceeding eight years;
(ii) a chairman or other whole-time director of a banking company who has been removed from office as such chairman, or whole-time director, as the case may be, under the provisions of this Act shall also cease to be a director of the banking company and shall also not be eligible to be appointed as a director of such banking company, whether by election or co-option or otherwise, for a period of four years from the date of his ceasing to be the -chairman or whole-time director as the case may be.]
(3) If, in respect of any banking company the requirements, as laid down in subsection (2), are not fulfilled at any time, the Board of directors of such banking company shall re-constitute such Board so as to ensure that the said requirements are fulfilled.
(4) If, for the purpose of re-constituting the Board under sub-section (3), it is necessary to retire any director or directors, the Board may, by lots drawn in such manner as may be prescribed, decide which director or directors shall cease to hold office and such decision shall be binding on every director of the Board.
(5) Where the Reserve Bank is of opinion that the composition of the Board of directors of a banking company is such that it does not fulfil the requirements of subsection (2), it may, after giving to such banking company a reasonable opportunity of being heard, by an order in writing, direct the banking company to so re-constitute its Board of directors as to ensure that the said requirements are fulfilled and, if within two months from the date of receipt of that order, the banking company does not comply with the directions made by the Reserve Bank, that Bank may, after determining, by lots drawn in such manner as may be prescribed, the person who ought to be removed from the membership of the Board of directors, remove such person from the office of the director of banking company and with a view to complying with the provision of sub-section (2) appoint a suitable person as a member of the Board of directors in the place of the person so removed whereupon the person so appointed shall be deemed to have been duly elected by the banking company as its director.
(6) Every appointment, removal or reconstitution duly made, and every election duly held, under this section shall be final and shall not be called into question in any court.
(7) Every director elected or, as the case may be, appointed under this section shall hold office until the date up to which his predecessor would have held office, if the election had not been held, or, as the case may be, the appointment had not been made.
(8) No act or proceeding of the Board of directors of a banking company shall be invalid by reason only of any defect in the composition thereof or on the ground that it is subsequently discovered that any of its members did not fulfil the requirements of this section.
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1. Section 10A to 10D Inserted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 3 w.e.f. 1-2-1969.
2. Inserted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 16 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
Section 10B. Banking company to be managed by whole time chairman
1[(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force or in any contract to the contrary, every banking company in existence on the commencement of the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Act, 1994 (20 of 1944), or which comes into existence thereafter shall have one of its directors, who may be appointed on a whole-time or a part-time basis, as chairman of its board of directors, and where he is appointed on a whole-time basis, as chairman of its board of directors, he shall be entrusted with the management of the whole of the affairs of the banking company :
Provided that the chairman shall exercise his powers subject to the superintendence, control and direction of the board of directors.
(1A) Where a chairman is appointed on a part-time basis, —
(i) such appointment shall be with the previous approval of the Reserve Bank and be subject to such conditions as the Reserve Bank may specify while giving such approval;
(ii) the management of the whole of the affairs of such banking company shall be entrusted to a managing director who shall exercise his powers subject to the superintendence, control and direction of the board of directors.]
(2) 2[Every chairman of the board of directors who is appointed on a whole-time basis and every managing director] of a banking company shall be in the whole-time employment of such company and shall hold office for such period, not exceeding five years, as the board of directors may fix, but shall, subject to the provisions of this section, be eligible for re-election of reappointment:
Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall be construed as prohibiting a chairman from being a director of a subsidiary of the banking company or a director of a company registered under section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956).
(3) Every person holding office on the commencement of section 3 of the Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 1968 (58 of 1968), as managing director of a banking company shall—
(a) if there is a chairman of its board of directors, vacate office on such commencement, or
(b) if there is no chairman of its board of directors, vacate office on the date on which the chairman of its board of directors is elected or appointed in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(4) 3[Every chairman who is appointed on a whole-time basis and every managing director of a banking company appointed under sub-section (1A)] shall be person who has special knowledge and practical experience of—
(a) the working of a banking company, or of the State Bank of India or any subsidiary bank or a financial institution, or
(b) financial, economic or business administration :
Provided that a person shall be disqualified for being a 3[chairman who is appointed on a whole time basis or a managing director], if be—
(a) is a director of any company other than a company referred to in the proviso to sub-section (2), or
(b) is a partner of any firm which carries on any trade, business or industry, or
(c) has substantial interest in any other company or firm, or
(d) is a director, manager, managing agent, partner or proprietor of any trading, commercial or industrial concern, or
(e) is engaged in any other business or vocation.
(5) 3[A chairman of the board of directors appointed on a whole-time basis or a managing director] of a banking company may, by writing, under his hand addressed to the company, resign his office, 4[* * *].
5[(5A) 3[A chairman of the board of directors appointed on a whole-time basis or a managing director] whose term of office has come to an end, either by reason of his resignation or by reason of expiry of the period of his office, shall, subject to the approval of the Reserve Bank, continue in office until his successor assumes office.
(6) Without prejudice to the provisions of section 36AA where the Reserve Bank is of opinion that any person who, is, or has been elected to be, the 3[chairman of the board of directors who is appointed on a whole-time basis or the managing director] of a banking company is not a fit and proper person to hold such office, it may, after giving to such person and to the banking company a reasonable opportunity of being heard by order in writing, require the banking company to elect or appoint any other person as the 3[chairman of the board of directors who is appointed on a whole-time basis or the managing director] and if, within a period of two months from the date of receipt of such order, the banking company fails to elect or appoint a suitable person as the 3[chairman of the board of directors who is appointed on a whole-time basis or the managing director], the Reserve Bank may, by order, remove the first-mentioned person from the office of the 6[chairman of the board of directors who is appointed on a whole-time basis or the managing director] of the banking company and appoint a suitable person in his place whereupon the person so appointed shall be deemed to have been duly elected or appointed, as the case may be, as the 6[chairman of the board of directors who is appointed on a whole-time basis or the managing director] of such banking company and any person elected or 6[appointed as chairman on a whole-time basis or managing director] under this sub-section shall hold office for the residue of the period of office of the person in whose place he has been so elected or appointed.
(7) The banking company and any person against whom an order of removal is made under sub-section (6) may, within thirty days from the date of communication to it or to him of the order, prefer an appeal to the Central Government and the decision of the Central Government thereon, and subject thereto, the order made by the Reserve Bank under sub-section (6), shall be final and shall not be called into question in any court.
(8) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, the Reserve Bank may, if in its opinion it is necessary in the public interest so to do, permit 6[the chairman of the board of directors who is appointed on a whole-time basis or the managing director] to undertake such part-time honorary work as is not likely to interfere with his duties as 6[such chairman or managing director].
(9) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, where a person 6[appointed on a whole-time basis, as chairman of the board of directors or the managing director] dies or resigns or is by infirmity or otherwise rendered incapable of carrying out his duties or is absent on leave or otherwise in circumstances not involving the vacation of his office, the banking company may, with the approval of the Reserve Bank, make suitable arrangements for carrying out the 6[duties of chairman or managing director] for a total period not exceeding four months.
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1. Subsituted by Act 20 of 1994, Section 2, for sub-section (1) w.e.f. 31-1-1994.
2. Subsituted by Act 20 of 1994, Section 2, for certain words w.e.f. 31-1-1994.
3. Subsituted by Act 20 of 1994, Section 2 w.e.f. 31-1-1994.
4. Certain words omitted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 17 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
5. Inserted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 17 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
6. Subsituted by Act 20 of 1994, Section 2 w.e.f. 31-1-1994.
Section 10BB. Power of Reserve Bank to appoint [Chairman of the Board of directors appointed on a whole-time basis or a managing director] of a banking company
1[Power of Reserve Bank to appoint [Chairman of the Board of directors appointed on a whole-time basis or a managing director] of a banking company. (1) Where the office, of the 2[chairman of the board of directors appointed on a whole-time basis or a managing director] of a banking company is vacant, the Reserve Bank may, if it is of opinion that the continuation of such vacancy is likely to adversely affect the interests of the banking company, appoint a person eligible under sub-section (4) of section 10B to be so appointed, to be the 2[chairman of the board of directors appointed on a whole-time basis or a managing director] of the banking company and where the person so appointed is not a director of such banking company, he shall, so long as he holds the office of the 2[chairman of the board of directors appointed on a whole-time basis or a managing director], be deemed to be director of the banking company.
(2) The 3[chairman of the board of directors appointed on a whole-lime basis or a managing director] so appointed by the Reserve Bank shall be in the whole-time employment of the banking company and shall hold office for such period not exceeding three years, as the Reserve Bank may specify, but shall, subject to other provisions of this Act, be eligible for reappointment.
(3) The 3[chairman of the board of directors appointed on a whole-time basis or a managing director] so appointed by the Reserve Bank shall draw from the banking company such pay and allowances as the Reserve Bank may determine and may be removed from office only by the Reserve Bank.
(4) Save as otherwise provided in this section, the provisions of section 10B shall, as far as may be, apply to the 3[chairman of the board of directors appointed on a whole-time basis or a managing director] appointed by the Reserve Bank under subsection (1) as they apply to a 3[chairman of the board of directors appointed on a whole-time basis or a managing director] appointed by the banking company.]
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1. Inserted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 18 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
2. Subsituted by Act 20 of 1994, Section 3 w.e.f. 31-1-1994.
3. Subsituted by Act 20 of 1994, Section 3 w.e.f. 31-1-1994.
Section 10C. Chairman and certain directors not to be required to hold qualification shares
1[Chairman and certain directors not to be required to hold qualification shares. 2[Chairman of the board of directors who is appointed on a whole-lime basis or a managing director] of a banking company (by whomsoever appointed) and a director of a banking company (appointed by the Reserve Bank under section 10A) shall not be required to hold qualification shares in the banking company.]
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1. Subsituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 19 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
2. Subsituted by Act 20 of 1994, Section 4 w.e.f. 31-1-1994.
Section 10D. Provisions of sections 10A and 10B to override all other laws, contracts, etc.
Any appointment or removal of a 1[director, chairman of the board of directors who is appointed on a whole-time basis or a managing director] in pursuance of section IOA or section 10B 2[or section 10BB] shall have effect and any such person shall not be entitled to claim any compensation for the loss or termination of office, notwithstanding anything contained in any law or in any contract, memorandum or articles of association.]
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1. Subsituted by Act 20 of 1994, sec 5 w.e.f. 31-1-1994.
2. Inserted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 20 w.e.f. 31-1-1984.
Section 11. Requirement as to minimum paid-up capital and reserves
(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in 1[section 149 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956)], no banking company in existence on the commencement of this Act, shall, after the expiry of three years from such commencement or of such further period not exceeding one year as the Reserve Bank, having regard to the interests of the depositors of the company, may think fit in any particular case to allow, carry on business 2[in India], and no other banking company shall after the commencement of this Act, commence or carry on business 2[in India] 3[unless it complies with such of the requirements of this section as are applicable to it].
4[(2) In the case of a banking company incorporated outside India—
(a) the aggregate value of its paid-up capital and reserves shall not be less than fifteen lakhs of rupees and if it has a place or places of business in the city of Bombay or Calcutta or both, twenty lakhs of rupees; and
(b) 5[the banking company shall deposit and keep deposited with the Reserve Bank either in cash or in the form of unencumbered approved securities, or partly in cash and partly in the form of such securities—
(i) an amount which shall not be less than the minimum required by clause (a); and
(ii) as soon as may be after the expiration of each 6[* * *] year, an amount calculated at twenty per cent of its profit for that year in respect of all business transacted through its branches in India, as disclosed in the profit and loss account prepared with reference to that year under section 29:]
Provided that any such banking company may at any time replace—
(i) any securities so deposited by cash or by any other unencumbered approved securities or partly by cash and partly by other such securities, so however, that the total amount deposited is not affected;
(ii) any cash so deposited by unencumbered approved securities of an equal value.]
7[(2A) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (2), the Central Government may, on the recommendation of the Reserve Bank, and having regard to the adequacy of the amounts already deposited and kept deposited by a banking company under sub-section (2), in relation to its deposit liabilities in India, declare by order in writing that the provisions of sub-clause (ii) of clause (b) of sub-section (2) shall not apply to such banking company for such period as may be specified in the order.]
(3) In the case of any banking company to which the provisions of sub-section (2) do not apply, the aggregate value of its paid-up capital and reserves shall not be less than—
(i) if it has places of business in more than one State, five lakhs of rupees, and if any such place or places of business is or are situated in the city of Bombay or Calcutta or both, ten lakhs of rupees;
(ii) if it has all its places of business in one State none of which is situated in the city of Bombay or Calcutta, one lakh of rupees in respect of its principal place of business, plus ten thousand rupees in respect of each of its other places of business situated in the same district in which it has its principal place of business, plus twenty-five thousand rupees in respect of each place of business situated elsewhere in the State otherwise than in the same district:
Provided that no banking company to which this clause applies shall be required to have paid-up capital and reserves exceeding an aggregate value of five lakhs of rupees:
Provided further that no banking company to which this clause applies and which has only one place of business, shall be required to have paid-up capital and reserves exceeding an aggregate value of fifty thousand rupees:
8[Provided further that in the case of every banking company to which this clause applies and which commences banking business for the first time after the commencement of the Banking Companies (Amendment) Act, 1962 (36 of 1962), the value of its paid-up capital shall not be less than five lakhs of rupees;]
(iii) if it has all its places of business in one State, one or more of which is or are situated in the city of Bombay or Calcutta, five lakhs of rupees, plus twenty-five thousand rupees in respect of each place of business situated outside the city of Bombay or Calcutta, as the case may be:
Provided that no banking company to which this clause applies shall be required to have paid-up capital and reserves exceeding an aggregate value of ten lakhs of rupees.
Explanation. — For the purposes of this sub-section, a place of business situated 9[in a State] other than that in which the principal place of business of the banking company is situated shall, if it is not more than twenty-five miles distant from such principal place of business, be deemed to be situated within the same State as such principal place of business.
(4) Any amount deposited and kept deposited with the Reserve Bank under 10[* * *] sub-section (2) by any banking company incorporated 11[outside India] shall, in the event of the company ceasing for any reason to carry on banking business 12[in India], be an asset of the company on which the claims of all the creditors of the company 12[in India] shall be a first charge.
13[(5) For the purposes of this section, —
(a) “place of business” means any office, sub-office, sub-pay office and any place of business at which deposits are received, cheques cashed, or moneys lent;
(b) “value” means the real or exchangeable value, and not the nominal value which may be shown in the books of the banking company concerned.]
(6) If any dispute arises in computing the aggregate value of the paid-up capital and reserves of any banking company, a determination thereof by the Reserve Bank shall be final for the purposes of this section.
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1. Subsituted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 14 and Schedule, for “section 103 of the Indian Companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913)” w.e.f. 14-1-1957.
2. Subsituted by Act 20 of 1950, Section 3, for “in any state”.
3. Subsituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 7, for certain words w.e.f. 1-10-1959.
4. Subsituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 7, for sub-section (2) w.e.f. 1-10-1959.
5. Subsituted by Act 36 of 1962, Section 2, for certain words.
6. The word “calendar” omitted by Act 66 of 1988, Section 7 w.e.f. 31-12-1988.
7. Inserted by Act 36 of 1962, Section 2.
8. Inserted by Act 36 of 1962, Section 2.
9. Subsituted by Act 62 of 1956, Section 2 and Schedule, for “in India”.
10. The words “the proviso to” omitted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 7 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.
11. Subsituted by Act 20 of 1950, Section 3, for “elsewhere than in a State”.
12. Subsituted by Act 20 of 1950, Section 3, for “in the States”.
13. Subsituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 7, for sub-section (5) w.e.f. 1-10-1959.
Section 12. Regulation of paid-up capital, subscribed capital and authorised capital and voting rights of shareholders
1[Regulation of paid-up capital, subscribed capital and authorised capital and voting rights of shareholders. (1) No banking company shall carry on business in India, unless it satisfies the following conditions, namely:—
(i) that the subscribed capital of the company is not less than one-half of the authorised capital, and the paid-up capital is not less than one-half of the subscribed capital and that, if the capital is increased, it complies with the conditions prescribed in this clause within such period not exceeding two years as the Reserve Bank may allow;
(ii) that the capital of the company consists of ordinary shares only or of ordinary shares or equity shares and such preferential shares as may have been issued prior to the 1st day of July, 1944:
Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall apply to any banking company incorporated before the 15th day of January, 1937.
[(2) No person holding shares in a banking company shall, in respect of any shares held by him, exercise voting rights 2[on poll] 3[in excess of 4(ten per cent)] of the total voting rights of all the shareholders of the banking company.]
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force or in any contract or instrument no suit or other proceeding shall be maintained against any person registered as the holder of a share in a banking company on the ground that the title to the said share vests in a person other than the registered holder :
Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall bar a suit or other proceeding—
(a) by a transferee of the share on the ground that he has obtained from the registered holder a transfer of the share in accordance with any law relating to such transfer; or
(b) on behalf of a minor or a lunatic on the ground that the registered holder holds the share on behalf of the minor or lunatic.
(4) Every chairman, managing director or chief executive officer by whatever name called of a banking company shall furnish to the Reserve Bank through that banking company returns containing full particulars of the extent and value of his holding of shares, whether directly or indirectly, in the banking company and of any change in the extent of such holding or any variation in the rights attaching thereto and such other information relating to those shares as the Reserve Bank may, by order, require and in such form and at such time as may be specified in the order.]
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1. Subsituted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 3, for section 12 w.e.f. 14-1-1957.
2. Inserted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 8 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.
3. Subsituted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 9, for “inexcess of five percent” w.e.f. 1-12-1964.
4. Subsituted by Act 20 of 1994, sSection 6 w.e.f. 31-1-1994.
Section 12A. Election of new directors
1[Election of new directors. (1) The Reserve Bank may, by order, require any banking company to call a general meeting of the shareholders of the company within such time, not less than two months from the date of the order, as may be specified in the order or within such further time as the Reserve Bank may allow in this behalf, to elect in accordance with the voting rights permissible under this Act fresh directors, and the banking company shall be bound to comply with the order.
(2) Every director elected under sub-section (1) shall hold office until the date up to which his predecessor would have held office, if the election had not been held.
(3) Any election duly held under this section shall not be called in question in any court.]
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1. Inserted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 4 w.e.f. 14-1-1957.
Section 13. Restriction on commission, brokerage, discount, etc. on sale of shares
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in 1[sections 76 and 79 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956)], no banking company shall pay out directly or indirectly by way of commission, brokerage, discount or remuneration in any form in respect of any shares issued by it, any amount exceeding in the aggregate two and one-half per cent of the paid-up value of the said shares.
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1. Subsituted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 14 and Schedule I, for “section 105 and 105A of the Indian Companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913)” w.e.f. 14-1-1957.
Section 14. Prohibition of charge on unpaid capital
No banking company shall create any charge upon any unpaid capital of the company, and any such charge shall be invalid.
Section 14A. Prohibition of floating charge on assets
1[Prohibition of floating charge on assets. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 6, no banking company shall create a floating charge on the undertaking or any property of the company or any part thereof, unless the creation of such floating charge is certified in writing by the Reserve Bank as not being detrimental to the interests of the depositors of such company.
(2) Any such charge created without obtaining the certificate of the Reserve Bank shall be invalid.
(3) Any banking company aggrieved by the refusal of a certificate under subsection (1) may, within ninety days from the date on which such refusal is communicated to it, appeal to the Central Government.
(4)The decision of the Central Government where an appeal has been preferred to it under sub-section (3) or of the Reserve Bank where no such appeal has been preferred shall be final.]
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1. Inserted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 9 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.
Section 15. Restrictions as to payment of dividend
1[(1)] No banking company shall pay any dividend on its shares until all its capitalised expenses (including preliminary expenses, organisation expenses, share-selling commission, brokerage, amounts of losses incurred and any other item of expenditure not represented by tangible assets) have been completely written off.
2[(2)] Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in sub-section (1) or in the Companies Act, 1956(1 of 1956), a banking company may pay dividends on its shares without writing off—
(i) the depreciation, if any, in the value of its investments in approved securities in any case where such depreciation has not actually been capitalised or otherwise accounted for as a loss;
(ii) the depreciation, if any, in the value of its investments in shares, debentures or bonds (other than approved securities) in any case where adequate provision for such depreciation has been made to the satisfaction of the auditor of the banking company;
(iii) the bad debts, if any, in any case where adequate provision for such debts has been made to the satisfaction of the auditor of the banking company.]
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1. Section 15 renumbered as sub-section (1) of that section by Act 33 of 1959, Section 10 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.
2. Inserted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 10 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.
Section 16. Prohibition of common directors
1[(Prohibition of common directors. 2[(1) No banking company incorporated in India shall have as a director in its Board of directors any person who is a director of any other banking company.
(1A) No banking company referred to in sub-section (1) shall have in its Board of directors, more than three directors who are directors of companies which among themselves are entitled to exercise voting rights in excess of twenty per cent of the total voting rights of all the shareholders to that banking company.]
(2) If immediately before the commencement of the Banking Companies (Amendment) Act, 1956 (95 of 1956), any person holding office as a director of a banking company is also a director of companies which among themselves are entitled to exercise voting rights in excess of twenty percent of the total voting rights of all the shareholders of the banking company, he shall, within such period from such commencement as the Reserve Bank may specify in this behalf-
(a) either resign his office as a director of the banking company; or
(b) choose such number of companies as among themselves are not entitled to exercise voting rights in excess of twenty per cent, of the total voting rights of all the shareholders of the banking company as companies in which he wishes to continue to hold the office of a director and resign his office as a director in the other companies.]
3[(3) Nothing in sub-section (1) shall apply to, or in relation to, any director appointed by the Reserve Bank.]
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1. Subsituted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 5, for section 16 w.e.f. 14-1-1957.
2. Subsituted by Act 20 of 1994, Section 7 w.e.f. 22-3-1994.
3. Inserted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 4 w.e.f. 1-2-1969.
Section 17. Reserve Fund
1[Reserve Fund. (1) Every banking company incorporated in India shall create a reserve fund and 2[* * *] shall, out of the balance of profit of each year as disclosed in the profit and loss account prepared under section 29 and before any dividend is declared, transfer to the reserve fund a sum equivalent to not less than twenty per cent of such profit.
3[(1A) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the Central Government may, on the recommendation of the Reserve Bank and having regard to the adequacy of the paid-up capital and reserves of a banking company in relation to its deposit liabilities, declare by order in writing that the provisions of sub-section (1) shall not apply to the banking company for such period as may be specified in the order:
Provided that no such order shall be made unless, at the time it is made, the amount in the reserve fund under sub-section (1), together with the amount in the share premium account is not less than the paid-up capital of the banking company.]
(2) Where a banking company appropriates any sum or sums from the reserve fund or the share premium account, it shall, within twenty-one days from the date of such appropriation, report the fact to the Reserve Bank, explaining the circumstances relating to such appropriation:
Provided that the Reserve Bank may, in any particular case, extend the said period of twenty-one days by such period as it thinks fit or condone any delay in the making of such report.
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1. Subsituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 1, for section 17 and 18 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.
2. Certain words omitted by Act 36 of 1962, Section 3.
3. Inserted by Act 36 of 1962, Section 3.
Section 18. Cash reserve
1[Cash reserve. (1) Every banking company, not being a scheduled bank, shall maintain in India by way of cash reserve with itself or by way of balance in a current account with the Reserve Bank, or by way of net balance in current accounts or in one or more of the aforesaid ways, a sum equivalent to at least three per cent of the total of its demand and time liabilities in India as on the last Friday of the second preceding fortnight and shall submit to the Reserve Bank before the twentieth day of every month a return showing the amount so held on alternate Fridays during a month with particulars of its demand and time liabilities in India on such Fridays or if any such Friday is a public holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (26 of 1881), at the close of business on the preceding working day.
Explanation. —In this section, and in section 24, —
(a) “liabilities in India” shall not include—
(i) the paid-up capital or the reserves or any credit balance in the profit and loss account of the banking company;
(ii) any advance taken from the Reserve Bank or from the Development Bank or from the Exim Bank 2[or from the Reconstruction Bank] 3[or from the National Housing Bank] or from the National Bank 4[or from the Small Industries Bank] by the banking company;
(iii) in the case of a Regional Rural Bank, also any loan taken by such bank from its Sponsor Bank;
(b) “fortnight” shall mean the period from Saturday to the second following Friday, both days inclusive;
(c) “net balance in current accounts” shall, in relation to a banking company, mean the excess, if any, of the aggregate of the credit balances in current account maintained by that banking company with State Bank of India or a subsidiary bank or a corresponding new bank over the aggregate of the credit balances in current account held by the said banks with such banking company;
(d) for the purposes of computation of liabilities, the aggregate of the liabilities of a banking company to the State Bank of India, a subsidiary bank, a corresponding new bank, a regional rural bank, another banking company, a co-operative bank or any other financial institution notified by the Central Government in this behalf, shall be reduced by the aggregate of the liabilities of all such banks and institutions to the banking company;
(e) the expression “co-operative bank” shall have the meaning assigned to it in clause (cci) of section 56.
(2) The Reserve Bank may, for the purposes of this section and section 24, specify from time to time, with reference to any transaction or class of transactions, that such transaction or transactions shall be regarded as liability in India of a banking company and, if any question arises as to whether any transaction or class of transactions shall be regarded for the purposes of this section and section 24 as liability in India of a banking company, the decision of the Reserve Bank thereon shall be final.]
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1. Inserted by Act 62 of 1984, Section 71 and Third Schedule 20-3-1985.
2. Inserted by Act 62 of 1984, Section 71 and Third Schedule 20-3-1985
3. Inserted by Act 53 of 1987, Section 56 and Schedule w.e.f. 9-7-1988.
4. Inserted by Act 39 of 1989, Section 53 and Second Schedule, Pt. II w.e.f. 25-10-1989.
Section 19. Restriction on nature of subsidiary companies
1[(1) A banking company shall not form any subsidiary company except a subsidiary company formed for one or more of the following purposes, namely: —
(a) the undertaking of any business which, under clauses (a) to (o) of subsection (3) of section 6, is permissible for a banking company to undertake, or
(b) with the previous permission in writing of the Reserve Bank, the carrying on of the business of banking exclusively outside India, or
(c) the undertaking of such other business, which the Reserve Bank may, with the prior approval of the Central Government, consider to be conducive to the spread of banking in India or to be other wise useful or necessary in the public interest.
Explanation. —For the purposes of section 8, a banking company shall not be deemed, by reason of its forming or having a subsidiary company, to be engaged indirectly in the business carried on by such subsidiary company.]
(2) Save as provided in sub-section (1), no banking company shall hold shares in any company, whether as pledgee, mortgagee or absolute owner, of an amount exceeding thirty per cent of the paid-up share capital of that company or thirty per cent of its own paid-up share capital and reserves, whichever is less:
Provided that any banking company which is on the date of the commencement of this Act holding any shares in contravention of the provisions of this sub-section shall not be liable to any penalty therefor if it reports the matter without delay to the Reserve Bank and if it brings its holding of shares into conformity with the said provisions within such period, not exceeding two years, as the Reserve Bank may think fit to allow.
(3) Save as provided in sub-section (1) and notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (2), a banking company shall not, after the expiry of one year from the date of the commencement of this Act, hold shares, whether as pledgee, mortagagee or absolute owner, in any company in the management of which any managing director or manager of the banking company is in any manner concerned or interested.
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1. Subsituted Act 1 of 1984, Section 22 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
Section 20. Restrictions on loans and advances
1[Restrictions on loans and advances. (1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in section 77 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), no banking company shall,—
(a) grant any loans or advances on the security of its own shares, or—
(b) enter into any commitment for granting any loan or advance to or on behalf of—
(i) any of its directors,
(ii) any firm in which any of its directors is interested as partner, manager, employee or guarantor, or
(iii) any company [not being a subsidiary of the banking company or a company registered under section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), or a Government company] of which 2[or the subsidiary or the holding company of which] any of the directors of the banking company is a director, managing agent, manager, employee or guarantor or in which he holds substantial interest, or
(iv) any individual in respect of whom any of its directors is a partner or guarantor.
(2) Where any loan or advance granted by a banking company is such that a commitment for granting it could not have been made if clause (b) of sub-section (1) had been in force on the date on which the loan or advance was made, or is granted by a banking company after the commencement of section 5 of the Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 1968 (58 of 1968), but in pursuance of a commitment entered into before such commencement, steps shall be taken to recover the amounts due to the banking company on account of the loan, or advance together with interest, if any, due thereon within the period stipulated at the time of the grant of the loan or advance, or where no such period has been stipulated, before the expiry of one year from the commencement of the said section 5:
Provided that the Reserve Bank may, in any case, on an application in writing made to it by the banking company in this behalf, extend the period for the recovery of the loan or advance until such date, not being a date beyond the period of three years from the commencement of the said section 5, and subject to such terms and conditions, as the Reserve Bank may deem fit:
Provided further that this sub-section shall not apply if and when the director concerned vacates the office of the director of the banking company, whether by death, retirement, resignation or otherwise.
(3) No loan or advance, referred to in sub-section (2), or any part thereof shall be remitted without the previous approval of the Reserve Bank, and any remission without such approval shall be void and of no effect.
(4) Where any loan or advance referred to in sub-section (2), payable by any person, has not been repaid to the banking company within the period specified in that subsection, then, such person shall, if he is a director of such banking company on the date of the expiry of the said period, be deemed to have vacated his office as such on the said date.
Explanation. — In this section—
(a) “loans or advance” shall not include any transaction which the Reserve Bank may, having regard to the nature of the transaction, the period within which, and the manner and circumstances in which, any amount due on account of the transaction is likely to be realised, the interest of the depositors and other relevant considerations, specify by general or special order as not being a loan or advance for the purpose of this section;
(b) “director” include a member of any board or committee in India constituted by a banking company for the purpose of managing, or for the purpose of advising it in regard to the management of, all or any of its affairs.
(5) If any question arises whether any transaction is a loan or advance for the purposes of this section, it shall be referred to the Reserve Bank, whose decision thereon shall be final.]
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1. Subsituted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 5, for section 20 w.e.f. 1-2-1969.
2. Subsituted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 5, for section 20 w.e.f. 1-2-1969.
Section 20A. Restrictions on power to remit debts
1[Restrictions on power to remit debts. (1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in section 293 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), a banking company shall not, except with the prior approval of the Reserve Bank, remit in whole or in part any debt due to it by—
(a) any of its directors, or
(b) any firm or company in which any of its directors is interested as director, partner, managing agent or guarantor, or
(c) any individual if any of its directors is his partner or guarantor.
(2) Any remission made in contravention of the provisions of sub-section (1) shall be void and of no effect.]
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1. Inserted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 12 w.e.f. 1-2-1964.
Section 21. Power of Reserve Bank to control advances by banking companies
(1) Where the Reserve Bank is satisfied that it is necessary or expedient in the public interest 1[or in the interests of depositors] 2[ or banking policy] so to do, it may determine the policy in relation to advances to be followed by banking companies generally or by any banking company in particular, and when the policy has been so determined, all banking companies or the banking company concerned, as the case may be, shall be bound to follow the policy as so determined.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the power vested in the Reserve Bank under sub-section (1) the Reserve Bank may give directions to banking companies, either generally or to any banking company or group of banking companies in particular, 3[as to—
(a) the purposes for which advances may or may not be made,
(b) the margins to be maintained in respect of secured advances,
(c) the maximum amount of advances or other financial accommodation which, having regard to the paid-up capital, reserves and deposits of a banking company and other relevant considerations, may be made by that banking company to any one company, firm, association of persons or individual,
(d) the maximum amount up to which, having regard to the considerations referred to in clause (c), guarantees may be given by a banking company on behalf of any one company, firm, association of persons or individual, and
(e) the rate of interest and other terms and conditions on which advances or other financial accommodation may be made or guarantees may be given.]
4[(3) Every banking company shall be bound to comply with any directions given to it under this section.]
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1. Inserted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 13 w.e.f. 1-2-1964.
2. Inserted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 6 w.e.f. 1-2-1969.
3. Subsituted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 13, for certain words w.e.f. 1-2-1954.
4. Inserted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 13 w.e.f. 1-3-1964.
Section 21A. Rates of interest charged by banking companies not to be subject to scrutiny by courts
1[Rates of interest charged by banking companies not to be subject to scrutiny by courts. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Usurious Loans Act, 1918 (10 of 1918), or any other law relating to indebtedness in force in any State, a transaction between a banking company and its debtor shall not be re-opened by any court on the ground that the rate of interest charged by the banking company in respect of such transaction is excessive.]
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1. Inserted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 24 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
Section 22. Licensing of banking companies
1[(1) Save as hereinafter provided, no company shall carry on banking business in India unless it holds a licence issued in that behalf by the Reserve Bank and any such licence may be issued subject of such conditions as the Reserve Bank may think fit to impose.]
(2) Every banking company in existence on the commencement of this Act, before the expiry of six months from such commencement, and every other company before commencing banking business 2[in India], shall apply in writing to the Reserve Bank for a licence under this section:
Provided that in the case of a banking company in existence on the commencement of this Act, nothing in sub-section (1) shall be deemed to prohibit the company from carrying on banking business until it is granted a licence in pursuance of 3is section] or is by notice in writing informed by the Reserve Bank that a licence cannot be granted to it:
Provided further that the Reserve Bank shall not give a notice as aforesaid to a banking company in existence on the commencement of this Act before the expiry of the three years referred to in sub-section (1) of section 11 or of such further period as the Reserve Bank may under that sub-section think fit to allow.
(3) Before granting any licence under this section, the Reserve Banking may require to be satisfied by an inspection of the books of the company or otherwise that 4[***] the following conditions are fulfilled, namely : —
5[(a) that the company is or will be in a position to pay its present or future depositors in full as their claims accrue;
(b) that the affairs of the company are not being, or are not likely to be, conducted in a manner deterimental to the interests of its present or future depositors;]
6[(c) that the general character of the proposed management of the company will not be prejudicial to the public interest or the interest of its depositors;
(d) that the company has adequate capital structure and earning prospects;
(e) that the public interest will be served by the grant of a licence to the company to carry on banking business in India;
(f) that having regard to the banking facilities available in the proposed principal area of operations of the company, the potential scope for expansion of banks already in existence in the area and other relevant factors the grant of the licence would not be prejudicial to the operation and consolidation of the banking system consistent with monetary stability and economic growth;
(g) any other condition, the fulfilment of which would, in the opinion of the Reserve Bank, be necessary to ensure that the carrying on of banking business in India by the company will not be prejudicial to the public interest or the interests of the depositors.]
7[(3A) Before granting any licence under this section to a company incorporated outside India, the Reserve Bank may require to be satisfied by an inspection of the books of the company or otherwise that the conditions specified in sub-section (3) are fulfilled and that the carrying on of banking business by such company in India will be in the public interest and that the Government or law of the country in which it is incorporated does not discriminate in any way against banking companies registered in India and that the company complies with all the provisions of this Act applicable to banking companies incorporated outside India.]
8[(4) The Reserve Bank may cancel a licence granted to a banking company under this section —
(i) if the company ceases to carry on banking business in India; or
(ii) if the company at any time fails to comply with any of the conditions imposed upon it under sub-section (1); or
(iii) if at any time, any of the conditions referred to in sub-section (3) 7[and sub-section (3A)] is not fulfilled:
Provided that before cancelling a licence under clause (ii) or clause (iii) of this sub-section on the ground that the banking company has failed to comply with or has failed to fulfil any of the conditions referred to therein, the Reserve Bank, unless it is of opinion that the delay will be prejudicial to the interests of the company’s depositors or the public, shall grant to the company on such terms as it may specify, an opportunity of taking the necessary steps for complying with or fulfilling such condition.
(5) Any banking company aggrieved by the decision of the Reserve Bank cancelling a licence under this section may, within thirty days from the date on which such decision is communicated to it, appeal to the Central Government.
(6) The decision of the Central Government where an appeal has been preferred to it under sub-section (5) or of the Reserve Bank where no such appeal has been preferred shall be final.]
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1. Subsituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 13, for sub-section (1) w.e.f. 1-10-1959.
2. Subsituted by Act 20 of 1950, Section 3, for “in any state”.
3. Subsituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 13, for “sub-section” (2)” w.e.f. 1-10-1959.
4. The words “all or any of” omitted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 25 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
5. Subsituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 13, for clauses (a) and (b) w.e.f. 1-10-1959.
6. Subsituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 25, for clause ( c) w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
7. Inserted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 25 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
8. Subsituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 13, for sub-sections (4) and (5) w.e.f. 1-10-1959.
Section 23. Restrictions on opening of new, and transfer of existing, places of business
1[Restrictions on opening of new, and transfer of existing, places of business. (1) Without obtaining the prior permission of the Reserve Bank—
(a) no banking company shall open a new place of business in India or change otherwise than within the same city, town or village, the location of an existing place of business situated in India; and
(b) no banking company incorporated in India shall open a new place of business outside India or change, otherwise than within the same city, town or village in any country or area outside India, the location of an existing place of business situated in that country or area:
Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall apply to the opening for a period not exceeding one month of a temporary place of business within a city, town or village or the environs thereof within which the banking company already has a place of business, for the purpose of affording banking facilities to the public on the occasion of an exhibition, a conference or a mela or any other like occasion.
(2) Before granting any permission under this section, the Reserve Bank may require to be satisfied by an inspection under section 35 or otherwise as to the financial condition and history of the company, the general character of its management, the adequacy of its capital structure and earning prospects and that public interest will be served by the opening or, as the case may be, change of location, of the place of business.
(3) The Reserve Bank may grant permission under sub-section (1) subject to such conditions as it may think fit to impose either generally or with reference to any particular case.
(4) Where, in the opinion of the Reserve Bank, a banking company has, at any time, failed to comply with any of the conditions imposed on it under this section, the Reserve Bank may, by order in writing and after affording reasonable opportunity to the banking company for showing cause against the action proposed to be taken against it, revoke any permission granted under this section.
2[(4A) Any regional rural bank requiring the permission of the Reserve Bank under this section shall forward its application to the Reserve Bank through the National Bank which shall give its comments on the merits of the application and send it to the Reserve Bank:
Provided that the regional rural bank shall also send an advance copy of the application directly to the Reserve Bank.]
(5) For the purpose of this section “place of business” includes any sub-office, pay office, subpay office and any place of business at which deposits are received, cheques cashed or moneys lent.]
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1. Subsituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 14, for section 23 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.
2. Inserted by Act 61 of 1981, Section 61 and Second Schedule, Pt. II w.e.f. 1-5-1982.
Section 24. Maintenance of a percentage of assets
(1) After the expiry of two years from the commencement of this Act, every banking company shall maintain 1[in India] in cash, gold or unencumbered approved securities, valued at a price not exceeding the current market price, an amount which shall not at the close of business on any day be less than 20 percent of the total of its 2[demand and time liabilities] 3[in India].
4[Explanation— For the purposes of this section, “unencumbered approved securities” of a banking company shall include its approved securities lodged with another institution for an advance or any other credit arrangement to the extent to which such securities have not been drawn against or availed of.]
5[(2) In computing the amount for the purposes of sub-section (1), the deposit required under sub-section (2) of section 11 to be made with the Reserve Bank by a banking company incorporated outside India and any balances maintained in India by a banking company in current account with the Reserve Bank or the State Bank of India or with any other bank which may be notified in this behalf by the Central Government, including in the case of a scheduled bank the balance required under section 42 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934) to be so maintained, shall be deemed to be cash maintained in India.]
6[(2A)(a) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) or in sub-section (2), after the expiry of two years from the commencement of the Banking Companies (Amendment) Act, 1962 (36 of 1962),—
(i) a scheduled bank, in addition to the average daily balance which it is, or may be, required to maintain under section 42 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934), and
(ii) every other banking company, in addition to the cash reserve which it is required to maintain under section 18,
7[shall maintain in India,—
(A) in cash, or
(B) in gold valued at a price not exceeding the current market price or in unencumbered approved securities valued at a price determined in accordance with such one or more of, or combination of, the following methods of valuation, namely, valuation with reference to cost price, market price, book value or face value, as may be specified by the Reserve Bank from time to time,
an amount which shall not, at the close of business on any day, be less than twenty-five per cent or such other percentage not exceeding forty per cent, as the Reserve Bank may, from time to time, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify, of the total of its demand and time liabilities in India, as on the last Friday of the second preceding fortnight;]
8[(b) in computing the amount for the purposes of clause (a), —
(i) the deposit required under sub-section (2) of section 11 to be made with the Reserve Bank by a banking company incorporated outside India;
(ii) any cash or balances maintained in India by a banking company other than a scheduled bank with itself or with the Reserve Bank or by way of net balance in current account in excess of the aggregate of the cash or balance or net balance required to be maintained under section 18;
(iii) any balances maintained by a scheduled bank with the Reserve Bank in excess of the balance required to be maintained by it under section 42 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934);
(iv) the net balance in current accounts maintained in India by a scheduled bank;
(v) any balances maintained by a Regional Rural Bank in call or fixed deposit with its Sponsor Bank, shall be deemed to be cash maintained in India].
9[Explanation. — For the purpose of clause (a) of this sub-section, the market price of an approved security shall be the price as on the date of the issue of the notification or as on any earlier or later date as may be notified from time to time by the Reserve Bank in respect of any class or classes of securities.
10[(2B) The Reserve Bank may, by notification in the Official Gazette, vary the percentage referred to in sub-section (2A) in respect of a Regional Rural Bank 11[***].]
12[(3) For the purpose of ensuring compliance with the provisions of this section, every banking company shall, not later than twenty days after the end of the month to which it relates, furnish to the Reserve Bank in the prescribed form and manner a monthly return showing particulars of its assets maintained in accordance with this section, and its demand and time liabilities in India at the close of business on each alternate Friday during the month, or if any such Friday is a public holiday, at the close of business on the preceding working day:
Provided that every Regional Rural Bank shall also furnish a copy of the said return to the National Bank.]
(4)(a) If on any alternate Friday or, if such Friday is a public holiday, on the preceding working day, the amount maintained by a banking company at the close of business on that day falls below the minimum prescribed by or under clause (a) of sub-section (2A) such banking company shall be liable to pay to the Reserve Bank in respect of that day’s default, penal interest for that day at the rate of three per cent per annum above the bank rate on the amount by which the amount actually maintained falls short of the prescribed minimum on that day; and
(b) If the default occurs again on the next succeeding alternate Friday, or, if such Friday is a public holiday, on the preceding working day, and continues on succeeding alternate Fridays or preceding working days, as the case may be, the rate of penal interest shall be increased to a rate of five per cent per annum above the bank rate on each such shortfall in respect of that alternate Friday and each succeeding alternate Friday or preceding working day, if such Friday is a public holiday, in which the default continues.
(5)(a) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (3), the Reserve Bank may require a banking company to furnish to it a return in the form and manner specified by it showing particulars of its assets maintained in accordance with this section and its demand and time liabilities in India, as at the close of business on each day of a month; and
(b) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (4), on the failure of a banking company to maintain as on any day, the amount so required to be maintained by or under clause (a) of sub-section (2A) the Reserve Bank may, in respect of such default, require the banking company to pay penal interest for that day as provided in clause (a) of sub-section (4) and if the default continues on the next succeeding working day, the penal interest may be increased as provided in clause (b) of sub-section (4) for the concerned days.
(6)(a) The penalty payable under sub-section (4) and sub-section (5) shall be paid within a period of fourteen days from the date on which a notice issued by the Reserve Bank demanding payment of the same is served on the banking company and in the event of failure of the banking company to pay the same within such period, the penalty may be levied by a direction of the principal civil court having jurisdiction in the area where an office of the defaulting banking company is situated, such direction to be made only upon an application made by the Reserve Bank in this behalf to the court; and
(b) When the court makes a direction under clause (a), it shall issue a certificate specifying the sum payable by the banking company and every such certificate shall be enforceable in the same manner as if it were a decree made by the court in a suit.
(7) When under the provisions of clause (b) of sub-section (4), penal interest at the increased rate of five per cent, above the bank rate has become payable by a banking company, if thereafter the amount required to be maintained on the next succeeding alternate Friday, or if such Friday is a public holiday, the next preceding working day, is still below the prescribed minimum, every director, manager or secretary of the banking company, who is knowingly and wilfully a party to the default, shall be punishable with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees and with a further fine which may extend to five hundred rupees for each subsequent alternate Friday or the preceding working day, as the case may be, on which the default continues.
(8) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, if the Reserve Bank is satisfied, on an application in writing by the defaulting banking company, that the banking company had sufficient cause for its failure to comply with the provisions of clause (a) of sub-section (2A), the Reserve Bank may not demand the payment of the penal interest.
Explanation. — In this section, the expression “public holiday” means a day which is a public holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (26 of 1881)].
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1. Inserted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 15 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.
2. Subsituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 26, for “time and demand liabilities” w.e.f. 29-3-1985.
3. Subsituted by Act 20 of 1950, Section 3, for “in the States”.
4. Subsituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 15, for the former Explanation w.e.f. 1-10-1959.
5. Subsituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 15, for sub-section (2) w.e.f. 1-10-1959.
6. Inserted by Act 36 of 1962, Section 6.
7. Subsituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 26, for certain words and figures w.e.f. 29-3-1985.
8. Subsituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 26, for clause (b) w.e.f. 29-9-1985.
9. Inserted by Act 1 of 1984 Section 26 w.e.f. 29-3-1985.
10. Inserted by Act 21 of 1976, Section 33 w.e.f. 26-9-1975.
11. Certain words omitted by Act I of 1984, Section 26 w.e.f. 29-3-1985.
12. Subsituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 26, for sub-section (3) w.e.f. 29-3-1985.
Section 25. Assets in India
1[(1) The assets in India of every banking company at the close of business on the last Friday of every quarter or, if that Friday is a public holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (26 of 1881), at the close of the business on the preceding working day, shall not be less than seventy-five percent of its demand and time liabilities in India.
(2) Every banking company shall, within one month from the end of every quarter, submit to the Reserve Bank a return in the prescribed form and manner of the assets and liabilities referred to in sub-section (1) as at the close of business on the last Friday of the previous quarter, or, if that Friday is a public holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (26 of 1881) at the close of business on the preceding working day:]
2[Provided that every regional rural bank shall also furnish a copy of the said return to the National Bank.]
For the purposes of this section, —
3[(a) “assets in India” shall be deemed to include export bills drawn in, and import bills drawn on and payable in India and expressed in such currencies as the Reserve Bank may from time to time approve in this behalf and also such securities as the Reserve Bank may approve in this behalf notwithstanding that all or any of the said bills or securities are held outside India;]
4[(b) “liabilities in India” shall not include the paid-up capital or the reserves or any crredit balance in the profit and loss account of the banking company;]
5[(c)] “quarter” means the period of three months ending on the last day of March, June, September or December.
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1. Subsituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 16, for sub-sections (1) and (2) w.e.f. 1-10-1959.
2. Inserted by Act 61 of 1981, Section 61 and Second Schedule, Pt. II w.e.f. 10-5-1982.
3. Subsituted by Act 20 of 1950, Section 7, for clause (a).
4. Inserted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 16 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.
5. Clause (b) relettered as clause (c) by Act 33 of 1959, Section 16 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.
Section 26. Return of unclaimed deposits
Every banking company shall, within thirty days after the close of each calendar year, submit a return in the prescribed form and manner to the Reserve Bank as at the end of such calendar year of all accounts 1[in India] which have not been operated upon for ten years 2[* * *]:
Provided that in the case of money deposited for a fixed period the said term of ten years shall be reckoned from the date of the expiry of such fixed period:
3[Provided further that every regional rural bank shall also furnish a copy of the said return to the National Bank.]
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1. Subsituted by Act 20 of 1950, Section 3, for “in a States”.
2. Certain words omitted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 14 w.e.f. 1-2-1964.
3. Inserted by Act 61 of 1981, Section 61 and Second Schedule, Pt. II w.e.f. 1-5-1982.
Section 27. Monthly returns and power to call for other returns and information
(I) Every banking company shall, before me close of the month succeeding that to which it relates, submit to the Reserve Bank a return in the prescribed form and manner showing its assets and liabilities [in India] as at the close of business on the last Friday of every month or if that Friday is a public holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (26 of 1881), at the close of business on the preceding working day.
2[(2) The Reserve Bank may at any time direct a banking company to furnish it within such time as may be specified by the Reserve Bank, with such statements and information relating to the business or affairs of the banking company (including any business or affairs with which such banking company is concerned) as the Reserve Bank may consider necessary or expedient to obtain for the purposes of this Act, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power may call for information every half-year regarding 3[the investments of a banking company and the classification of its advances in respect of industry, commerce and agriculture].]
1[(3). Every regional rural bank shall submit a copy of the return which it submits to the Reserve Bank under sub-section (1) also to the National Bank and the powers exercisable by the Reserve Bank under sub-section (2) may also be exercised by the National Bank in relation to regional rural banks.]
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1. Inserted by Act 61 of 1981, Section 61 and Second Schedule, Pt. II w.e.f. 1-5-1982.
2. Subsituted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 6, for sub-section (2) w.e.f. 14-1-1957.
3. Subsituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 17, for certain words w.e.f. 1-10-1959.
Section 28. Power to publish information
1[Power to publish information. The Reserve Bank or the National Bank, or both, if they consider it in the public interest so to do, may publish any information obtained by them under this Act in such consolidated form as they think fit.]
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1. Subsituted by Act 61 of 1981, Section 61 and Second Schedule, Pt. II w.e.f. 1-5-1982.
Section 29. Accounts and balance-sheet
(1) At the expiration of each calendar year 1[or at the expiration of a period of twelve months ending with such date2 as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf,] every banking company incorporated 95[in India], in respect of all business transacted by it, and every banking company incorporated 3[outside India], in respect of all business transacted through its branches 4[in India], shall prepare with reference to 5[that year or period, as the case may be,] a balance-sheet and profit and loss account as on the last working day of 6[that year or the period, as the case may be] in the Forms set out in the Third Schedule or as near thereto as circumstances admit:
7[Provided that with a view to facilitating the transition from one period, of accounting to another period of-accounting under this sub-section, the Central Government may, by order published in the Official Gazette, make such provisions as it considers necessary or expedient for the preparation of, or for other matters relating to, the balance sheet or profit and loss account in respect of the concerned year or period, as the case may be.]
(2) The balance-sheet and profit and loss account shall be signed—
(a) in the case of a banking company incorporated 4[in India], by the manager or the principal officer of the company and where there are more than three directors of the company, by at least three of those directors, or where there are not more than three directors, by all the directors, and
(b) in the case of a banking company incorporated 3[outside India] by the manager or agent of the principal office of the company 4[in India].
(3) Notwithstanding that the balance-sheet of a banking company is under subsection (I) required to be prepared in a form other than the form 8[set out in Part I -of Schedule VI to the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956)], the requirements of that relating to the balance-sheet and profit and loss account of a company shall, in so far as they are not inconsistent with this Act, apply to the balance-sheet or profit and loss account, as the case may be, of a banking company.
9[(3A) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in sub-section (3) of section 210 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), the period to which the profit and loss account relates shall, in the case of a banking company, be the period ending with the last working day of the year immediately preceding the year in which the annual general meeting is held.]
10[Explanation. —In sub-section (3A), “year” means the year or, as the case may be, the period referred to in sub-section (1).]
(4) The Central Government, after giving not less than three months’ notice of its mention so to do by a notification in the Official Gazette, may from time to time by a like notification amend the Form set out in the Third Schedule.
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101. Inserted by Act 66 of 1988, Section 8 w.e.f. 30-12-1988.
102. 31st day of March (pecified by Central Government Vide S.O. 86 (E), dated 29 th January, 1992), published in the Gazette of India, Extra., Pt. II, Section 3(ii) NO. 77, dated 29th January, 1992.
103. Subsituted by Act 20 of 1950, Section 3, for “ourside the States”.
104. Subsituted by Act 20 of 1950, Section 3, for “in a State”.
105. Subsituted by Act 66 of 1988, Section 8, for “that year” w.e.f. 30-12-1988.
106. Subsituted by Act 66 of 1988, Section 8, for “the year” w.e.f. 30-12-1988.
107. Subsituted by Act 66 of 1988, Section 8, for “the year” w.e.f. 30-12-1988.
108. Subsituted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 14 and Schedule, for “marked F in the Third Schedule to the Indian Companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913)” w.e.f. 14-1-1957.
109. Inserted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 27 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
110. Inserted by Act 66 of 1988, Section 8 w.e.f. 30-12-1988.
Section 30. Audit
1[(1) The balance-sheet and profit and loss account prepared in accordance with section 29 shall be audited by a person duly qualified under any law for the time being in force to be an auditor of companies.]
2[(1A) Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force or in any contract to the contrary, every banking shall, before appointing re-appointing or removing any auditor or auditors, obtain the previous approval of the Reserve Bank.
(1B) Without prejudice to anything contained in the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), or any other law for the time being in force, where the Reserve Bank is of opinion that it is necessary in the public interest or in the interest of the banking company or its depositors so to do, 3[it may at any time by order direct that a special audit of the banking company’s accounts, for any such transaction or class of transactions or for such period or periods as may be specified in the order, shall be conducted and may by the same or a different order either appoint a person duly qualified under any law for the time being in force to be an auditor of companies or direct the auditor of the banking company himself to conduct such special audit] and the auditor shall comply with such directions and make a report of such audit to the Reserve Bank and forward a copy thereof to the company.
(1C) The expenses of, or incidental to 3[the special audit] specified in the order made by the Reserve Bank shall be borne by the banking company.]
(2) The auditor shall have the powers of, exercise the functions vested in, and discharge the duties and be subject to the liabilities and penalties imposed on, auditors of companies by 4[section 227 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), 5[,and auditors, if any, appointed by the law establishing, constituting or forming the banking company concerned.]
(3) In addition to the matters which under the aforesaid Act the auditor is required to state in his report, he shall, in the case of a banking company incorporated 6[in India], state in his report,—
(a) whether or not the information and explanation required by him have been found to be satisfactory;
(b) whether or not the transactions of the company which have come to his notice have been within the powers of the company;
(c) whether or not the returns received from branch offices of the company have been found adequate for the purposes of his audit;
(d) whether the profit and loss account shows a true balance 7[of profit or loss] for the period covered by such account;
(e) any other matter which he considers should be brought to the notice of the shareholders of the company.
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1. Subsituted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 8, for sub-section (1) w.e.f. 1-2-1969.
2. Inserted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 8 w.e.f. 1-2-1969.
3. Subsituted by Act 66 of 1988, Section 9, for certain words w.e.f. 30-12-1988.
4. Subsituted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 8 for “section 145 of the Indian Companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913)” w.e.f. 1-2-1969.
5. Inserted by Act 66 of 1988, Section 9, for certain words w.e.f. 30-12-1988.
6. Subsituted by Act 20 of 1950, Section 3, for “in a State.”
7. Subsituted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 15, for “of profit and loss”.
Section 31. Submission of returns
The accounts and balance-sheet referred to in section 29 together with the auditor’s report shall be published in the prescribed manner and three copies thereof shall be furnished as returns to the Reserve Bank within three months from the end of the period to which they refer:
Provided that the Reserve Bank may in any case extend the said period of three months for the furnishing of such returns by a further period not exceeding three months:
1[Provided further that a regional rural bank shall furnish such returns also to the National Bank.]
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1. Inserted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 8 w.e.f. 1-2-1969.
Section 32. Copies of balance-sheets and accounts to be sent to registrar
1[(1) Where a banking company in any year furnishes its accounts and balance-sheet in accordance with the provisions of section 31, it shall at the same time send to the registrar three copies of such accounts and balance-sheet and of the auditor’s report, and where such copies are so sent, it shall not be necessary to file with the registrar, in the case of a public company, copies of the accounts and balance-sheet and of the auditor’s report, and, in the case of a private company, copies of the balance-sheet and of the auditor’s report as required by sub-section (1) of section 220 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956); and the copies so sent shall be chargeable with the same fee and shall be dealt with in all respects as if they were filed in accordance with that section.]
(2) When in pursuance of sub-section (2) of section 27 the Reserve Bank requires any additional statement or information in connection with the balance-sheet and accounts furnished under section 31, the banking company shall, when supplying such statement or information, send a copy thereof to the registrar.
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1. Subsituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 19 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.
Section 33. Display of audited balance-sheet by companies incorporated outside India
Every banking company incorporated 1[outside India] shall, not later than the first Monday in August of any year in which it carries on business, display in a conspicuous place in its principal office and in every branch office 2[in India] a copy of its last audited balance-sheet and profit and loss account prepared under section 29, and shall keep the copy so displayed until replaced by a copy of the subsequent balance-sheet and profit and loss account so prepared, and every such banking company shall display in like manner copies of its complete audited balance-sheet and profit and loss account relating to its banking business as soon as they are available, and shall keep the copies so displayed until copies of such subsequent accounts are available.
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1. Subsituted by Act 20 of 1950, Section 3, for “outside the States”.
2. Subsituted by Act 20 of 1950, Section 3, for “in a State”.
Section 34. Accounting provisions of this Act not retrospective
Nothing in this Act shall apply to the preparation of accounts by a banking company and the audit and submission thereof in respect of any accounting year which has expired prior to the commencement of this Act, and notwithstanding the other provisions of this Act, such accounts shall be prepared, audited and submitted in accordance with the law in force immediately before the commencement of this Act.
Section 34A. Production of documents of confidential nature
1[Production of documents of confidential nature. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 11 of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (14 of 1947), or any other law for the time being in force, no banking company shall, in any proceeding under the said Act or in any appeal or other proceeding arising therefrom or connected therewith, be compelled by any authority before which such proceeding is pending to produce, or give inspection of, any of its books of account or other document or furnish or disclose any statement or information, when the banking company claims that such document, statement or information is of a confidential nature and that the production or inspection of such document or the furnishing or disclosure of such statement or information would involve disclosure of information relating to—
(a) any reserves not shown as such in its published balance-sheet; or
(b) any particulars not shown therein in respect of provisions made for bad and doubtful debts and other usual or necessary provisions.
(2) If, in any such proceeding in relation to any banking company other than the Reserve Bank of India, any question arises as to whether any amount out of the reserves or provisions referred to in sub-section (1) should be taken into account by the authority before which such proceeding is pending, the authority may, if it so thinks fit, refer the question to the Reserve Bank and the Reserve Bank shall, after taking into account principles of sound banking and all relevant circumstances concerning the banking company, furnish to the authority a certificate stating that the authority shall not take into account any amount as such reserves and provisions of the banking company or may take them into account only to the extent of the amount specified by it in the certificate, and the certificate of the Reserve Bank on such question shall be final and shall not be called in question in any such proceeding.
2[(3) For the purposes of this section “banking company” includes the Reserve Bank, the Development Bank, the Exim Bank, 3[the Reconstruction Bank], 4[the National Housing Bank], the National Bank, 5[the Small Industries Bank] the State Bank of India, a corresponding new bank, a regional rural bank and a subsidiary bank.]
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1. Inserted by Act 23 of 1960, Section 2.
2. Subsituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 28, for sub-section (3) w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
3. Inserted by Act 62 of 1984, Section 71 and Third Schedule w.e.f. 20-3-1985.
4. Inserted by Act 53 of 1987, Section 56 and Second Schedule w.e.f. 9-7-1988.
5. Inserted by Act 39 of 1989, Section 53 and Second Schedule, Part III, w.e.f. 25-10-1989.
Section 35. Inspection
(1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in 1[section 235 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956)], the Reserve Bank at any time may, and on being directed so to do by the Central Government shall, cause an inspection to be made by one or more of its officers of any banking company and its books and accounts; and the Reserve Bank shall supply to the banking company a copy of its report on such inspection.
2[(1A) (a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any law for the time being in force and without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (1), the Reserve Bank, at any time, may also cause a scrutiny to be made by any one or more of its officers, of the affairs of any banking company and its books and accounts; and
(b) a copy of the report of the scrutiny shall be furnished to the banking company if the banking company makes a request for the same or if any adverse action is contemplated against the banking company on the basis of the scrutiny.]
(2) It shall be the duty of every director or other officer 3[or employee] of the banking company to produce to any officer making an inspection under sub-section (1) [or a scrutiny under sub-section (1A)] all such books, accounts and other documents in his custody or power and to furnish him with any statements and information relating to the affairs of the banking company as the said officer may require of him within such time as the said officer may specify.
(3) Any person making an inspection under sub-section (1) 4[for a scrutiny under sub-section (1A)] may examine on oath any director or other officer 3[or employee] of the banking company in relation to its business, and may administer an oath accordingly.
(4) The Reserve Bank shall, if it has been directed by the Central Government to cause an inspection to be made, and may, in any other case, report to the Central Government on any inspection 4[or scrutiny] made under this section, and the Central Government, if it is of opinion after considering the report that the affairs of the banking company are being conducted to the detriment of the interests of its depositors, may, after giving such opportunity to the banking company to make a representation in connection with the report as, in the opinion of the Central Government, seems reasonable, by order in writing—
(a) prohibit the banking company from receiving fresh deposits;
(b) direct the Reserve Bank to apply under section 38 for the winding up of the banking company:
Provided that the Central Government may defer, for such period as it may think fit, the passing of an order under this sub-section, or cancel or modify any such order, upon such terms and conditions as it may think fit to impose.
(5) The Central Government may, after giving reasonable notice to the banking company, publish the report submitted by the Reserve Bank or such portion thereof as may appear necessary.
5[Explanation. —For the purpose of this section, the expression “banking company” shall include—
(i) in the case of a banking company incorporated outside India, all its branches in India; and
(ii) in the case of a banking company incorporated in India—
(a) all its subsidiaries formed for the purpose of carrying on the business of banking exclusively outside India; and
(b) all its branches whether situated in India or outside India.]
6[(6) The powers exercisable by the Reserve Bank under this section in relation to regional rural banks may (without prejudice to the exercise of such powers by the Reserve Bank in relation to any regional rural bank whenever it considers necessary so to do) be exercised by the National Sank in relation to the regional rural banks, and accordingly, sub-sections (1) to (5) shall apply in relation to regional rural banks as if every reference therein to the Reserve Bank included also a reference to the National Bank.]
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1. Subsituted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 14 and Schedule, for “section 138 of the Indian companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913)” w.e.f. 14-1-1957.
2. Inserted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 29 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
3. Inserted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 17 w.e.f. 1-2-1964.
4. Inserted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 29 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
5. Added Act 33 of 1959 Section 20 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.
6. Inserted by Act 61 of 1981, Section 61 and Second Schedule, Pt. II. W.e.f. 1-5-1982.
Section 35A. Power of the Reserve Bank to give directions
1[Power of the Reserve Bank to give directions. (1) Where the Reserve Bank is satisfied that—
(a) in the 2[public interest]; or
3[(aa) in the interest of banking policy; or]
(b) to prevent the affairs of any banking company being conducted in a manner detrimental to the interests of the depositors or in a manner prejudicial to the interests of the banking company; or
(c) to secure the proper management of any banking company generally,
it is necessary to issue directions to banking companies generally or to any banking company in particular, it may, from time to time, issue such directions as it deems fit, and the banking companies or the banking company, as the case may be, shall be bound to comply with such directions.
(2) The Reserve Bank may, on representation made to it or on its own motion, modify or cancel any direction issued under sub-section (1), and in so modifying or cancelling any direction may impose such conditions as it thinks fit, subject to which the modification or cancellation shall have effect.
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1. Subsituted by Act 7 of 1961, Section 2, for “national interest”.
2. Subsituted by Act 7 of 1961, Section 2, for “national interest”.
3. Inserted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 10 w.e.f. 1-2-1969.
Section 35B. Amendments of provisions relating to appointments of managing directors, etc., to be subject to previous approval of the Reserve Bank
(1) In the case of a banking company—
(a) no amendment of any provision relating to 1[the maximum permissible number of directors or] the 2[appointment or re-appointment or termination of appointment or remuneration of a chairman, a] 3[managing director or any other director, whole-time or otherwise] or of a manager or a chief executive officer by whatever name called, whether that provision be contained in the company’s memorandum or articles of association, or in an agreement entered into by it, or in any resolution passed by the company in general meeting or by its Board of directors shall have effect unless approved by the Reserve Bank;
4[(b) no appointment or re-appointment or termination of appointment of a chairman, a managing or whole-time director, manager or chief executive officer by whatever name called, shall have effect unless such appointment, re-appointment or termination of appointment is made with the previous approval of the Reserve Bank.]
5[Explanation. —For the purpose of this sub-section, any provision conferring any benefit or providing any amenity or perquisite, in whatever form, whether during or after the termination of the term of office 6[of the chairman or the manager] or the chief executive officer by whatever name called or the managing director, or any other director, whole-time or otherwise, shall be deemed to be a provision relating to his remuneration.]
(2) Nothing contained in sections 7[268 and 269, the proviso to sub-section (3) of section 309, sections 310 and 311, the proviso to section 387, and section 388] (in so far as section 388 makes the 8[provisions of sections 269, 310] and 311 apply in relation to the manager of a company) of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), shall 9[apply to any matter in respect of which the approval of the Reserve Bank has to be obtained under sub-section (1)].
10[(2A) Nothing contained in section 198 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956) shall apply to a banking company and the provisions of sub-section (1) of section 309 and of section 387 of that Act shall, in so far as they are applicable to a banking company, have effect as if no reference had been made in the said provisions to section 198 of that Act.]
(3) No act done by a person 11[as chairman or a managing or whole-time director] or a director not liable to retire by rotation or a manager or a chief executive officer by whatever name called, shall be deemed to be invalid on the ground that it is subsequently discovered that his 12[appointment or reappointment] had not taken effect by reason of any of the provisions of this Act; but nothing in this sub-section shall be construed as rendering valid any act done by such person after his 13[appointment or reappointment] has been shown to the banking company not to have had effect.]
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1. Inserted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 30 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
2. Subsituted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 11, for “appointment or reappointment or renuneration of a” w.e.f. 1-2-1969.
3. Subsituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 21, for “managing or whole-time director or of a director no liable to retire by rotation” w.e.f. 1-10-1959.
4. Subsituted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 11, for clause (b) w.e.f. 1-2-1969.
5. Added by Act 33 of 1959, Section 21 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.
6. Subsituted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 11, for “of the manager” w.e.f. 1-2-1969.
7. Subsituted by Act 36 of 1962, Section 7, for “268, 269, 310, 311 and 388”.
8. Subsituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 30 for “provisions of sections 310” w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
9. Subsituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 21, for certain words w.e.f. 1-10-1959.
10. Inserted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 30 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
11. Subsituted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 12, for “as a managing or whole-time director.
12. Subsituted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 11, for “appointment” w.e.f. 1-2-1969.
13. Subsituted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 11, for “appointment” w.e.f. 1-2-1969.
Section 36. Further powers and functions of Reserve Banks
(1) The Reserve Bank may—
(a) caution or prohibit banking companies or any banking company in particular against entering into any particular transaction or class of transactions, and generally give advice to any banking company;
(b) on a request by the companies concerned and subject to the provision of section 1[44A], assist, as intermediary or otherwise, in proposals for the amalgamation of such banking companies;
(c) give assistance to any banking company by means of the grant of a loan or advance to it underclause (3) of sub-section (1) of section 18 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934);
2[(d)3[at any time, if it is satisfied that in the public interest or in me interest of banking policy or for preventing the affairs of the banking company being conducted in a manner detrimental to the interests of the banking company or its depositors it is necessary so to do,] by order in writing and on such terms and conditions as may be specified therein—
(i) require the banking company to call a meeting of its directors for the purpose of considering any matter relating to or arising out of the affairs of the banking company; or require an officer of the banking company to discuss any such matter with an officer of the Reserve Bank;
(ii) depute one or more of its officers to which the proceedings at any meeting of the Board of directors of the banking company or of any committee or of any other body constituted by it; require the banking company to give an opportunity to the officers so deputed to be heard at such meetings and also require such officers to send a report of such proceedings to the Reserve Bank;
(iii) require the Board of directors of the banking company or any committee or any other body constituted by it to give in writing to any officer specified by the Reserve Bank in this behalf at his usual address all notices of, and other communications relating to, any meeting of the Board, committee or other body constituted by it;
(iv) appoint one or more of its officers to observe the manner in which the affairs of the banking company or of its offices or branches are being conducted and make a report thereon;
(v) require the banking company to make, within such time as may be specified in the order, such changes in the management as the Reserve Bank may consider necessary 4[***].]
(2) The Reserve Bank shall make an annual report to the Central Government on the trend and progress of banking in the country, with particular reference to its activities under clause (2) of section 17 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934), including in such report its suggestions, if any, for the strengthening of banking business throughout the country.
(3) The Reserve Bank may appoint such staff at such places as it considers necessary for the scrutiny of the returns, statements and information furnished by banking companies under this Act, and generally to ensure the efficient performance of its functions under this Act.
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1. Subsituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 22 for “45” w.e.f. 1-10-1959.
2. Subsituted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 8, for clause (d) w.e.f. 14-1-1957.
3. Subsituted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 12, for certain words w.e.f. 1-2-1969.
4. Certain words omitted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 12 w.e.f. 1-2-1969.
Section 36 A. Certain provisions of the Act not to apply to certain banking companies
1[Certain provisions of the Act not to apply to certain banking companies. (1) The provisions of section II, sub-section (1) of section 12, and sections 17, 18, 24 and 25 shall not apply to a banking company—
(a) which, whether before or after the commencement of the Banking Companies (Amendment) Act, 1959 (33 of 1959), has been refused a licence under section 22, or prohibited from accepting fresh deposits by a compromise, arrangement or scheme sanctioned by a court or by any order made in any proceeding relating to such compromise, arrangement or scheme, or prohibited from accepting deposits by virtue of any alteration made in its memorandum; or
(b) whose licence has been cancelled under section 22, whether before or after the commencement of the Banking Companies (Amendment) Act, 1959 (33 of 1959).
(2) Where the Reserve Bank is satisfied that any such banking company as is referred to in sub-section (1) has repaid, or has made adequate provision for repaying all deposits accepted by the banking company, either in full or to the maximum extent possible, the Reserve Bank may, by notice published in the Official Gazette, notify that the banking company has ceased to be a banking company within the meaning of this Act, and thereupon all the provisions of this Act applicable to such banking company shall cease to apply to it, except as respects things done or omitted to be done before such notice.]
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1. Inserted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 23 w.e.f. 1-10-1969.
Part II A – Control over Management
Section 36 AA. Power of Reserve Bank to remove managerial and other persons from office
1[PART IIA: CONTROL OVER MANAGEMENT
(1) Where the Reserve Bank is satisfied that in the public interest or for preventing the affairs of a banking company being conducted in a manner detrimental to the interests of the depositors or for securing the proper management of any banking company it is necessary so to do, the Reserve Bank may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, by order, remove from office, with effect from such date as may be specified in the order, 2[any chairman, director,] chief executive officer (by whatever name called) or other officer or employee of the banking company.
(2) No order under sub-section (1) shall be made 3[unless the chairman, director] or chief executive officer or other officer or employee concerned has been given a reasonable opportunity of making a representation to the Reserve Bank against the proposed order:
Provided that if, in the opinion of the Reserve Bank, any delay would be detrimental to the interests of the banking company or its depositors, the Reserve Bank may, at the time of giving the opportunity aforesaid or at any time thereafter, by order direct that, pending the consideration of the representation aforesaid, if any, 4[the chairman or, as the case may be, director or chief executive officer] or other officer or employee, shall not, with effect from the date of such order—
(a) 5[act as such chairman or director] or chief executive officer or other officer or employee of the banking company;
(b) in any way, whether directly or indirectly, be concerned with, or take part in the management of, the banking company.
(3)(a) Any person against whom an order of removal has been made under subsection (1) may, within thirty days from the date of communication to him of the order, prefer an appeal to the Central Government.
(b) The decision of the Central Government on such appeal, and subject thereto, the order made by the Reserve Bank under sub-section (I), shall be final and shall not be called into question in any court.
(4) Where any order is made in respect of 6[a chairman, director] or chief executive officer or other officer or employee of a banking company under sub-section (1), he shall cease to be 7[a chairman or, as the case may be, a director,] chief executive officer or other officer or employee of the banking company and shall not, in any way, whether directly or indirectly, be concerned with, or take part in the management of, any banking company for such period not exceeding five years as may be specified in the order.
(5) If any person in respect of whom an order is made by the Reserve Bank under sub-section (1) or under the proviso to sub-section (2) contravenes the provisions of this section, he shall be punishable with fine which may extend to two hundred and fifty rupees for each day during which such contravention continues.
(6) Where an order under sub-section (1) has been made, the Reserve Bank may, by order in writing, appoint a suitable person in place of 8[the chairman or director], or chief executive officer or other officer or employee who has been removed from his office under that sub-section, with effect from such date as may be specified in the order.
(7) Any person appointed as 9[chairman, director or chief executive officer] or other officer or employee under this section shall, —
(a) hold office during the pleasure of the Reserve Bank and subject thereto for a period not exceeding three years or such further periods not exceeding three years at a time as the Reserve Bank may specify;
(b) not incur any obligation or liability by reason only of his being a 9[chairman, director or chief executive officer] or other officer or employee or for anything done or omitted to be done in good faith in the execution of the duties of his office or in relation thereto.
(8) Notwithstanding anything contained in any law or in any contract, memorandum or articles of association, on the removal of a person from office under this section, that person shall not be entitled to claim any compensation for the loss or termination of office.
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1. Part IIA (Sections 36AA to 36AC) Indicated by Act 55 of 1963, Section 18 w.e.f. 1-2-1964.
2. Substituted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 13, for “any director” w.e.f. 1-2-1969.
3. Substituted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 13, for “unless the director” w.e.f. 1-2-1969.
4. Substituted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 13, for “the director or, as the case may be, chief executive officer” w.e.f. 1-2-1969.
5. Substituted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 13, for “act as such director” w.e.f. 1-2-1969.
6. Substituted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 13, for “a director” w.e.f. 1-2-1969.
7. Substituted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 13, for “a director or as the case may be” w.e.f. 1-2-1969.
8. Substituted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 13, for “the director” w.e.f. 1-2-1969.
9. Substituted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 13, for “director or chief executive officer” w.e.f. 1-2-1969.
Section 36 AAA. Supersession of Board of directors of a multi-State co-operative bank
1[Supersession of Board of directors of a multi-State co-operative bank. (1) Where the Reserve Bank is satisfied that in the public interest or for preventing the affairs of a multi-State co-operative bank being conducted in a manner detrimental to the interest of the depositors of the multi-State co-operative bank or for securing the proper management of the multi-State co-operative bank, it is necessary so to do, the Reserve Bank may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, by order, supersede the Board of directors of such multi-State co-operative bank for a period not exceeding five years as may be specified in the order, which may be extended from time to time, so, however, that total period shall not exceed five years.
(2) The Reserve Bank may, on supersession of the Board of directors of the multi-State co-operative bank under sub-section (1) appoint an administrator for such period as it may determine.
(3) The Reserve Bank may issue such directions to the Administrator as it may deem appropriate and the Administrator shall be bound to follow such directions.
(4) Upon making the order of supersession of the Board of directors of a multi-State co-operative bank, -
(a) The Chairman, managing director and other directors as from the date of supersession of the Board shall vacate their offices as such;
(b) All the powers, functions and duties which may, by or under the provisions of the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002 or this Act or any other law for the time being in force, be exercised and discharged by or on behalf of the Board of directors of such a multi-State Co-operative bank or by a resolution passed in general meeting of such co-operative bank, shall, until the Board of directors of such co-operative bank is reconstituted, be exercised and discharged by the Administrator appointed by the Reserve Bank under sub-section (2):
Provided that the power exercised by the Administrator shall be valid not withstanding that such power is exercisable by a resolution passed in the general meeting of such multi-State co-operative bank.
(5) (a) The Reserve Bank may constitute a committee of three or more persons who have experience in law, finance, banking, administration or accountancy to assist the Administrator in discharge of his duties.
(b) The committee shall meet at such times and places and observe such rules of procedure as may be specified by the Reserve Bank.
(6) The salary and allowances to the Administrator and the members of the committee constituted by the Reserve Bank shall be such as may be specified by the Reserve Bank and may be payable by the concerned multi-State co-operative bank.
(7) On and before expiration of period of supersession of the Board of directors as specified in the order issued under sub-section (1), the Administrator of the multi-State co-operative bank shall call the general meeting of the society to elect new directors.
(8) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law or in any other contract, or bye-laws of a multi-State co-operative bank, no person shall be entitled to claim any compensation for the loss or termination of his office.
(9) The Administrator appointed under sub-section (2) shall vacate office immediately after the board of directors of the multi-State co-operative society has been constituted. ]
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1. Inserted by Act 24 of 2004.
Section 36 AAB. Order of winding up of multi-State co-operative bank to be final in certain cases
1[Order of winding up of multi-State co-operative bank to be final in certain cases. Where a multi-State co-operative bank, being an eligible co-operative bank, has been registered under section 13A of the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation Act, 1961, as an insured bank, and subsequently-
(a) in pursuance of a scheme prepared with the previous approval of the Reserve Bank under section 18 of the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002, an order sanctioning a scheme of compromise and arrangement or reorganisation or reconstruction has been made; or
(b) on requisition by the Reserve Bank, an order for winding up of the multi-State co-operative bank has been made under section 87 of the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002; or
(c) an order for the supersession of the Board the appointment of an administrator therefor has been made under section 36AAA,
Such order for sanctioning the scheme of compromise and arrangement or reorganisation or reconstruction under clause (a) or the winding up of the mult-State Co-operative Bank under clause (b) or any order for the supersession of the Board and the appointment of an administrator under clause (c) shall not be liable to be called in question in any manner.]
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1. Inserted by Act 24 0f 2004.
Section 36 AAC. Reimbursement to Deposit Insurance Corporation by liquidator or transferee bank
1[Reimbursement to Deposit Insurance Corporation by liquidator or transferee bank. Where a multi-State co-operative bank, being an insured bank within the meaning of the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation Act, 1961, is wound up and the Deposit Insurance Corporation has become liable to the depositors’ of the insured bank under subsection (1) or subsection (2) of section 16 of the Act, the Deposit Insurance Corporation shall be reimbursed by the liquidator or such other person in the circumstances, to the extent and in the manner provided in section 21 of the Act.
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1. Inserted by Act 24 of 2004.
Section 36 AB. Power of Reserve Bank to appoint additional directors
(1) If the Reserve Bank is of 1[opinion that in the interest of banking policy or in the public interest or] in the interests of the banking company or its depositors it is necessary so to do, it may, from time to time by order in writing, appoint, with effect from such date as may be specified in the order, one or more persons to hold office as additional directors of the banking company:
2[***]
(2) Any person appointed as additional director in pursuance of this section—
(a) shall hold office during the pleasure of the Reserve Bank and subject thereto for a period not exceeding three years or such further periods not exceeding three years at a time as the Reserve Bank may specify;
(b) shall not incur any obligation or liability by reason only of his being a director or for any thing done or omitted to be done in good faith in the execution of the duties of his office or in relation thereto; and
(c) shall not be required to hold qualification-shares in the banking company.
(3) For the purpose of reckoning any proportion of the total number of directors of the banking company, any additional director appointed under this section shall not be taken into account.
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1. Substituted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 14, for “opinion that” w.e.f. 1-2-1969.
2. Proviso omitted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 31 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
Section 36 AC. Part IIA to override other laws
Any appointment or removal of a director, chief executive officer or other officer or employee in pursuance of section 36AA or section 36AB shall have effect notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956) or any other law for the time being in force or in any contract or any other instrument.]
Part II B – Prohibition of Certain Activities in Relation to Banking Companies
Section 36 AD. Punishments for certain activities in relation to banking companies
1[PART IIB: PROHIBITION OF CERTAIN ACTIVITIES IN RELATION TO BANKING COMPANIES
(1) No person shall—
(a) obstruct any person from lawfully entering or leaving any office or place of business of a banking company or from carrying on any business there, or
(b) hold, within the office or place of business of any banking company, any demonstration which is violent or which prevents, or is calculated to prevent, the transaction of normal business by the banking company, or
(c) act in any manner calculated to undermine the confidence of the depositors in the banking company.
(2) Whoever contravenes any provision of sub-section (1) without any reasonable excuse shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
2[(3) [*****] <![endif]>
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1. Parts IIB and IIC (sections 36 AD to 36 AJ) Inserted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 15 w.e.f. 1-2-1969.
2. Text omitted by Act ——— Previous text was “For the purposes of this section “banking company” includes the Reserve Bank, the Development Bank, the Exim Bank, [the Reconstruction Bank] [the National Housing Bank] the National Bank, [the Small Industries Bank] the State Bank of India, a corresponding new bank, a regional rural bank and a subsidiary bank”
Part II C – Acquisition of the Undertakings of Banking Companies in Certain Cases
Section 36 AE. Power of Central Government to acquire undertakings of banking companies in certain cases
(1) If, upon receipt of a report from the Reserve Bank, the Central Government is satisfied that a banking company—
(a) has, no more than one occasion, failed to comply with the directions given to it in writing under section 21 or section 35A, in so far as such directions relate to banking policy, or
(b) is being managed in a manner detrimental to the interests of its depositors, and that—
(i) in the interests of the depositors of such banking company, or
(ii) in the interest of banking policy, or
(iii) for the better provision of credit generally or of credit to any particular section of the community or in any particular area,
it is necessary to acquire the undertaking of such banking company, the Central Government may, after such consultation with the Reserve Bank as it thinks fit, by notified order, acquire the undertaking of such company (hereinafter referred to as the acquired bank) with effect from such date as may be specified in this behalf by the Central Government (hereinafter referred to as the appointed day):
Provided that no undertaking of any banking company shall be so acquired unless such banking company has been given a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against the proposed action.
Explanation. — In this Part, —
(a) “notified order” means an order published in the Official Gazette;
(b) “undertaking”, in relation to a banking company incorporated outside India, means the undertaking of the company in India.
(2) Subject to the other provisions contained in this Part, on the appointed day, the undertaking of the acquired bank and all the assets and liabilities of the acquired bank shall stand transferred to, and vest in, the Central Government.
(3) The undertaking of the acquired bank and its assets and liabilities shall be deemed to include all rights, powers, authorities and privileges and all property, whether movable or immovable, including, in particular, cash balances, reserve funds, investments, deposits and all other interests and rights in, or arising out of, such property as may be in the possession of or held by, the acquired bank immediately before the appointed day and all books, accounts and documents relating thereto, and shall also be deemed to include all debts, liabilities and obligations, of whatever kind, then existing of the acquired bank.
(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (2), the Central Government may, if it is satisfied that the undertaking of the acquired bank and its assets and liabilities should, instead of vesting in the Central Government, or continuing to so vest, vest in a company established under any scheme made under this Part or in any corporation (hereinafter in this Part and in the Fifth Schedule referred to as the transferee bank) that Government may, by order, direct that the said undertaking,
including the assets and liabilities thereof, shall vest in the transferee bank either on the publication of the notified order or on such other date as may be specified in this behalf by the Central Government.
(5) Where the undertaking of the acquired bank and the assets and liabilities thereof vest in the transferee bank under sub-section (4), the transferee bank, shall, on and from the date of such vesting, be deemed to have become the transferee of the acquired bank and all the rights and liabilities in relation to the acquired bank shall, on and from the date of such vesting, be deemed to have been the rights and liabilities of the transferee bank.
(6) Unless otherwise expressly provided by or under this Part, all contracts, deeds, bonds, agreements, powers of attorney, grants of legal representation and other instruments of whatever nature subsisting or having effect immediately before the appointed day and to which the acquired bank is a party or which are in favour of the acquired bank shall be of as full force and effect against or in favour of the Central Government, or as the case may be, of the transferee bank, and may be enforced or acted upon as fully and effectually as if in the place of the acquired bank the Central Government or the transferee bank had been a party thereto or as if they had been issued in favour of the Central Government or the transferee bank, as the case may be.
(7) If, on the appointed day, any suit, appeal or other proceeding of whatever nature is pending by or against the acquired bank, the same shall not abate, be discontinued or be, in any way, prejudicially affected by reason of the transfer of the undertaking of the acquired bank or of anything contained in this Part, but the suit, appeal or other proceeding may be continued, prosecuted and enforced by or against the Central Government or the transferee bank as the case may be.
Section 36 AF. Power of the Central Government to make scheme
(1) The Central Government may, after consultation with the Reserve Bank, make a scheme for carrying out the purposes of this Part in relation to any acquired bank.
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, the said scheme may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely: —
(a) the corporation, or the company incorporated for the purpose, to which the undertaking including the property, assets and liabilities of the acquired bank may be transferred, and the capital, constitution, name and office thereof;
(b) the constitution of the first Board of management (by whatever name called) of the transferee bank, and all such matters in connection therewith or incidental thereto as the Central Government may consider to be necessary or expedient;
(c) the continuance of the services of all the employees of the acquired bank (excepting such of them as, not being workmen within the meaning of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947(14 of 1947), are specifically mentioned in the scheme] in the Central Government or in the transferee bank, as the case may be, on the same terms and conditions so far as may be, as are specified in clauses (i) and (j) of sub-section (5) of section 45;
(d) the continuance of the right of any person who, on the appointed day, is entitled to or is in receipt of, a pension or other superannuation or compassionate allowance or benefit, from the acquired bank or any provident, pension or other fund or any authority administering such fund, to be paid by, and to receive from, the Central Government or the transferee bank, as the case may be, or any provident, pension or other fund or any authority administering such fund, the same pension, allowance or benefit so long as he observes the conditions on which the pension, allowance or benefit was granted, and if any question arises whether he has so observed such conditions, the question shall be determined by the Central Government and the decision of the Central Government thereon shall be final;
(e) the manner of payment of the compensation payable in accordance with the provisions of this Part to the shareholders of the acquired bank, or where the acquired bank is a banking company incorporated outside India, to the acquired bank in full satisfaction of their, or as the case may be, its claims;
(f) the provision, if any, for completing the effectual transfer to the Central Government or the transferee bank of any asset or any liability which forms part of the undertaking of the acquired bank in any country outside India;
(g) such incidental, consequential and supplemental matters as may be necessary to secure that the transfer of the business, property, assets and liabilities of the acquired bank to the Central Government or transferee bank, as the case may be, is effectual and complete.
(3) The Central Government may, after consultation with the Reserve Bank, by notification in the Official Gazette, add to, amend or vary any scheme made under this section.
(4) Every scheme made under this section shall be published in the Official Gazette.
(5) Copies of every scheme made under this section shall be laid before each House of Parliament as soon as may be after it is made.
(6) The provisions of this Part and of any scheme made there under shall have effect notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any other provisions of this Act or in any other law or any agreement, award or other instrument for the time being in force.
(7) Every scheme made under this section shall be binding on the Central Government or, as the case may be, on the transferee bank and also on all members, creditors, depositors and employees of the acquired bank and of the transferee bank and on any other person having any right, liability, power or function in relation to, or in connection with, the acquired bank or the transferee bank, as the case may be.
Section 36 AG. Compensation to be given to shareholders of the acquired bank
(I) Every person who, immediately before the appointed day, is registered as a holder of shares in the acquired bank or, when the acquired bank is a banking company incorporated outside India, the acquired bank, shall be given by the Central Government, or the transferee bank, as the case may be, such compensation in respect of the transfer of the undertaking of the acquired bank as it determined in accordance with the principles contained in the Fifth Schedule.
(2) Nothing contained in sub-section (1) shall affect the rights inter se between the holder of any share in the acquired bank and any other person who may have any interest in such shares and such other person shall be entitled to enforce his interest against the compensation awarded to the holder of such share, but not against the Central Government, or the transferee bank.
(3) The amount of compensation to be given in accordance with the principles contained in the Fifth Schedule shall be determined in the first instance by the Central Government, or the transferee bank, as the case may be, in consultation with the Reserve Bank, and shall be offered by it to all those to whom compensation is payable under sub-section (1) in full satisfaction thereof.
(4) If the amount of compensation offered in terms of sub-section (3) is not acceptable to any person to whom the compensation is payable, such person may, before such date as may be notified by the Central Government in the Official Gazette, request the Central Government in writing, to have the matter referred to the Tribunal constituted under section 36AH.
(5) If, before the date notified under sub-section (4), the Central Government receives requests, in terms of that sub-section, from not less than one-fourth in number of the shareholders holding not less than one-fourth in value of the paid-up share capital of the acquired bank, or, where the acquired bank is a banking company incorporated outside India, from the acquired bank, the Central Government shall have the matter referred to the Tribunal for decision.
(6) If, before the date notified under sub-section (4), the Central Government does not receive requests as provided in that sub-section, the amount of compensation offered ‘ under sub-section (3), and where a reference has been made to the Tribunal, the amount determined by it, shall be the compensation payable under sub-section (!) and shall be final and binding on all parties concerned.
Section 36 AH. Constitution of the Tribunal
(1) The Central Government may, for the purpose of this Part, constitute a Tribunal which shall consist of a Chairman and two other members.
(2) The Chairman shall be a person who is, or has been, a Judge of a High Court or of the Supreme Court, and, of the two other members, one shall be a person, who, in the opinion of the Central Government, has had experience of commercial banking and the other shall be a person who is a chartered accountant within the meaning of the Chartered Accountants’ Act, 1949 (38 of 1949).
(3) If, for any reason, a vacancy occurs in the office of the Chairman or any other member of the Tribunal, the Central Government may fill the vacancy by appointing another person thereto in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (2), and any proceeding may be continued before the Tribunal, so constituted, from the stage at which the vacancy occurred.
(4) The Tribunal may, for the purpose of determining any compensation payable under this part, choose one or more persons having special knowledge or experience of any relevant matter to assist it in the determination of such compensation.
Section 36 AI. Tribunal to have powers of a civil court
(1) The Tribunal shall have the powers of a civil court, while trying a suit, under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908) in respect of the following matters, namely :—
(a) summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath;
(b) requiring the discovery and production of documents;
(c) receiving evidence on affidavits;
(d) issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), or in any other law for the time being in force, the Tribunal shall not compel the Central Government or the Reserve Bank, —
(a) to produce any books of account or other documents which the Central Government, or the Reserve Bank, claims to be of a confidential nature;
(b) to make any such books or documents part of the record of the proceedings before the Tribunal; or
(c) to give inspection of any such books or documents to any party before it or to any other person.
Section 36 AJ. Procedure of the Tribunal
(1) The Tribunal shall have power to regulate its own procedure.
(2) The Tribunal may hold the whole or any part of its inquiry in camera
(3) Any clerical or arithmetical error in any order of the Tribunal or any error arising therein from any accidental slip or omission may, at any time, be corrected by the Tribunal either of its own motion or on the application of any of the parties.]
Part III – Suspension of Business and Winding up of Banking Companies
Section 36 B. High Court defined
1[2[High Court defined. In this Part and in Part IIIA “High Court”, in relation to a banking company, means the High Court exercising jurisdiction in the place where the registered office of the banking company is situated or, in the case of a banking company incorporated outside India, where its principal place of business in India is situated.]]
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1. Inserted by Act 52 of 1953, Section 3.
2. Section 36A renumbered as section 36B by Act 33 of 1959, Section 24 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.
Section 37. Suspension of business
(1) The 1[High Court] may on the application of a banking company which is temporarily unable to meet its obligations make an order (a copy of which it shall cause to be forwarded to the Reserve Bank) staying the commencement or continuance of all actions and proceedings against the company for a fixed period of time on such terms and conditions as it shall think fit and proper, and may from time to time extend the period so however that the total period of moratorium shall not exceed six months.
(2) No such application shall be maintainable unless it is accompanied by a report of the Reserve Bank indicating that in the opinion of the Reserve Bank the banking company will be able to pay its debts if the application is granted:
Provided that the 1[High Court] may, for sufficient reasons, grant relief under this section even if the application is not accompanied by such report, and where such relief is granted, the 3[High Court] shall call for a report from the Reserve Bank on the affairs of the banking company on receipt of which it may either rescind any order already passed or pass such further orders thereon as may be just and proper in the circumstances.
2[(3) When an application is made under sub-section (1), the High Court may appoint a special officer who shall forthwith take into his custody or under his control all the assets, books, documents, effects and actionable claims to which the banking company is or appears to be entitled and shall also exercise such other powers as the High Court may deem fit to confer on him, having regard to the interests of the depositors of the banking company.]
3[(4) Where the Reserve Bank is satisfied that the affairs of a banking company in respect of which an order under sub-section (1) has been made, are being conducted in a manner detrimental to the interests of the depositors, it may make an application to the High Court for the winding up of the company, and where any such application is made, the High Court shall not make any order extending the period for which the commencement or continuance of all actions and proceedings against the company were stayed under that sub-section.]
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1. Substituted by Act 52 of 1953, Section 4, for “Court”.
2. Inserted by Act 52 of 1953, Section 5.
3. Inserted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 25 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.
Section 38. Winding up by High Court
1[Winding up by High Court. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 391, section 392, section 433 and section 583 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), but without prejudice to its powers under sub-section (1) of section 37 of this Act, the High Court shall order the winding up of a banking company—
(a) if the banking company is unable to pay its debts; or
(b) if an application for its winding up has been made by the Reserve Bank under section 37 or this section.
(2) The Reserve Bank shall make an application under this section for the winding up of a banking company if it is directed so to do by an order under clause (b) of sub-section (4) of section 35.
(3) The Reserve Bank may make an application under this section for the winding up of a banking company—
(a) if the banking company—
(i) has failed to comply with the requirements specified in section 11; or
(ii) has by reason of the provisions of section 22 become disentitled to carry on banking business in India; or
(iii) has been prohibited from receiving fresh deposits by an order under clause (a) of sub-section (4) of section 35 or under clause (b) of sub-section (3A) of section 42 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934); or
(iv) having failed to comply with any requirement of this Act other than the requirements laid in section 11, has continued such failure, or, having contravened any provision of this Act continued such contravention beyond such period or periods as may be specified in that behalf by the Reserve Bank from time to time, after notice in writing of such failure or contravention has been conveyed to the banking company; or
(b) if in the opinion of the Reserve Bank—
(i) a compromise or arrangement sanctioned by a court in respect of the banking company cannot be worked satisfactorily with or without modifications; or
(ii) the returns, statements or information furnished to it under or in pursuance of the provisions of this Act disclose that the banking company is unable to pay its debts; or
(iii) the continuance of the banking company is prejudicial to the interests of its depositors.
(4) Without prejudice to the provisions contained in section 434 of the Companies Act, 1956 (I of 1956) a banking company shall be deemed to be unable to pay its debts if it has refused to meet any lawful demand made at any of its offices or branches within two working days, if such demand is made at a place where there is an office, branch or agency of the Reserve Bank, or within five working days, if such demand is made elsewhere, and if the Reserve Bank certifies in writing that the banking company is unable to pay its debts.
(5) A copy of every application made by the Reserve Bank under sub-section (1) shall be sent by the Reserve Bank to the registrar.]
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1. Substituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 26, for the former section w.e.f. 1-10-1954.
Section 38 A. Court liquidator
1[Court liquidator. (1) There shall be attached to every High Court a Court liquidator to be appointed by the Central Government for the purpose of conducting all proceedings for the winding up of banking companies and performing such other duties in reference thereto as the High Court may impose.
2[***]
(4) Where having regard to the number of banking companies wound up and other circumstances of the case, the Central Government is of opinion that it is not necessary or expedient to attach for the time being a Court liquidator to a High Court, it may, from time to time, by notification in the Official Gazette, direct that this section shall not have effect in relation to that High Court.]
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1. Inserted by Act 52 of 1953, Section 6.
2. Sub-sections (2) and (3) omitted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 14 and Schedule w.e.f. 14-1-1957
Section 39. Reserve Bank to be official liquidator
1[Reserve Bank to be official liquidator. 2[(1)] Notwithstanding anything contained in section 38A of this Act or in section 448 or section 449 of the Companies Act, 1956(1 of 1956), where in any proceeding for the winding up by the High Court of a banking company, an application is made by the Reserve Bank in this behalf, the Reserve Bank, the State Bank of India or any other bank notified by the Central Government in this behalf or any individual, as stated in such application shall be appointed as the official liquidator of the banking company in such proceeding and the liquidator, if any, functioning in such proceeding shall vacate office upon such appointment.]
3[(2) Subject to such directions as may be made by the High Court, the remuneration of the official liquidator appointed under this section, the cost and expenses of this establishment and the cost and expenses of the winding up shall be met out of the assets of the banking company which is being wound up, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any other law for the time being in force, no fees shall be payable to the Central Government, out of the assets of the banking company.]
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1. Section 39 has successively been amended by Act 52 of 1953, sections. 4 and 7; Act 23 of 1955, Section 53 and Schedule IV; Act 79 of 1956, Section 43 and Schedule II; Act 95 of 1956, Section 14 and Schedule; Act 33 of 1959, Section 27 and Act 37 of 1960, Section 2. to read as above.
2. Section 39 renumbered as sub-section (1) of that section by Act 58 of 1968, Section 16 w.e.f. 1-2-1969.
3. Inserted by Act 58 of 1969, Section 16 with retrospective effect.
Section 39 A. Application of Companies Act to liquidators
1[Application of Companies Act to liquidators. (1) All the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), relating to a liquidator, in so far as they are not inconsistent with this Act, shall apply to or in relation to a liquidator appointed under section 38A or section 39.
(2) Any reference to the “official liquidator” in this Part and Part IIIA shall be construed as including a reference to any liquidator of a banking company.]
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1. Inserted by 33 of 1959, Section 28 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.
Section 40. Stay of proceedings
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in 1[section 466 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956)], the 2[High Court] shall not make any order staying the proceedings in relation to the winding up of a banking company, unless the 2[High Court] is satisfied that an arrangement has been made whereby the company can pay its depositors in full as their claims accrue.
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1. Substituted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 14 and Schedule for “Section 173 of the Indian Companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913)” w.e.f. 14-1-1957.
2. Substituted by Act 42 of 1953, Section 4, for “Court”.
Section 41. Preliminary report by official liquidator
1[Preliminary report by official liquidator. Notwithstanding anything to for the contrary contained in section 455 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), where a winding up order has been made in respect of a banking company whether before or after the commencement of the Banking Companies (Second Amendment) Act, 1960 (37 of 1960), the official liquidator shall submit a preliminary report to the High Court within two months from the date of the winding up order or where the winding up order has been made before such commencement, within two months from such commencement, giving the information required by that section so far as it is available to him and also stating the amount of assets of the banking company in cash which are in his custody or under his control on the date of the report and the amount of its assets which are likely to be collected in cash before the expiry of that period of two months in order that such assets may be applied speedily towards the making of preferential payments under section 530 of the Companies Act, 1956, and in the discharge, as far as possible, of the liabilities and obligations of the banking company to its depositors and other creditors in accordance with the provisions hereinafter contained; and the official liquidator shall make for the purposes aforesaid every endeavour to collect in cash as such of the assets of the banking company as practicable.
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1. Substituted by Act 37 of 1960, Section 3, for section 41.
Section 41 A. Notice to preferential claimants and secured and unsecured creditors
Within fifteen days from the date of the winding up order of a banking company or where the winding up order has been made before the commencement of the Banking Companies (Second Amendment) Act, 1960 (37 of 1960), within one month from such commencement, the official liquidator shall, for the purpose of making an estimate of the debts and liabilities of the banking company (other that its liabilities and obligations to its depositors), by notice served in such manner as the Reserve Bank may direct, call upon—
(a) every claimant entitled to preferential payment under section 530 of the Companies Act, 1956(1 of 1956), and
(b) every secured and every unsecured creditor,
to send to the official liquidator within one month from the date of the service of the notice a statement of the amount claimed by him.
(2) Every notice under sub-section (1) sent to a claimant having a claim under section 530 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), shall state that if a statement of the claim is not sent to the official liquidator before the expiry of the period of one month from the date of the service, the claim shall not be treated as a claim entitled to be paid under section 530 of the Companies Act, 1956, in priority to all other debts but shall be treated as an ordinary debt due by the banking company.
(3) Every notice under sub-section (1) sent to a secured creditor shall require him to value his security before the expiry of the period of one month from the date of the service of the notice and shall state that if a statement of the claim together with the valuation of the security is not sent to the official liquidator before the expiry of the said period, then, the official liquidator shall himself value the security and such valuation shall be binding on the creditor.
(4) If a claimant fails of comply with the notice sent to him under sub-section (1), his claim will not be entitled to be paid under section 530 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), in priority to all other debts but shall be treated as an ordinary debt due by the banking company; and if a secured creditor fails to comply with the notice sent to him under sub-section (1), the official liquidator shall himself value the security and such valuation shall be binding on the creditor.]
Section 42. Power to dispense with meetings of creditors, etc.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in 1[2[section 460] of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956)], the 3[High Court] may, in the proceedings for winding up a banking company, dispense with any meetings of creditors or contributories 4[***] if it considers that no object will be secured thereby sufficient to justify the delay and expense.
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1. Substituted by Act. 95 of 1956, Section 14 and Schedule, for “sections 178A and 183 of the Indian Companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913)” w.e.f. 14-1-1957.
2. Substituted by Act 1 of 1984 Section 33, for “sections 460, 464 and 465” w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
3. Substituted by Act 52 of 1953 Section 4, for “Court”.
4. The words “or with the appointment of a committee of inspection” omitted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 33 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
Section 43. Booked depositors’ credits to be deemed proved
1[Booked depositors’ credits to be deemed proved. In any proceeding for the winding up of a banking company, every depositor of the banking company shall be deemed to have filed his claim for the amount shown in the books of the banking company as standing to his credit and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in 2[section 474 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956)], the High Court shall presume such claims to have been proved, unless the official liquidator shows that there is reason for doubting its correctness.]
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1. Substituted by Act 52 of 1953, Section 8, for section 43.
2. Substituted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 14 and Schedule, for “section 191 of the Indian Companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913)” w.e.f. 14-1-1957.
Section 43 A. Preferential payments to depositors
1[Preferential payments to depositors. (1) In every proceeding for the winding up of a banking company where a winding up order has been made, whether before or after the commencement of the Banking Companies (Second Amendment) Act, 1960, (37 of 1960) within three months from the date of the winding up order or where the winding up order has been made before such commencement, within three months therefrom, the preferential payments referred to in section 530 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), in respect of which statements of claims have been sent within one month from the date of the service of the notice referred to in section 41 A, shall be made by the official liquidator or adequate provision for such payments shall be made by him.
(2) After the preferential payments as aforesaid have been made or adequate provision has been made in respect thereof, there shall be paid within the aforesaid period of three months—
(a) in the first place to every depositor in the savings bank account of the banking company a sum of two hundred and fifty rupees or the balance at his credit, whichever is less; and thereafter;
(b) in the next place, to every other depositor of the banking company a sum of two hundred and fifty rupees or the balance at his credit, whichever is less,
in priority to all other debts from out of the remaining assets of the banking company available for payment to general creditors:
Provided that the sum total of the amounts paid under clause (a) and clause (b) to any one person who in his own name (and not jointly with any other person) is a depositor in (he savings bank account of the banking company and also a depositor in any other account, shall not exceed the sum of two hundred and fifty rupees.
(3) Where within the aforesaid period of three months full payment cannot be made of the amounts required to be paid under clause (a) or clause (b) of sub-section (2) with the assets in cash, the official liquidator shall pay within that period to every depositor under clause (a) or, as the case may be, clause (b) of that sub-section on a pro rata basis so much of the amount due to the depositor under that clause as the official liquidator is able to pay with those assets; and shall pay the rest of that amount to every such depositor as and when sufficient assets are collected by the official liquidator in cash.
(4) After payments have been made first to depositors in the savings bank account and then to the other depositors in accordance with the foregoing provisions, the remaining assets of the banking company available for payment to general creditors shall be utilised for payment on a pro rata basis of the debts of the general creditors and of the further sums, if any, due to the depositors; and after making adequate provision for payment on a pro rata basis as aforesaid of the debts of the general creditors, the official liquidator shall, as and when the assets of the company are collected in cash, make payment on a pro rata basis as aforesaid, of the further sums, if any, which may remain due to the depositors referred to in clause (a) and clause (b) of sub-section (2).
(5) In order to enable the official liquidator to have in his custody or under his control in cash as much of the assets of the banking company as possible, the securities given to every secured creditor may be redeemed by the official liquidator—
(a) where the amount due to the creditor is more than the value of the securities as assessed by him or, as the case may be, as assessed by the official liquidator, on payment of such value; and
(b) where the amount due to the creditor is equal to or less than the value of the securities as so assessed, on payment of the amount due:
Provided that where the official liquidator is not satisfied with the valuation made by the creditor, he may apply to the High Court for making a valuation,
(6) When any claimant, creditor or depositor to whom any payment is to be made in accordance with 2[the provisions of this section], cannot be found or is not readily traceable, adequate provision shall be made by the official liquidator for such payment.
(7) For the purposes of this section, the payments specified in each of the following clauses shall be treated as payments of a different class, namely: —
(a) payments to preferential claimants under section 530 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956);
(b) payments under clause (a) of sub-section (2) to the depositors in the savings bank account;
(c) payments under clause (b) of sub-section (2) to the other depositors;
(d) payments to the general creditors and payments to the depositors in addition to those specified in clause (a) and clause (b) of sub-section (2).
(8) The payments of each different class specified in sub-section (7) shall rank equally among themselves and be paid in full unless the assets are insufficient to meet them, in which case they shall abate in equal proportion.]]
3[(9) Nothing contained in sub-sections (2), (3), (4), (7) and (8) shall apply to a banking company in respect of the depositors of which the Deposit Insurance Corporation is liable under section 16 of the Deposit Insurance Corporation Act, 1961, (47 of 1961).
(10) After preferential payments referred to in sub-section (1) have been made or adequate provision has been made in respect thereof, the remaining assets of the banking company referred to in sub-section (9) available for payment to general creditors shall be utilised for payment on pro rata basis of the debts of the general creditors and of the sums due to the depositors:
Provided (hat where any amount in respect of any deposit is to be paid by the liquidator to the Deposit Insurance Corporation under section 21 of the Deposit Insurance Corporation Act, 1961 (47 of 1961), only the balance, if any, left after making the said payment shall be payable to the depositor.]
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1. Substituted by Act 37 of 1960, Section 4, for section 43A.
2. Substituted by Act 47 of 1961, Section 51 and Schedule II, Pt. II, for “the foregoing provisions” w.e.f. 1-1- 1962.
3. Inserted by Act 47 of 1961, Section 51 and Schedule II, Pt. II w.e.f. 1-1-1962
Section 44. Powers of High Court in voluntary winding up
1[Powers of High Court in voluntary winding up. (1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in section 484 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), no banking company may be voluntarily wound up unless the Reserve Bank certifies in writing that the company is able to pay in full all its debts to its creditors as they accrue.
(2) The High Court may, in any case where a banking company is being wound up voluntarily, make an order that the voluntary winding up shall continue, but subject to the supervision of the court.
(3) Without prejudice to the provisions contained in sections 441 and 521 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), the High Court may of its own motion and shall on the application of the Reserve Bank, order the winding up of a banking company by the High Court in any of the following cases, namely: —
(a) where the banking company is being wound up voluntarily and at any stage during the voluntary winding up proceedings the company is not able to meet its debts as they accrue; or
(b) where the banking company is being wound up voluntarily or is being wound up subject to the supervision of the court and the High Court is satisfied that the voluntary winding up or winding up subject to the supervision of the court cannot be continued without detriment to the interests of the depositors.]
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1. Substituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 30, for the former section w.e.f. 1-10-1959.
Section 44 A. Procedure for amalgamation of banking companies
1[Procedure for amalgamation of banking companies. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force, no banking company shall be amalgamated with another banking company, unless a scheme containing the terms of such amalgamation has been placed in draft before the shareholders of each of the banking companies concerned separately, and approved by a resolution passed by a majority in number representing two-thirds in value of the shareholders of each of the said companies, present either in person or by proxy at a meeting called for the purpose.
(2) Notice of every such meeting as is referred to in sub-section (1) shall be given to every shareholder of each of the banking companies concerned in accordance with the relevant articles of association indicating the time, place and object of the meeting, and shall also be published atleast once a week for three consecutive weeks in not less than two newspapers which circulate in the locality or localities where the registered offices of the banking companies concerned are situated, one of such newspapers being in a language commonly understood in the locality or localities.
(3) Any shareholder, who has voted against the scheme of amalgamation at the meeting or has given notice in writing at or prior to the meeting of the company concerned or to the presiding officer of the meeting that he dissents from the scheme of amalgamation, shall be entitled, in the event of the scheme being sanctioned by the Reserve Bank, to claim from the banking company concerned, in respect of the shares held by him in that company, their value as determined by the Reserve Bank when sanctioning the scheme and such determination by the Reserve Bank as to the value of the shares (o be paid to the dissenting shareholder shall be final for all purposes.
(4) If the scheme of amalgamation is approved by the requisite majority of shareholders in accordance with the provisions of this section, it shall be submitted to the Reserve Bank for sanction and shall, if sanctioned by the Reserve Bank by an order in writing passed in this behalf, be binding on the banking companies concerned and also on all the shareholders thereof.
2[***]
(6) On the sanctioning of a scheme of amalgamation by the Reserve Bank, the properly of the amalgamated banking company shall, by virtue of the order of sanction, be transferred to and vest in, and the liabilities of the said company shall, by virtue of the said order be transferred to, and become the liabilities of, the banking company which under the scheme of amalgamation is to acquire the business of the amalgamated banking company, subject in all cases to 3[the provisions of the scheme as sanctioned.]
4[(6A) Where a scheme of amalgamation is sanctioned by the Reserve Bank under the provisions of this section, the Reserve Bank may, by a further order in writing, direct that on such date as may be specified therein the banking company (hereinafter in this section referred to as the amalgamated banking company) which by reason of the amalgamation will cease to function, shall stand dissolved and any such direction shall take effect notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any other law.
(6B) Where the Reserve Bank directs a dissolution of the amalgamated banking company, it shall transmit a copy of the order directing such dissolution to the Registrar before whom the banking company has been registered and on receipt of such order the Registrar shall strike off the name of the company.
(6C) An order under sub-section (4) whether made before or after the commencement of section 19 of the Banking Laws (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1963 (55 of 1963) shall be conclusive evidence that all the requirements of this section relating to amalgamation have been complied with, and a copy of the said order certified in writing by an officer of the Reserve Bank to be a true copy of such order and a copy of the scheme certified in the tike manner to be a true copy thereof shall, in all legal proceedings (whether in appeal or otherwise and whether instituted before or after the commencement of the said section 19), be admitted as evidence to the same extent as the original order and the original scheme.]
5[(7) Nothing in the foregoing provisions of this section shall affect the power of the Central Government to provide for the amalgamation of two or more banking companies 6[***] under section 396 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956):
Provided that no such power shall be exercised by the Central Government except after consultation with the Reserve Bank.]
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1. Inserted by Act 20 of 1950, Section 8.
2. Sub-section (5) omitted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 19 w.e.f. 1-2-1964.
3. Substituted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 19, for “the terms of the order sanctioning the scheme” w.e.f. 1-2-1964.
4. Inserted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 19 w.e.f. 1-12-1964.
5. Inserted by Act 37 of 1960, Section 5.
6. The words “in national interest” omitted by Act 7 of 1961, Section 3.
Section 44 B. Restriction on compromise or arrangement between banking company and creditors
1[2[Restriction on compromise or arrangement between banking company and creditors. 3[(1)] Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force, no 4[High Court] shall sanction a compromise or arrangement between a banking company and its creditors or any class of them or between such company and its members or any class of them 5[or sanction any modification in any such compromise or arrangement unless the compromise or arrangement or modification, as the case may be,] is certified by the Reserve Bank 6[in writing as not being incapable of being worked and as not being detrimental to the interests of the depositors of such banking company.]
7[(2) Where an application under 8[section 39 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956)], is made in respect of a banking company, the High Court may direct the Reserve Bank to make an inquiry in relation to the affairs of the banking company and the conduct of its directors and when such direction is given, the Reserve Bank shall make such inquiry and submit its report to the High Court.]
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1. Substituted by Act 20 of 1950, Section 9, for section 45 (now renumbered as section 44B).
2. Section 45 renumbered as section 44B by Act 37 of 1960, Section 6.
3. Section 45 (now renumbered as section 44B) renumbered as sub-section (1) of that section by Act 52 of 1953, Section 9.
4. Substituted by Act 52 of 1953, Section 4, for “Court”.
5. Substituted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 20, for “unless the compromise or arrangement” w.e.f. 1-2-1964.
6. Substituted by Act 52 of 1953, Section 9, for “as not being detrimental to the interests of the depositors of such company.”
7. Inserted by Act 52 of 1953, Section 9.
8. Substituted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 14 and Schedule, for “section 153 of the Indian Companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913) “w..e.f. 14-1-1957.
Section 45. Power of Reserve Bank to apply to Central Government for suspension of business by a banking company and to prepare scheme of reconstitution of amalgamation
1[Power of Reserve Bank to apply to Central Government for suspension of business by a banking company and to prepare scheme of reconstitution of amalgamation. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing provisions of this Part or in any other law or 2[any agreement or other instrument], for the time being in force, where it appears to the Reserve Bank that there is good reason so to do, the Reserve Bank may apply to the Central Government for an order of moratorium in respect of 3[a banking company].
(2) The Central Government, after considering the application made by the Reserve Bank under sub-section (1), may make an order of moratorium staying the commencement or continuance of all actions and proceedings against the company for a fixed period of time on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit and proper and may from time to time extend the period so however that the total period of moratorium shall not exceed six months.
(3) Except as otherwise provided by any directions given by the Central Government in the order made by it under sub-section (2) or at any time thereafter the banking company shall not during the period of moratorium make any payment to any depositors or discharge any liabilities or obligations to any other creditors.
4[(4) During the period of moratorium, if the Reserve Bank is satisfied that—
(a) in the public interest; or
(b) in the interests of the depositors; or
(c) in order to secure the proper management of the banking company; or
(d) in the interests of the banking system of the country as a whole,
it is necessary so to do, the Reserve Bank may prepare a scheme—
(i) for the reconstruction of the banking company, or
(ii) for the amalgamation of the banking company with any other banking institution (in this section referred to as “the transferee bank”).
(5) The scheme aforesaid may contain provisions for all or any of the following matters, namely:
(a) the constitution, name and registered office, the capital, assets, powers, rights, interests, authorities and privileges, the liabilities, duties and obligations of the banking company on its reconstruction or as the case may be, of the transferee bank;
(b) in the case of amalgamation of the banking company, the transfer to the transferee bank of the business, properties, assets and liabilities of the banking company on such terms and conditions as may be specified in the scheme;
(c) any change in the Board of directors, or the appointment of a new Board of directors, of the banking company on its reconstruction or, as the case may be, of the transferee bank and the authority of whom, the manner in which, and the other terms and conditions on which, such change or appointment shall be made and in the case of appointment of a new Board of directors or of any director the period for which such appointment shall be made;
(d) the alteration of the memorandum and articles of association of the banking company on its reconstruction or, as the case may be, of the transferee bank for the purpose of altering the capital thereof or for such other purposes as may be necessary to give effect to the reconstruction or amalgamation;
(e) subject to the provisions of the scheme, the continuation by or against the banking company on its reconstruction or, as the case may be, the transferee bank, of any actions or proceedings pending against the banking company immediately before the date of the order of moratorium;
(f) the reduction of the interest or rights which the members, depositors and other creditors have in or against the banking company before its reconstruction or amalgamation to such extent as the Reserve Bank considers necessary in the public interest or in the interest of the members, depositors and other creditors or for the maintenance of the business of the banking company;
(g) the payment in cash or otherwise to depositors and other creditors in full satisfaction of their claim –
(i) in respect of their interest or rights in or against the banking company before its reconstruction or amalgamation; or
(ii) where their interest or rights aforesaid in or against the banking company has or have been reduced under clause (f), in respect of such interest or rights as so reduced;
(h) the allotment to the members of the banking company for shares held by them therein before its reconstruction or amalgamation [whether their interest in such shares has been reduced under clause (f) or not], of shares in the banking company on its reconstruction or, as the case may be, in the transferee bank and where any members claim payment in cash and not allotment of shares, or where it is not possible to allot shares to any members, the payment in cash to those members in full satisfaction of their claim—
(i) in respect of their interest in shares in the banking company before its reconstruction or amalgamation; or
(ii) where such interest has been reduced under clause (f) in respect of their interest in shares as so reduced;
(i) the continuance of the services of all the employees of the banking company (excepting such of them as not being workmen within the meaning of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (14 of 1947), are specifically mentioned in the scheme) in the banking company itself on its reconstruction or, as the case may be, in the transferee bank at the same remuneration and on the same terms and conditions of service, which they were getting, or as the case may be, by which they were being governed, immediately before the date of the order of moratorium:
Provided that the scheme shall contain a provision that—
(i) the banking company shall pay or grant not later than the expiry of the period of three years from the date on which the scheme is sanctioned by the Central Government, to the said employees the same remuneration and the same terms and conditions of service 5[as are, at the time of such payment or grant, applicable] to employees of corresponding rank or status of a comparable banking company to be determined for this purpose by the Reserve Bank (whose determination in this respect shall be final);
(ii) the transferee bank shall pay or grant not later than the expiry of the aforesaid period of three years, to the said employees the same remuner-ation and the same terms and conditions of service5[as are, at the time of such payment or grant, applicable] to the other employees corresponding rank or status of the transferee bank subject to the qualifications and experience of the said employees being the same as or equivalent to those of such other employees of the transferee bank:
Provided further that if in any case under clause (ii) of the first proviso any doubt or difference as to whether the qualification and experience of any of the said employees are the same as or equivalent to the qualifications and experience of the other employees of corresponding rank or status of the transferee bank 6[the doubt or difference shall be referred, before the expiry of a period of three years from the date of the payment or grant mentioned in that clause,] to the Reserve Bank whose decision thereon shall be final;
(j) notwithstanding anything contained in clause (i) where any of the employees of the banking company not being workmen within the meaning of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (14 of 1947), are specifically mentioned in the scheme under clause (i) or where any employees of the banking company have by notice in writing given to the banking company, or, as the case may be, the transferee bank at any time before the expiry of the one month next following the date on which the scheme is sanctioned by the Central Government, intimated their intention of not becoming employees of the banking company on its reconstruction or, as the case may be, of the transferee bank, the payment to such employees of compensation, if any, to which they are entitled under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, and such pension, gratuity, provident fund and other retirement benefits ordinarily admissible to them under the rules or authorisations of the banking company immediately before the date of the order of moratorium;
(k) any other terms and conditions for the reconstruction or amalgamation of the banking company;
(l) such incidental, consequential and supplemental matters as are necessary to secure that the reconstruction or amalgamation shall be fully and effectively carried out.
(6)(a) A copy of the scheme prepared by the Reserve Bank shall be sent in draft to the banking company and also to the transferee bank and any other banking company concerned in the amalgamation, for suggestions and objections, if any, within such period as the Reserve Bank may specify for this purpose.
(b) The Reserve Bank may make such modifications, if any, in the draft scheme as it may consider necessary in the light of the suggestions and objections received from the banking company and also from the transferee bank, and any other banking company concerned in the amalgamation and from any members, depositors or other creditors of each of those companies and the transferee bank.
(7) The scheme shall thereafter be placed before the Central Government for its sanction and the Central Government may sanction the scheme without any modifications or with such modifications as it may consider necessary, and the scheme as sanctioned by the Central Government shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may specify in this behalf:
Provided that different dates may be specified for different provisions of the scheme.
7[(7A) The sanction accorded by the Central Government under sub-section (7), whether before or after the commencement of section 21 of the Banking Laws (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1963 (55 of 1963) shall be conclusive evidence that all that requirements of this section relating to reconstruction, or, as the case may be, amalgamation have been complied with and a copy of the sanctioned scheme certified in writing by an officer of the Central Government to be a true copy thereof, shall, in all legal proceedings (whether in appeal or otherwise and whether instituted before or after the commencement of the said section 21), be admitted as evidence to the same extent . as the original scheme.]
(8) On and from the date of the coming into operation of the scheme or any provision thereof, the scheme or such provision shall be binding on the banking company, or, as the case may be, on the transferee bank and any other banking company concerned in the amalgamation and also on all the members, depositors and other creditors and employees of each of those companies and of the transferee bank, and on any other person having any right or liability in relation to any of those companies or the transferee bank 8[including the trustees or other persons managing, or connected in any other manner with, any provident fund or other fund maintained by any of those companies or the transferee bank].
(9)9[On and from the date of the coming into operation or, or as the case may be, the date specified in this behalf in, the scheme], the properties and assets of the banking company shall, by virtue of and to the extent provided in the scheme, stand transferred to, and vest in, and the liabilities of the banking company shall, by virtue of and to the extent provided in the scheme, stand transferred to, and become the liabilities of the transferee bank.
(10) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of the scheme, the Central Government may by order do anything not inconsistent with such provisions which appears to it necessary or expedient for the purpose of removing the difficulty.
(11) Copies of the scheme or of any order made under sub-section (10) shall be laid before both Houses of Parliament, as soon as may be, after the scheme has been sanctioned by the Central Government, or, as the case may be, the order has been made.
(12) Where the scheme is a scheme for amalgamation of the banking company, any business acquired by the transferee bank under the scheme or under any provision thereof shall, after the coming into operation of the scheme or such provision, be carried on by the transferee bank in accordance with the law governing the transferee bank, subject to such modifications in that law or such exemptions of the transferee bank from the operation of any provisions thereof as the Central Government on the recommendation of the Reserve Bank may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make for the purpose of giving full effect to the scheme:
Provided that no such modification or exemption shall be made so as to have effect for a period of more than seven years from the date of the acquisition of such business.
(13) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prevent the amalgamation with a banking institution by a single scheme of several banking companies in respect of each of which an order of moratorium has been made under this section.
(14) The provisions of this section and of any scheme made under it shall have effect notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any other provisions of this Act or in any other law or any agreement, award or other instrument for the time being in force.
(15) In this section, “banking institution” means any banking company and includes the Stale Bank of India or 10[a subsidiary bank or a corresponding new bank].
11[Explanation. —References in this section of the terms and conditions of service as applicable to an employee shall not be construed as extending to the rank and status of such employee.]
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1. Inserted by Act 37 of 1960, Section 6.
2. Substituted by Act 7 of 1961, Section 4, for “any agreement”.
3. Substituted by Act 7 of 1961, Section 4, for “the banking company”.
4. Substituted by Act 7 of 1961, Section 4, for sub-sections (4) to (9).
5. Substituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 34 for “as are applicable” w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
6. Substituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 34 for “the doubt or difference shall be referred” w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
7. Inserted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 21 w.e.f. 1-2-1964.
8. Inserted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 34 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
9. Substituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 34 for certain words w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
10. Substituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 34 for certain words w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
11. Inserted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 34 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
Part III A – Special Provisions for Speedy Disposal of Winding up Proceedings
Section 45 A. Part III A to override other laws
1[PART IIIA: SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR SPEEDY DISPOSAL OF WINDING UP PROCEEDINGS
The provisions of this Part and the rules made thereunder shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in the 2[Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956)] or the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), or the 3[Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974) or any other law for the time being in force or any Instrument having effect by virtue of any such law; but the provisions of any such law or Instrument Insofar as the same are not varied by, or inconsistent with, the provisions of this Part or rules made thereunder shall apply to all proceedings under this Part.
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1. Substituted by Act 53 of 1953 of 1953, Section 10, fro the former Part IIIA which was Inserted by Act 20 of 1950, Section 10.
2. Substituted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 14 and Schedule, “Indian Companies Act 1913 (7 of 1913)” w.e.f. 14-1-1957.
3. Substituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 35 for “Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (5 of 1898)” w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
Section 45 B. Power of High Court to decide all claims in respect of banking companies
The High Court shall, save as otherwise expressly provided in section 45C, have exclusive jurisdiction to entertain and decide any claim made by or against a banking company which is being wound up (including claims by or against any of its branches in India) or any application made under 1[section 391 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956)] by or in respect of a banking company or any question of priorities or any other question whatsoever, whether of law or fad, which may relate to or arise in the course of the winding up of a banking company, whether such claim or question has arisen or arises or such application has been made or is made before or after the date of the order for the winding up of the banking company or before or after the commencement of the Banking Companies (Amendment) Act, 1953 (52 of 1953).
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1. Substituted by act 1 of 1984, Section 14 and Schedule, for “section 153 of the Indian Companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913)” w.e.f. 14-1-1957.
Section 45 C. Transfer of pending proceedings
(1) Where a winding up order is made or has been made in respect of a banking company, no suit or other legal proceeding, whether civil or criminal, in respect of which the High Court has jurisdiction under this Act and which is pending in any other court immediately before the commencement of the Banking Companies (Amendment) Act, 1953 (52 of 1953), or the date of the order for the winding up of the banking company, whichever is later, shall be proceeded with except in the manner hereinafter provided.
(2) The official liquidator shall, within three months from the date of the winding up order or the commencement of the Banking Companies (Amendment) Act, 1953 (52 of 1953), whichever is later, or such further time as the High Court may allow, submit to the High Court a report containing a list of all such pending proceedings together with particulars thereof.
(3) On receipt of a report under sub-section (2), the High Court may, if it so thinks fit, give the parties concerned an opportunity to show cause why the proceedings should not be transferred to itself and after making an inquiry in such manner as may be provided by rules made under section 45U, it shall make such order as it deems fit transferring to itself all or such of the pending proceedings as may be specified in the order and such proceedings shall thereafter be disposed of by the High Court.
(4) If any proceedings pending in a court is not so transferred to the High Court under sub-section (3), such proceeding shall be continued in the court in which the proceeding was pending.
(5) Nothing in this section shall apply to any proceeding pending in appeal before the Supreme Court or a High Court.
Section 45 D. Settlement of list of debtors
(1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any law for the time being in force, the High Court may settle in the manner hereinafter provided a list of debtors of a banking company which is being wound up.
(2) Subject to any rules that may be made under section 52, the official liquidator shall, within six months from the date of the winding up order or the commencement of the Banking Companies (Amendment) Act, 1953 (52 of 1953), whichever is later, from time to time, file to the High Court lists of debtors containing such particulars as are specified in the Fourth Schedule:
Provided that such lists may, with the leave of the High Court, be filed after the expiry of the said period of six months.
(3) On receipt of any list under sub-section (2), the High Court shall, wherever necessary, cause notices to be issued on all persons affected and after making an inquiry in such manner as may be provided by rules made under section 45U, it shall make an order settling the list of debtors:
Provided that nothing in this section shall debar the High Court from settling any such list in part as against such of the persons whose debts have been settled without settling the debts of all the persons placed on the list.
(4) At the time of the settlement of any such list, the High Court shall pass an order for the payment of the amount due by each debtor and make such further orders as may be necessary in respect of the relief claimed, including reliefs against any guarantor or in respect of the realisation of any security.
(5) Every such order shall, subject to the provisions for appeal, be final and binding for all purposes as between the banking company on the one hand and the person against whom the order is passed all persons claiming through or under him on the other hand, and shall be deemed to be a decree in a suit.
(6) In respect of every such order, the High Court shall issue a certificate specifying clearly the reliefs granted and the names and descriptions of the parties against whom such reliefs have been granted, the amount of costs awarded and by whom, and out of what funds and in what proportions, such costs are to be paid; and every such certificate shall be deemed to be a certified copy of the decree for all purposes including execution.
(7) At the time of settling the list of debtors or at any other time prior or subsequent thereto, the High Court shall have power to pass any order in respect of a debtor on the application of the official liquidator for the realisation, management, protection, preservation or sale of any property given as security to the banking company and to give such powers to the official liquidator to carry out the aforesaid directions as the High Court thinks fit.
(8) The High Court shall have power to sanction a compromise in respect of any debt and to order the payment of any debt by Instalments.
(9) In any case in which any such list is settled ex parte as against any person, such person may, within thirty days from the date of the order settling the list, apply to the High Court for an order to vary such list, so far as it concerns him, and if the High Court is satisfied that he was prevented by any sufficient cause from appearing on the date fixed for the settlement of such list and that he has a good defence to the claim of the banking company on merits, the High Court may vary the list and pass such orders in relation thereto as it thinks fit:
Provided that the High Court may, if it so thinks fit, entertain the application after the expiry of the said period of thirty days.
(10) Nothing in this section shall—
(a) apply to a debt which has been secured by a mortgage of immovable property, if a third party has any interest in such immovable property; or
(b) prejudice the rights of the official liquidator to recover any debt due to a banking company under any other law for the time being in force.
Section 45 E. Special provisions to make calls on contributories
Notwithstanding that the list of the contributories has not been settled under 1[section 467 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956)], the High Court may, if it appears to it necessary or expedient so to do, at any time after making a winding up order, make a call on and order payment thereof by any contributory under sub-section (1) of 2[section 470 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956)], if such contributory has been placed on the list of contributories by the official liquidator and has not appeared to dispute his liability.
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1. Substituted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 14 and Schedule, for “section 184 of the Indian Companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913)” w.e.f. 14-1-1957.
2. Substituted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 14 and Schedule, for “section 187 of the Indian Companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913)” w.e.f. 14-1-1957.
Section 45 F. Documents of banking company to be evidence
(1) Entries in the books of account or other documents of a banking company which is being wound up shall be admitted in evidence in all 1[legal proceedings]; and all such entries may be proved either by the production of the books of account or other documents of the banking company containing such entries or by the production of a copy of the entries, certified by the official liquidator under his signature and stating that it is a true copy of the original entries and that such original entries are contained in the books of account or other documents of the banking company in his possession.
(2) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (1 of 1872), all such entries in the books of account or other documents of a banking company shall, as against the directors, 2[officers and other employees] of the banking company in respect of which the winding up order has been made 3[***], by prima facie evidence of the truth of all matters purporting to be therein recorded.
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1. Substituted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 22, for “proceedings by or against the banking company” w.e.f. 1-2-1964.
2. Inserted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 22 w.e.f. 1-2-1964.
3. Certain words omitted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 22 w.e.f. 1-2-1964.
Section 45 G. Public examination of directors and auditors
(1) Where an order has been made for the winding up of a banking company, the official liquidator shall submit a report whether in his opinion any loss has been caused to the banking company since its formation by any act or omission (whether or not a fraud has been committed by such ‘ act or omission) of any person in the promotion or formation of the banking company or of any director or auditor of the banking company.
(2) If, on consideration of the report submitted under sub-section(1), the High Court is of opinion that any person who has taken part in the promotion or formation of the banking company or has been a director or an auditor of the banking company should be publicly examined, it should hold a public sitting on a date to be appointed for that purpose and direct that such person, director or auditor shall attend there at and shall be publicly examined as to the promotion or formation or the conduct of the business of the banking company, or as to his conduct and dealings, Insofar as they relate to the affairs of the banking company:
Provided that no such person shall be publicly examined unless he has been given an opportunity to show cause why he should not be so examined.
(3) The official liquidator shall take part in the examination and for that purpose may, if specially authorized by the High Court in that behalf, employ such legal assistance as may be sanctioned by the High Court.
(4) Any creditor or contributory may also take part in the examination either personally or by any person entitled to appear before the High Court.
(5) The High Court may put such questions to the person examined as it thinks fit.
(6) The person examined shall be examined on oath and shall answer all such questions as the High Court may put or allow to be put to him.
(7) A person ordered to be examined under this section may, at his own cost, employ any person entitled to appear before the High Court who shall be at liberty to put to him such questions as the High Court may deem just for the purpose of enabling him to explain or qualify any answer given by him:
Provided that if he is, in the opinion of the High Court, exculpated from any charges made or suggested against him, the High Court may allow him such costs in its discretion as it may deem fit.
(8) Notes of the examination shall be taken down in writing, and shall be read over to or by, and signed by, the person examined and may thereafter be used in evidence against him in any proceeding, civil or criminal, and shall be open to the Inspection of any creditor or contributory at all reasonable limes.
(9) Where on such examination, the High Court, is of opinion (whether a fraud has been committed or not)—
(a) that a person, who has been a director of the banking company, is not fit to be a director of a company, or
(b) that a person, who has been an auditor of the banking company or a partner of a firm acting as such auditor, is not fit to act as an auditor of a company or to be a partner of a firm acting as such auditor,
the High Court may make an order that person shall not, without the leave of the High Court, be a director of, or in any way, whether directly or indirectly, be concerned or take part in the management of an company or, as the case may be, act as an auditor of, or be a partner of firm acting as auditors of any company for such period not exceeding five years as may be specified in the order.
Section 45 H. Special provisions for assessing damages against delinquent directors, etc.
(1) Where an application is made to the High Court under 1[section 543 of the Companies Act, 1956(1 of 1956)], against any promoter, director, manager, liquidator or officer of a banking company for repayment or restoration of any money or property and the applicant makes out a prima facie case against such person, the High Court shall make an order against such person to repay and restore the money or property unless he proves that he is not liable to make the repayment or restoration either wholly or in part:
Provided that where such an order is made jointly against two or more such persons, they shall be jointly and severally liable to make the repayment or restoration of the money or property.
(2) Where an application is made, to the High Court under 1[section 543 of the Companies Act, 1956 (I of 1956)], and the High Court has reason to believe that a property belongs to any promoter, director, manager, liquidator or officer of the banking company, whether the property stands in the name of such person or any other person at an ostensible owner, then the High Court may, at any time, whether before or after making an order under sub-section (1), direct the attachment of such property, or such portion thereof, as it thinks fit and the property so attached shall remain subject to attachment unless the ostensible owner can prove to the satisfaction of the High Court that he is the real owner and the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), relating to attachment of property shall, as far as may be, apply to such attachment,
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1. Substituted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 14 and Schedule, for “section 235 of the Indian Companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913)” w.e.f. 14-1-1957.
Section 45 I. Duty of directors and officers of banking company to assist in the realisation or property
Every director or other officer of a banking company which is being wound up shall give such assistance to the official liquidator as he may reasonably require in connection with the realisation and distribution of the property of the banking company.
Section 45 J. Special provisions for punishing offences in relation to banking companies being wound up
(1) The High Court may, if it thinks fit, take cognizance of and try in a summary way and offence alleged to have been committed by any person who has taken part in the promotion or formation of the banking company which is being wound , up or by any director, manager or officer thereof:
Provided that the offence is one punished under this Act or under the 1[Companies Act, 1956(1 of 1956)].
(2) When trying any such offence as aforesaid, the High Court may also try any other offence not referred to in sub-section (1) which is an offence with which the accused may, under the 2[Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974)], be charged at the same trial.
(3) In any case tried summarily under sub-section (1), the High Court—
(a) need not summon any witness, if it is satisfied that the evidence of such witness will not be material;
(b) shall not be bound to adjourn a trial for any purpose unless such adjournment is, in the opinion of the High Court, necessary in the interests of justice;
(c) shall, before passing any sentence, record judgment embodying the substance of the evidence and also the particulars specified in section 263 of the 2[Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974)], so far as that section may be applicable,
and nothing contained in sub-section (2) of section 262 of the [Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974)], shall apply to any such trial.
(4) All offences in relation to winding up alleged to have been committed by any person specified in sub-section (1) which are punishable under this Act or under the 1[Companies Act, 1956(1 of 1956)], and which are not tried in a summary way under ‘ sub-section (1) shall, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in that Act or the 2[Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974)], or in any other law for the time being in force, be taken cognizance of and tried by a Judge of the High Court other than the Judge for the time being dealing with the proceedings for the winding up of the banking company.
(5) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the 3[Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974)], the High Court may take cognizance of any offence under this section, without the accused being committed to it for trial 4[***].
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1. Substituted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 14 and Schedule, for “Indian Companies Act. 1913 (7 of 1913)” w.e.f. 14-1-1957.
2. Substituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 35, for “Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (5 of 1898)” w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
3. Substituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 35, for “Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (5 of 1898)” w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
4. Certain words omitted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 35 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
Section 45 K. Power of High court to enforce schemes of arrangements, etc.
[Rep. by the Banking Companies (Amendment) Act, 1959, Section 31 (w.e.f. 1-10-1959).]
Section 45 L. Public examination of directors and auditors, etc., in respect of a banking company under schemes of arrangement
(1) Where an application for sanction a compromise or arrangement in respect of a banking company is made under 1[section 39] of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956)], or where such sanction has been given and the High Court is of opinion, whether on a report of the Reserve Bank or otherwise, that any ‘ person who has taken part in the promotion or formation of the banking company or has been a director or auditor of the banking company should be publicly examined, it may direct such examination of such person and the provisions of section 45G shall, as far as may be, apply to the banking company as they apply to a banking company which is being wound up.
(2) Where a compromise or arrangement is sanctioned under 1[section 391 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956)], in respect of a banking company, the provisions of 2[section 543 of the said Act] and of section 45H of this Act shall, as far as may be, apply to the banking company as they apply to a banking company which is being wound up as if the order sanctioning the compromise or arrangement were an order for the winding up of the banking company.
3[(3) Where 4[a scheme of reconstruction or amalgamation of a banking company] has been sanctioned by the Central Government under section 45 and the Central Government is of opinion that any person who has taken part in the promotion or formation of the banking company or has been a director or auditor of the banking company should be publicly examined, that Government may apply to the High Court for the examination of such person and if on such examination the High Court finds (whether a fraud has been committed or not) that person is not fit to be a director of a company or to act as an auditor of a company or to be a partner of a firm acting as such auditors, the Central Government shall make an order that that person shall not, without the leave of the Central Government, be a director of, or in any way, whether directly or indirectly, be concerned or take part in the management of any company or, as the case may be, act as an auditor of, or be a partner of a firm acting as auditors of, any company for such period not exceeding five years as may be specified in the order.
(4) Where 5[a scheme of reconstruction or amalgamation of a banking company] has been sanctioned by the Central Government under section 45, the provisions of section 543 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), and of section 45H of this Act shall, as far as may be, apply to the banking company as they apply to a banking company which is being wound up as if the order sanctioning the scheme of reconstruction or amalgamation, as the case may be, were an order for the winding up of the banking company; and any reference in the said section 543 to the application of the official liquidator shall be construed as a reference to the application of the Central Government.]
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1. Substituted by Act 95 of 1965, Section 14 and Schedule, for “section 153 of the Indian Companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913)” w.e.f. 14-1-1957.
2. Substituted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 14 and Schedule, for “section 235 of the said Act” w.e.f. 14-1-1957.
3. Inserted by Act 37 of 1960, Section 7.
4. Substituted by Act 7 of 1961, Section 5, for certain words.
5. Substituted by Act 7 of 1961, Section 5, for certain words.
Section 45 M. Special provisions for banking companies working under schemes of arrangement at the commencement of the Amendment Act
Where any compromise or arrangement sanctioned in respect of a banking company under 1[section 391 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956)] is being worked at the commencement of the Banking Companies (Amendment) Act, 1953 (52 of 1953) the High Court may, if it so thinks fit, on the application of such banking company, —
(a) excuse any delay in carrying out any of the provisions of the compromise or arrangement; or
(b) allow the banking company to settle the list of its debtors in accordance with the provisions of section 45D and in such a case, the provisions of the said section shall, as far as may be, apply to the banking company as they apply to a banking company which is being wound up as if the order sanctioning the compromise or arrangement were an order for the winding up of the banking company.
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1. Substituted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 14 and Schedule, for “section 153 of the Indian Companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913)” w.e.f. 14-5-1957.
Section 45 N. Appeals
(1) An Appeal shall lie from any order or decision of the High Court in a civil proceeding under this Act when the amount or value of the subject-matter of the claim exceeds five thousand rupees.
(2) The High Court may by rules provide for an appeal against any order made under section 45J and the conditions subject to which any such appeal would lie.
(3) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (1) and sub-section (2 )and notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, every order or decision of the High Court shall be final and binding for all purposes as between the banking company on the one hand, and all persons who are parties thereto and all persons claiming through or under them or any of them, on the other hand.
Section 45 O. Special period of limitation
(1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Indian Limitation Act, 1908 (9 of 1908) or in any other law for the time being in force, in computing the period of limitation prescribed for a suit or application by a banking company which is being wound up, the period commencing from the date of the presentation of the petition for the winding up of the banking company shall be excluded.
(2) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Indian Limitation Act, 1908 (9 of 1908) or 1[section 543 of the Companies Act, 1956(1 of 1956)] or in any other law for the time being in force, there shall be no period of limitation for the recovery of arrears of calls from any director of a banking company which is being wound up or for the enforcement by the banking company against any of its directors of any claim based on a contract, express or implied; and in respect of all other claims by the banking company against its directors, the period of limitation shall be twelve years from the date of the accrual of such claims 2[or five years from the date of the first appointment of the liquidator, whichever is longer].
(3) The provisions of this section, Insofar as they relate to banking companies being wound up, shall also apply to a banking company in respect of which a petition for the winding up has been presented before the commencement of the Banking Companies (Amendment) Act, 1953 (52 of 1953).
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1. Substituted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 14 and Schedule, for “section 235 of the Indian Companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913)” w.e.f. 14-5-1957.
2. Inserted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 32 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.
Section 45 P. Reserve Bank to tender advice in winding up proceeding
Where in any proceeding for the winding up of a banking company in which any person other than the Reserve Bank has been appointed as the official liquidator and the High Court has directed the official liquidator to obtain the advice of the Reserve Bank on any matter (which it is hereby empowered to do), it shall be lawful for the Reserve Bank to examine the record of any such proceeding and tender such advice on the matter as it may think fit.
Section 45 Q. Power to Inspect
(1) The Reserve Bank shall, on being directed so to do by the Central Government or by the High Court, cause an Inspection to be made by one or more of its officers of a banking company which is being wound up and its books and accounts.
(2) On such Inspection, the Reserve Bank shall submit its report to the Central Government and the High Court.
(3) If the Central Government, on consideration of the report of the Reserve Bank, is of opinion that there has been a substantial irregularity in the winding up proceedings, it may bring such irregularity to the notice of the High Court for such action as the High Court may think fit.
(4) On receipt of the report of the Reserve Bank under sub-section (2) or on any irregularity being brought to its notice by the Central Government under sub-section (3), the High Court may, if it deems fit, after giving notice to and hearing the Central Government in regard to the report, give such directions as it may consider necessary.
Section 45 R. Power to call for returns and information
The Reserve Bank may, at any time by a notice in writing, require the liquidator of a banking company to furnish it, within such time as may be specified in the notice or such further time as the Reserve Bank may allow, any statement or information relating to or connected with the winding up of the banking company; and it shall be the duty of every liquidator to comply with such requirements.
Explanation. —For the purposes of this section and section 45Q, a banking company working under a compromise or arrangement but prohibited from receiving fresh deposits, shall, as far as may be, deemed to be banking company which is being wound up.
Section 45 S. Chief Presidency Magistrate and District Magistrate to assist official liquidator in taking charge of property of banking company being wound up
(1) For the purpose of enabling the official liquidator or the special officer appointed under sub-section (3) of section 37 to take into his custody or under his control, all property, effects and actionable claims to which a banking company 1[***] is or appears to be entitled, the official liquidator or the special officer, as the case may be, may request in writing the 2[Chief Metropolitan Magistrate or the Chief Judicial Magistrate], within whose jurisdiction any property, books of accounts or other documents of such banking company may be situate or be found, to take possession thereof, and the 2[Chief Metropolitan Magistrate or the Chief Judicial Magistrate], as the case may be, shall, on such request being made to him, —
3[(a)take possession of such property, books of accounts or other documents, and
(b) forward them to the official liquidator or the special officer.]
4[(2) Where any such property and effects are in the possession of the 2[Chief Metropolitan Magistrate or the Chief Judicial Magistrate], as the case may be, such Magistrate shall, on request in writing being made to him by the official liquidator or the special officer referred to in sub-section (1), sell such property and effects and forward the net proceeds of the sole to the official liquidator or the special officer:
Provided that such sale shall, as far as practicable, be effected by public auction.
(3) For the purpose of securing compliance with the provisions of sub-section (1), the 2[Chief Metropolitan Magistrate or the Chief Judicial Magistrate] may take or cause to be taken such steps and use of cause to be used such fore as may, in his opinion, be necessary.
(4) No act of the 2[Chief Metropolitan Magistrate or the Chief Judicial Magistrate] done in pursuance of this section shall be called in question in any court or before any authority.]
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1. Certain words omitted by Act 55 of 1963 Section 13 w.e.f. 1-2-1964.
2. Substituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 36 for certain words w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
3. Substituted by Act 53 of 1963, Section 23 w.e.f. 1-2-1964.
4. Substituted by Act 53 of 1963, Section 23 for sub-section (2) w.e.f. 1-2-1964.
Section 45 T. Enforcement of orders and decisions of High Court
(1) All orders made in any civil proceeding by a High Court may be enforced in the same manner in which decrees of such court made in any suit pending therein may be enforced.
(2)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908(5 of 1908), a liquidator may apply for the execution of a decree by a court, other than the one which made it on production of a certificate granted under subsection (6) of section 45D and on his certifying to such other court in writing the amount remaining due or relief remaining unenforced under the decree.
(3) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (1) or sub-section (2), any amount found due to the banking company by an order or decision of the High Court, may, with the leave of the High Court, be recovered 1[by the liquidator in the same manner as an arrear of land revenue and for the purpose of such recovery the liquidator may forward to the Collector within whose jurisdiction the property of the person against whom any order or decision of the High Court has been made is situate, a certificate under his signature specifying the amount so due and the person by whom it is payable].
2[(4) On receipt of a certificate under sub-section (3), the Collector shall proceed to recover from such person the amount specified therein as if it were an arrear of land revenue:
Provided that without prejudice to any other powers of the Collector, he shall, for the purposes of recovering the said amount, have all the powers which, under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), a civil court has for the purpose of the recovery of an amount due under a decree.]
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1. Substituted by Act 53 of 1963, Section 24 for “in the same manner as on arrear of land revenue” w.e.f. 1-2-1964.
2. Inserted by Act 53 of 1963, Section 24 w.e.f. 1-2-1964.
Section 45 U. Power of High Court to make rules
The High Court may make rules consistent with this Act and the rules made under section 52 prescribing—
(a) the manner in which inquiries and proceedings under Part III or Part IIIA may be held;
(b) the offences which may be tried summarily;
(c) the authority to which, and the conditions subject to which, appeals may be preferred and the manner in which such appeals may be filed and heard;
(d) any other matter for which provision has to be made for enabling the High Court to effectively exercise its functions under this Act.
Section 45 V. References to directors, etc., shall be construed as including references to past directors, etc.
For the removal of doubts it is hereby declared that any reference in this Part to a director, manager, liquidator, officer or auditor of a banking company shall be construed as including a reference to any past or present director, manager, liquidator, officer or auditor of the banking company.
Section 45 W. Part II not to apply to banking companies being wound up
Nothing contained in Part II shall apply to a banking company which is being wound up.
Section 45 X. Validation of certain proceedings
Notwithstanding anything contained in section 45B or any other provision of this Part or in section 11 of the Banking Companies (Amendment) Act, 1950 (20 of 1950), no proceeding held, judgment delivered or decree or order made before the commencement of the Banking Companies (Amendment) Act, 1953 (52 of 1953), by any court other than the High Court in respect of any matter over which the High Court has jurisdiction under this Act shall be invalid or be deemed ever to have been invalid merely by reason of the fact that such proceeding, judgment, decree or order was held, delivered or made by a court other man the High Court.]
Part III B – Provisions Relating to Certain Operations of Banking Companies
Section 45 Y. Power of Central Government to make rules for the preservation of records
The Central Government may, after consultation with the Reserve Bank and by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules specifying the periods for which—
(a) a banking company shall preserve its books, accounts and other documents; and
(b) a banking company shall preserve and keep with itself different instruments paid by it.
Section 45 Z. Return of paid instruments to customers
(1) Where a banking company is required by its customer to return to him a paid instrument before the expiry of the period specified by rules made under section 45 Y, the banking company shall not return the instrument except after making and keeping in its possession a true copy of all relevant parts of such instrument, such copy being made by a mechanical or other process which in itself ensures the accuracy of the copy.
(2) The banking company shall be entitled to recover from the customer the cost of making such copies of the instrument.
Explanation. —In this section, “customer” includes a Government department and a corporation incorporated by or under any law.
Section 45 ZA. Nomination for payment of depositors’ money
(1) Where a deposit is held by a banking company to the credit of one or more persons, the depositor or, as the case may be, all the depositors together, may nominate, in the prescribed manner, one person to whom in the event of the death of the sole depositor or the death of all the depositors, the amount of deposit may be returned by the banking company.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force or in any disposition, whether testamentary or otherwise, in respect of such deposit, where a nomination made in the prescribed manner purports to confer on any person the right to receive the amount of deposit from the banking company, the nominee shall, on the death of the sole depositor or, as the case may be, on the death of all the depositors, become entitled to all the rights of the sole depositor or, as the case may be, of the depositors, in relation to such deposit to the exclusion of all other persons, unless the nomination is varied or cancelled in the prescribed manner.
(3) Where the nominee is a minor, it shall be lawful for the depositor making the nomination to appoint in the prescribed manner any person to receive the amount of deposit in the event of his death during the minority of the nominee.
(4) Payment by a banking company in accordance with the provisions of this section shall constitute a full discharge to the banking company of its liability in respect of the deposit:
Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall affect the right or claim which any person may have against the person to whom any payment is made under this section.
Section 45 ZB. Notice of claims of other persons regarding deposits not receivable
No notice of the claim of any person, other than the person or persons in whose name a deposit is held by a banking company, shall be receivable by the banking company, nor shall the banking company be bound by any such notice though even expressly given to it:
Provided that where any decree, order, certificate or other authority from a court of competent jurisdiction relating to such deposit is produced before a banking company, the banking company shall take due note of such decree, order, certificate or other authority.
Section 45 ZC. Nomination for return of articles kept in safe custody with banking company
(1) Where any person leaves any article in safe custody with a banking company, such person may nominate, in the prescribed manner, on person to whom, in the event of the death of the person leaving the article in safe custody, such article may be returned by the banking company.
(2) Where the nominee is a minor, it shall be lawful for the person making the nomination to appoint in the prescribed manner any person to receive the article deposited in the event of his death during the minority of the nominee.
(3) The banking company shall, before returning any articles under this section to the nominee or the person appointed under sub-section (2), prepare, in such manner as may be directed by the Reserve Bank from time to time, an inventory of the said articles which shall be signed by such nominee or person and shall deliver a copy of the inventory so prepared to such nominee or person.
(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force or in any disposition, whether testamentary or otherwise, in respect of such article, where a nomination made in the prescribed manner purports to confer on any person the right to receive the article from the banking company, the nominee shall, on the death of the person leaving the article in safe custody, become entitled to the return of the article to the exclusion of all other persons, unless the nomination is varied or cancelled in the prescribed manner:
Provided that nothing contained in this section shall affect the right or claim which any person may have against the person to whom the article is returned in pursuance of this sub-section.
Section 45 ZD. Notice of claims of other persons regarding articles not receivable
No notice of the claim of any person, other than the person or persons in whose name any article is held by a banking company in safe custody, shall be receivable by the banking company, nor shall the banking company be bound by any such notice even though expressly given to it:
Provided that where any decree, order, certificate or other authority from a court of competent jurisdiction relating to such article is produced before a banking company, the banking company shall take due note of such decree, order, certificate or other authority.
Section 45 ZE. Release of contents of safety lockers
(1) Where an individual is the sole hirer of a locker from a banking company, whether such locker is located in the safe deposit vault of such banking company or elsewhere, such individual may nominate one person to whom, in the event of the death of such individual, the banking company may give access to the locker and liberty to remove the contents of the locker.
(2) Where any such locker is hired from a banking company by two or more individuals jointly and under the contract of hire, the locker is to be operated under the joint signatures of two or more of such hirers, such hirers may nominate one or more persons to whom, in the event of the death of such joint hirer or hirers, the banking company may give, jointly with the surviving joint hirer or joint hirers, as the case may be, access to the locker and liberty to remove the contents of such locker.
(3) Every nomination under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) shall be made in the prescribed manner
(4) The banking company shall, before permitting the removal of the contents of any locker by any nominee or jointly by any nominee and survivors as aforesaid, prepare, in such manner as may be directed by the Reserve Bank from time to time, an inventory of the contents of the locker which shall be signed by such nominee or jointly by such nominee and survivors and shall deliver a copy of the inventory so prepared to such nominee or nominee and survivors.
(5) On the removal of the contents of any locker by any nominee or jointly by any nominee and survivors as aforesaid, the liability of the banking company in relation to the contents of the locker shall stand discharged.
(6) No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall lie against a banking company for any damage caused or likely to be caused, for allowing access to any locker, and liberty to remove the contents of such locker, in pursuance of the provisions of subsection (1) or sub-section (2) as the case may be.
Section 45 ZF. Notice of claims of oilier persons regarding safety lockers not receivable
No notice of the claim of any person, other than hirer or hirers of a locker, shall be receivable by a banking company nor shall the banking company be bound by any such notice even though expressly given to it:
Provided that where any decree, order, certificate or other authority from a court of competent jurisdiction relating to the locker or its contents is produced before the banking company, the banking company shall take due note of such decree, order, certificate or other authority.]
Part IV – Miscellaneous
Section 46. Penalties
(1) Whoever in any return, balance-sheet or other document 1[or in any information required or furnished] by or under or for the purposes of any provision of this Act, wilfully makes a statement which is false in any material particular, knowing it to be false, or wilfully omits to make a material statement, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine.
(2) If any person fails to produce any book, account or other document or to furnish any statement or information which under sub-section (2) of section 35 it is his duty to produce or furnish, or to answer any question relating to the business of a banking company which is asked by 2[an officer making an inspection or scrutiny under that section.] he shall be punishable with a fine which may extend to 3[two thousand rupees] in respect of each offence, and if he persists in such refusal, to a further fine which may extend to 4[one hundred rupees] for every day during which the offence continues.
(3) If any deposits are received by a banking company in contravention of an order under clause (a)of sub-section (4) of section 35, every director or other officer of the banking company, unless he proves that the contravention took place without his knowledge or that he exercised all due diligence to prevent it shall be deemed to be guilty of such contravention and shall be punishable with a fine which may extend to twice the amount of the deposits so received.
5[6[7[(4) If any other provision of this Act is contravened or if any default is made in—
(i) complying with any requirement of this Act or of any order, rule or direction made or condition imposed thereunder, or
(ii) carrying out the terms of, or the obligations under, a scheme sanctioned under sub-section (7) of section 45,
by any person, such person shall be punishable with fine which may extend to 8[fifty thousand rupees or twice the amount involved in such contravention or default where such amount is quantifiable, whichever is more, and where a contravention or default is a continuing one, with a further fine which may extend to two thousand and five hundred rupees] for every day, during which the contravention or default continues.]
(5) Where a contravention or default has been committed by a company, every person who, at the time the contravention or default was committed, was in charge of, and was responsible to, the company, for the conduct of the business of the company, as well as the company, shall be deemed to be guilty of the contravention or default and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly:
Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall render any such person liable to any punishment provided in this Act if he proves that the contravention or default was committed without his knowledge or that he exercised all due diligence to prevent the contravention or default.
(6) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (5), where a contravention or default has been committed by a company, and it is proved that the same was committed with the consent or connivance of, or is attributable to any gross negligence on the part of, any director, manager, secretary or other officer of the company, such director, manager, secretary or other officer shall also be deemed to be guilty of that contravention or default and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
Explanation. —For the purposes of this section, —
(a) “company” means any body corporate and includes a firm or other association of individuals, and
(b) “direction”, in relation to a firm, means a partner in the firm.]
9[***]
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1. Substituted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 9, for “required” w.e.f. 14-1-1957.
2. Substituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 38, for “an officer making an imspection under that section” w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
3. Substituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 33, for “five hundred rupees” w.e.f. 1-10-1959.
4. Substituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 33, for “fifty rupees” w.e.f. 1-10-1959.
5. Sub-sections (4) Substituted by Act 33 of 1959 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.
6. Sub-section (4), (5) and (6) Substituted by Act 55 of 1963, sec 25, for sub-section (4) w.e.f. 1-2-1964.
7. Substituted-section (4) Substituted by Act 1 of 1984, sec .38 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
8. Substituted by Act20 of 1994, Section 8 w.e.f. 31-1-1994.
9. Original sub-section (5) omitted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 33 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.
Section 46 A. Chairman, director, etc., to be public servants for the purposes of Chapter IX of the Indian Penal Code
1[Chairman, director, etc., to be public servants for the purposes of Chapter IX of the Indian Penal Code. 2[Every Chairman who is appointed on a whole-time basis, managing director, director, auditor] liquidator, manager and any other employee of a banking company shall be deemed to be a public servant for the purposes of Chapter IX of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860).]
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1. Inserted by Act 95 of 1956, Section10 w.e.f.
2. Substituted by Act 20 of 1994, Section 9 w.e.f. 31-1-1994.
Section 47. Cognizance of offences
No court shall take a cognizance of any offence punishable under 1[sub-section (5)of section 36AA or] section 46 except upon complaint in writing made by an officer of 2[the Reserve Bank or, as the case may be, the National Bank] generally or specially authorised in writing in this behalf by 3[the Reserve Bank, or as the case may be, the National Bank] and 4[no court other than that of a Metropolitan Magistrate or a Judicial Magistrate of the first class or any court superior thereto] shall try any such offence.
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1. Inserted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 26 w.e.f. 1-2-1964.
2. Substituted by Act 61 of 1981, Section 61 and second Schedule, Pt. II, for “the Reserve Bank”
3. Substituted by Act 61 of 1981, Section 61 and second Schedule, Pt. II, for “the Reserve Bank”
4. Substituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 39, for certain words w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
Section 47 A. Power of Reserve Bank to impose penalty
1[Power of Reserve Bank to impose penalty. (1)Notwithstanding anything contained in section 46, if a contravention or default of the nature referred to in subsection (3) or sub-section (4) of section 46, as the case may be, is made by a banking company, then, the Reserve Bank may impose on such banking company—
(a) where the contravention is of the nature referred to in sub-section (3) of section 46, a penalty not exceeding twice the amount of the deposits in respect of which such contravention was made;
(b) where the contravention or default is of the nature referred to in sub-section (4) of section 46, a penalty not exceeding 2[five lakh rupees or twice the amount involved in such contravention or default where such amount is quantifiable, whichever is more, and where such the contravention or default is a continuing one, a further penalty which may extend to twenty-five thousand rupees] for every day, after the first, during which the contravention of default continues.
3[(2) For the purpose of adjudging the penalty under sub-section (1), the Reserve Bank shall serve notice on the banking company requiring it to show cause why the amount specified in the notice should not be imposed and a reasonable opportunity of being heard shall also be given to such banking company.]
(4) No complaint shall be filed against any banking company in any court of law in respect of any contravention or default in respect of which any penalty has been imposed by the Reserve Bank under this section.
(5) Any penalty imposed by the Reserve Bank under this section shall be payable within a period of fourteen days from the date on which notice issued by the Reserve Bank demanding payment of the sum is served on the banking company and in the event of failure of the banking company to pay the sum within such period, may be levied on a direction made by the principal civil court having jurisdiction in the area where the registered office of the banking company is situated; or, in the case of a banking company incorporated outside India, where its principal place of business in India is situated:
Provided that no such direction shall be made except on an application made to the court by the Reserve Bank or any officer authorised by that Bank in this behalf.
(6) The court which makes a direction under sub-section (5) shall issue a certificate specifying the sum payable by the banking company and every such certificate shall be enforceable in the same manner as if it were a decree made by the court in a civil suit.
(7) Where any complaint has been filed against any banking company in any court in respect of the contravention or default of the nature referred to in sub-section (3) or, as the case may be, sub-section (4) of section 46, then, no proceedings for the imposition of any penalty on the banking company shall be taken under this section.]
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1. Inserted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 17 w.e.f. 1-2-1969.
2. Substituted by Act 20 of 1994, Section 10 w.e.f. 31-1-1994.
3. Substituted by Act 20 of 1994, Section 10, for sub-sections (2) and (3) w.e.f. 31-1-1994.
Section 48. Application of fines
A court imposing any fine under this Act may direct that the whole or any part thereof shall be applied in or towards payment of the costs of the proceedings, or in or towards the rewarding of the person on whose information the fine is recovered.
Section 49. Special provisions for private banking companies
The exemptions, whether express or implied, in favour of a private company in 1[sections 90, 165, 182, 204 and 255, clauses (a) and (b) of sub-section (1) of section 293 and sections 300, 388A and 416 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956)], shall not operate in favour of a private company which is a banking company.
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1. The words and figures “sections. 17, 77, 83B, 86H, 91B and 91D and sub-section (5) of section 144 of the Indian Companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913)” have successively been amended by Act 95 of 1956, Section 11, Act 33 of 1959, Section 34 and Act 55 of 1963, Section 27 to read as above.
Section 49 A. Restriction on acceptance of deposits withdrawable by cheque
1[Restriction on acceptance of deposits withdrawable by cheque. No person other than a banking company, the Reserve Bank, the State Bank of India or any other 2[banking institution, firm or other person notified by the Central Government in this behalf on the recommendation of the Reserve Bank] shall accept from the public deposits of money withdrawable by cheque:
Provided that nothing contained in this section shall apply to any savings bank scheme run by the Government.
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1. Inserted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 35 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.
2. Substituted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 28, for certain words w.e.f. 1-2-1964.
Section 49 B. Change of name by a banking company
Notwithstanding anything contained in section 21 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), the Central Government shall not signify its approval to the change of name of any banking company unless the Reserve Bank certifies in writing that it has no objection to such change.
Section 49 C. Alteration of memorandum of a banking company
Notwithstanding anything contained in the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), no application for the confirmation of the alteration of the memorandum of a banking company shall be maintainable unless the Reserve Bank certifies that there is no objection to such alteration.]
Section 50. Certain claims for compensation barred
No person shall have any right, whether in contract or otherwise, to any compensation for any loss incurred by reason of the operation of any of the provisions 1[contained in sections 10, 12A, 16, 35A, 35B, 2[36, 43A and 45] or by reason of the compliance by a banking company with any order or direction given to it under this Act].
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1. Substituted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 12, for certain words w.e.f. 14-1-1957.
2. Substituted by act 37 of 1960, Section 8, for “and 36”.
Section 51. Application of certain provisions to the State Bank of India and other notified banks
1[Application of certain provisions to the State Bank of India and other notified banks. 2[(1)] Without prejudice to the provisions of the State Bank of India Act, 1955(23 of 1955) or any other enactment, the provisions of sections 10, 13 to 15, 17, 3[19 to 21A, 23 to 28, 29] excluding sub-section (3) 4[sub-section (1B), (1C) and (2) of sections 30, 31,] 34, 35, 35A, 36 [excluding clause(a) of sub-section(1)] 45Y to 45ZF, 46 to 48] 50, 52 and 53 shall also apply; so far as may be, to and in relation to the State Bank of India 5[or any corresponding new bank or a Regional Rural Bank or any subsidiary bank] as they apply to and in relation to banking companies:
6[Provided that—
(a) nothing contained in clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 10 shall apply to the chairman of the State Bank of India or to a 7[managing director] of any subsidiary bank insofar as the said clause precludes him from being a director of, or holding an office in, any institution approved by the Reserve Bank;
8[(b) nothing contained in sub-clause (iii) of clause (b) of sub-section (!) of section 20 shall apply to any bank referred to in sub-section (1), insofar as the said sub-clause (iii) of clause (b) precludes that bank from entering into any commitment for granting any loan or advance to or on behalf of a company (not being a Government company) in which not less than forty per cent of the paid-up capital is held (whether singly or taken together) by the Central Government or the Reserve Bank or a corporation owned by that bank; and
(c) nothing contained in section 46 or in section 47A shall apply to, —
(i) an officer of the Central Government or the Reserve Bank, nominated or appointed as director of the State Bank of India or any corresponding new bank or a Regional Rural Bank or any subsidiary bank or a banking company; or
(ii) an officer of the State Bank of India or a corresponding new bank or a Regional Rural Bank or a subsidiary bank nominated or appointed as director of any of the said banks (not being the bank of which he is an officer) or of a banking company.;]
9[***]
10[(2) References to a banking company in any rule or direction relating to any provision of this Act referred to in sub-section (1) shall, except where such rule or direction provides otherwise, be construed as referring also to the State Bank of India, a corresponding new bank, a Regional Rural Bank and a subsidiary bank.]
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1. Substituted by Act 79 of 1956, Section 43 and ScheduleII, for section 51 w.e.f. 22-10-1956.
2. Section 51 renumbered as sub-section (1) thereof by Act 1 of 1984, Section 40 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
3. Substituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 40, for certain words and figures w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
4. Substituted by Act 66 of 16988, Section 10, for “31”w.e.f. 30-12-1988.
5. Substituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 40, for certain words w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
6. Substituted by Act 38 of 1959, Section 64 and Schedule III, for the proviso w.e.f. 10-9-1959.
7. Substituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 40, for “general manager w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
8. Clauses (b) and (c) Substituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 40 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
9. Explanation omitted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 18 w.e.f. 1-2-1969.
10. Inserted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 40 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
Section 52. Power of Central Government to make rules
(1) The Central Government may, after consultation with the Reserve Bank, make rules to provide for all matters for which provision is necessary or expedient for the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of this Act and all such rules shall be published in the Official Gazette.
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for the details to be included in the returns required by (his Act and the manner in which such returns shall be submitted 1[and the form in which the official liquidator may file lists of debtors to the court having jurisdiction under Part III or Part IIIA and the particulars which such lists may contain and any other matter which has to be, or may be, prescribed].
2[***]
1[(4) The Central Government may by rules made under this section annul, alter or add to, all or any of the provisions of the Fourth Schedule.]
3[(5) Every rule made by the Central Government under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parliament, while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule.]
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1. Added by Act 52 of 1953, Section 11.
2. Sub-section (3) omitted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 4 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
3. Inserted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 41 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.
Section 53. Power to exempt in certain cases
The Central Government may, on the recommendation of the Reserve Bank, declare, by notification in the Official Gazette, that any or all of the provisions of this Act shall not apply to any banking company 1[or institution] or to any class of banking companies either generally or for such period as may be specified.
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1. Inserted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 29 w.e.f. 1-2-1964.
Section 54. Protection of action taken under Act
(1) No suit or other legal proceeding shall be lie against the Central Government, the Reserve Bank or any officer for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done in pursuance of this Act.
(2) Save as otherwise expressly provided by or under this Act, no suit or other legal proceeding shall lie against the Central Government, the Reserve Bank or any officer for any damage caused or likely to be caused by anything in good faith done or intended to be done in pursuance of this Act.
Section 55. Amendment of Act 2 of 1934
The Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 shall be amended in the manner specified in the fourth column of the First Schedule, and the amendments to section 18 thereof as specified in the said Schedule shall be deemed to have had effect on and from the 20th day of September, 1947.
Section 55 A. Power to remove difficulties
1[Power to remove difficulties. If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this Act, the Central Government may, by order, as occasion requires, do anything (not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act) which appears to it to be necessary for the purpose of removing the difficulty:
Provided that no such power shall be exercised after the expiry of a period of three years from the commencement of section 20 of the Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 1968 (58 of 1968).]
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1. Inserted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 20 w.e.f. 1-2-1969.
Part V – Application of the Act to Co-Operative Banks
Section 56. Act to apply to co-operative societies subject to modifications
The provisions of this Act, as in force for the time being, shall apply to, or in relation to, cooperative societies as they apply to, or in relation to banking companies subject to the following modifications, namely:—
(a) throughout this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—
(i) references to a “banking company” or “the company” or “such company” shall be construed as references to a co-operative bank;
(ii) reference to “commencement of this Act” shall be construed as reference to commencement of the Banking Laws(Application to Co-operative Societies) Act, 1965 (23 of 1965);
(b) in section 2, the words and figures “the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956) and” shall be omitted;
(c) in section 5,—
1[(i) after clause (cc), the following clauses shall be inserted, namely:—
(cci) “Co-operative bank” means a state co-operative bank, a central co-operative bank and a primary co- operative bank;
(ccii) “co-operative credit society” means a co-operative society, the primary object of which is to provide financial accommodation to its members and includes a co-operative land mortgage bank;
36(cciia) “co-operative society” means a society registered or deemed to have been registered under any Central Act for the time being in force relating to the multi-State Co-operative Societies, or any other Central or State law relating to Co-operative Societies for the time being in force;';
(cciii) “director” in relation to a co-operative society, includes a member of any committee or body for the time being vested with the management of the affairs of that society;
37(cciiia) “multi-State co-operative bank” means a multi-State co-operative society which is a primary co-operative bank;
38(cciiib) “multi-State co-operative society” means a multi-State co-operative society registered as such under any Central Act for the time being in force relating to the multi-State co-operative societies but does not include a national co-operative society and a federal co-operative;';
(cciv) “primary agricultural credit society” means a co-operative society,—
(1) the primary object or principal business of which is to provide financial accommodation to its members for agricultural purposes or for purposes connected with agricultural activities (including the marketing of crops); and
(2) the bye-laws of which do not permit admission of any other co-operative society as member:
Provided that this sub-clause shall not apply to the admission of a co-operative bank as a member by reason of such co-operative bank subscribing to the share capital of such co-operative society out of funds provided by the State Government for the purpose;
(ccv) “primary co-operative bank” means a co-operative society, other than a primary agricultural credit society,-
(1) the primary object or principal business of which is the transaction of banking business;
(2) the paid-up share capital and reserves of which are not less than one lakh of rupees; and
(3) the bye-laws of which do not permit admission of any other co-operative society as a member:
Provided that this sub-clause shall not apply to the admission of a co-operative bank as a member by reason of such co-operative bank subscribing to the share capital of such co-operative society out of funds provided by the State Government for the purpose;
(ccvi) “primary credit society” means a co-operative society, other than a primary agricultural credit society,—
(1) the primary object or principal business of which is the transaction of banking business;
(2) the paid-up share capital and reserves of which are less than one lakh of rupees; and
(3) the bye-laws of which do not permit admission of any other co-operative society as a member;
Provided that this sub-clause shall not apply to the admission of a co-operative bank as a member by reason of such co-operative bank subscribing to the share capital of such co-operative society out of funds provided by the State Government for the purpose.
Explanation. —If any dispute arises as to the primary object or principal business of any co-operative society referred to in clauses (cciv), (ccv) and (ccvi), a determination thereof by the Reserve Bank shall be final;
(ccvii) “central co-operative bank”, “39[***]”, “primary rural credit society” and “state co-operative bank” shall have the meaning respectively assigned to them in the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development Act, 1981;]
2[(ii) clauses (ff), (h) and (nb) shall be omitted;]
(d) for section 5A, the following section shall be substituted, namely:—
“5A. Act to override bye-laws, etc.—(1) The provisions of 3[this Act] shall have effect, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the bye-laws of a co-operative society, or in any agreement executed by it, or in any resolution passed by it in general meeting, or by its Board of Directors or other body entrusted with the management of its affairs, whether the same be registered, executed or passed; as the case may be before or after the commencement of the Banking Laws (Application to Co-operative Societies Act, 1965 (23 of 1965).
(2) Any provision contained in the bye-laws, agreement or resolution aforesaid shall, to the extent to which it is repugnant to the provisions of 2[this Act,] become or be void, as the case may be.”;
(e) in section 6, in sub-section (1),—
(i) in clause (b), the words, “but excluding the business of a managing agent or secretary and treasurer of company” shall be omitted;
(ii) in clause (d), after the word “company”, the words “co-operative society” shall be inserted;
(iii) in clause (m), after the word “company”, the words “or co-operative society” shall be inserted;
4[(f) for section 7, the following section shall be substituted, namely: —
“7. Use of words “bank”, “banker” or “banking”. —(1)No co-operative society other than a co-operative bank shall use as part of its name or in connection with its business any of the words “bank”, “banker” or “banking”, and no co-operative society shall carry on the business of banking in India unless it uses as part of its name at least of such words.
(2) Nothing in this section apply to—
(a) a primary credit society, or
(b) a co-operative society formed for the protection of the mutual interest of co-operative banks or co-operative land mortgage banks, or
(c) any co-operative society, not being a primary credit society, formed by the employees of—
(i) a banking company or the State Bank of India or a corresponding new bank or a subsidiary bank of such banking company, State Bank of India or a corresponding new bank, or
(ii) a co-operative bank or a primary credit society or a co-operative land mortgage bank, insofar as the word “bank”, “banker” or “banking” appears as part of the name of the employer bank, or as the case may be, of the bank whose subsidiary the employer bank is.”];
5[(fi) in section 8, for the proviso, the following proviso shall be substituted, namely:
“Provided that this section shall not apply—
(a) to any such business as aforesaid which was in the course of being transacted on the commencement of clause (iii) of section 42 of the Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 1983, so, however, that the said business shall be completed before the expiry of one year from such commencement; or
(b) to any business as is specified in pursuance of clause (o) of sub-section (1) of section 6;”;
(fii) in section 9, for the second proviso, the following provisos shall be substituted, namely:—
“Provided further that in the case of a primary credit society which becomes a primary co-operative bank after the commencement of clause (iii) of section 42 of the Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 1983, the period of seven years shall commence from the day it so becomes a primary co-operative bank:
Provided also that the Reserve Bank may, in any particular case, extend the aforesaid period of seven years by such period as it may consider necessary where it is satisfied that such extension would be in the interests of the depositors of the co-operative bank.”];
(g) 6[sections 10, 10A, 7[10B, 10BB, 10C], and 10D] shall be omitted;
(h) for section 11, the following section shall be substituted, namely:—
“11. Requirement as to minimum paid-up capital and reserves. — (1) Notwithstanding any law relating to co-operative societies for the time being in force, no co-operative bank shall commence or carry on the business of banking in India unless the aggregate value of its paid-up capital and reserves is not less than one lakh of rupees:
Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall apply to—
(a) any such bank which is carrying on such business at the commencement of the Banking Laws (Application to Co-operative Societies) Act, 1965 (23 of 1965), for a period of three years from such commencement; or
(b) to a primary credit society which becomes a primary co-operative bank after such commencement, for a period of two years from the date it so becomes a primary co-operative bank or for such further period not exceeding one year, the Reserve Bank, having regard to the interests of the depositors of the primary co-operative bank, may think fit in any particular case to allow.
(2) For the purpose of this section, “value” means the real or exchangeable value and not the nominal value which may be shown in the books of the co-operative bank concerned.
(3) If any dispute arises in computing the aggregate value of the paid-up capital and reserves of any co-operative bank, a determination thereof by the Reserve Bank shall be final for the purposes of this section;]
(i) sections 12, !2A, 13 and 15 to 17 shall be omitted;
6[(j)) For section 18, the following section shall be substituted, namely: —
18. Cash reserve. —(1) Every co-operative bank, not being a State cooperative bank for the time being included in the Second Schedule to the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (hereinafter referred to as a “scheduled State Co-operative Bank”), shall maintain in India by way of cash reserve with itself or by way of balance in a current account with the Reserve Bank or the State co-operative bank of the State concerned or by way of net balance in current accounts, or, in the case of a primary co-operative bank, with the central cooperative bank of the district concerned, or in one or more of the aforesaid ways, a sum equivalent to at least three per cent of the total of its demand and time liabilities in India, as on the last Friday of the second preceding fortnight and shall submit to the Reserve Bank before the fifteenth day of every month a return showing the amount so held on alternate Fridays during a month with particulars of its demand and time liabilities in India on such Fridays or if any such Friday is a public holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (26 of 1881) at the close of business on the preceding working day.
Explanation. —In this section and in section 24—
(a) “liabilities in India” shall not include—
(i) the paid-up capital or the reserves or any credit balance in the profit and loss account of the co-operative bank;
(ii) any advance taken from a State Government, the Reserve Bank, the Development Bank, the Exim Bank, 7[the Reconstruction Bank,] 8[the National Housing Bank] the National Bank 9[the Small Industries Bank] or from the National Co-operative Development Corporation established under section 3 of the National Co-operative Development Corporation Act, 1962 (26 of 1962), by the bank;
(iii) in the case of a State or Central co-operative bank, also any deposit of money with it representing the reserves fund or any part thereof maintained with it by any other co-operative society within its area of operation, and in the case a Central co-operative bank, also an advance taken by it from the State co-operative bank of the State concerned;
(iv) in the case of a primary co-operative bank, also any advance taken by it from the State co-operative bank of the State concerned or the Central cooperative bank of the district concerned;
(v) in the case of any co-operative bank, which has granted an advance against any balance maintained with it, such balance to the extent of the amount outstanding in respect of such advance; and
(vi) in the case of any co-operative bank, the amount of any advance or other credit arrangement drawn and availed of against approved securities;
(b) “fortnight” shall mean the period from Saturday to the second following Friday, both days inclusive;
(c) “net balance in current accounts” shall, in relation to a co-operative bank, mean the excess, if any, of the aggregate of the credit balances in current account maintained by that co-operative bank with the State Bank of India or a subsidiary bank or a corresponding new bank, over the aggregate of the credit balances in current accounts held by the said banks with such co-operative bank;
(d) for the purpose of computation of liabilities, the aggregate of the liabilities of a co-operative bank to the State Bank of India, a subsidiary bank, a corresponding new bank, a Regional Rural bank, a banking company or any other financial institution notified by the Central Government in this behalf shall be reduced by the aggregate of the liabilities of all such banks and institutions to the cooperative bank;
(e) any cash with a co-operative bank or any balance held by a co-operative bank with another bank, shall not, to the extent such cash or such balances represents the balance in, or investment of, Agricultural Credit Stabilisation Fund of such co-operative bank, be deemed to be cash maintained in India.
(2) The Reserve Bank may, for the purposes of this section and section 24, specify from time to time, with reference to any transaction or class of transactions, that such transaction or transactions shall be regarded as liability in India of a co-operative bank, and, if any question arises to whether any transaction or class of transactions shall be regarded for the purposes of this section and section24, as liability in India of a co-operative bank, the decision of the Reserve Bank thereon, shall be final.”];
(k) for section 19, the following section shall be substituted, namely:—
“19. Restriction on holding shares in other co-operative societies. —No co-operative bank shall hold shares in any other co-operative society except to such extent and subject to such conditions as the Reserve Bank may specify in that behalf:
Provided that nothing contained in this section shall apply to—
(i) shares acquired through funds provided by the State Government for that purpose;
(ii) in the case of a Central co-operative bank, the holding of shares in the State co-operative bank to which it is affiliated;
(iii) in the case of a primary co-operative bank, the holding of shares in the Central co-perative bank to which it is affiliated or in the State cooperative bank of the State in which it is registered:
Provided further that where any shares are held by a co-operative bank in contravention of this section at the commencement of the Banking Laws (Application to Co-operative Societies) Act, 1965 (23 of 1965), the co-operative bank shall without delay report the matter to the Reserve Bank and shall, notwithstanding anything contained in this section, be entitled to hold the shares for such period and on such conditions as the Reserve Bank may specify”
10[(1) for section 20 of the principal Act, the following section shall be substituted, namely:
“20. Restrictions on loans and advances. — (1) No co-operative bank shall—
(a) make any loans or advances on the security of its own shares; or
(b) grant unsecured loans or advances—
(i) to any of its directors; or
(ii) to firms or private companies in which any of its directors is interested as partner of managing agent or guarantor or to individuals in cases where any of its directors is a guarantor; or
(iii) to any company in which the chairman of the Board of directors of the co-operative bank (where the appointment of a chairman is for a fixed term) is interested as its managing agent, or where there is no managing agent, as its chairman or managing director:
Provided that nothing in clause (b) shall apply to the grant of unsecured loans or advances—
(a) made by a co-operative bank—
(i) against bills for supplies or services made or rendered to government or bills of exchange arising out of bona fide commercial or trade transactions, or
(ii) in respect whereof trust-receipts are furnished to the co-operative bank;
(b) made by a primary co-operative bank to any of its directors or to any other person within such limits and on such terms and conditions as may be approved by the Reserve Bank in this behalf.
(2) Every co-operative bank shall, before the close of the month succeeding that to which the return relates, submit to the Reserve Bank a return in the prescribed form and manner showing all unsecured loans and advances granted by it to companies in cases [other than those in which the co-operative bank is prohibited under sub-section (1) to make unsecured loans and advances] in which any of its directors is interested as director or managing agent or guarantor.
(3) If, on examination of any return submitted under sub-section (2), it appears to the Reserve Bank that any loans or advances referred to in that subsection are being granted to the detriment of the interests of the depositors of the co-operative bank, the Reserve Bank may, by order in writing prohibit the co-operative bank from granting any such further loans or advances or impose such restrictions on the grant thereof as it thinks fit, and may by like order direct the co-operative bank to secure the re-payment of such loans or advance within such time as may be specified in the order”;
11[(m) in section 20A, in sub-section (1). —
(i) the words and figures “Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in section 293 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956),” shall be omitted;
(ii) in clause (a), for the words “any of its directors”, the words “any of its past or present directors” shall be substituted;]
(n) in section 21, in sub-section (2), in clauses (c) and (d), for the words “any one company, firm, association of persons or individuals”, the words “any one party” shall be substituted;
(o) in section 22,—
(i) for sub-sections(1) and (2) the following sub-sections shall be substituted, namely:—
“(1) Save as hereinafter provided, no co-operative society shall carry on banking business in India unless—
(a) it is a primary credit society, or
(b) it is a co-operative bank and holds a licence issued in that behalf by the Reserve Bank, to such conditions, if any, as the Reserve Bank may deem fit to impose:
Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall apply to a co-operative society, not being a primary credit society or a co-operative bank carrying on banking business at the commencement of the Banking Laws (Application to Co-operative Societies) Act, 1965 (23 of 1965), for a period of one year from such commencement.
12[(2) Every co-operative society carrying on business as a co-operative bank at the commencement of the Banking Laws (Application to Co-operative Societies) Act, 1965 (23 of 1965) shall before the expiry of three months from the commencement, every co-operative bank which comes into existence as a result of the division of any other co-operative society carrying on business as a co-operative bank, or the amalgamation of two or more co-operative societies carrying on banking business shall, before the expiry of three months from its so coming into existence, every primary credit society which becomes a primary co-operative bank after such commencement shall before the expiry of three months from the date on which it so becomes a primary co-operative bank and every co-operative society other than a primary credit society shall before commencing banking Business in India, apply in writing to the Reserve Bank for a licence under this section:
Provided that nothing in clause (b) of sub-section (1) shall be deemed to prohibit—
(i) a co-operative society carrying on business as a co-operative bank at the commencement of the Banking Law (Application to Co-operative Societies) Act, 1965 (23 of 1965); or
(ii) a co-operative bank which has come into existence as a result of the division of any other co-operative society carrying on business as a cooperative bank, or the amalgamation of two or more co-operative societies carrying on banking business at the commencement of the Banking Laws (Application to Co-operative Societies) Act, 1965 (23 of 1965) or at any time thereafter; or
(iii) a primary credit society which becomes a primary Co-operative bank after such commencement,
from carrying on banking business until it is granted a licence in pursuance of this section or is, by a notice in writing notified by the Reserve Bank that the licence cannot be granted to it.]”
13[(ii) sub-section (3A) shall be omitted;
(iii) in sub-section (4) in clause (iii)the words, brackets, figures and letter “and sub-section (3A)” shall be omitted;]
22A Validation of licences granted by Reserve Bank to multi-State co-operative societies.– Notwithstanding anything contained in any law or, judgment delivered or decree or order of any court made,–
(a) no licence, granted to a multi-
14[(p) in section 23, —
(i) for sub-section (1), the following sub-section shall be substituted, namely:—]
“(1) Without obtaining the prior permission of the Reserve Bank, no co-operative bank shall open a new place of business or change otherwise than within the same city, town or village, the location of an existing place of business:
Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall apply to—
(a) the opening for a period not exceeding one month of temporary place of business within a city, town or village or the environs thereof within which the co-operative bank already has a place of business, for the purpose of affording banking facilities to the public on the occasion of an exhibition, a conference or a mela or any like occasion;
(b) the 15[opening or changing the location of branches] by a Central cooperative bank within the area of its operation”;
16(ii) after sub-section (4), the following sub-section shall be inserted, namely:—
“(4A) Any co-operative bank other than a primary co-operative bank requiring the permission of the Reserve Bank under this section shall forward its application to the Reserve Bank through the National Bank which shall give its comments on the merits of the application and sent it to the Reserve Bank:
Provided that the co-operative bank shall also send an advance copy of the application directly to the Reserve Bank.”];
17[(q) in section 24, —
(i) in sub-section (1) the words “After the expiry of two years from the commencement of this Act” shall be omitted;
(ii) for sub-section (2) and (2A), the following sub-sections shall be substituted, namely:—
“(2) In computing the amount for the purposes of sub-section (1),—
(a) any balances maintained in India by a co-operative bank in current account with the Reserve Bank or by way of net balance in current accounts, and in the case of a scheduled State Co-operative Bank, also the balance required under section 42 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934), to be so maintained,
(b) any balances maintained by a Central co-operative bank with the State co-operative bank of the State concerned, and
(c) any balances maintained by a primary co-operative bank with Central co-operative bank of the district concerned or with the State cooperative bank of the State concerned,
shall be deemed to be cash maintained in India.
(2A)(a) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) or in sub-section (2), after the expiry of two years from the commencement of the Banking Laws (Application to Co-operative Societies) Act, 1965(23 of 1965), or of such further period not exceeding one year as the Reserve Bank, having regard to the interests of the co-operative bank concerned, may think fit in any particular case to allow: —
(i) a scheduled State co-operative bank, in addition to the average daily balance which it is or may be, required to maintain under section 42 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934), and
(ii) every other co-operative bank, in addition to the cash reserve which is required to maintain under section 18,
shall maintain in India, in cash, or in gold valued at a price not exceeding the current market price or in unencumbered approved securities valued at a price determined in accordance with such one or more of, or combination of, the following methods of valuation namely, valuation with reference to cost price, market price, book value or face value, as may be specified by the Reserve Bank from time to time, an amount which shall not, at the close of business on any day, be less than twenty-five per cent or such other percentage not exceeding four per cent as the Reserve Bank may, from time to time, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify, of the total of its demand and time liabilities in India, as on the last Friday of the second preceding fortnight.
(b) In computing the amount for the purpose of clause (a), the following shall be deemed to be cash maintained in India, namely: —
(i) any balance maintained by scheduled State co-operative bank with the Reserve Bank in excess of the balance required to be maintained by it under section 42 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934);
(ii) any cash or balances maintained in India by a co-operative bank, other than a scheduled State co-operative bank, with itself or with the State co-operative bank of the State concerned, or in current account with the Reserve Bank or by way of net balance in current accounts and, in the case of a primary co-operative bank, also any balances maintained with the Central co-operative bank of he district concerned, in excess of the aggregate of the cash or balances required to be maintained under section 18;
(iii) any net balance in current accounts.
Explanation. —For the purposes of this sub-section—
(a) approved securities or a portion thereof, representing investment of monies of Agricultural Credit Stabilisation Fund of a co-perative bank shall not be deemed to be unencumber approved securities;
(b) in case a co-operative bank has taken an advance against any balance maintained with the State co-operative bank of the State concerned or with the Central co-operative bank of the district concerned, such balance to the extent to which it has been drawn against or availed of shall not be deemed to be cash maintained in India.
(c) for the purpose of clause (a), the market price of an approved security shall be the price as on the date of the issue of the notification or as on any earlier or later date as may be notified from time to time by the Reserve Bank in respect of any class or classes of securities;”
(iii) in sub-section (3) for the proviso, the following proviso shall be substituted, namely:—
“Provided that every co-operative bank, other than a primary cooperative bank, shall also furnish within the said period, a copy of the said return to the National Bank.”;
(iv) in sub-section (6), in clause (a), for the words “fourteen days”, the words “the thirty days” shall be substituted;]
18[(qq) after section 24, the following section shall be inserted, namely: —
“24A. Power to exempt. —Without prejudice to the provisions of section 53, the Reserve Bank may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare that, for such period and subject to such conditions as may be specified in such notification the whole or any part of the provisions of section 18 or section 24, as may be specified therein, shall not apply to any co-operative bank or class of co-operative banks, with reference to all or any of the offices of such co-operative bank or banks, or with reference to the whole or any part of the assets and liabilities of such co-operative bank or banks.”]
(r) section 25 shall be omitted;
19[(ri) in the second proviso to section 26, for the expression “regional rural Bank” the expression “co-operative bank, other than a primary co-operative bank” shall be substituted;
(rii) in section 27, for sub-section (3)the following sub-section shall be substituted, namely:—
“(3) Every co-operative bank, other than a primary co-operative bank, shall submit a copy of the return which it submits to the Reserve Banks, under sub-section (1) also to the National Bank and the powers exercisable by the Reserve Bank under sub-section (2) may also be exercised by the National Bank in relation to co-operative banks, other than primary co-operative banks.]
(s) for sections 29 and 30, the following section shall be substituted namely:—
“29. Accounts and Balance Sheet. —(1) At the expiration of each year ending with the 30th days of June, 20[or at the expiration of a period of twelve months ending with such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf] every co-operative bank, in respect of all business transacted by it, shall prepare with reference to that year 20[or the period] a balance sheet and profit and loss account as on the last working day of the year 20[or the period] in the Forms set out in the Third Schedule as near there to as circumstances admit:
20[Provided that with a view to facilitating the transition from one period of accounting to another period of accounting under this sub-section, the Central Government may, by order published in the Official Gazette, make such provisions as it considers necessary or expedient for me preparation of, or for other matters relating to, the balance-sheet or profit and loss account in respect of the concerned year or period, as the case may be].
(2) The balance-sheet and profit and loss account shall be signed by the manager or the principal officer of the bank and where there are more than three directors of the bank, by at least three of those directors, or where there are not more than three directors, by all the directors.
(3) The Central Government, after giving not less than there months’ notice of its intention so to do by a notification in the Official Gazette, may from time to time by a like notification amend the Forms set out in the Third Schedule.”
21[(t) in section 31, —
(i) for the words “within three months” and “of three months’, the words “within six months” and “of six months” shall, respectively, be substituted;
(ii) for the second proviso, the following proviso shall be substituted, namely:
“Provided further that a co-operative bank, other than a primary cooperative bank, shall furnish such returns also to the National Bank.”;]
(u) sections 32 to 34 shall be omitted;
(v) in section 34A, sub-section (3) shall be omitted;
(w) in section 35,—
(i) in sub-section (1),—
(a) for the words and figures “section 235 of the Companies Act, 1956(1 of 1956)”, the words “any law relating to co-operative societies for the time being in force” shall be substituted;
22[(b) the following proviso shall be inserted at the end, namely: —
“Provided that the Reserve Bank may, if it considers it necessary or expedient so to do, cause an inspection to be made of a primary co-operative bank under this sub-section by one or more officers of a State co-operative bank in the State in which such primary cooperative bank is registered.”];
(ii) in sub-section (4), clause (b) shall be omitted.
23[(iii) after sub-section (4), the following sub-section shall be inserted, namely:—
“(4A) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (4), the Reserve Bank may, if it considers it necessary or expedient so to do supply a copy of the report on any inspection or scrutiny to the State co-operative bank and the Registrar of co-operative societies of the State in which the bank which has been inspected or whose affairs have been scrutinised is registered.”];
24[(iv) in sub-section (6), for the expressions “regional rural banks’ and “regional rural bank”, wherever they occur, the expressions “co-operative banks other than primary cooperative bank” shall, respectively, be substituted.]
25[(v)] the Explanation shall be omitted;
(x) in section 35A, in sub-section (1), in clause (c), for the words “any banking company”, the words “the banking business of any co-operative bank” shall be substituted;
(y) section 35B shall be omitted;
26[(z) in section 36, in sub-section (1), —
(a) clause (b) shall be omitted;
(b) for clause (d), the following clause shall be substituted, namely:—
(d) at any time, if it is satisfied that for the reorganisation or expansion of co-operative credit on sound lines it is necessary so to do by an order in writing and on such terms and conditions as may be specified therein,—
(i) depute one or more of its officers to watch the proceedings at any meeting of the Board of directors of the co-operative bank or of any other body constituted by it and require the co-operative bank to give an opportunity to the officer so deputed to be heard at such meetings and to offer such advice on such matters as the officer may consider necessary or proper for the reorganisation and expansion of co-operative credit on sound lines, and also require such officer to send a report of such proceedings to the Reserve Bank;
(ii) appoint one or more of its officers to observe the manner in which the affairs of the co-operative bank or its offices or branches are being conducted and make a report thereon;”];
(za) in section 36A,—
(i) for sub-section (1), the following sub-section shall be substituted, namely:—
“(1) The provisions of section 11, section 18 and section 24 shall not apply to a co-operative bank which has been refused a licence under section 22 of whose licence has been cancelled under that section or which is or has been prohibited or precluded from accepting deposits by virtue of any order made under this Act or of any alteration made in its bye-laws.”;
(ii) after sub-section (2), the following sub-section shall be inserted, namely:—
“(3) Subject to the provisions of sub-sections (1) and (2), a co- operative society carrying on business as a primary co-operative bank at the commencement of the Banking Laws (Application to Co-operative Societies) Act, 1965 (23 of 1965), or a co-operative society which becomes a primary co-operative bank after such commencement shall, notwithstanding that it does not at any time thereafter satisfy the requirements of the definition of primary co-operative bank 27[in clause (ccv) of section 5], continue to be a primary co-operative bank within the meaning of this Act, and may, with the approval of the Reserve Bank and subject to such terms and conditions as the Reserve Bank may specify in that behalf, continue to carry on the business of banking.”;
28[(zaa)in section 35AD, sub-section (3) shall be omitted;”]
(zb)
40[Part II A except sections 36AAA, 36AAB and 36AAC], 29[Part IIC], Part III, except sub-sections (1), (2) and (3) of section 45,and Part IIIA except section 45W shall be omitted;
30[(zc) in section 46, —
(i) in sub-section (4) the word “or” occurring at the end of clause (i) and clause (ii) shall be omitted;
(ii) in clause (a) of the Explanation, after the words “includes a”, the words “co- operative society” shall be inserted;]
(zd) in section 47, the words brackets, figures and letters “sub-section (5) of section 36AA or” shall be omitted;
(ze) section 49 shall be omitted;
(zf) in section 49A, for the proviso, the following proviso shall be substituted, namely:—
“Provided that nothing contained in this section shall apply to—
(a) a primary credit society—
(b) any other co-operative society accepting such deposits at the commencement of the Banking Laws (Application to Co-operative Societies) Act, 1965 (23 of 1965), for a period of one year from the date of such commencement; and
(c) any savings bank scheme run by the Government”;
(zg) sections 49B and 49C shall be omitted;
(zh) in section 50, the figures and letters “10,12A, 16″, “35B”, and “43A” shall be omitted;
(zi) section 51 shall be omitted;
(zj) in section 52,—
(i) in sub-section (2) the words, figures and letter “and the form in which official liquidator may file lists of debtors to the court jurisdiction under Part III or Part IIIA and the particulars which such lists may contain” shall be omitted;
(ii) sub-section (4) shall be omitted;
31[(zji) in section 54, after the expression “Reserve Bank”, wherever it occurs, the expression “or the National Bank” shall be inserted;]
(zk) For section 65 and the First Schedule, the following section shall be substituted, namely:—
“55, Act 18 of 1891 and Act 46 of 1949 to apply in relation to co-operative banks.—(1) The Bankers’ Books Evidence Act, 1891 shall apply in relation to a co-operative bank as it applies in relation to a bank as defined in section 2 of that Act.
(2) The Banking Companies (Legal Practitioners’ Clients’ Accounts) Act, 1949 shall apply in relation to a co-operative bank as it applies in relation to a banking company as defined in section 2 of that Act.”;
(zl) for the third Schedule and the Fourth Schedule, the following Schedule shall be substituted, namely:—
Schedules
The First Schedule
(See section 55)
AMENDMENTS
Year
|
No.
|
Short title
|
Amendments
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
1934
|
2
|
The reserve Bank
of India Act, 1934
|
(1) In section 17, to clause (15A), thefollowing shall be added, namely :—”and under the Banking Companies Act, 1949.”
(2) (a) Section 18 shall be renumbered as sub-
section (1) of that section and in
sub-section (1) as so renumbered,—
(i) in clause (3) after the words “of that
section”, the following worlds shall
be added, namely:
“or when the loan or advance, is made to banking company as defined in the Banking Companies Act, 1949, against such other form of security as the Bank may consider sufficient”;(ii) for the worlds “under thissection” wherever the occur, thewords “under this sub-section”
shall be substituted;
(b) after sub-section (1) as so
renumbered, the following sub-
section shall be inserted,
namely:—
“(2) Where a banking company to |
|
|
|
which a loan or advance has been made under the provisions of clause (3) of sub-section (1) is wound up, any sums due to the Bank in respect of such loan or advance, shall subject only to the claims, if any, of any other banking company in respect of any prior loan or advance made by such banking company against any security, be a first charge on the assets of the banking company.”(3) In section 42, for sub-section (6) the following sub-section shall be substituted, namely:—“(6) The bank shall, save as hereinafter provided, by notification in the Gazette of India,—(a) direct the inclusion in the Second Schedule of any bank not already so included which carries on the business of banking in any Province of India and which—(i) has a paid-up capital and reserves of an aggregate value of not less than five lakhs of rupees, and(ii) satisfies the Bank that its affairs are not being conducted in a manner detrimental to the interests of its depositors; and(iii) is a company as defined in clause (2) of section 2 of the Indian Companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913) or a corporation or a company incorporated by or under any law in force in any place outside the Provinces of India;
(b) direct the exclusion from that Schedule of any scheduled bank—
(i) the |
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|
|
aggregate value of whose paid-up capital and reserves becomes at any time less than five lakhs of rupees, or(ii) which is, in the opinion of the Bank after making an inspection under section 35 of the Banking Companies Act, 1949, conducting its affairs to the detriment of the interests of its depositors, or(iii) which goes into liquidation or otherwise ceases to carry on banking business:Provided that the Bank may, on application of the scheduled bank concerned and subject to such conditions, if any, as it may impose, defer the making of a direction under sub-clause (i) or sub-clauses (ii) of clause (b) for such period as the bank considers reasonable to give the scheduled bank and opportunity of increasing the aggregate value of its paid-up capital and reserves to not less than five lakhs of rupees or, as the case may be, of removing the defects in the conduct of its affairs;(c) alter the description is that Schedule whenever any scheduled bank changes its name.Explanation—In this sub-section the expre-ssion ‘value’ means the real or exchangeable value and not the nominal value which may be shown in the books of the bank concerned; and if any dispute arises in computing the aggregate value of the paid up capital and reserves of a bank, a determination thereof by the Bank shall be final for the purposes of this sub-section. |
The Second Schedule
Repeals.—[Rep. by Repealing and Amending Act, 1957 (36 of 1957), Section 52 and Schedule 1]
The Third Schedule
(see section 29)
FORM A
Form of Balance-sheet
CAPITAL AND LIABILITIES |
PROPERTY AND ASSETS
|
Rs. P. Rs. P.
|
Rs. P. Rs. P.
|
1. CAPITAL:
(i) AuthorisedCapital…..shares of Rs…..each
…..shares of Rs….. each
…………………
(ii) Subscribed Capital
…..shares of Rs….. each
…..shares of Rs….. each____________(iii) Amount called upOn…..shares of Rs….. eachless class unpaid
On….. shares of Rs…..
each less calls unpaid
of (iii) above, held by
(a) Individuals
(b) Co-operative institutions
(c) State Government
|
1. CASH:In hand and with Reserve Bank31[National Bank] State Bank ofIndia, State Co-operative Bankand Central Co-operative Bank2. BALANCES WITH OTHERBANKS:
(i) Current deposits
(ii) Savings bank deposits
(iii) Fixed deposits
3. MONEY AT CALL AND
SHORT NOTICE:
4. Investments:
(i) In Central and State
Government securities
(at book value) |
___________
__________
|
Face value Rs.
Market value Rs.(ii) Other Trustee securities(iii) Shares in co-operativeinstitutions otherthan in item (5) below(iv) other investments
(to be specified)
|
2. RESERVE FUND AND
OTHER RESERVES(i) Statutory Reserve(ii) Agricultural (Creditstabilization fund)(iii) Building Fund
(iv) Dividend Equalization Fund
(v) Special Bad Debts Reserve
(vi) Bad and Doubtful Debts
Reserve
(vii) Investment and Depreciation
Reserve
|
5. INVESTMENT OUT OF
THE PRINCIPAL SUB-SIDIARY STATEPARTNERSHIP FUNDSIn shares of:(i) Central Co-operative Banks
(ii) Primary agricultural
credit societies
(iii) Other societies
6. ADVANCES : |
(viii) Other Funds and Reserves
(to be specified) |
(i) Short-term loans, cash
credits, overdrafts andbills discountedOf which secured against:(a) Government and other |
3. PRINCIPAL/SUBSIDIARY
STATE PARTNERSHIPFUND ACCOUNT:For share capital of:(i) Central co-operative banks(ii) Primary agricultural creditsocieties(iii) other societies
|
approved securities
(b) Other tangible securities @Of the advances, amount duefrom individualsOf the advances, amount overdueConsidered bad and doubtfulof recovery(ii) Medium-term loans
Of which secured against: |
4. DEPOSITS AND OTHER
ACCOUNTS:(i) Fixed deposits*(a) Individuals**(b) Central co-operative banks(c) Other societies(ii) Savings Bank Deposits(a) Individuals**
(b) Central co-operative
banks
|
(a) Government and other
approved securities(b) Other tangible securities @Of the advances, amountdue from individualsOf the advances, amount overdueconsidered bad and doubtfulof recovery
(ii) Long-term loans
Of which secured against |
(c) Other societies
(iii) Current deposits(a) individuals**(b) Central co-operativebank(c) Other societies(iv) Money at call and short notice____________ |
(a) Government and otherapproved securities(b) Other tangible securities @ |
5. BORROWINGS:
(i) From the Reserve Bank ofIndia 32[the National Bank]State/Central co-operative Bank:(a) Short-term loans,cash, credits and overdrafts(A) Government and otherapproved secu rities
(B) Other tangible securities @
(b) Medium term loans
Of which secured against
(A) Government and other
approved securities
(B) Other tangible Securities @
|
Of the advances, amount
due from individualsOf the advances, amountover dueConsidered bad and doubtfulof recovery____________
7. INTEREST RECEIVABLE
Of which overdue
Considered bad and doubtful
of recovery |
(c) Long-term loansOf which securedagainst:(A) Government and otherapproved securities(B) Other tangible securities @(ii) From the State Bank
of India
(a) Short-term loans, cash-
credits and over drafts
Of which secured against:
(A) Government and other
approved securities
(B) Other tangible securities @
(b) Medium term- loans
Of which secured against:
(A) Government and other
approved securities:
(B) Other tangible securities @
(c) Long-term loans:
Of which secured against:
(A) Government and other
approved securities
(B) Other tangible securities @
|
8. BILLS RECEIVABLEBEING BILLS FORCOLLECTIONAs per contra _____________
9. BRANCH ADJUST-
MENT ___________
10. PREMISES LESS _____________
DEPRECIATION
11. FURNITURE AND
FIXTURES LESS
DEPRECIATION _____________
12. OTHER ASSETS
(to be specified)
13. NON-BANKING ASSETS
ACQUIRED IN SATIS-
FACTION OF CLAIMS
(standing mode of
valuation) _____________
|
(iii) From the State Government(a) Short-term loansOf which secured against:(A) Government and otherapproved securities(B) Other tangible securities @(d) Medium term loans
Of which secured against:
(A) Government and other approved
securities
(B) Other tangible securities @
(c) Long-term loans
Of which secured against:
(A) Government and other
approved securities
(B) Other tangible securities @
(iv) Loans from other sources
(source and security to
be specified rule)
|
14. PROFIT AND LOSS |
6. BILL FOR COLLECTIONBEING BILLSRECEIVABLEAs per contra ____________7. BRANCH ADJUSTMENTS ____________8. OVERDUE INTEREST
RESERVE____________
9. INTEREST PAYABLE
____________
10. OTHER LIABILITIES
(i) Bills payable
(ii) Unclaimed dividends
(iii) Suspense
(iv) Sundries
11. PROFIT AND LOSS
Profit as per last
balance-sheet
Less appropriations
Add profit for the year brought from
the Profit and Loss Account
____________
Total
_________________
|
___________
Total ___________
|
CONTINGENT LIABILITIES
(i) Outstanding liabilities for
guarantees issued(ii) Others
___________Total ___________ |
____________
Total ____________ |
FORM B
Form of Profit and Loss Account
Profit and Loss Account for the year ended—
EXPENDITURE |
INCOME |
Rs. P. Rs. P. |
Rs. P. Rs. P. |
1. Interest on deposits, borrowings, etc. |
2. Salaries and allowances and provident fund
3. Directors and local committee members’ fees
and allowances
4. Rent, taxes, insurance, lighting, etc.
5. Law charges
6. Postage, telegrams and telephonic charges
7. Auditor’s fees
8. Depreciation on and repairs in property
1. Interest and discount
2. Commission, exchange and brokerage
3. Subsidies and donations
4. Income from non-banking assets and profit from
sale of or dealing with such assets
5. Other receipts
6. Loss (if any)9. Stationery, printing and advertisement, etc.
10. Loss from sale of or dealing with non-banking
assets
11. Other expenditure
12. Balance of profit ___________
Total ___________
____________
Total ____________
The Third Schedule A
(See section 29)
33[Form A
Form of Balance Sheet
Balance Sheet of________________(here enter name of the Banking Company) |
Balance Sheet as on 31st March______________(Year) |
(000’somitted) |
Capital and Liabilities |
Schedule |
As on 31-3-….
current year) |
As on 31-3-….
(previous year) |
Capital
Reserves and surplusDeposits |
Borrowings
Other liabilities and provisions1
23
4
5
__________ __________
Total __________ __________ASSETS
Cash and Balances with ReserveBank of India
Balances with Banks and money at
call and short notice
Investments
Advances
Fixed Assets
Other Assets
Total
Contingent liabilities 12 Bill for collection
6
7
8
9
10
11
__________ ___________
__________ ___________
SCHEDULE I
Capital
|
As on 31-3….
(current year) |
As on 31-3….
(previous year) |
I. For Nationalised Banks
Capital (Fully owned by CentralGovernment) |
II. For Banks incorporated outside India
Capital
(i) (The amount brought in by banks
by way of Start-up capital as prescribed
by RBI should be shown under this head)
(ii) Amount of deposit kept with the RBI
Under section 11(2) of the Banking
Regulation Act, 1949.
__________ __________
Total ____________ ___________
III. For other BanksAuthorised Capital (Shares of Rs…..
each)
Issued Capital (Shares of Rs….. each)
Subscribed Capital (Shares of Rs….. each)
Called-up Capital (Shares of Rs….. each)
Less : Calls unpaid
Add : Forfeited shares
Schedule 3A – I.
SCHEDULE I
Capital
|
As on 31-3….
(current year) |
As on 31-3….
(previous year) |
I. For Nationalised Banks
Capital (Fully owned by CentralGovernment) |
II. For Banks incorporated outside India
Capital
(i) (The amount brought in by banks
by way of Start-up capital as prescribed
by RBI should be shown under this head)
(ii) Amount of deposit kept with the RBI
Under section 11(2) of the Banking
Regulation Act, 1949.
__________ __________
Total ____________ ___________
III. For other BanksAuthorised Capital (Shares of Rs…..
each)
Issued Capital (Shares of Rs….. each)
Subscribed Capital (Shares of Rs….. each)
Called-up Capital (Shares of Rs….. each)
Less : Calls unpaid
Add : Forfeited shares
Schedule 3A – II.
SCHEDULE 2
Reserves and Surplus
|
As on 31-3….
(current year) |
As on 31-3….
(previous year) |
I. Statutory ReservesOpening Balance |
Additions during the year
Deductions during the year
II. Capital Reserves
Opening Balance
Additions during the year
Deductions during the year
III. Share premium
Opening Balance
Additions during the year
Deductions during the year
IV. Revenue and other Reserves
Opening Balance
Additions during the year
Deductions during the year
V. Balance of Profit and Loss Account
__________ __________
Total (I, II, III, IV and V) __________ __________
Schedule 3A – III.
SCHEDULE 3
Deposits
|
As on 31-3….
(current year) |
As on 31-3….
(previous year) |
A.I. Demand Deposits(i) From Banks |
(ii) From others
II. Savings Bank Deposits
III. Term Deposits
(i) From Banks
(ii) From others
___________ ___________
Total (I, II, III) ___________ ___________
B. (i) Deposits of branches in India
(ii) Deposits of branches outside India
___________ ___________
Total ___________ ___________
Schedule 3A – IV.
SCHEDULE 4
Borrowings
|
As on 31-3….
(current year) |
As on 31-3….
(previous year) |
I. Borrowing in India(i) Reserve Bank of India |
(ii) Other Banks
(iii) Other institutions and agencies
II. Borrowings outside India
___________ ___________
Total: (I and II) ___________ ___________
Secured borrowings included in 1 and
II above—Rs.
Schedule 3A – IX.
SCHEDULE 9
Advances
|
As on 31-3….
(current year) |
As on 31-3….
(previous year) |
A. (i) Bills purchased and discounted(ii) Cash credits, overdrafts and loans |
repayable on demand
(iii) Term loans
___________ ___________
Total: ___________ ___________
B. (i) Secured by tangible assets
(ii) Covered by Bank/Government
Guarantees
(iii) Unsecured
Total: ___________ ___________
C.I. Advances in India
(i) Priority sectors
(ii) Public sector
(iii) Banks
(iv) Others
Total: ___________ ___________
II. Advances Outside India
(i) Due from banks
(ii) Due from others
(a) Bills purchased and discounted
(b) Syndicated loans
(c) Others
Total: ___________ ___________
___________ ___________
Grand Total; (C.I. & C.II) ___________ ___________
Schedule 3A – V.
SCHEDULE 5
Other Liabilities and Provisions
|
As on 31-3….
(current year) |
As on 31-3….
(previous year) |
I. Bills payable |
II. Inter-office adjustments (net)
III. Interests accrued
IV. Others (Including provisions)
___________ ___________
Total: ___________ ___________
Schedule 3A – VI.
SCHEDULE 6
Cash and Balances with Reserve Bank of India
|
As on 31-3….
(current year) |
As on 31-3….
(previous year) |
I. Cash in hand(Including foreign currency notes) |
II. Balance with Reserve Bank of India
(i) in Current Account
(ii) in other Accounts
___________ ___________
Total: ___________ ___________
(I and II)
Schedule 3A – VII.
SCHEDULE 7
Balances with banks and Money at Call and short Notice
|
As on 31-3….
(current year) |
As on 31-3….
(previous year) |
I. In India(i) Balances with banks |
(a) In Current Accounts
(b) In Other Deposit Accounts
(ii) Money at call and short notice
(a) With banks
(b) With other institutions
___________ ___________
Total: ___________ ___________
(I and II)
II. Outside India
(i) in Current Accounts
(ii) in Other Deposit Accounts
(iii) Money at call and short notice
___________ ___________
Total: ___________ ___________
(I, II and III)
___________ ___________
Grant Total: ___________ ___________
(I and II)
Schedule 3A – VIII.
SCHEDULE 8
Investments
|
As on 31-3….
(current year) |
As on 31-3….
(previous year) |
I. Investments in India in |
(i) Government Securities
(ii) Other approved securities
(iii) Shares
(iv) Debentures and Bonds
(v) Subsidiaries and/or joint ventures
(vi) Others (to be specified)
_____________ _____________
Total: _____________ _____________
II. Investments outside India in
(i) Government securities (Including local
authorities)
(ii) Subsidiaries and/or joint ventures abroad
(iii) Other investments (to be specified)
___________ ___________
Total: ___________ ___________
Grand Total (I and II)
Schedule 3A – X.
SCHEDULE 10
Fixed Assets
|
As on 31-3….
(current year) |
As on 31-3….
(previous year) |
I. PremisesAt cost as on 31st March of the preceding year |
Additions during the year
Deductions during the year
Depreciation to date
II. Other Fixed Assets (including furniture and
fixtures)
At cost as on 31st March of the preceding year
Additions during the year
Deductions during the year
Depreciation to date
___________ ___________
Total: (I and II) ___________ ___________
Schedule 3A – XI.
SCHEDULE 11
Other Assets
|
As on 31-3….
(current year) |
As on 31-3….
(previous year) |
I. Inter-office adjustment (net) |
II. Interest accrued
III. Tax paid in advance/tax deducted at source
IV. Stationery and stamps
V. Non-banking assets acquired
in satisfaction of claims
VI. Others*
_____________ _____________
Total: ___________ ___________
Schedule 3A – XII.
SCHEDULE 12
Contingent Liabilities
|
As on 31-3….
(current year) |
As on 31-3….
(previous year) |
I. Claims against the bank not acknowledged
as debts |
II. Liability for partly paid investments
III. Liability on account of outstanding forward exchange contracts
IV. Guarantees given on behalf of constituents
(a) In India
(b) Outside India
V. Acceptances, endorsements and other obligations
VI. Other items for which the bank is contingently liable
___________ ___________
Total: ___________ ___________
FORM ‘B’
Form of Profit and Loss Account for the year ended 31st March (year)
|
Schedule
No. |
Year ended 31-3 …..
(current year) |
Year ended 31-3 …..
(previous year) |
I. IncomeInterest earned 13 |
Other Income 14
___________ ___________
Total: ___________ ___________
II. Expenditure
Interest expended 15
Operating expenses 16 Provisions and contingencies
___________ ___________
Total: ___________ ___________
III. Profit/Loss
Net Profit/Loss (-) for the year
Profit/Loss (-) brought forward
___________ ___________
Total: ___________ ___________
IV. Appropriations
Transfer to statutory reserves
Transfer to other reserves
Transfer to Government/proposed dividend
Balance carried over to balance sheet
___________ ___________
Total: ___________ ___________
Schedule 3A – XIII.
SCHEDULE 13
Interest Earned
|
Year ended on
31-3 ……..
(current year) |
Year ended on
31-3 ……….
(previous year) |
I. Interest/discount on advance/bills |
II. Income on investments
III. Interest on balances with Reserve Bank
of India and other inter-bank funds
IV. Others
___________ ___________
Total: ___________ __________
Schedule 3A – XIV.
SCHEDULE 14
Other Income
|
Year ended on
31-3 ……..
(current year) |
Year ended on
31-3 ……….
(previous year) |
I. Commission, exchange and brokerageII. Profit on sale of investments |
Less : Loss on sale of investments
III. Profit on revaluation of investments
Less : Loss on revaluation of investments
IV. Profit on sale of land, buildings and other assets
Less : Loss on sale of land, buildings and other assets
V. Profit on exchange transactions
Less : Loss on exchange transactions
VI. Income earned by way of dividends etc.
from subsidiaries/companies and/or joint
ventures abroad/in India
VII. Miscellaneous Income
___________ ___________
Total: ___________ ___________
Schedule 3A – XV.
SCHEDULE 15
Interest Expended
|
Year ended on
31-3 ……..
(current year) |
Year ended on
31-3 ……….
(previous year) |
I. Interest on deposits |
II. Interest on Reserve Bank of India/
Inter-back borrowings
III. Others
___________ ___________
Total: ___________ ___________
Schedule 3A – XVI.
SCHEDULE 16
Operating Expenses
|
Year ended on
31-3 ……..
(current year) |
Year ended on
31-3 ……….
(previous year) |
I. Payments to and provisions for employees |
II. Rent, taxes and lighting
III. Printing and stationery
IV. Advertisement and publicity
V. Depreciation on Bank’s property
VI. Director’s fees, allowances and expenses
VII. Auditors’ fees and expenses (Including branch auditors)
VIII. Law charges
IX. Postages. Telegrams, Telephones, etc.
X. Repairs and maintenance
XI. Insurance
XII. Other expenditure
___________ ___________
Total: ___________ ___________
The Fourth Schedule
1[THE FOURTH SCHEDULE
[See section 45D(2)]
List of Debtors
1. The official liquidator shall from time to time submit list of debtors to the High Court, each list being verified by an affidavit.
2. Every such list shall contain the following particulars:
(a) names and addresses of the debtors;
(b) amount of debt due to the banking company by each debtor;
(c) rate of interest, if any, and the date up to which such interest has been calculated in the case of each debtor;
(d) description of papers, writings, and documents, if any, relating to each debt;
(e) relief or reliefs claimed against each debtor.
3. (a) In every such list, the official liquidator shall distinguish between the debts for which the banking company holds and security other than a personal security and the debts for which no security or only a personal security is given;
(b) In the case of secured debts, particulars of the securities claimed by the ban king company, and whenever possible their estimated value, and the names and addresses of person or persons, if any, having an interest in the securities or the right of redemption therein;
(c) In case the debt is guaranteed by any person or persons, the name and address of the guarantor or guarantors with particulars as to the extent to which the debt is guaranteed and description of documents, papers or writings in support of such guarantee.
4. If the debtor is adjudged insolvent either before or after he has been included in any such list, but before such list is settled, the name and address of the assignee or the receiver of his estate, as the case may be, should be stated in, or added to, the list.
5. If the original debtor dies either before or after he has been included in any such list, but before such list is settled, there shall be substituted in his place the names and addresses of his legal representatives as far as the official liquidator is able to ascertain.]
——————–
1. Inserted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 22 w.e.f. 1-2-1969.
The Fifth Schedule
1[THE FIFTH SCHEDULE
(See section 36AG)
Principles of Compensation
1. The compensation to be given under section 36AG shall be an amount equal to the value of the assets of the acquired bank as on the day immediately before the appointed day, computed in accordance with the provisions of Part I of this Schedule less the total amount of liabilities thereof computed in accordance with the provisions of Part II of this Schedule.
Part I-Assets
For the purposes of this Part “assets” means the total of the following: —
(a) the amount of cash in hand and with the Reserve Bank and the State Bank of India (including foreign currency notes which shall be converted at the market rate of exchange);
(b) the amount of balances with any bank, whether on deposit or current account, and money at call and short notice, balance held outside India being converted at the market rate of exchange:
Provided that any balance which are not realisable in full shall be deemed to be debts and valued accordingly; –
(c) the market value, as on the day immediately before the appointed day, of any securities, shares debentures, bonds and other investments, held by the bank concerned.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause,—
(i) securities of the Central and State Governments [other than the securities specified in sub-clauses (ii) and (iii) of this Explanation] maturing for redemption, within five years from the appointed day shall be valued at the face value or the market value, whichever is higher;
(ii) securities of the Central Government, such as Post Office Certificates and Treasury Savings Deposit Certificates and any other securities or certificates issued or to be issued under the Small Savings Scheme of the Central Government, shall be valued at their face value or the encashable value of the market value, as on the day immediately before the appointed day, whichever is higher;
(iii) where the market value of any Government security such as the zamindari abolition bonds or other similar security in respect of which the principal is payable in instalment, is not ascertain able or is, for any reason, not considered as reflecting the fair value thereof or as otherwise appropriate, the security shall be valued at such an amount as is considered reasonable having ‘ regard to the instalments of principal and interest remaining to be paid, the period during which such instalments are payable, the yield of any security, issued by the Government to which the security pertains and having the same or approximately the same maturity, and other relevant factors;
(iv) where the market value of any security, share, debenture, bond or other investment is not considered reasonable by reason of its having been affected by abnormal factors, the investment may be valued on the basis of its average market value over any reasonable period;
(v) where the market value of any security, share, debenture, bond or other investment is not ascertainable, only such value, if any, shall be taken into account as is considered reasonable having regard to the financial position of the issuing concern, the dividend paid by it during the preceding five years and other relevant factors;
(d) the amount of advances (including loans, cash, credits, overdrafts, bills purchased and discounted), and other debts, whether secured or unsecured, to the extent to which they are reasonably considered recoverable, having regard to the value of the security, if any, the operations on the account, the reported worth and respectability of the borrower, the prospects of realisation and other relevant considerations;
(e) the value of any land or buildings;
(f) the total amount of premia paid, in respect of all leasehold properties, reduced in the case of each such premium by an amount which bears to such premium the same proportion as the expired term of the lease in respect of which such premium shall have been paid bears to the total term of the lease;
(g) the written down value as per books, or the realisable value, as may be considered reasonable, of all furniture, fixture and fittings;
(h) the market or realisable value, as may be a appropriate, of the other assets appearing on the books of the bank, no value being allowed for capitalised expenses, such as share selling commission, organisational expenses and brokerage, losses incurred and similar other items.
Part II—Liabilities
For the purpose of the Part “liabilities” means the total amount of all outside liabilities existing on the appointed day, and all contingent liabilities which the Central Government or the transferee bank may reasonably be expected to be required to be out of its own resources on or after the appointed day and where the acquired bank is a banking company incorporated outside India, includes the liabilities of the offices and branches in India of the acquired bank to its offices and branches outside India.
2. If the acquired bank is not incorporated in India, the assets or, as the case may be, the liabilities of the bank shall be, for the purposes of Part 1 and Part 11, and subject to the other provisions therein, the assets and liabilities of the offices of the bank situated in India.
COMPENSATION PAYABLE TO SHAREHOLDERS
3. Every shareholder of the acquired bank to whom the compensation is payable, shall be given such amount as compensation, as bears to the total compensation, calculated in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1, the same proportion as the amount of paid-up capital of the shares held by the shareholder bears to the total-up capital of the acquired bank.
CERTAIN DIVIDENDS NOT TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT
4. No separate compensation shall be payable for any profits or any dividends in respect of any period immediately preceding the appointed day, for which, in the ordinary course, profits would have been transferred or dividend declared after the appointed day.]
——————–
1. Inserted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 22 w.e.f. 1-2-1969.
November 30, 2014
Section 1. Short title, extent, commencement and application.
An Act to provide legal recognition for transactions carried out by means of electronic date interchange and other means of electronic communication, commonly referred to as “electronic commerce”, which involve the use of alternative to paper-based methods of communication and storage of information to facilitate electronic filing of documents with the Government agencies and further to amend the Indian Penal Code, the India Evidence Act, 1872, the Banker’s Books Evidence Act, 1891 and the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto;
WHEREAS the General Assembly of the United Nations by resolution A/RES/ 51/162, date 30th January 1997 has adopted the Model Law on Electronic Commerce adopted by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law;
AND WHREAS the said resolution recommends, inter alia, that all States give favourable consideration to the said Model Law when they enact or revise their laws, in view of the need for uniformity of the law applicable to alternatives to paper based methods of communication and storage of information;
AND WHEREAS it is considered necessary to give effect to the said resolution and to promote efficient delivery of Government services by means of reliable electronic records;
BE it enacted by Parliament in the Fifty-first Year of the Republic of India as follows:-
(1) This Act may be called the Information Technology Act, 2000.
(2) It shall extend to the whole of India and, save as otherwise provided in this Act, it applies also to any or contravention thereunder committed outside India by any person.
(3) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification, appoint and different dates may be appointed for different provisions of this Act and any reference in any such provision to the commencement of this Act shall be construed as a reference to the commencement of that provision.
(4) Nothing in this Act shall apply to-
(a) a negotiable instrument as defined in section 13 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (26 of 1881);
(b) a power-of-attorney as defined in section 1A of the Powers-of-Attorney Act, 1882 (7 of 1882);
(c) a trust as defined in section 3 of the Indian Trusts Act, 1882 (2 of 1882);
(d) a will as defined in clause (h) of section (2) of the Indian Succession Act, 1925 (39 of 1925), including any testamentary disposition by whatever name called;
(e) any contract for the sale or conveyance of immovable property or any interest in such property;
(f) any such class of documents or transactions as may be notified by the Central Government in the Official Gazette.
Section 2. Definitions.
(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,- (a) “access”, with its grammatical variation and cognate expressions, means gaining entry into, instructing or communicating with the logical, arithmetical or memory function resources of a computer, computer system or computer network;
(b) “addressee” means a person who is intended by the originator to receive the electronic record but does not include any intermediary;
(c) “adjudicating officer” means an adjudicating officer appointed under sub-section (1) of section 46;
“affixing digital signature”, with its grammatical variations and cognate expressions means adoption of any methodology or procedure by a person for the purpose of authenticating an electronic record by means of digital signature;
“appropriate Government ” means as respects any matter- enumerated in List II of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution;
relating to any State law enacted under List III of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution,
the State Government and in any other case, the Central Government;
“asymmetric crypto system” means a system of a secure key pair consisting of a private key for creating a digital signature and a public key to verify the digital signature;
“Certifying Authority” means a person who has been granted a licence to issue a Digital Signature Certificate under section 24;
“certification practice statement” issued by a Certifying Authority to specify the practices that the Certifying Authority employs in issuing Digital Signature Certificates;
“computer” means electronic, magnetic, optical or other high-speed date processing device or system which performs logical, arithmetic and memory functions by manipulations of electronic, magnetic or optical impulses, and includes all input, output, processing, storage, computer software or communication facilities which are connected or relates to the computer in a computer system or computer network;
“computer network” means the inter-connection of one or more computers through-
(i) the use of satellite, microwave, terrestrial lime or other communication media; and
(ii) terminals or a complex consisting of two or more interconnected computers whether or not the interconnection is continuously maintained;
“computer resources” means computer, computer system, computer network, data, computer database or software;
“computer system” means a device or collection of devices, including input and output support devices and excluding calculators which are not programmable and capable being used in conjunction with external files which contain computer programmes, electronic instructions, input data and output data that performs logic, arithmetic, data storage and retrieval, communication control and other functions;
“Controller” means the Controller of Certifying Authorities appointed under sub-section (1) of section 17’
“Cyber Appellate Tribunal” means the cyber Regulations Appellate Tribunal established under sub-section (1) of section 48;
“data” means a representation of information, knowledge, facts, concepts or instruction which are being prepared or have been prepared in a formalised manner, and is intended to be processed, is being processed or has been processed in a computer system or computer network, and may be in any form (including computer printouts magnetic or optical storage media, punched cards, punched tapes) or stored internally in the memory of the computer.
“digital signature” means authentication of any electronic record by a subscriber by means of an electronic method or procedure in accordance with the provisions of section 3;
“Digital Signature Certificate ” means a Digital Signature Certificate issued under sub-section (4) of section 35;
“electronic from”, with reference to information. Means, any information generated, sent, received or stored in media, magnetic, optical, computer memory, micro film, computer generated micro fiche or similar device;
“Electronic Gazette” means Official Gazette published in the electronic form;”electronic record” means date, record or date generated, image or sound stored, received or sent in an electronic form or micro film or computer generated micro fiche;
“function”, in relation to a computer, includes logic, control, arithmetical process, deletion, storage and retrieval and retrieval and communication or telecommunication from or within a computer;
“information’ includes data, taxt, images, sound, voice, codes, computer programmes, software and databases or micro film or computer generated micro fiche;
“intermediary” with respect to any particular electronic message, means any person who on behalf of another person receives, stores or transmits that message or provides any service with respect to that message;
“key pair”, in an asymmetric crypto system, means a private key and its mathematically related public key., which are so related that the public key can verify a digital signature created by the private key;
“law” includes any Act of Parliament or of a State Legislature, Ordinances promulgated by the President under article 240, Bills enacted as President’s Act under sub-clause (a) of clause (1) of article 375 of the Constitution and includes rules, regulations, bye-laws and order issued or made thereunder;
“licence” means a licence granted to a Certifying Authority under section 24;
(za) “originator” means a licence granted to a Certifying Aauthority under section 24;
(zb) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under the Act;
(zc) “private key” means the key of a key pair used to create a digital signature;
(zd) “public key” means the key of a key pair used to verify a digital
signature and listed in the Digital Signature Certificate;
(ze) “secure system” means computer hardware, software and procedure that-
(a) are reasonably secure from unauthorised access and misuses;
(b) provide a reasonable level of reliability and correct operation;
(c) are reasonably suited to performing the intended functions; and
(d) adhere to generally accepted security procedures;
(zf) “security procedure” means the security procedure prescribed under section 16 by the Central Government;
(zg) “subscriber” means a person in whose name the Digital Signature Certificate is issued;
(zh) “verify”, in relation to a digital signature, electronic record or public key, with its grammatical variations and cognate expressions, means to determine whether- (a) the initial electronic record was affixed with the digital signature by the sue of private key corresponding to the public key of the subscriber;
(b) the initial electronic record is retained intact or has been altered since such electronic record was so affixed with the digital signature.
(2) Any reference in this Act to any enactment or any provision thereof shall, in relation to an area in which such enactment or such provision is not in force, be construed as a reference to the corresponding law or the relevant provision of the corresponding law, if any, in force in that area.
Chapter II Digital Signature
Section 3. Authentication of electronic records.
(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, any subscriber may authenticate an electronic record by affixing his digital signature.
(2) The authentication of the electronic record shall be effected by the use of asymmetric crypto system and hash function which envelop and transform the initial electronic record into another electronic record.
Explanation.- For the purposes of this sub-section, “hash function” means an algorithm mapping or translation of one sequence of bits into another, generally smaller, set known as “hash result” such that an electronic record yields the same hash result every time the algorithm is executed with the same electronic record as its input making it computationally infeasible-
(a) to derive or reconstruct the original electronic record from the hash result produced by the algorithm;
(b) that two electronic records can produce the same hash result using algorithm.
(3) Any person by the use of a public key of the subscriber can verify the electronic record.
(4) The private key and the public key are unique to the subscriber and constitute a functioning key pair.
Chapter III – Electronic Governance
Section 4. Legal recognition of electronic records
Where any law provides that information or any other matter shall be in writing or in the typewritten or printed form, then, notwithstanding anything contained in such law, such requirement shall be deemed to have been satisfied if such information or matter is-
(a) rendered or made available in an electronic form; and
(b) accessible so as to be usable for a subsequent reference.
Section 5. Legal recognition of digital signatures.
Where any lay provides that information or any other matter shall be authenticated by affixing the signature or any document shall be signed or bear the signature of any person, then, notwithstanding anything contained in such law, such requirement shall be deemed to have been satisfied if such information or matter is authenticated by means of digital signature affixed in such manner as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
Explanation.- For the purposes of this section, “signed”, with its
grammatical variations and cognate expressions, shall, with reference to a person, means affixing of his hand written signature or any mark on any document and the expression “signature” shall be construed accordingly.
Section 6. Use of electronic records and digital signatures in Government and its agencies. – (1) Where any law provides for
(a) the filing of any form, application or any other document with any office authority, body for agency owned or controlled by the appropriate Government in a particular manner;
(b) the issue or grant of any licence, permit. Sanction or approval by whatever name called in a particular manner;
(c) the receipt or payment of money in a particular manner, the, notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, such requirement shall be deemed to have been satisfied if such filing, issue, grant, receipt or payment, as the case be, is effected by means of such electronic form as may be prescribed by the appropriate Government.
(2) The appropriate Government may, for the purposes of sub-section (1), by rules, prescribe-
(a) the manner and format in which such electronic records shall be filed, created or issued;
(b) the manner or method of payment of any fee or charges for filing, creation or issue any electronic record clause (a).
Section 7. Retention of electronic records.
(1) Where any law provides that documents, records or information shall be retained for any specific period, the, that requirement shall be deemed to have been satisfied if such documents, records or information are retained in the electronic form, if-
(a) the manner and format therein remains accessible so as to be usable for a subsequent reference;
(b) the electronic record is retained in the format in which it was originally generated, sent or received or in a format which can be demonstrated to represent accurately the information originally generated, sent or received;
(c) the details which will facilitate the identification of the origin,
destination, date and time of dispatch or receipt of such electronic record:
Provided that this clause does not apply to any information which is automatically generated solely for the purpose of enabling a record to be dispatched or received.
(2) Nothing in this section shall apply to any law that expressly provides for the retention of documents, records or information in the form of electronic records.
Section 8. Publication of rule, regulation, etc., in Electronic Gazette.
Where any law provides that any rule, regulation, order, bye-law, notification or any6 other matte shall be published in the Official Gazette, then, such requirement shall be deemed to have been satisfied if such rule, regulation, order bye-law, notification or any other matter is published in the Official Gazette or Electronic Gazette:
Provided that where any rule, regulation, order, by-law, notification or any other matter is published in the Official Gazette or Electronic Gazette, the date of publication shall be deemed to be the date of the Gazette which was first published in any form.
Section 9. Section 6, 7 and 8 not to confer right to insist document should be accepted in electronic form.
Nothing contained in section 6, 7 and 8 shall be confer a right upon any person to insist that any Ministry or Department of the Central Government or the State Government or any authority or body established by or under any law or controlled or funded by the Central or State Government should accept, issue, create, retain and preserve any document in the form of electronic records or effect any monetary transaction in the electronic form.
Section 10. Power to make rules by Central Government in respect of digital signature.
The Central Government may, for the purposes of this Act, by rules, prescribe-
(a) the type of digital signature;
(b) the manner and format in which the digital signature shall be affixed;
(c) the manner or procedure which facilitates identification of the person
affixing the digital signature;
(d) control processes and procedures to ensure adequate integrity, security and confidentiality of electronic records or payments; and
(e) any other matter which is necessary to give legal effect to digital signatures.
Chapter IV – Attribution, Acknowledgement and Despatch of Electronic records
Section 11. Attribution of electronic records.
An electronic record shall be attributed to the originator,-
(a) if it was sent by the originator himself;
(b) by a person who had the authority to act on behalf of the originator in respect of that electronic record; or
(c) by an information system programmed by or on behalf of the originator to operate automatically.
Section 12. Acknowledge of receipt.
(1) Where the originator has not agreed with the addressee that the acknowledgement of receipt of electronic record be given in a particular form or by a particular method, an acknowledgement may be given by-
(a) any communication by the addressee, automated or otherwise; or
(b) any conduct of the addressee, sufficient to indicate to the originator that the electronic record has been received.
Where the originator has stipulated that the electronic record shall be binding only on receipt of an acknowledgement of such electronic record by him, then, unless acknowledgement has been so received, the electronic record shall be deemed to have been never sent by the originator.
Where the originator has not stipulated that the electronic record shall be binding only on receipt of such acknowledgment, and the acknowledgement has not been received by the originator within the time specified or agreed or, if no time has been specified or agreed to within a reasonable time, then, the originator may give notice to the addressee stating that no acknowledgement has been received by him and specifying a reasonable time by which he acknowledgement must be received by him and if no acknowledgement is received within the aforesaid time limit he may after giving notice to the addressee, treat the electronic record as tough it has never been sent.
Section 13. Time and place of despatch and receipt of electronic record.
(1) Save as otherwise agreed to between the originator and the addressee, the despatch of an electronic record occurs when it enters a computer resources outside the control of the originator.;
Save as otherwise agreed between the originator and the addressee, the time of receipt of an electronic record shall be determined as follows, namely:- the addressee has designated a computer resource for the purpose of receiving electronic record,- receipt occurs at the time when the electronic record enters the designated computer resources; or
if the electronic record is spent to a computer resources of the addressee that is not the designated computer resource, receipt occurs at the time when the electronic record is retrieved by the addressee;
if the addressee has not designated a computer resource along with specified timings, if any, receipt occurs when the electronic record enters the computer resource of the addressee.
Save as otherwise agreed to between the originator and the addressee, an electronic record is deemed to be received at the place where the addressee has his place of business.
The provisions of sub-section (2) shall apply notwithstanding that the place where the computer resource is located may be different from the place where the electronic record is deemed to have been received under sub-section (3).
For the purpose of this section.- if the originator or the addressee has more than one place of business, the principal place of business, shall be the place of business;
if the originator or the addressee does not have a place of business, his usual place of residence shall be deemed to be the place of business;
“usual place of residence “, in relation to a body corporate, means the place where it is registered.
Chapter V – Secure Electronic records and secure digital signatures
Section 14. Secure electronic record.
Where any security procedure has been applied to an electronic record at a specific point of time, then such record shall be deemed to be a secure electronic record from such point of time to the time of verification.
Section 15. Secure digital signature.
If, by application of a security procedure agreed to by the parties concerned, it can be verified that a digital signature, at the time it was affixed, was –
(a) unique to the subscriber affixing it;
(b) capable of identifying such subscriber;
(c) created in a manner or using a means under the exclusive control of the subscriber and is linked to the electronic record to which related in such a manner that if the electronic record was altered the digital signature would be invalidated, then such digital signature shall be deemed to be a secure digital signature.
Section 16. Security procedure.
The Central Government shall, for the purpose of this Act, prescribe the security procedure having regard to commercial circumstances prevailing at the time when the procedure was used, including-
(a) the nature of the transaction;
(b) the level of sophistication of the parties with reference to their technological capacity;
(c) the volume of similar transactions engaged in by other parties;
(d) the availability of alternatives offered to but rejected by any party;
(e) the cost of alternative procedures; and
(f) the procedures in general use for similar types of transaction or communications.
Chapter VI – Regulation of Certifying Authorities
Section 17. Appointment of Controller and other officers.
(1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint a Controller of Certifying Authorities for the purposes of this Act and may, also by the same or subsequent notification, appoint such number of Deputy Controllers and Assistant Controllers as it deems fit.
(2) The Controller shall discharge his functions under this Act subject to the general control and directions of the Central Government.
(3) The Deputy Controllers and Assistant Controllers shall perform functions assigned to them by the Controller under the general superintendence and control of the Controller.
(4) The qualifications, experience and terms and conditions of service of Controller, Deputy Controllers and Assistant Controller shall be such as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
(5) The Head Office and Branch Officer of the officer of the Controller shall be at such places as the Central Government may specify, and these may be established at such places as the Central Government may think fit.
(6) There shall be a seal of the Office of the Controller.
Section 18. Functions of Controller.
The Controller may perform all or any of the following function, namely:-
(a) exercising supervision over the activities of Certifying Authorities;
(b) certifying public keys of the Certifying Authorities;
(c) laying down the standards to be maintained by Certifying Authorities;
(d) specifying the qualifications and experience which employees of the Certifying Authorities should possess;
(e) specifying the conditions subject to which the Certifying Authority shall conduct their business;
(f) specifying the contents of written, printed or visual materials and advertisements that may be distributed or used in respect of a Digital Signature Certificate and the public key;
(g) specifying the form and content of a Digital Signature Certificate and the key;
(h) specifying the form the manner in which accounts shall be maintained by the Certifying Authorities;
(i) specifying the terms and conditions subject to which auditors may be appointed and the remuneration to be paid to them;
(j) facilitating the establishment of any electronic system by a Certifying Authority either solely or jointly with other Certifying Authorities and regulation of such system;
(k) specifying the manner in which the Certifying Authorities shall conduct their dealings with the subscribers;
(l) resolving any conflict of interests between the Certifying Authorities and the subscribers;
(m) laying down the duties of the Certifying Authorities;
(n) maintaining a data-base containing the disclosure record of ever Certifying Authority containing such particulars as may be specified by regulations which shall be accessible to public.
Section 19. Recognition of foreign Certifying Authorities.
(1) Subject to such conditions and restrictions as may be specified, by regulations, the Controller may, with the previous approval of the Central Government, and by notification in the Official Gazette, recognise any Certifying Authority as a Certifying Authority for the purposes of this Act.
(2) Where any Certifying Authority is recognised under sub-section (1), the Digital Signature Certificate issued by such Certifying Authority shall be valid for the purposes of this Act.
(3) The Controller may if he is satisfied that any Certifying Authority has contravened any of the conditions and restrictions subject to which it was granted recognition under sub-section (1), he may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, by notification in the Official Gazette, revoke such recognition.
Section 20. Controller to act as repository.
(1) The Controller shall be the repository of all Digital Signature Certificates issued under this Act.
(2) The Counter shall- (a) make use of hardware, software and procedures that are secure from intrusion and misuse;
(b) observe such other standards as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
To ensure that the secrecy and security of the digital signatures are assured.
(3) The Controller shall maintain a computerised data-base of all public keys in such a manner that such database and the public keys are available to any member of the public.
Section 21. Licence tissue Digital Signature Certificates.
(1) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), any person may make an application to the Controller for a licence to issue Digital Signature Certificates.
(2) No licence shall be issued under sub-section (1), unless the applicant fulfills such requirements with respect to qualification, expertise, manpower, financial resources and other infrastructure facilities, which are necessary to issue Digital Signature Certificates as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
(3) A licence granted under this section shall- (a) be valid for such period as may be prescribed by the Central Government;
(b) not be transferable or heritable;
(c) be subject to such terms and conditions as may be specified by the regulations.
Section 22. Application for licence.
(1) Every application for issue of a licence shall be in such form as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
(2) Every application for issue of a licence shall be accompanied by- (a) a certification practice statement;
(b) a statement including the procedures with respect to identification of the applicant;
(c) payment of such fees, not exceeding twenty-five thousand rupees as may be prescribed by the Central Government;
(d) such other documents, as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
Section 23. Renewal of licence
An application for renewal of a licence shall be- (a) in such form;
(b) accompanied by such fees, not exceeding five thousand rupees, as may be prescribed by the Central Government and shall be made not less than forty-five days before the date of expiry of the period of validity of the licence.
Section 24. Procedure for grant or rejection of licence.
The Controller may, on receipt of an application under sub-section (1) of section 21, after considering the documents accompanying the application and such other factor, as he deems fit, grant the licence or reject the application:
Provided that no application shall be rejected under this section unless the applicant has been given a reasonable opportunity of presenting his case.
Section 25. Suspension of licence.
(1) The Controller may, if he is satisfied after making such inquiry, as he may think fit, that a Certifying Authority has-
(a) made a statement in, or in relation to, the application for the issue or renewal of the licence, which is incorrect or false in material particulars;
(b) failed to comply with the terms and conditions subject to which the licence was granted;
(c) failed to maintain the standards specified under clause (b) of sub-section (2) of section 20;
(d) contravened any provisions of this Act, rule, regulations or order made revoke the licence;
Provided that no licence shall be revoked unless the Certifying Authority has been given a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against the proposed revocation.
(2) The Controller may, if he has reasonable cause to believe that there is any ground for revoking a licence pending the completion of any enquiry ordered by him:
Provided that no licence shall be suspended for a period exceeding ten days unless the Certifying Authority has been given a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against the proposed suspension:
Section 26. Notice of suspension revocation of licence.
(1) Where the licence of the Certifying Authority is suspended or revoked, the Controller shall publish notice of such suspension or revocation, as the case may be, in the database maintained by him.
(2) Where one or more repositories are specified, the Controller shall publish notices of such repositories:
Provided that the database containing the notice of such suspension or revocation, as the case may be, shall be made available through a web site which shall be accessible round the clock:
Provided further that the Controller may, if he considers necessary, publicise the contents of database in such electronic or other media, as the may consider appropriate.
Section 27. Power to delegate
The Controller may, in writing, authorise the Deputy Controller, Assistant Controller or any officer to Controller may, in writing, authorise the Deputy Controller, Assistant Controller or any officer to exercise any of the provisions of this Act, rules or regulations made thereunder.
Section 28. Power to investigate contraventions.
(1) The Controller or any officer authrised by him in this behalf shall take up for investigation any contravention of the provisions of this Act, rules or regulations made thereunder.
(2) The controller or any officer authorised by him in this behalf shall exercise the like powers which are conferred on Income-tax authorities under Chapter XIII of the Income-tax Act, 1961, (43 of 1961), and shall exercise such powers, subject to such limitations laid down under that Act.
Section 29. Access to computers and data.
(1) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (1) of section 68, the Controller or any person authorised by him shall, if he has reasonable cause to suspect that any contravention of the provisions of this Act, rules or regulations made thereunder their has been committed, have access to any computer system, any apparatus, data or any other material connected with such system, for the purpose of searching or causing a search to be made for obtaining any information or data contained in or data contained in or available to such computer system.
(2) For the purposes of sub-section (1), the Controller or any person authorised by him may, by order, direct any person in charge of, or otherwise concerned with the operation of, the computer system, data apparatus or material, to provide him with such reasonable technical and other assistance as he may consider necessary.
Section 30. Certifying Authority to follow certain procedures.
Every Certifying Authority shall,-
(a) make use of hardware, software, and procedures that the secure from intrusion and misuse;
(b) provide a reasonable level of reliability in its services which are reasonably suited to the performance of intended functions;
(c) adhere to security procedures to ensure that the secrecy and privacy of the digital signatures are assured; and
(d) observe such other standards as may be specified by regulations.
Section 31. Certifying Authority to ensure compliance of the Act, etc.
Every Certifying Authority shall ensure that every person employed or otherwise engaged by it complies in the course of his employment or engagement, with the provisions of this Act, rules regulations or orders made thereunder.
Section 32. Display of licence.
Every Certifying Authority shall display its licence at a conspicuous place of the premises in which it carries on its business.
Section 33. Surrender of licence.
(1) Every Certifying Authority whose licence is suspended or revoked shall immediately after such suspension or revocation, surrender the licence to the Controller.
(2) Where any certifying authority fails to surrender a licence under sub-section (1), the person in whose favour a licence is issued, shall be guilty of an offences and shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend upto six months or a fire which may extend upto ten thousand rupees or with both
Section 34. Disclosure.
(1) Every Certifying Authority shall disclose in the manner specified by regulations.-
(a) Its Digital Signature Certificate which contains the public key corresponding to the private key used by that Certifying Authority to digitally sign another Digital Signature Certificate;
(b) and certification practice statement relevant thereto;
(c) notice of the revocation or suspension of its Certifying Authority certificate if any; and
(d) any other fact that materially and adversely affects either the reliability of a Digital Signature Certificate, which that Authority has issued, or the Authority’s ability to perform its services.
(2) Where in the opinion of the Certifying Authority any event has occurred or any situation has arisen which may materially and adversely affect the integrity of its computer system or the conditions subject to which a Digital Signature Certificate was granted, then, the Certifying Authority shall-
(a) use reasonable efforts to notify any person who is likely to be affected by that occurrence: or
(b) act in accordance with the procedure specified in its certification practice statement to deal with such event or situation.
Chapter VII – Digital Signature Certificates
Section 35. Certifying authority to issue Digital Signature Certificate.
(1) Any person may make an application to the Certifying Authority for the issue of a Digital Signature Certificate in such form as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
(2) Every such application shall be accompanied by such fee not exceeding twenty-five thousand rupees as may be prescribed by the Central Government, to be paid to the Certifying Authority:
Provided that while prescribing fees under sub-section (2) different fees may be prescribed for different classes of applicants.
Every such application shall be accompanied by a certification practice statement or where there is no such statement, a statement containing such particulars, as may be specified by regulations.
On receipt of an application under sub-section (1), the Certifying Authority may, after consideration of the certification practice statement or the other statement under sub-section (3) and after making such enquiries as it may deem fit, grant the Digital Signature Certificate or for reasons to be recorded in writing, reject the application:
Provided that no Digital Signature Certificate shall be granted unless the Certifying Authority is satisfied that-
the applicant holds the private key corresponding to the public key to be listed in the Digital Signature Certificate;
the applicant holds a private key, which is capable of creating a digital signature;
the public key to be listed in the certificate can be used to verify a digital signature affixed by the private key held by the applicant:
Provided further that no application shall be rejected unless the applicant has been given a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against the proposed rejection.
Section 36. Representations upon issuance Digital Signature Certificate.
A Certifying Authority while issuing a Digital Signature Certificate shall certify that- it has complied with the provisions of this Act and the rules and regulations made there under;
it has published the Digital Signature Certificate or otherwise made it available to such person relying on it and the subscriber has accepted it;
the subscriber holds the private key corresponding to the public key, listed in the Digital Signature Certificate;
the subscriber’s public key and private key constitute a functioning key pair;
the information contained in the Digital Signature Certificate is accurate; and
it has no knowledge of any6 material fact, which if it had been included in the Digital Signature Certificate would adversely affect the reliability of the representations in clauses (a) to (d).
Section 37. Suspension of Digital Signature Certificate.
(1) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), the Certifying Authority which has issued a Digital Signature Certificate may suspend such Digital Signature Certificate.- on receipt of a request to that effect from-
the subscriber listed in the Digital signature Certificate; or
any person duly authorised to act on behalf of that subscriber;
if it is of opinion that the Digital Signature Certificate should be suspended in public interest.
A Digital Signature Certificate shall not be suspended for a period exceeding fifteen days unless the subscriber has been given an opportunity of being heard in the matter.
On suspension of a Digital Signature Certificate under this section, the Certifying Authority shall communicate the same to the subscriber.’
Section 38. Revocation of Digital Signature Certificate.
(1) A Certifying Authority may revoke a Digital Signature Certificate issued by it-
where the subscriber or any other person authorised by him makes a request to that effect; or
upon the death of the subscriber; or
upon the dissolution of the firm or winding up of the company where the subscriber is a firm or a company.
Subject to the provisions of sub-section (3) and without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (1), a Certifying Authority may revoke a Digital Signature Certificate which has been issued by it at any time, if it is of opinion that-
a material fact represent in the Digital Signature Certificate is false or had been concealed;
a requirement for issuance of the Digital Signature Certificate was not satisfied;
the Certifying Authority’s private key of security system was compromised in a manner materially affecting the Digital Signature Certificate’s reliability;
the subscriber has been declared insolvent or dead or where a subscriber is a firm or a company, which has been dissolved, wound-up or otherwise ceased to exist.
A Digital Signature Certificate shall not be revoked unless the subscriber has been given an opportunity of being heard in the matter.
On revocation of a Digital Signature Certificate under this section, the Certifying Authority shall communicate the same to the subscriber.
Section 39. Notice of suspension or revocation.
(1) Where a Digital Signature Certificate is suspended or revoked under section 37 or section 38, the Certifying Authority shall publish a notice of such suspension or revocation, as the case may be, in the repository specified in the Digital Signature Certificate for publication of such notice.
Where one or more repositories are specified the Certifying Authority shall publish notices of such suspension or revocation, as the case may be, in all such repositories.
Chapter VIII – Duties of Subscribers
Section 40. Generating key pair.
Where any Digital Signature Certificate the public key of which corresponds to the private key of that subscriber which is to be listed in the Digital Signature Certificate has been accepted by a subscriber, the, the subscriber shall generate the key pair by applying the security procedure.
Section 41. Acceptance of Digital Signature Certificate.
(1) A subscriber shall deemed to have accepted a Digital Signature Certificate is the publishes or authorises the publication of a Digital Signature Certificate- to one or more person;
in a repository; or otherwise demonstrates his approval of the Digital Signature Certificate in any manner.
By accepting a Digital Signature Certificate the subscriber certifies to all who reasonable rely on the information contained in the Digital Signature Certificate that—
the subscriber holds the private key corresponding to the public key listed in the Digital Signature Certificate and is entitled to h old the same;
all representations made by the subscriber to the Certifying Authority and all material relevant to the information contained in the Digital Signature Certificate are true;
all information in the Digital Signature Certificate that is writing the knowledge of the subscriber is true.
Section 42. Control of private key.
(1) Every subscriber shall exercise reasonable care to retain control of the private key corresponding to the public key listed in his Digital Signature Certificate and take all steps to prevent its disclosure to a person not authorised to affix the digital signature of the subscriber.
If the private key corresponding to the public key listed in the Digital Signature Certificate has been compromised, then, the subscriber shall communicate the same without any delay to the Certifying Authority in such manner as may be specified by the regulations.
Explanation:- For removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that the subscriber shall be liable till he has informed the certifying Authority that the private key has been compromised.
Chapter IX – Penalties and Adjudication
Section 43. Penalty for damage to computer, computer system, etc.
If any person without permission of the owner or any other person who is in charge of a computer, computer system or computer network,- accesses or secures access to such computer, computer system or computer network downloads, copies or extracts any data, computer data base information from such computer, computer system or computer network including information or data held or stored in any removable storage medium.
Introduces or causes to be introduced any computer contaminant or computer virus into any computer, computer system or computer network;
damages or causes to be damaged and computer, computer system or computer network, data, computer database or any other programmes residing in such computer, computer system or computer network;
disrupts or causes disruption of any computer, computer system or computer network;
denies or causes the denial of access to any person authorised to access any computer, computer system or computer network by any means;
provides any assistance to any person to facilitate access to a computer, computer system or computer network in contravention of the provisions of this Act, rules or regulations made thereunder;
charges the services availed of by a person to the account of another person by tampering with or manipulating any computer, computer system or compute network he shall be liable to pay damages by way of compensation not exceeding one crore rupees to the person so affected.
Explanation.-For the purposes of this section.- (i) “computer contaminant” means any set of computer instructions that are designed –
(a) to modify, destroy, record, transmit date or programme residing within a computer, computer system or computer network; or
(b) by any means to usurp the normal operation of the computer, compute system, or computer network;
(ii) “computer database” means a representation of information,
knowledge, facts, concepts or instructions in text, image, audio, video that are being prepared or have been prepare in a formalised manner or have been produced by a computer, computer system or computer network and are intended for use in a computer, computer system or computer network;
(iii) “computer virus” means any computer instruction, information, data or programme that destroys, damages, degrades adversely affects the performance of a computer resources or attaches itself to another itself to another computer resources and operates when a programme, date or instruction is executed or some other even takes place in that computer resource;
(iv) “damage” means to destroy, alter, delete, add, modify or re-arrange any computer resource by any means.
Section 44. Penalty for failure to furnish information, return, etc.
If any person who is required under this Act or any rules or regulations made thereunder to- (a) furnish any document, return or report to the Controller or the Certifying Authority fails to furnish the same, he shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding one lakh and fifty thousand rupees for each such failure;
(b) file any return or furnish any information, books or other documents within the time specified therefor in the regulations fails to file return or furnish the same within the time specified therefor in the regulations, he shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding five thousand rupees for every day during which such failure continues;
(c) maintain books of account or records fails to maintain the same, he shall be liable to a penalty no exceeding ten thousand rupees for every day during which the failure continues.
Section 45. Residuary penalty.
Whoever contravenes any rules or regulations made under this Act, for the contravention of which no penalty has been separately provided, shall be liable to pay a compensation not exceeding twenty-five thousand rupees to the person affected by such contravention or a penalty not exceeding twenty-five thousand rupees.
Section 46. Power to adjudicate.
(1) For the purpose of adjudging under this Chapter whether any person has committed a contravention of any of the provisions of this Act or of any rule, regulation, direction or order made thereunder the Central
Government shall, subject to the provisions of sub section (3), appoint any officer not below the rank of a Director to the Government of India or an equivalent officer of a State Government to be an adjudicating officer for holding an inquiry in the manner prescribed by the Central Government .
(2) The adjudicating officer shall, after giving the person referred to in sub-section (1) a reasonable opportunity for making representation in the matter and if, on such inquiry, he is satisfied that the person has committed the contravention, he may impose such penalty or award such compensation as he thinks fit in accordance with the provisions of that section.
(3) No person shall be appointed as an adjudicating officer unless he possesses such experience in the filed of Information Technology and legal or judicial experience as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
(4) Where more than one adjudicating officers are appointed, the Central Government shall specify by order the matters and places with respect to which such officers shall exercise their jurisdiction.
(5) Every adjudicating officer shall have the powers of a civil court which are conferred on the Cyber Appellate Tribunal under sub-section (2) of section (2) of section 58, and-
(a) all proceedings before it shall be deemed to be judicial proceedings within the meaning of section 193 and 228 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860);
(b) shall be deemed to be a civil court for the purpose of section 345 and 346 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974).
Section 47. Factors to be taken into account by the adjudicating officer.
While adjudging the quantum of compensation under this Chapter, the adjudicating officer shall have due regard to the following factors, namely:-
(a) the amount of gain of unfair advantage, whenever quantifiable, made as a result of the default;
(b) the amount of loss caused to any person as a result of the default;
(c) the repetitive nature of the default.
Chapter X – The Cyber Regulations Appellate Tribunal
Section 48. Establishment of Cyber Appellate Tribunal.
(1) The Central Government shall, by notification, establish one or more appellate tribunals to be known as the Cyber Regulations Appellate Tribunal.
(2) The Central Government shall also specify, in the notification referred to in sub-section (1), the matters and places in relation to which the Cyber Appellate Tribunal may exercise jurisdiction.
Section 49. Composition of Cyber Appellate Tribunal.
A cyber Appellate Tribunal shall consist of one person only (hereinafter referred to as the Presiding Officer of the Cyber Appellate Tribunal) to be appointed, by notification, by the Central Government.
Section 50. Qualifications for appointment as Presiding Officer of the Cyber Appellate Tribunal.
A person shall not be qualified for appointment as the Presiding Officer of a Cyber Appellate Tribunal unless he-
(a) is, or has been, or is qualified to be, a Judge of a High Court; or
(b) is, or has been, a member of the Indian Legal Service and is holding or has held a post in Grade I of that Service for at least three years.
Section 51. Term of office.
The Presiding Officer of a Cyber Appellate Tribunal shall hold office for a term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office or until he attains the age of sixty-five years whichever is earlier.
Section 52. Salary , allowance and other terms conditions of service of Presiding Officer.
The salary and allowances payable to, and the other terms and conditions of service including pension, gratuity and other retirement benefits of, the Presiding Officer of a Cyber Appellate Tribunal shall be such as may be prescribed:
Provided that neither the salary and allowances nor the other terms and conditions of service of the Presiding Officers shall be varied to his disadvantage after appointment.
Section 53. Filling up of vacancies.
If, for reason other than temporary absence, any vacancy occurs in the office of the Presiding Officer of a Cyber Appellate Tribunal, then the Central Government shall appoint another person in accordance with the provisions of this Act to fill the vacancy and the proceedings may be continued before the Cyber appellate Tribunal from the state at which the vacancy is filled.
Section 54. Resignation and removal.
(1) The Presiding Officer of a Cyber Appellate Tribunal may, by notice in writing under his hand addressed to the Central Government, resign his office:
Provided that the said Presiding Officer shall, unless he is permitted by the Central Government to relinquish his office sooner, continue to hold office until the expiry of three months from the date of receipt of such notice or until a person duly appointed as his successor enters upon his office or until the expiry of his term of office, whichever is the earliest.
(2) The Presiding Officer of a Cyber Appellate Tribunal shall not be removed from his office except by an order by the Central Government on the ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity after an inquiry made by a Judge of the Supreme Court in which the Presiding Officer concerned has been informed of the charges against him and given a reasonable opportunity of being heard in respect of these charges.
(3) the Central Government may, by rules, regulate the procedure for the investigation of misbehaviour or incapacity of the aforesaid Presiding Officer.
Section 55. Orders constituting Appellate Tribunal to be final and not to invalidate its proceedings.
No order of the Central Government appointing any person as the Presiding Officer of a Cyber Appellate Tribunal shall be called in question in any manner and no act or proceeding before a Cyber Appellate Tribunal shall be called in question in any manner on the ground merely of any defect in the constitution of Cyber Appellate Tribunal.
Section 56. Staff of the Cyber Appellate Tribunal.
(1) The Central Government shall provide the Cyber Appellate Tribunal with such officers and employees as that Government may think fit.
(2) The officers and employees of the Cyber Appellate Tribunal shall discharge their functions under general superintendence of the Presiding Officer.
(3) The salaries any allowances and other conditions of service of the officers and employees of the Cyber Appellate Tribunal shall be such as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
Section 57. Appeal to Cyber Regulations Appellate Tribunal.
(1) Save as provided in sub-section (2), any person aggrieved by an order made by controller or an adjudicating officer under this Act may prefer an appeal to a Cyber Appellate Tribunal having jurisdiction in the matter.
(2) No appeal shall lie to the Cyber Appellate Tribunal from an order made by an adjudicating officer with the consent of the parties.
(3) Every appeal under sub-section (1) shall be filed within a period of forty-five days from the date on which a copy of the order made by the Controller or the adjudicating officer is received by the person aggrieved and it shall be in such form and be accompanied by such fee as may be prescribed;
Provided that the Cyber Appellate Tribunal may entertain an appeal after the expiry of the said period of forty-five days if it is satisfied that there was sufficient cause for not filing it within that period.
(4) On receipt of an appeal under sub-section (1), the Cyber Appellate Tribunal may, after giving the parties to the appeal, an opportunity of being heard, pass such orders thereon as it thinks fit, confirming, modifying or setting aside the order appealed against.
(5) the Cyber Appellate Tribunal shall send a copy of every order made by it to the parties tot he appeal and to the concerned controller or adjudicating officer.
(6) The appeal filed before the Cyber Appellate Tribunal under sub-section (1) shall be dealt with by it as expeditiously as possible and endeavour shall be made by it to dispose of the appeal finally within sic months from the date of receipt of the appeal.
Section 58. Procedure and powers of the Cyber Appellate Tribunal.
(1) The Cyber Appellate Tribunal shall not be bound by the procedure laid down by the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), but shall be guided by the principles of natural justice and, subject to the other provisions of this Act and of any rules, the Cyber Appellate Tribunal shall have powers to regulate its own procedure including the place at which it shall have its sittings.
(2) The Cyber Appellate Tribunal shall have, for the purposes of discharging its functions under this Act, the same powers as are vested in a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), while trying a suit, in respect of the following matters, namely:
(a) summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath;
(b) requiring the discovery and production of documents or other electronic records;
(c) receiving evidence on affidavits;
(d) issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents;
(e) reviewing its decisions;
(f) dismissing an application for default or deciding it ex parte;
(g) any other matter which may be prescribed.
(3) Every proceeding before the Cyber Appellate Tribunal shall be deemed to be a judicial proceeding within the meaning of section 193 and 228, and for the purposes of section 196 of the Indian Penal Code(45 of 1860) and the Cyber Appellate Tribunal shall be deemed to be a civil court for the purposes of section 195 and Chapter XXVI of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974).
Section 59. Right to legal representation.
The appellant may either appear in person or authorise one or more legal practitioners or any of its officers to present his or its case before the Cyber Appellate Tribunal.
Section 60. Limitation.
The provisions of the Limitation Act, 12963f (36 of 1963), shall, as far as may be, apply to an appeal made to the Cyber Appellate Tribunal.
Section 61. Civil court not to have jurisdiction.
No court shall have jurisdiction to entertain any suit or proceeding in respect of any matter which an adjudicating officer appointed under this Act or the Cyber Appellate Tribunal constituted under this Act is empowered by or under this Act to determine and no injunction shall be granted by any court or other authority in respect of any action taken or to be taken in pursuance of any power conferred by or under this Act.
Section 62. Appeal to High Court.
Any person aggrieved by any decision or order of the Cyber Appellate Tribunal may file an appeal to the High Court within sixty days from the date of communication of the decision or order of the Cyber Appellate Tribunal to him on any question of fact or law arising out of such order:
Provided that the High Court may, if it is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from filing the appeal within the said period, allow it to filed within a further period not exceeding sixty days.
Section 63. Compounding of contraventions.
(1) Any contravention under this Chapter may, either before or after the institution of adjudication proceedings, be compounded by the Controller or such other officer as may be specially authorised by him in this behalf or by the adjudicating officer, as the case may be, subject to such conditions as the Controller or such other officer or the adjudicating officer, as the case may be, subject to such conditions as the Controller or such other officer or the adjudicating officer may specify.
Provided that such sum shall not, in any case, exceed the maximum amount of the penalty which may be imposed under this Act for the contravention so compounded.
(2) Nothing in sub-section (1) shall apply to a person who commits the same or similar contravention within a period of three years form the date on which the first contravention, committed, by him, was compounded.
Explanation:- For the purposes of this sub-section, any second or subsequent contravention committed after the expiry of a period of three years from the date on which the contravention was previously compounded shall be deemed to be a first contravention.
(3) Where any contravention has been compounded under sub-section(I), no proceeding or further proceeding, or further proceeding, as the case may be, shall be taken against the person guilty of such contravention in respect of the contravention so compounded.
Section 64. Recovery of penalty.
A penalty imposed under this Act, if it is not paid shall be recovered as an arrear of land revenue and the licence or the Digital Signature Certificate, as the case may be, shall be suspended till the penalty is paid.
Chapter XI – Offences
Section 5. Tampering with computer source documents.
Whoever knowingly or intentionally conceals, destroy, or alter any computer source code used for a computer, computer programme, computer system or computer network, when the computer source code is required to be kept or maintained by law for the time being in force, shall be punishable with imprisonment up to three years, or with fine which may extend up to two lakh rupees, or with both.
Explanation – For the purposes of this section, “computer source code” means the listing of programmes, compute commands, design and layout and programme analysis of computer resource in any form.
Section 66. Hacking with Computer System.
(1) Whoever with the intent of cause or knowing that is likely to cause wrongful loss or damage to the public or any person destroys or deletes or alters any information residing in a computer resource or diminishes its value or utility or affects it injuriously by any means, commits hacking.
(2) Whoever commits hacking shall be punished with imprisonment up to three years, or with fine which may extend up to two lakh rupees, or with both.
[ Section 66 A Punishment for sending offensive messages through communication service, etc.
( Introduced vide ITAA 2008)
Any person who sends, by means of a computer resource or a communication device,
–
a) any information that is grossly offensive or has menacing character; or
b) any information which he knows to be false, but for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, or ill will, persistently makes by making use of such computer resource or a communication device,
c) any electronic mail or electronic mail message for the purpose of causing annoyance or inconvenience or to deceive or to mislead the addressee or recipient about the or igin of such messages (Inserted vide ITAA 2008) shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two three years and with fine.
Explanation: For the purposes of this section, terms “Electronic mail” and “Electronic Mail Message” means a message or information created or transmitted or received on a computer, computer system, computer resource or communication device including attachments in text, image, audio, video and any other electronic record, which may be transmitted with the message]
[ Section 66 B Punishment for dishonestly receiving stolen computer resource or communication device (Inserted Vide ITA 2008)
Whoever dishonestly receives or retains any stolen computer resource or communication device knowing or having reason to believe thesame to be stolen computer resource or
communication device, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years or with fine which may extend to rupees one lakh or with both.]
[ Section 66C Punishment for identity theft. (Inserted Vide ITA 2008)
Whoever, fraudulently or dishonestly make use of the electronic signature, password or any other unique identification feature of any other person, shall be punished with imprisonment of eitherdescription for a term which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine which may extend to rupees one lakh.]
[Section 66 D Punishment for cheating by personation by using computer resource (Inserted Vide ITA 2008)
Whoever, by means of any communication device or computer resource cheats by personation, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to
three years and shall also be liable to fine which may extend to one lakh rupees.]
Section 66 E. Punishment for violation of privacy. (Inserted Vide ITA 2008)
Whoever, intentionally or knowingly captures, publishes or transmits the image of a private area of any person without his or her consent, under circumstances violating the privacy of thatperson, shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three years or with fine not exceeding two lakh rupees, or with both
Explanation -
For the purposes of this section —
(a) ―transmit‖ means to electronically send a visual image with the intent that it be viewed
by a person or persons;
(b) ―capture‖, with respect to an image, means to videotape, photograph, film or record
by any means;
(c) ―private area‖ means the naked or undergarment clad genitals, pubic area, buttocks or
female breast;
(d) ―publishes‖ means reproduction in the printed or electronic form and making it available for public;
(e) – under circumstances violating privacy‖ means circumstances in which a person can have a reasonable expectation that—
(i) he or she could disrobe in privacy, without being concerned that an image of his private area was being captured; or
(ii) any part of his or her private area would not be visible to the public, regardless of whether that person is in a public or private place.]
Section 67. Publishing of information which is obscene in electronic form.
Whoever publishes or transmits or causes to be published in the electronic form, any material which is lascivious or appeal to the prurient interest or if its effect is such as to tend to deprave and corrupt persons who are likely, having regard to all relevant circumstances, to read, see or hear the matter contained or embodied in it, shall be punished on first conviction with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years and with fine which may extend to one lakh rupees and in the event of a second or subsequent conviction with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years and also with fine which may extend to two lakh rupees.
Section 68. Power of the Controller to give directions.
(1) The Controller may, by order, direct a Certifying Authority or any employee of such Authority to take such measures or cease carrying on such activities as specified in the order if those are necessary to ensure compliance with the provisions of this Act, rules or any regulations made thereunder.
(2) Any person who fails to comply with any order under sub-section (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to a fine not exceeding two lakh rupees or to both.
Section 69. Directions of Controller to a subscriber to extend facilities to decrypt information.
(1) If the Controller is satisfied that it is necessry or expedient so to do in the interest of the sovereignty or integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States or public order or for preventing incitement to the commission of any cognizable offence, for reasons to be recorded in writing, by order, direct any agency of the Government to intercept any information transmitted through any computer resource.
(2) The subscriber or any person in charge of the computer resource shall, when called upon by any agency which has been directed under sub-section (1), extend all facilities and technical assistance to decrypt the information.
(3) The subscriber or any person who fails to assist the agency referred to in sub-section (2) shall be punished with an imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years.
Section 70. Protected system.
(1) The appropriate Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare that any computer, computer system or computer network to be a protected system.
(2) The appropriate Government may, by order in writing, authorise the persons who are authorised to access protected systems notified under sub-section.
(3) Any person who secures access or attempts to secure access to a protected system in contravention of the provisions of this section shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years and shall also be liable to fine.
Section 71. Penalty for misrepresentation.
Whoever makes any misrepresentation, to, or suppresses any material fact from, the Controller or the Certifying Authority for obtaining any licennce or Digital Signature Certificate, as the case may be, shall be punished with imprisonment for a terms which may extend to two years, or with fine which may extend to one lakh rupees, or with both.
Section 72. Breach of confidentiality and privacy.
Save as otherwise provided in this Act or any other law for the time being in force, if any person who, in pursuance of any of the powers conferred under this Act, rules or regulations made thereunder, has secured access to any electronic record, book, register, correspondence, information, document or other material without the consent of the person concerned discloses such electronic record, book, register, correspondence, information, document or other material to any other person shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine which may extend to one lakh rupees, or with both.
Section 73. Penalty for publishing Digital Signature Certificate false in certain particulars.
(1) No person shall publish a Digital Signature Certificate or otherwise make it available to any other person with the knowledge that-
(a) the Certifying Authority listed in the certificate has not issued it; or
(b) the subscriber listed in the certificate has not accepted it; or
(c) the certificate has been revoked or suspended, unless such publication is for the purposes of verifying a digital signature created prior to such suspension or revocation.
(2) Any person who contravenes the provisions of sub-section (1) shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine which may extend to one lakh rupees, or with both.
Section 74. Publication for fraudulent purpose.
Whoever knowingly creates, publishes or otherwise makes available a Digital Signature Certificate for any fraudulent or unlawful purpose shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine which may extend to one lakh rupees, or with both.
Section 75. Act to apply for offence or contravention committed outside India.
(1) Subject to the provision of sub-section (2), the provisions of this Act shall apply also to any offence or contravention committed outside India by any person irrespective of his nationality.
(2) For the purposes of sub-section(1), this act shall apply to an offence or contravention committed outside India by any person if the act or conduct constituting located in India.
Section 76. Confiscation.
Any computer, computer system, floppies, compact disks, tape drives or nay other accessories related thereto, in respect of the if which any provision of this Act, rule, orders or regulations made thereunder has been or is being contravened, shall be liable to confiscation:
Provided that where it is established to the satisfaction of the court adjudicating the confiscation that the person in whose possession, power or control of any such computer, computer system, floppies, compact disks, tape drives or any other accessories relating thereto is found is not responsible for the contravention of the provisions of this Act, rules, orders or regulations made thereunder, the court may, instead of making an order for confiscation of such computer, computer system, floppies, compact disks, tape drives or any other accessories related thereto, make such other order authorised by this Act against the person contravening of the provisions of this Act, rules, orders or regulations made thereunder as it may think fit.
Section 77. Penalties and confiscation not to interfere with other punishments.
No penalty imposed or confiscation made under this Act shall prevent the imposition of any other punishment to which the person affected thereby is liable under any other law for the time being in force.
Section 78. Power to investigate offence.
Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), a police officer not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police shall investigate any offence under this Act.
Chapter XII – Network service providers not to be liable in certain cases
Section 79. Network service providers not to be liable in certain cases.
For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that no person providing any service as a network service provider shall be liable under this Act, rules or regulations made thereunder for any third party information or data made available by him if he proves that the offence or contravention was committed without his knowledge or that he had exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence for contravention.
Explanation- For the purposes of this section,- (a) “network service provider” means an intermediary;
(b) “third party information” means any information dealt with by a network service provider in his capacity as an intermediary.
Chapter XIII – Miscellaneous
Section 80. Power of police officer and other officers to enter, search, etc.
(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 any police officer, not below the rank of a Deputy Superintendent of Police or any other officer of the Central Government or a State
Government auithorised by the Central Government in this behalf may enter any public place and search and the Central Government in this behalf may enter any public place and search and arrest without warrant any person found therein who is reasonably suspected of having committed or of committing or of being about to commit any offence under this Act.
Explanation:- For the purposes of this sub-section, the expression “public place” includes any public conveyance, any hotel, any shop or any other place intended for use by, or accessible to the public.
(2) Where any person is arrested under sub-section (1) by an officer other than a police officer, such officer shall, without unnecessary delay, take or sent the person arrest before a magistrate having jurisdiction in the case or before the officer-in-charge of a police station.
(3) The provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 shall, subject to the provisions of this section, apply, so far as may be, in relation to any entry, search or arrest, made under this section.
Section 81. Act to have overriding effect.
The provisions of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything consistent therewith contained in any other law for the time being in force.
Section 82. Controller, Deputy Controller and Assistant Controllers to be public servants.
The Presiding Officer and other officer and employees of a Cyber appellate Tribunal, the Controller, the Deputy Controller and the Assistant Controllers shall be deemed to be public servants within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860).
Section 83. Power to give directions.
The Central Government may give directions to any State Government as to the carrying into execution in the State of any of the provisions of this Act or of any rule, regulation or order made thereunder.
Section 84. Protection of action taken in good faith.
No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against the Central Government, the State government, the Controller or any person acting on behalf of him, the Presiding Officer , adjudicating officers and the staff of the Cyber Appellate Tribunal for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done in pursuance of this Act or any rule, regulation or order made thereunder.
Section 85. Offences by companies.
(1) Where a person committing a contravention of any of the provisions of this Act or of any rule, direction or order made thereunder is a company, every person who, at the time the contravention was committed, was in charge of, and was responsible to, the company for the conduct of business of the company as well as the company, shall be guilty of the contravention and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly:
Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall render any such person liable to punishment if he proves that the contravention took place without his knowledge or that he exercised all due diligence to prevent such contravention.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where a contravention of any of the provisions of this Act or of any rule, direction or order made thereunder has been committed by a company and it is proved that the contravention has taken place with the consent or connivance of, or is attributable to any neglect on the part of, any director, manager, secretary or other officer of the company, such director, manager, secretary or other officer shall also be deemed to be guilty of the contravention and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
Explanation.-For the purposes of this section- (a) “company” means and body corporate and includes a firm or other association of individuals; and
(b) “directors”, in relation to a firm, means a partner in the firm.
Section 86. Removal of difficulties.
(1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this Act, the Central Government may, by order published in the Official Gazette, make such provisions not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act as appear to it to be necessary or expedient for removing the difficulty;
Provide that no order shall be made under this section after the expiry of a period of two years from the commencement of this Act.
(2) Every order made under this section shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parliament.
Section 87. Power of Central Government to make rules.
(1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette and in the Electronic Gazette, make rules to carry out the provisions of this Act.
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or any of the following matter, namely:-
(a) the manner in which any information or matter may be authenticated by means of digital signature under section 5;
(b) the electronic form in which filing, issue, grant or payment shall be effected under sub-section (1) of section 6
(c) the manner and format in which electronic records shall be filed, or issued and the method of payment under sub-section (2) of section 6;
(d) the matters relating to the type of digital signature, manner and format in which it may be affixed under section 10;
(e) the security procedure for the purpose of creating secure electronic record and secure digital signature under section 16;
(f) the qualifications, experience and terms and conditions of service of controller, Deputy Controllers and Assistant Controller under section 17;
(g) other standards to be observed by the Controller under clause (b) of sub-section (2) of section 20;
(h) the requirements which an applicant must fulfil under sub-section (2) of section 21;
(i) the period of validity of licence granted under clause (a) of sub-section (3) of section 21;
(j) the form in which an application for licence may be made under sub-section 22;
(k) the amount of fees payable under clause (c)of sub-section (2)o of section 22;
(l) such other documents which shall accompany an application for licence under clause (d) of sub-section (2) of section 22;
(m) the form and the fee for renewal of a licence and the fee payable thereof under section 23;
(n) the amount of late fee payable under the proviso to section 23;
(o) the form in which application for issue of a Digital Signature Certificate my be made under sub-section (1) of section35;
(p) the fee to be paid to the Certifying Authority for issue of a Digital Signature Certificate under sub-section (2) of section 35;
(q) the manner in which the adjudicating officer shall hold inquiry under sub-section (1) of section 46;
(r) the qualification and experience which the adjudicating officer shall possess under sub-section (2) of section 46;
(s) the salary, allowances and the other terms and conditions of service of the Presiding Officer under section 52;
(t) the procedure for investigation of misbehaviour or incapacity of the Presiding Officer under sub-section (3) of section 54;
(u) the salary and allowances and other conditions of service of other officers and employees under sub-section (3) of section 56;
(v) the form in which appeal may be filed and the fee thereof under sub-section (3) of section 57;
(w) any other power of a civil court required to be prescribed under clause (g) of sub-section (2) of section 58; and
(x) any other matter which is required to be, or may be, prescribed.
(3) Every notification made by the Central Government under clause (f) of sub-section (4) of section 1 and every rule made by it shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parliament , while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modification in the notification or the rule or both Houses agree that the notification or the rule should not be made, the notification or the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be, so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule.
Section 88. Constitution of Advisory Committee.
(1) The Central Government shall, as soon as may be after the commencement of this Act, constitute a Committee called the Cyber Regulations Advisory Committee.
(2) The Cyber Regulations Advisory Committee shall consist of a Chairperson and such number of other official and non-official members representing the interests principal affected or having special knowledge of the subject-matter as the Central Government may deem fit.
(3) The Cyber Regulations Advisory Committee shall advise-
(a) the Central Government either generally as regards any rules or for any other purpose connected with this Act.
(4) There shall be paid to the non-official members of such Committee such traveling and other allowances as the Central Government may fix.
Section 89. Power of Controller to make regulations.
(1) The Controller may, after consultation with the Cyber Regulations Advisory Committee and with the previous approval of the Central Government, by notification in the Official Gazette, make regulations consistent with this Act and the rules made thereunder to carry out the purposes of this Act.
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such regulations may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:-
(a) the particulars relating to maintenance of data-base containing the disclosure record of every Certifying Authority under clause (m) of section 18;
(b) the conditions and restrictions subject to which the Controller may recoginse any foreign Certifying Authority under sub-section (1) of section 19;
(c) the terms and conditions subject to which a licence may be granted under clause (c) of sub-section (3) of section 21;
(d) other standards to be observed by a Certifying Authority under clause (d) of section 30;
(e) the manner in which the Certifying shall disclose the matters specified in sub-section (1) of section 34;
(f) the particulars of statement which shall accompany an application under sub-section (3) of section 35.
(g) the manner by which the subscriber communicate the compromise of private key to the Certifying Authority under sub-section (2) of section 42.
(3) Every regulations made under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parliament, while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modification in the regulation or both Houses agree that the regulation should not be made, the regulation shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that regulation.
Section 90. Power of State Government to make rules.
(1) The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules to carry out the provisions of this Act.
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:-
(a) the electronic form in which filing, issue, grant, receipt or payment shall be effected under sub-section (1) of section 6;
(b) for matters specified in sub-section (2) of section 6;
(c) any other matter which is required to be provided by rules by the State Government.
(3) Every rule made by the State Government under this section shall be laid , as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of the State Legislature where it consists of two Houses, or where such Legislature consists of one House, before that House.
Section 91. Amendment of Act 45 of 1860.
The Indian Penal Code shall be amended in the manner specified in the First Schedule to this Act.
Section 92. Amendment of Act 1 of 1872.
The Indian Evidence Act, 1872 shall be amended in the manner specified in the Second Schedule to this Act.
Section 93. Amendment of Act 18 of 1891.
The Bankers’ Books Evidence Act, 1891 shall be amended in the manner specified in the Third Schedule to this Act.
Section 94. Amendment of Act 2 of 1934.
The Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 shall be amended in the manner specified in the Fourth Schedule to this Act.
THE FIRST SCHEDULE
AMENDMENTS TO THE INDIAN PENAL CODE
1. After section 29, the following section shall be inserted, namely:- “29 A. Electronic record.- The words “electronic record” shall have the meaning assigned to them in clause (t) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Information Technology Act, 2000″.
2. In section 167, for the words “such public servant, charged with the preparation or translation of any document, frames or translates that document”, the words “such public servant, charged with the preparation or translation of any document or electronic record, frames, prepares or translates that document or electronic record” shall be substituted.
3. In section 172, for the words “produce a document in a Court of Justice”, the words “produce a document or an electronic record in a court of Justice” shall be substituted.
4. In section 173, for the words “to produce a document in a Court of Justice” , the words “to produce a document or electronic record in Court of Justice” shall be substituted.
5. In section 175, for the word “document” at both the places where it occurs, the words “document or electronic record” shall be substituted.
6. In section 192, for the words “makes any false entry in any book or record, or makes any document containing a false statement”, the words “makes any false entry in any book or record, or electronic record or makes any document or electronic recording containing a false statement ” shall be substituted.
7. In section 204, for the word “document” at both the places where it occurs, the words “document or electronic record” shall be substituted.
8. In section 463, for the words “Whoever makes any false documents or part of a document with intent to cause damage or injury”, the words “Whoever makes any false documents or false electronic record or party of a document or electronic record, with intent to cause damage or injury” shall be substituted.
9. In section 464,- (a) for the portion beginning with the words “A person is said to make a false document” and ending with the words “by reason of deception practised upon him, he does not know the contents of the documents or the nature of the alteration”, the following shall be substituted, namely:-
(a) makes, sign, seals or executes a document or part of a document;
(b) makes or transmits any electronic record or part of any electronic record;
(c) affixes any digital signature on any electronic record;
(d) makes any mark denoting the execution of a document or the authenticity of the digital signature, with the intention of causing it to be believed that such document or part of document, electronic record or digital signature was made, signed, sealed, executed, transmitted or affixed by or by the authority or a person by whom or by whose authority he knows that it was not made, signed, sealed, executed or affixed; or
Secondly-who, without lawful authority, dishonestly or fraudulently, by cancellation or otherwise, alters a document or an electronic record in any material part thereof, after it has been made, executed or affixed with digital signature either by himself or by any other person, whether such person be living or dead at the time of such alteration; or
Thirdly:- Who dishonestly or fraudulently causes any person, sign, seal, execute or alter a document or an electronic record or to affix his digital signature on any electronic record knowing that such person by reason of unsoundness of mind or intoxication cannot, or that by reason of deception practised upon him, he does not know the contents of the document or electronic record or the nature of the alteration”.
(b) after Explanation 2, the following Explanation shall be inserted at the end, namely:-
‘Explantion 3.- For the purposes of this section, the expression “affixing digital signature’ shall have the meaning assigned to it in clause (d) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
10. In section 466,-
(a) for the words “Whoever forges a document”, the words “Whoever forges a document or an electronic record” shall be substituted.
(b) the following Explanation shall be inserted at the end, namely:-
Explanation-For the purposes of this section, “register” includes any list, data or record of nay entries maintained in the electronic for as defined in clause ( r) of sub-section (1) of section2 of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
11. In section 468, for the words “document forged” , the words “document or electronic record forged” shall be substituted.
12. In section 469, for the words “intending that the document forged”, the words “intending that the document or electronic record forge” shall be substituted.
13. In section 470, for the word “document” in both the places where it occurs, the words “document or electronic record” shall be substituted.
14. In section 471, for the word “document” whenever it occurs, the words “document or electronic record” shall be substituted
15. In section 474, for the portion beginning with the words “Whoever has in his possession any document” and ending with the words ” if the document is one of the description mentioned in section 466 of this Code” the following shall be substitute, namely:-
“Whoever has in his possession any document or electronic record, knowing the same to be forged and intending that the same shall fraudulently or dishonestly be used as a genuine, shall, if the document or electronic record is one of the description mentioned in section 466 of this Code.”
16. In section 476, for the words ” any document”, the words “any document or electronic record” shall be substituted.
17. In section 477a, for the words “book, paper, writing” at both the places where they occur, the words “book, electronic record, paper, writing ” shall be substituted.
THE SECOND SCHEDULE
AMENDMENTS TO THE INDIAN EVIDENCE ACT, 1872
1. In section 3,-
(a) in the definition of “Evidence’, for the words “all document produced for the inspection of the Court”, the words “all documents including electronic records produced for the inspection of the Court” shall be substituted ;
(b) after the definition of “India, the following shall be inserted, namely:-
‘the expressions “Certifying Authority”, digital signature”, “Digital Signature Certificate”, “electronic form”, “electronic records”, “information”, “secure electronic record”, “secure digital signature” and “subscriber’ shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in the Information Technology Act, 2000.
2. IN section 17, for the words “oral or documentary,” words “oral or documentary or contained in electronic form’ shall be substituted.
3. After section 22, the following section shall be inserted, namely:- “22A”. When oral admission as to contents of electronic records are relevant.-
Oral admission as to contents of electronic records are not relevant, unless the genuineness of the electronic record produced is in question”.
4. In section 34, for the words “Entries in the books of account”, the words “Entries in the books of account, including those maintained in an electronic form” shall be substituted.
5. In section 35, for the word “record”, in both the places where it occurs, the words “record or an electronic record” shall be substituted.
6. For section 39, the following section shall be substituted, namely:- “39. What evidence to be given when statement forms part of a conversation, documents, electronic record, book or series of letters or papers.-When any statement of which evidence is given forms part of longer statement, or of a conversation or part of an isolated documents, or is contained in a document which forms part of a book, or is contained in part of electronic record or of a connected series of letters or papers, evidence shall be given of so much and no more of the statement, conversation, document, electronic record, book or series of letters or papers as the Court considers necessary in that particular case to the full understanding of the nature and effect of the statement, and of the circumstances under which it was made.”
7. After section 47, the following section shall be inserted, namely:- “47A. Opinion as to digital signature when relevant.- When the court has to form an opinion as to the digital signature of any person, the opinion of the Certifying Authority which has issued the digital signature Certificate is a relevant fact”
8. In section 59, for the words “contents of documents “the words” contents of documents or electronic records” shall be substituted.
9. After section 65, the following shall be inserted, namely:- “65A. Special provisions as to evidence relating to electronic record.-the contents of electronic records may be proved in accordance with the provisions of section 65B.
65B. Admissibility of electronic records.-(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, any information contained in an electronic record which is printed on a paper, stored, recorded or copies in optical or magnetic media produced by a computer (hereinafter referred to as the computer output) shall be deemed to be also a document, if the conditions mentioned in this section are satisfied in relation to the information and computer in question and shall be admissible in any proceedings, without further proof or production of the original, as evidence of any contents of the original or of any fact stated therein of which direct evidence would be admissible.
(2) The conditions referred to in sub-section (1) in respect of a computer output shall be the following, namely:- (a) the computer output containing the information was produced by the computer during the period over which the computer was used regularly to store or process information for the purposes of any activities regularly carried on over that period by the person having lawful control over the use of the computer;
(b) during the said period, information of the kind contained in the electronic record or of the kind from which the information so contained is derived was regularly fed into the computer in the ordinary course of the said activities;
(c) throughout the material part of the said period, the computer was operating properly or, if not; then in respect of any period in which it was not operating properly or was out of operation during that part of the period, was not such as to affect the electronic record or the accuracy of its contents;
(d) the information contained in the electronic record reproduces or is derived from such information fed into the computer in the ordinary course of the said activities.
(3) Where over any period, the function of storing or processing information for the purposes of any activities regularly carried on over that the period as mentioned in clause (a) of sub-section (2) was regularly performed by computers, whether- (a) by a combination of computers operating over that period; or
(b) by different computer operating in succession over that period; or
(c) by different combinations of computers operating in succession over that period; or
(d) in any other manner involving the successive operation over that period, in whatever order, of one or more computers and one or more combinations of computers, all the computers used for that purpose during that period shall be treated for the purposes of this section as constituting single computer, and references in this section to a computer shall be construed accordingly.
(4) In any proceedings where it is desired to give a statement in evidence by virtue of this section, a certificate doing any of the following things, that is to say-
(a) identifying the electronic record containing the statement and describing the manner in which it was produced;
(b) giving such particulars of any device involved in the production of that electronic record as may be appropriate for the purpose of showing that the electronic record was produced by a computer;
(c) dealing with any of the matters to which the conditions mentioned in sub-section (2) relate, and purporting to be signed by a person occupying a responsible official position in relation to the operation of the relevant device or the management of the relevant activities (whichever is appropriate) shall be evidence of any matter sufficient for a matter to be stated to the best of knowledge and belief of the person stating it.
(5) For the purposes of this section,-
(a) information shall be taken to be supplied to a computer if it is supplied thereto in any appropriate form and whether it is so supplied directly or (with or without intervention) by means of any appropriate equipment;
(b) whether in the course of activities carried on by any official, information is supplied with a view to its being stored or processed for the purposes of those activities by a computer operated otherwise than in the course of those activities, that information, in duly supplied to that computer shall be taken to be supplied to it those activities;
(c) a computer output shall be taken to have been produced by a computer whether it was produced by it directly or (with or without human intervention) by means of any appropriate equipment.
Explanation.-For the purposes of this section any reference to information being derived from other information shall be a reference to its being derived therefrom by calculation, comparison or any other process;
10. After section 67, the following section shall be inserted , namely:- “67. Proof as to digital signature.- Except in the case of a secure digital signature, if the digital signature of any subscriber is alleged to have been affixed to an electronic record the fact that such digital signature is the digital signature of the subscriber must be proved.’
11. After section 73, the following section shall be inserted, namely:- “73A. Proof as to verification of digital signature.-In order to ascertain whether a digital signature is that of the person by whom it purports to have been affixed, the Court may direct-
(a) that person or the Controller or the Certifying Authority to produce the Digital Signature Certificate;
(b) any other person to apply the public key listed in the Digital Signature Certificate and verify the digital signature purported to have been affixed by that person.”
Explanation .-For the purposes of this section, “Controller” means the Controller appointed under sub-section (1) of section 17 of the Information Technology Act, 2000.”
12. After section 81, the following section shall be inserted, namely:- “81A. Presumption as to Gazettes in electronic forms.-The Court shall presume the genuineness of every electronic record purporting to be the Official Gazette, or purporting to be electronic record directed by any law to be kept by person, if such electronic record is kept substantially in the form required by law and is produced from proper custody.”
13. After section 85, the following sections shall be inserted, namely:- “85A. Presumption as to electronic agreements.- The court shall presume that every electronic record purporting to be an agreement containing the digital signatures of the parties was so concluded by affixing the digital signature of the parties.
“85B. Presumption as to electronic records and digital signatures.-(1) IN any proceedings involving a secure digital signature, the Court shall presume unless the contrary is proved that-
(a) the secure digital signature is affixed by subscriber with the intention of signing or approving the electronic record;
(b) except in the case of a secure electronic record or a secure digital signature, nothing in this section shall create any presumption relating to authenticity and integrity of the electronic record or any digital signature.
85C. Presumption as to Digital Signature Certificates.-The Court shall presume, unless contrary is proved, that the information listed in a Digital Signature Certificate is correct, except for information specified as subscriber information which has not been verified, if the certificate was accepted by the subscriber .”
14. After section 88, the following section shall be inserted, namely:- “88A. Presumption as to electronic messages.- The Court may presume that b electronic message forwarded by the originator through an electronic mail server to the addresses to whom the message purports to be addressed corresponds with the message as fed into his computer for transmission; but the Court shall not make any presumption as to the person by whom such message was sent.”
Explanation.-for the purposes of this section, the expression “addressee’ and “originator” shall have the same meanings respectively assigned to them in clauses (b) and (za) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the information Technology Act, 2000.”
15. After section 90, the following section shall be inserted, namely:- “90 A. . Presumption as to electronic records five years old.-where any electronic record, purporting or proved to be five years old, is produced from any custody which the court in the particular case considers proper, the Court may presume that the digital signature which purports to be the digital signature of any particular person was so affixed by him or any person authorised by him this behalf.
Explanation.-Electronic records are said to be in proper custody if they are in the place in which, and under the care of the person with whom, they naturally be; but no custody is improper if it is proved to have had a legitimate origin, or the circumstances of the particular case are such as to render such and origin probable.
16. For section 131 the following section shall be substituted, namely:-
131. Production of documents or electronic records which another person, having possession, could refuse to produce.- No one shall be compelled to produce documents in his possession or electronic records under his control, which any other person would be entitled to refuse to produce if they wer in his possessions or control, unless such last-mentioned person consents to their production.”
THE THIRD SCHEDULE
AMENDMENTS TO THE BANKERS’ BOOKS EVIDENCE ACT,1891
1. In section2,- (a) for clause (3), the following clause shall be substituted, namely:- (3) “bankers” books “include ledgers, day-books, accounts-books and all other books used in the ordinary business of a bank whether kept in the written form or as printouts of date stored in floppy, disc, tape or any other form of electro-magnetic data storage device:
(b) for clause (8), the following clause shall be substituted, namely:- (8) “certified copy” means when the books of a bank,-
(a) are maintained in written form, a copy of any entry in such books together with a certificate written at the foot of such copy that it is true copy of such entry, that such entry is contained in one of the ordinary books of the bank and was made in the usual and ordinary course of business and that such book is still in the custody of the bank, and where copy was obtained by a mechanical or other process which in itself ensured the accuracy of the copy, a further certificate to that effect, but where the book from which the copy had been so prepared, a further certificate to that effect, each such certificate being dated and subscriber by the principal accountant or manger of the bank with his name and official title; and
(b) consist of printouts of data stored in a floppy, disc, tape or any other electro-magnetic data storage device, a printout of such entry or a copy of such entry or a copy of such printout together with such statements certified in accordance with the provisions of section 2A;
2. After section 2, the following section shall be inserted, namely:- “2A”.Conditions in the printout.-A printout of entry or a copy of printout referred to in sub-section (8) of section 2 shall be accompanied by the following, namely:-
(a) a certificate to the effect that it is a printout of such entry or a copy of such printout by the principal accountant or branch manager; and
(b) a certificate by a person in-charge of computer system containing a brief description of the computer system and the particulars of-
(A) the safeguards adopted by the system to ensure that data is entered or any other operation performed only by authorised person;
(B) the safeguards adopted to prevent and detect unauthorised change of data;
(C) the safeguards available to retrieve data that is lost due to systemic failure or any other reasons;
(D) the manner in which data is transferred from the system to removable media like floppies, discs, tapes or other electro-magnetic data storage devices;
(E) the mode of verification in order to ensure that data has been accurately transferred to such removable media;
(F) the mode of identification of such data storage devices;
(G) the arrangements for the storage and custody of such storage devices;
(H) the safeguards to prevent and detect any tampering with the system; and
(I) any other factor which will vouch for the integrity and accuracy of the system.
(c) a further certificate from the person in-charge of the computer system to the effect that to the best of his knowledge and belief, such computer system operated properly at the material time, he was provided with all the relevant data and the printout in question represents correctly, or is appropriately derived from, the relevant data.”
THE FOURTH SCHEDULE
AMENDMENT TO THE RESERVE BANK OF INDIA ACT, 1934
In the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 in section 58, in sub-section (2), after clause (p), the following clause shall be inserted, namely:- “(pp) the regulation of fund transfer through electronic means between the banks or between the banks and other financial institution referred to in clause (c) of section 45-I, including the laying down of the conditions subject to which banks and other financial institutions shall participate in such fund transfers, the manner of such fund transfers and the rights and obligations of the participants in such fund transfers.
November 30, 2014
Preamble
[9th August, 1952]
“An Act to regulate the profession of notaries.”
Be it enacted by Parliament as follows:
Section 1. Short title, extent and commencement.
[9th August, 1952]
“An Act to regulate the profession of notaries.”
Be it enacted by Parliament as follows:
(1) This Act may be called The Notaries Act, 1952
(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.
Section 2. Definitions In this Act unless the context otherwise requires.
(a) Omitted by Act 25 of 1968 (b) “Instrument” includes every document by which any right or liability is, or purpose to be, created, transferred, modified, limited, extended, suspended, extinguished or recorded. (c) “Legal Practitioner” means any advocate or agent of the supreme court to any advocate, vakil or attorney of any high court or any pleader authorised under any law for the time being in force to practice in any court of law (d) “Notary” means a person appointed as such under this act:
Provided that for a period of two years from the commencement of this Act it shall include also a person who, before such commencement, was appointed a notary public under the negotiable instruments in 1881 and is, immediately before such commencement, in practice in any part of India.
Provided further that in relation to the sat of Jammu and Kashmir the said period of two years shall be computed from the date on which this act comes into force in that State.
(e) “Prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this act. (f) “Register” means a register of notaries maintained by the government under section 4
(g) “State Government”, in relation to a Union Territory, means the administrator thereof.
Section 3. Power to appoint Notaries.
The Central Government, for the whole or any part of India, and any such State Government, for the whole or any part of State, may appoint as notaries, any legal practitioners or other persons who possess such qualifications as may be prescribed.
Section 4. Registers.
(1) The Central Government and every State Government shall maintain, in such form as may be prescribed, a register of the notaries appointed by that Government and entitled to practice as such under this act.
(2) Every such Register shall include the following particulars about the notary is entered therein, namely:-
(a) his full name, date of birth, residential and professional address.
(b) the date on which his name is entered in the register.
(c) his qualification , and
(d) any other particulars which may be prescribed.
Section 5. Entry of names in the Register and issue or renewal of certificates of practices.
(1) Every Notary who in ends to practice as such shall, on payment to the government appointing him of the prescribed fee, if any, be entitled.-
(a) to have his name entered in the Register maintained by that government under section 4, and
(b) to a certificate authorizing him to practice for a period of three years from the date on which the certificate is issued to him.
(2) Every such notary who wishes to continue to practice after the expiry of the period for which his certificate of practice has been issued under this section shall, on application made to the Government appointing him and payment of the prescribed fee, if any, be entitled to have his certificate renewed for three years at a time.
Section 6. Annual publication of lists of notaries.
The Central Government and, every State Government shall, during the month of January each year, publish in the Official Gazzette a list of notaries appointed by that Government and in practice at the beginning of that year together with such details pertaining to them as may be prescribed.
Section 7. seal of Notaries.
every Notary shall have and use, as occasion may arise, seal of such form and design as may be prescribed.
Section 8. Function of Notaries.
(1) A notary may do all or any of the following acts by virtue of his office , namely:-
(a) verify, authenticate, certify or attest the execution of any instrument.
(b) Present any promissory note, hundi or bill of exchange for acceptance or payment or demand better security.
(c) note to protest the dishonour by non acceptance or non payment of any promissory note, hundi, bill of exchange or protest for better security or prepare acts of honour under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, or serve notice of such note or protest.
(d) note and draw up ship’s protest, boat’s protest or protest relating to de moorage and other commercial matters.
(e) administer oath to, or take affidavit from, any person,
(f) prepare bottom and respondent bonds, charter parties and other mercantile documents.
(g) prepare, attest or authenticate any instrument intended to take effect in any country or place outside India in such form and language as many conform to the law of the place where such deed is intended to operate.
(h) translate, and verify the translation of, any document from one language to another.
(i) any other act which may be prescribed.
(2) No act specified in sub-section (1) shall be deemed to be a notaries act except when it is done by a notary under his signature and official seal.
Section 9. Bar of practice without certificate.
(1) Subject to the provision of this section, no person shall practice as a notary or do any notaries act under the official seal of notary unless he holds a certificate of practice in force issued to him under section 5.
Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall apply to the presentation of any promissory note, hundi or bill of exchange for acceptance or payment by the clerk of a notary acting on behalf of such notary.
(2) Nothing contained in sub-section (1) shall, until the expiry of two years from the commencement of this Act, apply to any such person as is referred to in the provision to clause (d) of section 2.
Provided that in relation to Jammu and Kashmir the said period of two years shall be computed from the date on which this act comes in to force in that state.
Section 10. Removal of names from the Register.
The Government appointing any notary may, by order, remove from the Register maintained by it under section 4, the names of the notary if he:-
(a) makes a request to that effect; or
(b) has not paid any prescribed fee required to be paid by him; or
(c) is an undischarged solvent; or
(d) has been found, upon inquiry in the prescribed manner, to be guilty of such professional or other misconduct as, in the opinion of the government, renders him unfit to practice as a notary.
Section 11. Construction of references to notaries public in other laws.
Any reference to a notary public in any other law shall be construed as a reference to a notary entitled to practice under this act.
Section 12. Penalty for falsely representing to be Notary, etc.
Any person who -
(a) falsely represents that he is a notary without being appointed as such, or
(b) practices as a notary or does any notaries act in contravention of section 9, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine, or with both.
Section 13. Cognizance of Offence.
(1) No court shall take cognizance of any offence committed by a notary in the exercise or purported exercise of his function under this act save upon complaint in writing made by an officer authorised by the Central Government or State Government by general or special order in this behalf.
(2) No Magistrate other than a Presidency Magistrate or a Magistrate of the first class shall try an offence punishable under this act.
Section 14. Reciprocal arrangements for recognition of notaries acts done by foreign notaries.
If the Central Government is satisfied that by law or practice of any country or place outside India, the notaries act done by notaries within India are recognised for all or any limited purposes in that country or place, the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare the notorial acts lawfully done by notaries within such country or place shall be recogniseed within India for all purposes or, as the case may be, for such limited purposes as may be notified in the notification.
Section 15. Power to make rules.
(1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules to carry out the purposes of this act.
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the forgoing power, such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:-
(a) the qualification of a notary, the form and manner in which applications for the appointment as a notary may be made and the disposal of such applications;
(b) the certificates, testimonials or proofs as to character, integrity, ability and competence which any person applying for appointment as a notary may be required to furnish;
(c) the fee payable for appointment as a notary and for the issue and renewal of sa certificate of practice, and exemption , whether wholly or in part, from such fees in specified classes of cases;
(d) the fees payable to a notary for doing any notarial act;
(e) the form of registers and the particulars to be entered therein;
(f) the form and design of the seal of notary;
(g) the manner in which inquiries into allegations of professional or other misconduct of notaries may be made;
(h) the acts which a notary may do in addition to those specified in section 8 and the manner in which a notary may perform his functions;
(i) any other matter which has to be, or may be prescribed.
(3) Every rule made by the central government under this act shall be laid as soon as may be after it is made, before each house of parliament, while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions and if before the expiry of session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule.
Section 16. Amendment of Act 26 of 1881.
Repealed by the repealing and Amending Act, 1957 (36 of 1957), section 2 and schedule I.
November 30, 2014
Section 1. SHORT TITLE, EXTENT AND COMMENCEMENT.
(1) This Act may be called the Gift-tax Act, 1958.
(2) 1 It extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
(3) It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 1st day of April, 1958.
Section 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—
1[***]
2[(ii) “Appellate Tribunal” means the Appellate Tribunal constituted under section 252 of the Income-tax Act;]
2[(iii) “assessee” means a person by whom gift-tax or any other sum of money is payable under this Act, and includes—
(a) every person in respect of whom any proceeding under this Act has been taken for the determination of gift-tax payable by him or by any other person or the amount of refund due to him or such other person;
(b) every person who is deemed to be an assessee under this Act;
(c) every person who is deemed to be an assessee in default under this Act;]
3[(iiia) “Assessing Officer” means the Assistant Commissioner or the Income-tax Officer who is vested with the relevant jurisdiction by virtue of directions or orders issued under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) of section 120 or any other provision of the Income-tax Act which apply for the purposes of gift-tax under section 7 of this Act, and also the Deputy Commissioner who is directed under clause (b) of sub-section (4) of the said section 120 to exercise or perform all or any of the powers and functions conferred on or assigned to the Assessing Officer under that Act;]
2[(iv) “assessment” includes re-assessment;
(iva) “ assessment year” means the period of twelve months commencing on the 1st day of April, every year;]
(v) “Board” means the 4[Central Board of Direct Taxes constituted under the Central Boards of Revenue Act, 1963 (54 of 1963))];
5[(va) “charitable purpose” includes relief of the poor, education, medical relief, and the advancement of any other object of general public utility 6[***];]
7[***]
8[***]
9[(vii) the experessions “company”, “Indian company” and “company in which the public are substantially interested” shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them under section 2 of the Income-tax Act;]
10[***]
(viii) “donee” means any person who acquires any property under a gift, and, where a gift is made to a trustee for the benefit of another person, includes both the trustee and the beneficiary;
(ix) “donor” means any person who makes a gift;
(x) “executor” means an executor or adiminstrator of the estate of a deceased person;
11[(xi) the expressions “firm”, “partner” and “partnership” shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them under section 2 of the Income-tax Act;]
(xii) “gift” means the transfer by one person to another of any existing movable or immovable property made voluntarily and without consideration in money or money’s worth, and 12[includes the transfer or conversion of any property referred to in section 4, deemed to be a gift under that section];
13[Explanation.—A transfer of any building or part thereof referred to in clause (iii), clause (iiia) or clause (iiib) of section 27 of the Income-tax Act, by the person who is deemed under the said clause to be the owner thereof made voluntarily and without consideration in money or money’s worth, shall be deemed to be a gift made by such person;]
14[***]
15[(xiv) “Income-tax Act” means the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961);]
16[***]
17[(xvib) “legal representative” has the meaning assigned to it in clause (11) of section 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908);]
18[***]
(xviii) “person” includes a Hindu undivided family or a company or an association or a body of individuals or persons, whether incorporated or not;
(xix) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(xx) “previous year”, in relation to any assessment year—
(a) in the case of an assessee 19[having no source of income, profits or gains or] having a source of income, profits or gains in respect of which there is no previous year under the Income-tax Act, means the twelve months ending on the 31st day of March immediately preceding the assessment year;
20[***]
(c) in the case of any other assessee, means the previous year as defined in 21[section 3] of the Income-tax Act if an assessment were to be made under that Act for that year:
22[Provided that where a person who has not been assessed under this Act for any assessment year makes a gift on a date which does not fall within a previous year as defined in sub-clause (a) 23[***] or sub-clause (c), the previous year shall be the twelve months ending on the 31st day of March immediately preceding the assessment;
24[***]]
(xxi) “principal officer”, used with reference to a company or any association of persons, means—
(a) the secretary and treasurer, manager, managing agent, managing director or agent of the company or association; or
(b) any person connected with the management of the affairs of the company or association upon whom the 25[Assesssing Officer] has served a notice of his intention of treating him as the principal officer thereof;
(xxii) “property” includes any interest in property, movable or immovable;
(xxiii) “taxable gifts” means gifts chargeable to gift-tax under this Act;
26[(xxiiia) territories to which this Act extends shall be deemed to include the Union territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Goa, Daman and Diu, and Pondicherry—
(a) as respects any period for the purposes of section 5; and
(b) as respects any period included in the previous year, for the purposes of making any assessment for the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1963, or for any subsequent year;]
(xxiv) “transfer of property” means any disposition, conveyance, assignment, settlement, delivery, payment or other alienation of property and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes—
(a) the creation of a trust in property;
(b) the grant or creation of any lease, mortgage, charge, easement, licence, power, partnership or interest in property;
(c) the exercise of a power of appointment 27[(whether general, special or subject to any restrictions as to the persons in whose favour the appointment may be made)] of property vested in any person; not the owner of the property, to determine its disposition in favour of any person other than the donee of the power; and
(d) any transaction entered into by any person with intent thereby to diminish directly or indirectly the value of his own property and to increase the value of the property of any other person;
28[(xxv) the expressions “Chief Commissioner”, “Director-General”, “Commissioner”, “Commissioner (Appeals)”, “Director”, 29[“Additional Director of Income-tax”, “Additional Commissioner of Income-tax”, “Additional Commissioner of Income-tax (Appeals)”, “Deputy Director”,] “Deputy Commissioner”, “Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)”, “Assistant Commsissioner”, “Income-tax Officer”, “Tax Recovery Officer” and “Inspector of Income-tax” shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them under section 2 of the Income-tax Act.]
—————
1. Clause (i) omitted by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 162(a) as amanded by Act 26 of 1988, sec. 88 (j) (i) (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
2. Subs. by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 2(a) (w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
3. Ins. by Act 4 of 1988, Sec. 162 (b) as amended by Act 26 of 1988, sec. 88(j)(i) (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
4. Subs. by Act 54 of 1963, sec. 5, for “Central Board of Revenue constituted under the Central Board of Revenue Act, 1924 (4 of 1924)” (w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
5. Ins. by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 2(b) (w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
6. The words “not involving the carrying on of any activity for profit” omitted by Act 67 of 1984, sec. 71(w.e.f. 1-4-1984).
7. Clause (vi) omitted by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 162 (c)(i) as amended by Act 26 of 1988, sec. 88 (j) (iii) (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
8. Clause (via) omitted by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 162 (c) (i) as amended by Act 26 of 1988, sec. 88 (j) (iii) (w.e.f. 1-4-1988). Earlier clause (via) was ins. by Act 29 of 1977, sec. 39 and Sch. V (w.e.f. 10-7-1978).
9. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 162 (d) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
10. Clause (viia) omitted by Act 4 of 1988 sec. 162 (c)(i) as amended by Act 26 of 1988, sec. 88(j) (iii) (w.e.f. 1-4-1988). Earlier clause (viia) was ins. by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 2 (c) (w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
11. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 162 (e) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
12. Subs. by Act 32 of 1971, sec. 37 (a), for “includes the transfer of any property deemed to be a gift under section 4 (w.e.f. 1-4-1972).
13. Ins. by Act 11 of 1987, sec. 90 (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
14. Clause (xiii) omitted by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 162 (c) (i) as amended by Act, 26 of 1988, sec. 88(j) (iii) (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
15. Subs. by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 2(d) (w.e.f 1-4-1963).
16. Clauses (xv), (xvi) and (xvia) omitted by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 162 (c) (i) as amended by Act 26 of 1988, sec. 88(j) (iii) (w.e.f 1-4-1988). Earlier clause (xvia) was ins. by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 2 (e) (w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
17. Ins. by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 2(e).
18. Clause (xvii) Omitted by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 162 (c) (ii) as amended by Act 26 of 1988, sec. 88(j) (iii) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989)
19. Ins. by Act 12 of 1959, sec. 27 (i) (w.e.f. 1-4-1959).
20. Sub-clause (b) omitted by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 162(f) (i) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
21. Subs. by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 2(f) (ii), for “Clause (ii) of section 2” (w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
22. Two provisons were ins. by Act 12 of 1959, sec. 27(ii) (w.e.f. 1-4-1959).
23. The words “or sub-clause (b)” omitted by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 162 (f) (ii) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
24. Second Proviso omitted by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 162(f) (iii) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
25. Subs by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “Gift-tax Officer” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
26. Ins. by Taxation Laws (Extension to Union Territories) Regulation, 1963 (w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
27. Ins. by Act 44 of 1980, sec. 42(a) (w.e.f. 1-4-1980).
28. Ins. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 162 (g) as amended by Act 26 of 1988, sec. 88(j)(iv) (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
29. Ins. by Act 32 of 1994, sec. 54 (w.e.f. 1-6-1994).
Section 3. CHARGE OF GIFT-TAX.
1[(1)] Subject to the other provisions contained in this Act, there shall be charged for every 2[assessment year] commencing on and from the 1st day of April, 1958, 3[but before the 1st day of April, 1987,] a tax (hereinafter referred to as gift-tax) in respect of the gifts, if any, made by a person during the previous year (other than gifts made before the 1st day of April, 1957) at the rate or rates specified in 4[Schedule I].
2[(2) 6[Subject to the other provisions (including provisions for the levy of additional gift-tax) contained in this Act], there shall be charged for every assessment year commencing on and from the 1st day of April, 1987, gift-tax in respect of the gifts, if any, made by a person during the previous year, at the rate of thirty per cent. on the value of all taxable gifts.]
\7[(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (2), the provisions of this Act shall cease to apply and shall have no effect whatsoever in respect of any gift made on or after the 1st day of October, 1998.]
—————
1. Section 3 re-numbered as sub-section (1) thereof by Act 23 of 1986, sec. 41 (w.e.f. 1-4-1987).
2. Subs. by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 3, for “financial year” (w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
3. Ins. by Act 23 of 1986, sec. 41 (a) (w.e.f. 1-4-1987).
4. Subs. by Act 3 of 1989, sec. 79, for “Schedule” (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
5. Ins by Act 23 of 1986, sec. 41 (b) (w.e.f. 1-4-1987).
6. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 163, for “Subject to the other
provisions contained in this Act”, (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
7. Ins. by Act 21 of 1998, sec. 75 (w.e.f. 1-10-1998).
Section 4. GIFTS TO INCLUDE CERTAIN TRANSFERS.
1(1) For the purposes of this Act, -
(a) where property is transferred otherwise than for adequate consideration, the amount by which the 2value of the property as on the date of the transfer and determined in the manner laid down in Schedule II exceeds the value of the consideration shall be deemed to be a gift made by the transferor :
3Provided that nothing contained in this clause shall apply in any case where the property is transferred to the Government or where the value of the consideration for the transfer is determined or approved by the Central Government or the Reserve Bank of India;
(b) where property is transferred for a consideration which, having regard to the circumstances of the case, has not passed or is not intended to pass either in full or in part from the transferee to the transferor, the amount of the consideration which has not passed or is not intended to pass shall be deemed to be a gift made by the transferor;
(c) 38 where there is a release, discharge, surrender, forfeiture or abandonment of any debt, contract or other actionable claim or of any interest in property by any person, the value of the release, discharge, surrender, forfeiture or abandonment to the extent to which it has not been found to the satisfaction of the 4Assessing Officer to have been bona fide, shall be deemed to be a gift made by the person, responsible for the release, discharge, surrender, forfeiture or abandonment;
(d) where a person absolutely entitled to property causes or has caused the same to be vested in whatever manner in himself and any other person jointly without adequate consideration and such other person makes an appropriation from or out of the said property, the amount of the appropriation used for the benefit of the person making the appropriation or for the benefit of any other person shall be deemed to be a gift made in his favour by the person who causes or has caused the property to be so vested;
5(e) where a person who has an interest in property as a tenant for a term or for life or a remainderman surrenders or relinquishes his interest in the property or otherwise allows his interest to be terminated without consideration or for a consideration which is not adequate, the value of the interest so surrendered, relinquished or allowed to be terminated or, as the case may be, the amount by which such value exceeds the consideration received, shall be deemed to be a gift made by such person.
6(2) where in the case of an individual being a member of a Hindu undivided family, any property having been the separate property of the individual has been converted by the individual into property belonging to the family through the act of impressing such separate property with the character of property belonging to the family or throwing it into the common stock of the family (such property being hereafter in this sub-section referred to as the converted property), then, notwithstanding anything contained in any other provision of this Act or any other law for the time being in force, for the purpose of computation of the taxable gifts made by the individual, the individual shall be deemed to have made a gift of so much of the converted property as the members of the Hindu undivided family other than such individual would be entitled to, if a partition of the converted property had taken place immediately after such conversion.
—————
1. Section 4 re-numbered as sub-section (1) thereof by Act 32 of 1971, sec. 37 (b) (w.e.f. 1-4-1972).
2. Subs. by Act 49 of 1991, sec. 84, for “market value of the property at the date of the transfer”. (w.e.f. 1-4-1992).
3. Ins. by Act 25 of 1975, sec. 29 (w.r.e.f. 1-4-1974).
4. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “Gift-tax Officer” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
5. Ins. by Act 44 of 1980, sec. 42 (b) (w.e.f. 1-4-1980).
6. Ins. by Act 32 of 1971, sec. 37 (b) (w.e.f. 1-4-1972).
Section 5. EXEMPTION IN RESPECT OF CERTAIN GIFTS.
(1) Gift-tax shall not be charged under this Act in respect of gifts made by any person-
(i) of immovable property situate outside the territories to which this Act extends;
(ii) of movable property situate outside the said territories unless the person -
(a) being an individual, is a citizen of India and is ordinarily resident in the said territories; or
(b) not being an individual, is resident in the said territories, during the previous year in which the gift is made;
1[(iia) being an individual who is not resident in India, to any person resident in India, of foreign currency or other foreign exchange [as defined, respectively, in clause (c) and clause (d) of section 2 of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1947 (7 of 1947)] remitted from a country outside India in accordance with the provisions of the said Act, and any rules made thereunder, during the period commencing on the 26th day of October, 1965, and ending on the 28th day of February, 1966 or such later date as the Central Government may, by notification in Official Gazette, specify in this behalf.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, the expression “resident in India” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Income-tax Act;]
2[(iib) being a person resident outside India, out of the moneys standing to his credit in a Non-resident (External) Account in any bank in India in accordance with the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1973 (46 of 1973), and any rules made thereunder.
Explanation—For the purposes of this clause, “person resident outside India” has the meaning assinged to it in clause (q) of section 2 of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1973 (46 of 1973);
(iic) being a citizen of India, or a person of Indian origin, who is not resident in India, to any relative of such person in India, of convertible foreign exchange remitted from a country outside India in accordance with the provisisons of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1973 (46 of 1973), and any rules made thereunder.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause and clause (iid),—
(a) a person shall be deemed to be of Indian origin if he or either of his parents or any of his grand-parents was born in undivided India;
(b) “convertible foreign exchange” means foreign exchange which is for the time being treated by the Reserve Bank of India as convertible foreign exchange for the purposes of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1973 (46 of 1973), and any rules made thereunder;
(c) “relative” has the meaning assigned to it in clause (41) of section 2 of the Income-tax Act;
(d) “resident in India” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Income-tax Act;
(iid) being a citizen of India or a person of Indian origin, who is not resident in India, to any relative of such person in India of property in the form of 3[any foreign exchange asset as defined in clause (b) of section 115C of the Income-tax Act];]
4[(iie) being an individual who is a non-resident Indian, once out of the moneys standing to his credit in an account opened and operated in accordance with the Non-resident (Non-repatriable) Rupee Deposit Scheme, 1992.
- —For the purposes of this clause, “non-resident Indian” shall have the meaning assigned to it in clause (e) of section 115C of the Income-tax Act;]
(iii) of property in the form of savings certificates issued by the Central Government, which that Government, by notification in the Official Gazette, exempts from gift-tax;
5[***]
6[(iiib) of property in the form of Special Bearer Bonds, 1991;]
7[(iiic) 8[being an individual or a Hindu undivided family, of property in the form of such Capital Investment Bonds] as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf subject to a maximum of rupees ten lakhs in value in the aggregate in one or more previous years:
Provided that the exemption conferred by this clause shall be available only to a person who has initially subscribed to the said Bonds;]
9[(iiid) being an individual or a Hindu undivided family, of property in the form of such Relief Bonds, as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf subject to a maximum of rupees five lakhs in value in the aggregate in one or more previous years:
Provided that the exemption conferred by this clause shall be available only to a person who has initially subscribed to the said Bonds;]
10[(iiie) being an individual who is a non-resident Indian, 11[of property in the form of the bonds specified under sub-clause (iid) of clause (15) of section 10 of the Income-tax Act:
Provided that] where an individual, who is a non-resident Indian in any previous year in which the bonds are acquired, becomes a resident in India in any subsequent year, the provisions of this clause shall apply in respect of the gifts of property referred to in this clause in such subsequent year or any year thereafter.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, the expressions—
12[***]
(b) “non-resident Indian” shall have the meaning assigned to it clause (e) of section 115C of the Income-tax Act;]
(iv) to the Government or any local authority 13[or any authority referred to in clause (20A) of section 10 of the Income-tax Act];
(v) to any institution or fund established 14[or deemed to be established] for a charitable purpose to which the provisions of 15[section 80G] of the Income-tax Act apply;
16[(va) (i) to such temple, mosque, gurdwara, church or other place as has been notified by the Central Government for the purposes of 17[clause (b) of sub-section (2) of section 80G of the Income-tax Act]; or
(ii) by way of settlement on trust, of property the income from which, according to the deed of settlement, is to be used exclusively in connection with the temple, mosque, gurdwara, church or other place specified therein and notified as aforesaid;]
18[***]
(vii) to any relative dependent upon him for support and maintenance, on the occasion of the marriage of the relative, subject to a maximum of rupees 19[one hundred thousand] in value in respect of the marriage of each such relative;
20[***]
(x) under a will;
(xi) in contemplation of death;
(xii) for the education of his children, to the extent to which the gifts are proved to the satisfaction of the 21[Assessing Officer] as being reasonable having regard to the circumstances of the case;
(xiii) being an employer, to any employee by way of bonus, gratuity or pension or to the dependents of a deceased employee, to the extent to which the payment of such bonus, gratuity or pension is proved to the satisfaction of the 27[Assessing Officer] as being reasonable having regard to the circumstances of the case and is made solely in recognition of the services rendered by the employee;
21[***]
(xv) to any person in charge of any such Bhoodan or Sampattidan movement as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify;
23[***]
24[(1A) Any reference in clause (v) 25[***] of sub-section (1) to charitable purpose in relation to a gift made on or after the 1st day of April, 1964, shall be construed as not including a purpose the whole or substantially the whole of which is of a religious nature.]
(2) Without prejudice to the provisions contained in sub-section (1), gift-tax shall not be charged under this Act in respect of gifts made by any person during the previous year, subject to a maximum of rupees 26[thirty thousand] in value.
27[***]
Explanation.—For the purposes of this section,—
(a) an individual shall be deemed to be ordinarily resident in the territories to which this Act extends during the previous year in which the gift is made if during that year he is regarded as a resident but not as not ordinarily resident 28[within the meaning of section 6 of the Income-tax Act, subject to the modification that references in that section to India shall be construed as references to the territories to which this Act extends];
(b) a Hindu undivided family firm or other association of persons shall be deemed to be resident in the territories to which this Act extends during any previous year unless, during that year, the control and management of its affairs was situated wholly outside the said territories;
(c) a company shall be deemed to be resident in the territories to which this Act extends during the previous year, if—
(i) it is a company formed and registered under the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), or is an existing company within the meaning of that Act; or
(ii) during that year, the control and management of that company was situated wholly in the said territories;
(d) “gifts made in contemplation of death” has the same meaning as in section 191 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925 (39 of 1925).
—————
1. Ins. by Act 13 of 1966, sec. 41 (a)(i) (w.e.f. 1-4-1966).
2. Ins. by Act 14 of 1982, sec. 38 (a) (w.e.f. 1-4-1983).
3. Subs. by Act 11 of 1983, sec. 42 (a) (w.e.f. 1-4-1984).
4. Ins. by Act 38 of 1993, sec. 41 (a)(i) (w.e.f. 1-4-1993).
5. Clause (iiia) omitted by Act 23 of 1986, sec. 42 (a) (w.e.f. 1-4-1987). Earlier clause (iiia) was ins. by Act 41 of 1975, sec. 7 (w.e.f. 4-12-1965).
6. Ins. by Act 7 of 1981, sec. 7 (w.e.f. 12-1-1981).
7. Ins. by Act 14 of 1982, sec. 38(b) (w.e.f 1-4-1983).
8. Subs. by Act 11 of 1983, sec. 42(b), for “of property in the form of such Capital Investment Bonds”, (w.e.f. 1-4-1983).
9. Ins. by Act 26 of 1988, sec. 67 (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
10. Ins. by Act 3 of 1989, sec. 80 (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
11. Subs. by Act 49 of 1991, sec. 85 (a) (w.e.f. 1-4-1991).
12. Clause (a) omitted by Act 49 of 1991, sec. 85(b) (w.e.f. 1-4-1991).
13. Ins. by Act 66 of 1976, sec. 28 (w.e.f. 1-4-1977).
14. Ins. by Act 21 of 1973, sec. 21(w.e.f. 1-4-1974).
15. Subs. by Act 32 of 1971, sec. 37 (c)(i) for “section 88”(w.r.e.f. 1-4-1968).
16. Ins. by Act 10 of 1965, sec. 71 (i) (w.e.f. 1-4-1965).
17. Subs. by Act 32 of 1971, sec. 37 (c) (ii), for “sub-section (6) of section 88 of the Income-tax Act” (w.r.e.f. 1-4-1968).
18. Clause (vi) omitted by Act 23 of 1986, sec. 42 (a) (w.e.f. 1-4-1987).
19. Subs. by Act 32 of 1994, sec. 55, for “thirty thousand” (w.e.f. 1-4-1995). Earlier the words “thirty thousand” were subs. by Act 38 of 1993, sec. 41(a) (ii), for “ten thousand” (w.e.f. 1-4-1994).
20. Clauses (viii) and (ix) omitted by Act 23 of 1986, sec. 42 (a) (w.e.f. 1-4-1987).
21. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “Gift-tax Officer” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988)
22. Clause (xiv) omitted by Act 23 of 1986, sec. 42 (a) (w.e.f 1-4-1987).
23. Clause (xvi) omitted by Act 23 of 1986, sec. 42 (a) (w.e.f. 1-4-1987). Earlier clause (xvi) was omitted by Act 54 of 1972, sec. 6 (w.e.f. 1-4-1973) and was ins. by Act 67 of 1984, sec. 72 (w.e.f. 1-4-1985).
24. Ins. by Act 15 of 1965, sec. 21 (i) (w.e.f. 1-4-1964).
25. The words “or clause (vi)” omitted by Act 23 of 1986, sec. 42 (b) (w.e.f. 1-4-1987).
26. Subs. by Act 38 of 1993, sec. 41(b), for “twenty thousand” (w.e.f. 1-4-1994). Earlier the words “twenty thousand” were subs. by Act 23 of 1986, sec. 42(c), for “five thousand” (w.e.f. 1-4-1987) and the words “five thousand” were subs. by Act 19 of 1970, sec. 27(a), for “ten thousand” (w.e.f. 1-4-1971), and still earlier the words “ten thousand” were subs. by Act 13 of 1966, sec. 41(a) (ii) (w.e.f. 1-4-1966). Prior to this the words “five thousand” were subs. by Act 5 of 1964, sec. 52 (a) (ii), for “ten thousand”(w.e.f. 1-4-1964).
27. Sub-section (3) omitted by Act 23 of 1986, sec. 42 (d) (w.e.f. 1-4-1987).
28. Subs. by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 4 (ii), for “in the taxable territories within the meaning of the Income-tax Act” (w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
Section 6. VALUE OF GIFTS, HOW DETERMINED.
1[6. Value of gifts, how determined.— (1) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), the value of any property, other than cash, transferred by way of gift shall, for the purpose of this Act, be its value as on the date on which the gift was made and shall be determined in the manner laid down in Schedule II.
(2) Where a person makes a gift which is not revocable for a specified period, the value of the property gifted shall be the capitalised value of the income from such property during the period for which the gift is not revocable.
—————
1. Subs. by Act 3 of 1989, sec. 81 (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
Section 6A.
1[***]
—————
1. Section 6A omitted by Act 23 of 1986, sec. 43 (w.e.f. 1-4-1987). Earlier Section 6A was ins. by Act 5 of 1964, sec. 52(b) (w.e.f. 1-4-1964) and was omitted by Act 13 of 1966, sec. 41 (b) (w.e.f. 1-4-1966) and was again ins. by Act 41 of 1975, sec. 106 (w.e.f. 1-4-1976).
Section 7. GIFT-TAX AUTHORITIES AND THEIR JURISDICTION.
1[7. Gift-tax authorities and their jurisdiction.—The income-tax authorities specified in section 116 the Income-tax Act shall be the gift-tax authorities for the purposes of this Act and every such authority shall exercise the powers and perform the functions of a gift-tax authority under this Act in respect of any person within his jurisdiction, and for this purpose his jurisdiction under this Act shall be the same as he has under the Income-tax Act by virtue of orders or directions issued under section 120 of that Act (including orders or directions assigning concurrent jurisdiction) or under any other provision of that Act.
Explanation : For the purposes of this section, the gift-tax authority having jurisdiction in relation to a person who has no income assessable to income-tax under the Income-tax Act shall be the gift-tax authority having jurisdiction in respect of the area in which that person resides.
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1. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 164 (w.e.f.1-4-1988).
Section 7A.
[OMITTED BY THE DIRECT TAX LAWS (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1987, W.E.F. 1-4-1988]
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1. Section 7A omitted by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 165 (w.e.f. 1-4-1988). Earlier section 7A was ins. by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 5 (w.e.f. 1-4-1963) and was subs. by Act 20 of 1967, sec. 35 (b) (w.e.f. 1-4-1967) and again subs. by Act 67 of 1984), sec. 78 (w.e.f. 1-10-1984).
Section 7AA.
[OMITTED BY THE DIRECT TAX LAWS (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1987, W.E.F. 1-4-1988]
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1. Section 7AA omitted by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 165 (w.e.f. 1-4-1988). Earlier section 7AA was ins. by Act 41 of 1975, sec. 108 (w.e.f. 1-10-1975) and was subs. by Act 29 of 1977), sec. 39 and Sch. V, Pt. III (w.e.f. 10-7-1978).
Section 7B.
[OMITTED BY THE DIRECT TAX LAWS (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1987, W.E.F. 1-4-1988]
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1. Section 7B omitted by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 165 (w.e.f. 1-4-1988). Earlier section 7B was subs. along with section 7A by Act 20 of 1967. sec. 35 (b) (w.e.f. 1-4-1967).
Section 8. CONTROL OF GIFT-TAX AUTHORITIES.
1[8. Control of gift-tax authorities. Section 118 of the Income-tax Act and any notification issued thereunder shall apply in relation to the control of gift-tax authorities as they apply in relation to the control of the corresponding income-tax authorities, except to the extent to which the Board may, by notification in the Official Gazette, otherwise direct in respect of any gift-tax authority.
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1. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 164 (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
Section 8A.
[OMITTED BY THE DIRECT TAX LAWS (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1987, W.E.F. 1-4-1988]
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Section 9. INSTRUCTIONS TO SUBORDINATE AUTHORITIES.
1[9. Instructions to subordinate authorities. —(1) The Board may, from time to time, issue such orders, instructions and directions to other gift-tax authorities as it may deem fit for the proper administration of this Act, and such authorities and all other persons employed in the execution of this Act shall observe and follow such orders, instructions and directions of the Board :
Provided that no such orders, instructions or directions shall be issued -
(a) so as to require any gift-tax authority to make a particular assessment or to dispose of a particular case in a particular manner; or
(b) so as to interfere with the discretion of the Deputy Commissioner (Appeals) or Commissioner (Appeals) in the exercise of his appellate functions.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, -
(a) the Board may, if it considers it necessary or expedient so to do, for the purpose of proper and efficient management of the work of assessment and collection of revenue, issue, from time to time (whether by way of relaxation of any of provisions of sections 213, 14, 15, 16B, 17 and 34 or otherwise), general or special orders in respect of any class of cases, setting forth directions or instructions (not being prejudicial to assessees) as to the guidelines, principles or procedures to be followed by the gift-tax authorities in the work relating to assessment or collection of revenue or the initiation of proceedings for the imposition of penalties and any such order may, if the Board is of opinion that it is necessary in the public interest so to do, be published and circulated in the prescribed manner for general information;
(b) the Board may, if it considers it desirable or expedient so to do for avoiding genuine hardship in any case or class of cases, by general or special order, authorise any gift-tax authority, not being a Deputy Commissioner (Appeals) or Commissioner (Appeals) to admit an application or claim for any exemption, deduction, refund or any other relief under this Act after the expiry of the period specified by or under this Act for making such application or claim and deal with the same on merits in accordance with law.
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1. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 164 (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
2. Subs. by Act 12 of 1990, sec. 59, for “15, 16” (w.e.f. 1-4-1990).
Section 9A.
[OMITTED BY THE DIRECT TAX LAWS (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1987, W.E.F. 1-4-1988]
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1. Section 9A omitted by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 165 (w.e.f. 1-4-1988). Earlier section 9A was ins. by Act 53 of 1962, sec.6 (w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
Section 10. JURISDICTION OF ASSESSING OFFICERS AND POWER TO TRANSFER CASES.
1[10. Jurisdiction of Assessing Officers and power to transfer cases.—(1) The provisions of sections 124 and 127 of the Income-tax Act shall, so far as may be, apply for the purposes of this Act as they apply for the purposes of the Income-tax Act, subject to the modifications specified in sub-section (2).
(2) The modifications referred to in sub-section (1) shall be the following namely :-
(a) in section 124 of the Income-tax Act, – (i) in sub-section (3), references to the provisions of the Income-tax Act shall be construed as references to the corresponding provisions of the Gift-tax Act; (ii) sub-section(5) shall be omitted;
(b) in section 127 of the Income-tax Act, in the Explanation below sub-section 2[(4)], references to proceedings under the Income-tax Act shall be construed as including references to proceedings under the Gift-tax Act.]
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1. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 164 (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
2. Subs. by Act 3 of 1989, sec. 82, for “(5)” (w.r.e.f. 1-4-1988).
Section 11.
[OMITTED BY THE DIRECT TAX LAWS (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1987, W.E.F. 1-4-1988]
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1. Section 11 omitted by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 165 (w.e.f. 1-4-1988). Earlier section 11 was subs. by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 7 (w.e.f. 1-4-1963) and was again subs. by Act 20 of 1967, sec. 35 (c) (w.e.f. 1-4-1967).
Section 11A.
[OMITTED BY THE DIRECT TAX LAWS (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1987, W.E.F. 1-4-1988]
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1. Section 11A omitted by Act 4 of 1988,sec. 165 (w.e.f. 1-4-1988). Earlier section 11A was ins. by Act 19 of 1970, sec. 27 (b) after renumbering the then section 11A as section 11AA (w.e.f. 1-4-1970)and the original section 11A was ins. by Act 20 of 1967, sec. 35 (f) (w.e.f.1-4-1967).
Section 11AA.
[OMITTED BY THE DIRECT TAX LAWS (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1987, W.E.F. 1-4-1988]
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1. Section 11AA omitted by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 165 (w.e.f. 1-4-1988). Earlier section 11AA was ins. as section 11A by Act 20 of 1967, sec. 35 (f) (w.e.f. 1-4-1967) and the original section 11A was re-numbered as section 11AA by Act 19 of 1970, sec. 27 (b) (w.e.f. 1-4-1970).
Section 11B.
[OMITTED BY THE DIRECT TAX LAWS (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1987, W.E.F. 1-4-1988]
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1. Section 11B omitted by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 165 (w.e.f. 1-4-1988). Earlier section 11A was subs. along with section 11 by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 7 (w.e.f. 1-4-1963), and section 11A was renumbered as section 11B by Act 20 of 1967, sec. 35 (7) (w.e.f. 1-4-1967).
Section 12.
[OMITTED BY THE DIRECT TAX LAWS (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1987, W.E.F. 1-4-1988]
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1. Section 12 omitted by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 165 (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
Section 13. RETURN OF GIFTS.
1(1) Every person who during a previous year has made any taxable gifts, or is assessable in respect of the taxable gifts made by any other person under this Act, which, in either case, exceeded the maximum amount not chargeable to gift-tax, shall, on or before the 30th day of June of the corresponding assessment year, furnish a return of such gifts in the prescribed form and verified in the prescribed manner and setting forth such other particulars as may be prescribed.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provision of this Act, a return which shows the amount of taxable gifts below the maximum amount which is not chargeable to tax shall be deemed never to have been furnished :
Provided that this sub-section shall not apply to a return furnished in response to notice under section 16.
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1. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 166(a) (w.e.f.1-4-1989).
2. Sub-section (3) omitted by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 166(b) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
Section 14. RETURN AFTER DUE DATE AND AMENDMENT OF RETURN.
1 RETURN AFTER DUE DATE AND AMENDMENT OF RETURN. – If any person has not furnished a return within the time allowed under sub-section (1) of section 13 or by a notice issued under clause (i) of sub-section (4) of section 15, or having furnished a return discovers any omission or wrong statement therein, he may furnish a return or a revised return, as the case may be, at any time before the expiry of one year from the end of the relevant assessment year or before the completion of the assessment, whichever is earlier :
Provided that -
(a) where such return or revised return relates to the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1987, or any earlier assessment year, it may be furnished at any time up to and inclusive of the 31st day of March, 1990 or before the completion of the assessment, whichever is earlier;
(b) where such return or revised return relates to the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1988, it may be furnished at any time up to and inclusive of the 31st day of March, 1991 or before the completion of the assessment, whichever is earlier.
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1. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 167 (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
Section 14A. RETURN BY WHOM TO BE SIGNED.
1 RETURN BY WHOM TO BE SIGNED. The return made under section 13 or section 14 shall be signed and verified -
2 (a) in the case of an individual, – (i) by the individual himself;
(ii) where he is absent from India, by the individual or by some person duly authorised by him in this behalf;
(iii) where he is mentally incapacitated from attending to his affairs, by his guardian or any other person competent to act on his behalf; and
(iv) where, for any other reason, it is not possible for the individual to sign the return, by any person duly authorised by him in this behalf :
Provided that in a case referred to in sub-clause (ii) or sub-clause (iv), the person signing the return holds a valid power of attorney from the individual to do so, which shall be attached to the return;
(b) in the case of a Hindu undivided family, by the Karta, and, where the Karta is absent from India or is mentally incapacitated from attending to his affairs, by any other adult member of such family;
(c) in the case of a company, by the managing director thereof or where for any unavoidable reason such managing director is not able to sign and verify the return, or where there is no managing director, by any director thereof :
Provided that where the company is not resident in India, the return may be signed and verified by a person who holds a valid power of attorney from such company to do so, which shall be attached to the return :
Provided further that, -
(a) where the company is being wound up, whether under the orders of the Court or otherwise, or where any person has been appointed as the receiver of any assets of the company, the return shall be signed and verified by the liquidator referred to in sub-section (1) of section 178 of the Income-tax Act;
(b) where the management of the company has been taken over by the Central Government or any State Government under any law, the return of the company shall be signed and verified by the principal officer thereof.
(d) in the case of a firm, by the managing partner thereof or where for any unavoidable reason such managing partner is not able to sign and verify the return, or where there is no managing partner as such, by any partner thereof, not being a minor;
(e) in the case of any other association, by any member of the association or the principal officer thereof; and
(f) in the case of any other person, by that person or by some person
competent to act on his behalf.
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1. Ins. by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 11 (w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
2. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 168 (i) (w.e.f.1-4-1989).
3. Clauses (c) and (d) subs. by Act 41 of 1975, sec. (111) (w.e.f. 1-4-1976).
4. Two provisions by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 168 (ii) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
Section 14B. SELF-ASSESSMENT.
1SELF-ASSESSMENT. (1) Where any tax is payable on the basis of any return furnished under section 13 or under section 14 or in response to a notice under clause (i) of sub-section (4) of section 15 or under section 16, after taking into account the amount of tax, if any, already paid under any provision of this Act, the assessee shall be liable to pay such tax, together with interest payable under any provision of this Act for any delay in furnishing the return, before furnishing the return and the return shall be accompanied by proof of payment of such tax and interest.
Explanation : Where the amount paid by the assessee under this sub-section falls short of the aggregate of the tax and interest as aforesaid, the amount so paid shall first be adjusted towards the interest payable as aforesaid and the balance, if any, shall be adjusted towards the tax payable.
(2) After the regular assessment under section 15 has been made, any amount paid under sub-section (1) shall be deemed to have been paid towards such regular assessment.
(3) If any assessee fails to pay the whole or any part of such tax or interest or both in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (1), he shall, without prejudice to any other consequences which he may incur, be deemed to be an assessee in default in respect of the tax or interest or both remaining unpaid and all the provisions of this Act shall apply accordingly.
(4) The provisions of this section shall apply in respect of assessment for the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1989 and subsequent assessment years.
2[(4)The provisions of this section shall apply in respect of assessment for the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1989, and subsequent assessment years.]
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1. Ins. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 169 (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
2. Ins. by Act 36 of 1989, sec. 31 (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
Section 15. ASSESSMENT.
1[15. Assessment.—(1) (a) Where a return has been made under section 13 or section 14 or in response to a notice under clause (i) of sub-section (4),—
(i) if any tax or interest is found due on the basis of such return after adjustment of any amount paid by way of tax or interest, an intimation shall be sent to the assessee specifying the sum so payable, and such intimation shall be deemed to be a notice issued under section 31 and all the provisions of this Act shall apply accordingly; and
(ii) if any refund is due on the basis of such return, it shall be granted to the assessee;
Provided that in computing the tax or interest payable by, or refundable to the assessee, the following adjustments shall be made in the taxable gifts declared in the return, namely:—
i) any arithmetical errors in the return, accounts or documents accompanying it shall be rectified;
(ii) any exemption or deduction, which on the basis of the information available in such return, accounts or documents, is prima facie admissible but which is not claimed or made in the return, shall be allowed;
(iii) any exemption or deduction claimed or made in the return, which, on the basis of the information available in such return, accounts or documents, is prima facie inadmissible, shall be disallowed:
2[Provided further that where adjustments are made under the first proviso, an intimation shall be sent to the assessee, notwithstanding that no tax or interest is found due from him after making the said adjustments:]
3[4[Provided also] that an intimation for any tax or interest due under this clause shall not be sent after the expiry of two years from the end of the assessment year in which the gifts were first assessable.]
(b) Where, as a result of an order made under 5[sub-section (3) or sub-section (5) of this section or section 16 or section 22 or section 23 or section 24 or section 26 or section 28 or section 34 relating to any earlier assessment year and passed subsequent to the filing of the return referred to in clause (a) there is any variation in the exemption or deduction claimed or made in the return, and as a result of which,—
(i) if any tax or interest is found due, an intimation shall be sent to the assessee specifying the sum so payable, and such intimation shall be deemed to be a notice of demand issued under section 31 and all the provisions of this Act shall apply accordingly; and
(ii) if any refund is due, it shall be granted to the assessee:
Provided that an intimation for any tax or interest due under this clause shall not be sent after the expiry of four years from the end of the financial year in which any such order was passed.
6[(1A) (a) Where in the case of any person, the taxable gift, as a result of the adjustments made under 7[the first proviso] to clause (a) of sub-section (1), exceeds the taxable gift declared in the return by any amount, the Assessing Officer shall,—
(i) further increase the amount of tax payable under sub-section (1) by an additional gift-tax calculated at the rate of twenty per cent. of the tax payable on such excess amount and specify the additional gift-tax in the intimation to be sent under sub-clause (i) of clause (a) of sub-section (1);
(ii) where any refund is due under sub-section (1), reduce the amount of such refund by an amount equivalent to the additional gift-tax calculated under sub-clause (i).
(b) Where as a result of an order under section 22 or section 23 or section 24 or section 26 or section 28 or section 34, the amount on which additional gift-tax is payable under clause (a) has been increased or reduced, as the case may be, the additional gift-tax shall be increased or reduced accordingly, and,—
(i) in a case where the additional gift-tax is increased, the Assessing Officer shall serve on the assessee a notice of demand under section 31;
(ii) in a case where the additional gift-tax is reduced, the excess amount paid, if any, shall be refunded.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-section, “tax payable on such excess amount” means the difference between the tax on the taxable gift and the tax that would have been chargeable had such taxable gift been reduced by the amount of adjustments.]
8[(1B) Where an assessee furnishes a revised return under section 14 after the issue of an intimation, or the grant of refund, if any, under sub-section (1) of this section, the provisions of sub-sections (1) and (1A) of this section shall apply in relation to such revised return and—
(i) the intimation already sent for any gift-tax, additional gift-tax or interest shall be amended on the basis of the said revised return and where any amount payable by way of gift-tax, additional gift-tax or interest specified in the said intimation has already been paid by the assessee then, if any such amendment has the effect of—
(a) enhancing the amount already paid, the intimation amended under this clause shall be sent to the assessee specifying the excess amount payable by him and such intimation shall be deemed to be a notice of demand issued under section 31 and all the provisions of this Act, shall apply accordingly;
(b) reducing the amount already paid, the excess amount paid shall be refunded to the assessee;
(ii) the amount of the refund already granted shall be enhanced or reduced on the basis of the said revised return and where the amount of refund already granted is—
(a) enhanced, only the excess amount of refund due to the assessee shall be paid to him;
(b) reduced, the excess amount so refunded shall be deemed to be the tax payable by the assessee and an intimation shall be sent to the assessee specifying the amount so payable, and such intimation shall be deemed to be a notice of demand issued under section 31 and all the provisions of this Act shall apply accordingly:
Provided that an assessee, who has furnished a revised return under section 14 after the service upon him of the intimation under sub-section (1) of this section, shall be liable to pay additional gift-tax in relation to the adjustments made under the first proviso to clause (a) of sub-section (1) and specified in the said intimation, whether or not he has made the said adjustments in the revised return.]
(2) 9[Where a return has been made under section 13 or section 14 or in response to a notice under clause (i) of sub-section (4) of this section, the Assessing Officer shall, if he] considers it necessary or expedient to ensure that the assessee has not omitted to disclose any taxable gift or has not understated the amount or value of any such gift or has not under-paid the tax in any manner 10[serve on the assessee] a notice requiring him, on a date to be specified therein, either to attend at the office of the Assessing Officer or to produce, or cause to be produced there, any evidence on which the assessee may rely in support of the return:
11[Provided that no notice under this sub-section shall be served on the assessee after the expiry of twelve months from the end of the month in which the return is furnished.]
(3) On the date specified in the notice issued under sub-section (2) or, as soon afterwards as may be, after hearing such evidence as the assessee may produce and such other evidence as the Assessing Officer may require on specified points, and after taking into account all relevant material which he has gathered, the Assessing Officer shall, by order in writing, assess the value of taxable gifts made by the assessee and determine the sum payable by him on the basis of such assessment.
(4) For the purposes of making an assessment under this Act, the Assessing Officer may serve, on any person who has made a return under section 13 or section 14 or in whose case the time allowed under sub-section (1) of section 13 for furnishing the return has expired, a notice requiring him, on a date to be specified therein,—
(i) where such person has not made a return 12[within the time allowed under sub-section (1) of section 13], to furnish a return of the taxable gifts made by him or of the taxable gifts made by any other person in respect of which he is assessable under this Act during the previous year, in the prescribed form and verified in the prescribed manner and setting forth such other particulars as may be prescribed, or
(ii) to produce or cause to be produced such accounts, records or other documents as the Assessing Officer may require.
(5) If any person—
(a) fails to make the return required under sub-section (1) of section 13 and has not made a return or a revised return under section 14, or
(b) fails to comply with all the terms of a notice issued under sub-section (2) or sub-section (4), the Assessing Officer, after taking into account all relevant material which he has gathered, shall, after giving such person an opportunity of being heard, estimate the vlaue of taxable gifts to the best of his judgment and determine the sum payble by such person on the basis of such assessment:
Provided that such opportunity shall be given by the Assessing Officer by serving a notice calling upon the person to show cause, on a date and time to be specified in the notice, why the assessment should not be completed to the best of his judgment:
Provided further that it shall not be necessary to give such opportunity in a case where a notice under sub-section (4) has been issued prior to the making of the assessment under this sub-section.
(6) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 6, for the purpose of making an assessment under this Act, 13[where under the provisions of section 6 read with Schedule II, the fair market value of any property transferred by way of gift is to be taken into account in such assessment,] the Assessing Officer may refer the valuation of such property to the Valuation Officer,—
(a) in a case where the value of the property as returned is in accordance with the estimate made by a registered valuer, if the Assessing Officer is of opinion that the value so returned is less than its fair market value;
(b) in any other case, if the Assessing Officer is of opinion—
(i) that the fair market value of the property exceeds the value of the property as returned by more than such percentage of the value of the property as returned or by more than such amount as may be prescribed in this behalf; or
(ii) that having regard to the nature of the property and other relevant circumstances, it is necessary so to do,and where any such reference is made, the provisions of sub-sections (2), (3), (4), (5) and (6) of section 16A, clauses (ha) and (i) of sub-section (1) and sub-sections (3A) and (4) of section 23, sub-section (5) of section 24, section 34AA, section 35 and section 37 of the Wealth-tax Act, 1957 (27 of 1957), shall, with the necessary modifications, apply in relation to such reference as they apply in relation to a reference made by the Assessing Officer under sub-section (1) of section 16A of that Act.
Explanation.—In this sub-section, “Valuation Officer” has the same meaning as in clause (r) of section 2 of the Wealth-tax Act, 1957 (27 of 1957)].
14[(7) Where a regular assessment under sub-section (3) or sub-section (5) is made,—
(a) any tax or interest paid by the assessee under sub-section (1) shall be deemed to have been paid towards such regular assessments;
(b) in no refund is due on regular assessment or the amount refunded under sub-section (1) exceeds the amount refundable on regular assessment, the whole or the excess amount so refunded shall be deemed to be tax payable by the assessee and the provisions of this Act shall apply accordingly.
(8) The provisions of this section, except those of sub-section (6), as they stood immediately before their amendment by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987 (4 of 1988), shall apply to and in relation to any assessment for the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1988, or any earlier assessment year and references in this section to the other provisions of this Act shall be construed as references to those provisions as for the time being in force and applicable to the relevant assessment year.]
15[Explanation.—An intimation sent to the assessee under sub-section (1) or sub-section (IB) shall be deemed to be an order for the purposes of sub-section (1) of section 24.]
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1. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 170 (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
2. Ins. by Act 36 of 1989, sec. 32 (a)(i)(1) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
3. Ins. by Act 3 of 1989, sec. 83 (a) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
4. Subs. by Act 36 of 1989, for “Provided further” (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
5. Ins. by Act 36 of 1989, sec. 32 (a)(ii)(w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
6. Ins. by Act 3 of 1989, sec. 83 (b) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
7. Subs. by Act 36 of 1989, sec. 32 (b) for “ the proviso” (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
8. Ins. by Act 12 of 1990, sec. 60(a) (w.r.e.f. 1-4-1989).
9. Subs. by Act 36 of 1989, sec. 32 (c)(i), for “In a case referred to in sub-section (1) if the Assessing Officer” (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
10. Subs. by Act 36 of 1989, sec. 32 (c) (ii), for “he shall serve on the assessee” (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
11. Subs. by Act 49 of 1991, sec. 86 (a) (w.e.f. 1-10-1991).
12. Subs. by Act 12 of 1990, sec. 60 (b), for “before the end of the relevant assessment year”(w.e.f. 1-4-1990).
13. Ins. by Act 3 of 1989, sec. 83 (c) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
14. Sub-sections (7) and (8) ins. by Act 36 of 1989, sec. 32 (d) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
15. Ins. by Act 49 of 1991, sec. 86 (b) (w.e.f. 1-10-1991).
Section 16. GIFT ESCAPING ASSESSMENT.
1(1) If the Assessing Officer 2has, reasons to believe] that the taxable gifts in respect of which any person is assessable under this Act (whether made by him or by any other person) have escaped assessment for any assessment year (whether by reason of under-assessment or assessment at too low a rate or otherwise), he may, subject to the other provisions of this section and section 16A, serve on such person a notice requiring him to furnish within such period, 3[***], as may be specified in the notice, a return in the prescribed form and verfied in the prescribed manner, setting forth the taxable gifts made by him or by such other person during the previous year mentioned in the notice, in respect of which he is assessable, along with such other particulars as may be required by the notice, and may proceed to assess or reassess such gifts and also any other taxable gifts in respect of which such person is assessable, which have escaped assessment and which come to his notice subsequently in the course of the proceedings under this section for the assessment year concerned (hereafter in this section referred to as the relevant assessment year); and the provisions of this Act shall, so far as may be apply as if the return were a return required under section 13:
Provided that where an assessment under sub-section (3) of section 15 or this section has been made for the relevant assessment year, no action shall be taken under this section after the expiry of four years from the end of the relevant assessment year, unless any taxable gift chargeable to tax has escaped assessment for such assessment year by reason of the failure on the part of the assessee to make a return under section 13 or section 14 or in response to a notice issued under sub-section (4) of section 15 or this section or to disclose fully and truly all material facts necessary for his assessment for that assessment year :
4Provided further that the Assessing Officer shall, before issuing any notice under this sub-section, record his reasons for doing so.
Explanation : Production before the Assessing Officer of account books or other evidence from which material evidence could with due diligence have been discovered by the Assessing Officer will not necessarily amount to disclosure within the meaning of the foregoing proviso.
(1A) No notice under sub-section (1) shall be issued for the relevant assessment year, – (a) in a case where an assessment under sub-section (3) of section 15 or sub-section (1) of this section has been made for such assessment year, -
(i) if four years have elapsed from the end of the relevant assessment year, unless the case falls under sub-clause (ii) or sub-clause (iii);
(ii) if four years, but not more than seven years, have elapsed from the end of the relevant assessment year, unless the value of taxable gifts chargeable to tax which have escaped assessment amounts to or is likely to amount to rupees fifty thousand or more for that year;
(iii) if seven years, but not more than ten years, have elapsed from the end of the relevant assessment year, unless the value of taxable gifts chargeable to tax which have escaped assessment amounts to or is likely to amount to rupees one lakh or more for that year;
(b) in any other case, – (i) if four years have elapsed from the end of the relevant assessment year, unless the case falls under sub-clause (ii) or sub-clause (iii);
(ii) if four years, but not more than seven years, have elapsed from the end of the relevant assessment year, unless the value of taxable gifts chargeable to tax which have escaped assessment amounts to or is likely to amount to rupees twenty-five thousand or more for that year;
(iii) if seven years, but not more than ten years, have elapsed from the end of the relevant assessment year, unless the value of taxable gifts chargeable to tax which have escaped assessment amounts to or is likely to amount to rupees fifty thousand or more for that year.
Explanation : For the purposes of sub-section (1) and sub-section (1A), the following shall also be deemed to be cases where taxable gifts chargeable to tax have escaped assessment, namely :-
(a) where no return of taxable gifts has been furnished by the assessee although the taxable gifts made by him or the taxable gifts made by any other person in respect of which he is assessable under this Act during the previous year exceeded the maximum amount which is not chargeable to gift-tax;
(b) where a return of taxable gifts has been furnished by the assessee but no assessment has been made and it is noticed by the Assessing Officer that the assessee has understated the amount or value of the taxable gifts or has claimed excessive exemption or deduction in the return.
(1B)(a) In a case where an assessment under sub-section (3) of section 15 or sub-section (1) of this section has been made for the relevant assessment year, no notice shall be issued under sub-section (1) 5by an Assessing Officer who is below the rank of Assistant Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner, unless the Deputy Commissioner is satisfied, on the reasons recorded by such Assessing Officer, that it is a fit case for the issue of such notice :
Provided that, after the expiry of four years from the end of the relevant assessment year, no such notice shall be issued unless the Chief Commissioner or Commissioner is satisfied, on the reasons recorded by the Assessing Officer aforesaid, that it is a fit case for the issue of such notice.
(b) In a case, other than a case falling under clause (a), no notice shall be
issued under sub-section (1) by an Assessing Officer, who is below the rank of Deputy Commissioner, after the expiry of four years from the end of the relevant assessment year, unless the Deputy Commissioner is satisfied, on the reasons recorded by such Assessing Officer, that it is a fit case for the issue of such notice.
(2) Nothing contained in this section limiting the time within which any proceedings for assessment or reassessment may be commenced shall apply to an assessment or reassessment to be made on the assessee or any person in consequence of or to give effect to any finding or direction contained in an order under section 22, section 23, section 24, section 26 or section 28, 6or by a court in any proceedings under any other law.
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1. Sub-sections (1), (lA) and (1B) subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 171 (a), for sub-section (1) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
2. Subs. by Act 3 of 1989, sec. 84 (a), for “for, reasons to be recorded by him in writing, is of the opinion”.
3. The words “not being less than thirty days”, omited by the Finance Act, 2003, sec. 101 (w.r.e.f. 1-4-1989).
4. Ins. by Act 3 of 1989, sec. 84 (b) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
5. Subs. by Act 12 of 1990, sec. 61 (w.e.f. 1-4-1990)
6. Ins. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 171(b) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
Section 16A. TIME LIMIT FOR COMPLETION OF ASSESSMENT AND REASSESSMENT.
1[16A. Time-limit for completion of assessment and reassessment.—2[(1) No order of assessment shall be made under section 15 at any time after the expiry of 3[two years] from the end of the assessment year in which the gifts were first assessable:
4[Provided that,—
(a) where the gifts were first assessable in the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1987, or any ealier assessment year, such assessment may be made on or before the 31st day of March, 1991;
(b) where the gifts were first assessable in the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1988, such assessment may be made on or before the 31st day of March, 1992].
(2) No order of assessment or reassessment shall be made under section 16 after the expiry of two years from the end of the financial year in which the notice under sub-section (1) of that section was served:
Provided that,—
(i) where the notice under clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 16 was served during the financial year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1985, or the 1st day of April, 1986 such assessment or reassessment may be completed on or before the 31st day of March,1990;
(ii) where the notice under clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 16 relates to the assessment for the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1985, or the 1st day of April, 1986, such assessment or reassessment may be completed on or before the 31st day of March, 1990 or the expiry of two years from the end of the financial year in which such notice was served, whichever is later.
Explanation.—References to section 16 in the proviso shall be construed as references to that section as it stood before its amendment by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987 (4 of 1988).]
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-sections (1) and (2), an order of fresh assessment in pursuance of an order passed on or after the 1st day of April, 1975, under section 22, section 23 or section 24, setting aside or cancelling an assessment, may be made at any time before the expiry of 5[two years] from the end of the financial year in which the order under section 22 or section 23 is received by the 6[Chief Commissioner or Commissioner] or, as the case may be, the order under section 24 is passed by the Commissioner:
7[Provided that where the order setting aside or cancelling the assessment was passed during the financial year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1985 or the 1st day of April, 1986, the order of fresh assessment may be made on or before the 31st day of March, 1990.]
(4) The provisions of sub-sections (1) and (2) shall not apply to the assessment or reassessment made on the assessee in consequence of, or to give effect to, any finding or direction contained in an order under section 22, section 23, section 24, section 26, or section 28 or in an order of any Court in a proceeding otherwise than by way of appeal or reference under this Act and such assessment or reassessment may, subject to the provisions of sub-section (3), be completed at any time.
Explanation 1.—In computing the period of limitation for the purposes of this section—
(i) the time taken in reopening the whole or any part of the proceeding or in giving an opportunity to the assessee to be reheard under the proviso to section 38, or
(ii) the period during which the assessment proceeding is stayed by an order or injunction of any Court,shall be excluded:
8[Provided that where immediately after the exclusion of the aforesaid time or period, the period of limitation referred to in sub-sections (1), (2) and (3) available to the Assessing Officer for making an order of assessment or reassessment, as the case may be, is less than sixty days, such remaining period shall be extended to sixty days and the aforesaid period of limitation shall be deemed to be extended accordingly.]
Explanation 2.—Where, by an order referred to in sub-section (4), any gift is excluded from the taxable gifts for an assessment year in respect of an assessee, then, an assessment of such gift for another assessment year shall, for the purposes of sub-section (2) of section 16 and this section, be deemed to be one made in consequence of, or to give effect to, any finding or direction contained in the said order.]
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1. Ins. by Act 41 of 1975, sec. 112 (w.e.f. 1-10-1975).
2. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 172 (a) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
3. Subs. by Act 13 of 1989, sec. 31(a), for “one year” (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
4. Subs. by Act 13 of 1989, sec. 31(b) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
5. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 172 (b) (i), for “four years” (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
6. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “Commissioner” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
7. Ins. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 172 (b) (ii) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
8. Ins. by Act 49 of 1991, sec. 87 (w.e.f. 27-9-1991).
Section 16B. INTEREST FOR DEFAULTS IN FURNISHING RETURN OF GIFTS.
1[16B. Interest for defaults in furnishing return of gifts.—(1) Where a return of gifts for any assessment year under sub-section (1) of section 13 or section 14, or in response to a notice under clause (i) of sub-section (4) of section 15, is furnished after the 30th day of June of such year, or is not furnished, the assessee shall be liable to pay simple interest at the rate of two per cent. for every month or part of a month comprised in the period commencing on the 1st day of July of the assessment year, and,—
(a) where the return is furnished after the 30th day of June ending on the date of furnishing of the return; or
(b) where no return has been furnished, ending on the date of completion of the assessment under sub-section (5) of section 15, on the amount of tax payable on the taxable gifts as determined 2[under sub-section (1) of section 15 or] on regular assessment.
3[Explanation 1.—In this sub-section, “tax payable on the taxable gifts as determined under sub-section (1) of section 15” shall not include the additional gift-tax, if any payable under section 15.]
Explanation 2.—Where in relation to an assessment year the assessment is made for the first time under section 16, the assessment so made shall be regarded as a regular assessment for the purposes of this section.
4[Explanation 3.—In this sub-section, “tax payable on the taxable gifts as determined under sub-section (1) of section 15 or on regular assessment” shall, for the purposes of computing the interest payable under section 14B, be deemed to be tax payable on the taxable gifts as declared in the return.]
(2) The interest payable under sub-section (1) shall be reduced by the interest, if any, paid under section 14B towards the interest chargeable under this section.
(3) Where return of gifts for any assessment year, required by a notice under sub-section (1) of section 16 issued 5[after the determination of taxable gifts under sub-section (1) of section 15 or] after the completion of an assessment under sub-section (3) or sub-section (5) of section 15 or section 16, is furnished after the expiry of the time allowed under such notice, or is not furnished, the assessee shall be liable to pay simple interest at the rate of two per cent. for every month or part of a month comprised in the period commencing on the day immediately following the expiry of the time allowed as aforesaid, and,—
(a) where the return is furnished after the expiry of the time aforesaid, ending on the date of furnishing the return; or
(b) where no return has been furnished, ending on the date of completion of the reassessment under section 16,
on the amount by which the tax on the taxable gifts determined on the basis of such reassessment exceeds the tax on the taxable gifts as determined 6[under sub-section (1) of section 15 or] on the basis of the earlier assessment aforesaid.
7[***]
(4) where, as a result of an order under section 22 or section 23 or section 24 or section 26 or section 28 or section 34, the amount of tax on which interest was payable under this section has been increased or reduced, as the case may be, the interest shall be increased or reduced accordingly, and,—
(i) in a case where the interest is increased, the Assessing Officer shall serve on the assessee a notice of demand in the prescribed form specifying the sum payable, and such notice of demand shall be deemed to be a notice under section 31 and the provisions of this Act shall apply accordingly, and
(ii) in a case where the interest is reduced, the excess interest paid, if any, shall be refunded.
(5) The provisions of this section shall apply in respect of assessments for the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1989, and subsequent assessment years.]
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1. Ins. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 173 (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
2. Ins. by Act 3 of 1989, sec. 85 (a) (i) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
3. Subs. by Act 3 of 1989, sec. 85 (a) (ii) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
4. Ins. by Act 3 of 1989, sec. 85(a)(iii) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
5. Ins. by Act 3 of 1989, sec. 85 (b) (i) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989.)
6. Ins. by Act 3 of 1989, sec. 85(b) (ii) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
7. Explanation omitted by Act 3 of 1989, sec. 85 (b) (iii) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
Section 17. PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO FURNISH RETURNS, TO COMPLY WITH NOTICES AND CONCEALMENT OF GIFTS, ETC.
1[17. Penalty for failure to furnish returns, to comply with notices and concealment of gifts, etc.—(1) If the 2[Assessing Officer], 3[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)], 4[Commissioner(Appeals)], 5[Chief Commissioner or Commissioner] or Appellate Tribunal, in the course of any proceedings under this Act, is satisfied that any person—
6[***]
(b) has 7[***] failed to comply with a notice under sub-section (2) or sub-section (4) of section 15; or
(c) has concealed the particulars of any gift or deliberately furnished inaccurate particulars thereof,he or it may, by order in writing, direct that such person shall pay by way of penalty—
8[***]
9[(ii) in the cases referred to in clause (b), in addition to the amount of gift-tax payable by him, a sum which shall not be less than one thousand rupees but which may extend to twenty-five thousand rupees, for each such failure;]
(iii) in the cases referred to in clause (c), in addition to any gift-tax payable by him, a sum which shall not be less than twenty per cent. but which shall not exceed one and half times the amount of the tax, if any, which would have been avoided if the return made by such person had been accepted as correct:
10[Provided that in cases referred to in clause (b), no penalty shall be imposable if the person proves that there was a reasonable cause for the failure referred to in that clause.]
11[Explanation.—Where any adjustment is made in the taxable gifts declared in the return under the proviso to clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 15 and additional gift-tax charged under that section, the provisions of this sub-section shall not apply in relation to the adjustments so made.]
(2) No order imposing a penalty under sub-section (1) shall be made unless the assessee has been heard or has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard.
12[(3) No order imposing a penalty under sub-section (1) shall be made,—
(i) by the Income-tax Officer, where the penalty exceeds ten thousand rupees;
(ii) by the Assistant Commissioner, where the penalty exceeds twenty thousand rupees,except with the prior approval of the Deputy Commissioner,]
(4) 13[A Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] 14[a Commissioner (Appeals)], a 15[Chief Commissioner or Commissioner] or the Appellate Tribunal] on making an order under this section imposing a penalty, shall forthwith send a copy of the same to the 16[Assessing Officer].
17[(5) No order imposing a penalty under this section shall be passed—
(i) in a case where the assessment to which the proceedings for imposition of penalty relate is the subject-matter of an appeal to the Deputy Commissioner (Appeals) or Commissioner (Appeals) under section 22 or an appeal to the Appellate Tribunal under sub-section (2) of section 23, after the expiry of the financial year in which the proceedings, in the course of which action for the imposition of penalty has been initiated, are completed, or six months from the end of the month in which the order of the Deputy Commissioner (Appeals) or the Commissioner (Appeals) or, as the case may be, the Appellate Tribunal is received by the Chief Commissioner or Commissioner, whichever is later;
(ii) in a case where the relevant assessment is the subject-matter of revision under sub-section (2) of section 24, after the expiry of six months from the end of the month in which such order of revision is passed;
(iii) in any other case, after the expiry of the financial year in which the proceedings, in the course of which action for the imposition of penalty has been initiated, are completed or six months from the end of the month in which action for imposition of penalty is initiated, whichever period expires later.
- —In computing the period of limitation for the purposes of this section,—
(i) the time taken in giving an opportunity to the assessee to be reheard under the proviso to section 38; and
(ii) any period during which a proceeding under this section for the levy of penalty is stayed by an order or injunction of any court, shall be excluded.
(6) The provisions of this section as they stood immediately before their amendment by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1989, shall apply to and in relation to any assessment for the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1988, or any earlier assessment year and references in this section to the other provisions of this Act shall be construed as references to those provisions as for the time being in force and applicable to the relevant assessment year.]—————
1. Subs. by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 14 (w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
2. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “Gift-tax Officer” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
3. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “Appellate Assistant Commissioner” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
4. Ins. by Act 29 of 1977, sec. 39 and Sch. v (w.e.f. 10-7-1978).
5. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “Commissioner” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
6. Clause (a) omitted by Act 3 of 1989, sec. 86 (a) (i) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
7. The words “without reasonable cause” omitted by Act 46 of 1986, sec. 40 (i) (w.e.f. 10-9-1986).
8. Clause (i) omitted by Act 3 of 1989, sec. 86 (a) (ii) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
9. Subs. by Act 3 of 1989, sec. 86 (a) (iii) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
10. Subs. by Act 3 of 1989, sec 86 (a)(iv) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989). Earlier it was ins. by Act 46 of 1986, sec. 40 (ii) (w.e.f. 10-9-1986)
11. Ins. by Act 3 of 1989, sec. 86 (a) (v) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
12. Subs. by Act 3 of 1989, sec. 86 (b) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
13. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161 for “An Appellate Assistant Commissioner” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
14. Ins. by Act 29 of 1977, sec. 39 and Sch. V (w.e.f. 10-7-1978).
15. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “Commissioner” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
16. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “Gift-tax Officer” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
17. Ins. by Act 3 of 1989, sec. 86(c) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
Section 17A. PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, SIGN STATEMENTS, FURNISH INFORMATION, ALLOW INSPECTION, ETC.
1 [17A. Penalty for failure to answer questions, sign statements, furnish information, allow inspection, etc.—(1) If a person, -
(a) being legally bound to state the truth of any matter touching the subject of his assessment, refuses to answer any question put to him by a gift-tax authority in the exercise of his powers under this Act; or
(b) refuses to sign any statement made by him in the course of any proceedings under this Act, which a gift-tax authority may legally require him to sign; or
(c) to whom a summons is issued under sub-section (1) of section 36, either to attend to give evidence or produce books of account or other documents at a certain place and time, omits to attend or produce the books of account or documents at the place and time, he shall pay, by way of penalty, a sum which shall not be less than five hundred rupees but which may extend to ten thousand rupees for each such default or failure :
Provided that no penalty shall be imposable under clause (c) if the person proves that there was reasonable cause for the said failure.
(2) If a person fails to furnish in due time any statement or information which such person is bound to furnish to the Assessing Officer under section 37, he shall pay, by way of penalty, a sum which shall not be less than one hundred rupees but which may extend to two hundred rupees for every day during which the failure continues :
Provided that no penalty shall be imposable under this sub-section if the person proves that there was a reasonable cause for the said failure.
(3) Any penalty imposable under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) shall be imposed, -
(a) in a case where the contravention, failure or default in respect of which such penalty is imposable occurs in the course of any proceeding before a gift-tax authority not lower in rank than a Joint Director or a Joint Commissioner, by such gift-tax authority;
(b) in any other case, by the Joint Director or the Joint Commissioner.
(4) No order under this section shall be passed by any gift-tax authority referred to in sub-section (3) unless the person on whom penalty is proposed to be imposed has been heard or has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard in the matter by such authority.
Explanation : In this section “gift-tax authority” includes a Director General, Director, Joint Director, Assistant Director or Valuation Officer while exercising the powers vested in a court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), when trying a suit in respect of the matters specified in sub-section (1) of section 36.
————
1. Section 17A Subs. by Act 3 of 1989, sec. 87 (w.e.f. 1-4-1989). Earlier it was ins. by Act 41 of 1975, sec. 114 (w.e.f. 1-4-1976) and was subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 174 (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
Section 18. REBATE ON ADVANCE PAYMENTS.
1 [18. Rebate on advance payments.—It a person making a taxable gift pays into the treasury within fifteen days of his making the gift any part of the amount of tax due on the gift calculated at the rates specified in the Schedule 2[or at the rate specified in sub-section (2) of section 3], he shall, at the time of assessment under section 15, be given credit—
(i) for the amount so paid; and
(ii) for a sum equal to one-ninth of the amount so paid, so however, that such sum shall in no case exceed one-tenth of the tax due on the gift.
Explanation.—If a person makes more than one taxable gift in the course of a previous year, the amount of tax due on any one of such gifts shall be the difference between the total amount of tax due on the aggregate value of all the taxable gifts so far made, including the taxable gift in respect of which tax has to be paid, calculated at the rates specified in the schedule or, as the case may be, 3[at the rate specified in sub-section (2) or section 3], and the total amount of tax on the aggregate value of all the gifts made during that year, excluding the taxable gift in respect of which tax has to be paid, calculated at the rates specified in the Schedule or, as the case may be, 4[at the rate specified in sub-section (2) of section 3].]
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1. Section 18 subs. by Act 41 of 1975, sec. 15 (w.e.f. 1-4-1976). Earlier it was subs. by Act 13 of 1960, sec. 17 (w.e.f. 1-4-1960).
2. Subs. by Act 23 of 1986, sec. 44(a) for “or, in a case where the provisions of section 6A are applicable to a gift, in the manner specified in that section” (w.e.f. 1-4-1987).
3. Subs. by Act 23 of 1986, sec. 44(b) for “in the manner specified in section 6A” (w.e.f. 1-4-1987).
4. Subs. by Act 23 of 1986, sec. 44(b) for “in the manner specified in section 6A” (w.e.f. 1-4-1987).
Section 18A. CREDIT FOR STAMP DUTY PAID ON INSTRUMENT OF GIFT.
1[18A. Credit for stamp duty paid on instrument of gift.—Where any stamp duty has been paid under any law relating to stamp duty in force in any State on an instrument of gift of property, the assessee shall be entitled to a deduction from the gift-tax payable by him of an amount equal to the stamp duty so paid or one-half of the gift-tax payable, before making the deduction under this section, whichever is less.
————
1. Section 18A subs. by Act 14 of 1982, sec. 39 (w.e.f. 1-4-1983). Earlier it was ins. by Act 10 of 1965, sec. 71 (ii) (w.e.f. 1-4-1965).
Section 18B.
1 [***]
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1. Chapter IVA containing section 18B omitted by Act 3 of 1989, sec. 95 (P) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989). Earlier it was ins. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 175 (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
Section 19. TAX OF DECEASED PERSON PAYABLE BY LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE.
(1) Where a person dies, his executor, administrator or other legal representative shall be liable to pay out of estate of the deceased person, to the extent to which the estate is capable of meeting the charge, the gift-tax determined as payable by such person, or any sum which would have been payable by him under this Act, if he had not died.
(2) Where a person dies without having furnished a return under section 13, or after having furnished a return which the 1Assessing Officer has reason to believe to be incorrect or incomplete, the Assessing Officer may make an assessment of the value of the taxable gifts made by such person and determine the gift-tax payable by him, and for this purpose may, by the issue of the appropriate notice which would have had to be served upon the deceased person if he had survived, require from the executor, administrator, or other legal representative of the deceased person any accounts, documents or other evidence which might, under the provisions of section 15, have been required from the deceased person.
(3) The provisions of sections 13, 14 and 16 shall apply to an executor, administrator or other legal representative as they apply to any person referred to in 2those sections.
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1. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “Gift-tax Officer” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
2. Subs. by Act 58 of 1960, sec. 3 and Sch. II, for “that section” (w.e.f. 26-12-1960).
Section 19A. ASSESSMENT OF PERSONS LEAVING INDIA.
1[19A. Assessment of persons leaving India.—(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 3, when it appears to the 2[Assessing Officer] that any individual may leave India during the current assessment year or shortly after its expiry and that he has no present intention of returning to India, the gifts made by such individual during the period from the expiry of the previous year for that assessment year up to the probable date of his departure from India, shall be chargeable to gift-tax in that assessment year.
(2) The taxable gifts made in each completed previous year or part of any previous year included in such period shall be chargeable to gift-tax at the rate or rates specified in the Schedule 3[or, as the case may be, at the rate specified in sub-section (2) of section 3], and separate assessments shall be made in respect of each such completed previous year or part of any previous year.
(3) The 2[Assessing Officer] may estimate the value of the gifts made by such individual during such period or any part thereof, where it cannot be readily determined in the manner provided in this Act.
(4) For the purpose of making an assessment under sub-section (1), the 1[Assessing Officer] may serve a notice upon such individual requiring him to furnish, within such time, not being less than seven days, as may be specified in the notice, a return in the same form and verified in the same manner as 4[a return under sub-section (1) of section 13], giving particulars of the gifts made by him during each completed previous year comprised in the period referred to in sub-section (1) and during any part of the previous year comprised in that period; and the provisions of this Act shall, so far as may be, and subject to the provisions of this section, apply 5[as if the notice were a notice issued under clause (i) of sub-section (4) of section 15].
(5) The gift-tax chargeable under this section shall be in addition to the tax, if any, chargeable under any other provision of this Act.
(6) Where the provisions of sub-section (1) are applicable, any notice issued by the 6[Assessing Officer] under 7[clause (i) of sub-section (4) of section 15] or under section 16 in respect of any gift-tax chargeable under any other provisions of this Act may, notwithstanding anything contained in 7[clause (i) of sub-section (4) of section 15] or section 16, as the case may be, required the furnishing of the return by such individual within such period, not being less than seven days, as the 6[Assessing Officer] may think proper.]
—————
1. Ins by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 15 (w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
2. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “Gift-tax Officer” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
3. Ins. by Act 23 of 1986, sec. 45 (w.e.f. 1-4-1987).
4. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 186(1)(a)(i), for “a return under sub-section (2) of section 13”(w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
5. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 186 (1)(a)(ii), for “as if the notice were a notice issued under sub-section (2) of section 13” (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
6. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “Gift-tax Officer” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
7. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 186 (1)(b), for “sub-section (2) of Section 13” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
Section 20. ASSESSMENT AFTER PARTITION OF A HINDU UNDIVIDED FAMILY.
(1) Where, at the time of making an assessment, it is brought to the notice of the 1Assessing Officer that a partition has taken place among the members of a Hindu undivided family, and the 1Assessing Officer, after enquiry, is satisfied that the joint family property has been partitioned among the various members or groups of members in definite portions, he shall record an order to that effect and he shall make assessments 2on the value of the taxable gifts made by the family as such as if no partition had taken place and each member or group of members shall be liable jointly and severally for the tax assessed on the value of the taxable gifts made by the joint family as such.
(2) Where the 1[Assessing Officer] is not so satisfied, he may, by order, declare that such family shall be deemed for the purposes of this Act to continue to be a Hindu undivided family.
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1. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “Gift-tax Officer” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
2. Subs. by Act 58 of 1960, sec. 3 and Sch. II, for “on the amount of taxable gifts” (w.e.f. 26-12-1960).
Section 21. LIABILITY IN CASE OF DISCONTINUED FIRM OR ASSOCIATION OF PERSONS.
(1) Where a firm or association of persons liable to pay gift-tax has been discontinued or dissolved the Assessing Officer shall determine the gift-tax payable by the firm or association of persons as such as if no such discontinuance or dissolution had taken place.
(2) If the 1[Assessing Officer], the 2[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] 3[the Commissioner (Appeals)] or the Appellate Tribunal in the course of any proceedings under this Act in respect of any such firm or other association of persons as is referred to in sub-section (1) is satisfied that the firm or association is guilty of any of the acts specified in clause (a) or clause (b) or clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 17, he or it may impose or direct the imposition of a penalty in accordance with the provisions of that section.
(3) Every person who was at the time of such discontinuance or dissolution a partner of the firm or a member of the association, as the case may be, shall be jointly and severally liable for the amount of tax or penalty payable, and all the provisions of Chapter VII, so far as may be, shall apply to any such assessment or imposition of penalty.
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1. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “Gift-tax Officer” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
2. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “Appellate Assistant Commissioner” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
3. Ins. by Act 29 of 1977, sec. 39 and Sch. V, Pt. III (w.e.f. 10-7-1978).
Section 21A. ASSESSMENT OF DONEE WHEN DONOR CANNOT BE FOUND.
1[21A. Assessment of donee when the donor connot be found.—(1) Where an 2Assessing Officer after using all due and reasonable diligence cannot find the donor who had made any taxable gifts, for the purpose of service of notice under sub-section (2) of section 13, or under section 16, the Assessing Officer may make an assessment of the value of all such taxable gifts made by him and determine the gift-tax payable by him and for this purpose may, by the issue of the appropriate notice which would have had to be served upon the donor, require from the donee or donees any accounts, documents or other evidence which might, under the provisions of section 15, have been required from the donor.
(2) Where any assessment in respect of the taxable gifts made by the donor has been made under sub-section (1), every donee shall be liable for the gift-tax so assessed :
Provided that where the donees are more than one, they shall be jointly and severally liable for the amount of the gift-tax so assessed :
Provided further that the amount of the gift-tax which may be recovered from each donee shall not exceed the value of the gift made to him as on the date of the gift.
(3) The provisions of sections 13, 14 and 16 shall apply to a donee as they apply to any person referred to in those sections.
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1. Ins. by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 16 (w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
2. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “Appellate Assistant Commissioner” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
Section 22. APPEAL TO THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER (APPEALS) FROM ORDERS OF ASSESSING OFFICER.
22. Appeal to the 1[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] from orders of 2[Assessing Officer].—(1) 3[Subject to the provisions of sub-section (1A), any person],—
(a) objecting to the value of 4[***] taxable gifts determined under this Act; or
(b) objecting to the amount of gift-tax determined as payable by him under this Act; or
(c) denying his liability to be assessed under this Act; or
5[(d) objecting to any penalty imposed by the Assessing Officer under section 17 6[***];]; or
(e) objecting to any order of the 7[Assessing Officer] under sub-section (2) of section 20;or
(f) objecting to any penalty imposed by the 8[Assessing Officer] under 9[sub-section (1) of section 221] of the Income-tax Act] as applied under section 33 for the purposes of gifts-tax; 10[or]
11[(g) objecting to an order of the 8[Assessing Officer] under section 34 having the effect of enhancing the assessment or reducing a refund or an order refusing to allow the claim made by the assessee under that section; or
(h) 12[***]] may appeal to the 13[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] against the assessment or order, as the case may be, in the prescribed form and verified in the prescribed manner:
Provided that no appeal shall lie under clause (f) unless the tax has been paid before the appeal is filed.
14[(1A) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), any person—
(a) objecting to the value of taxable gifts determined under this Act or objecting to the amount of gift-tax determined as payable by him or denying his liability to be assessed under this Act where the value of taxable gifts determined on assessment exceeds two lakh rupees; or
15[(b) objecting to any assessment or order referred to in clauses (a) to (g) (both inclusive) of sub-section (1), where such assessment or order has been made by the Deputy Commissioner in exercise of the powers or functions conferred on or assigned to him under section 7 or section 10; or
16[(c) objecting to any penalty imposed under sub-section (1) of section 17 with the previous approval of the Deputy Commissioner as specified in sub-section (3) of that section;]
(d) objecting to any penalty imposed by the Deputy Director or the Deputy Commissioner under section 17A;]
(e) objecting to any order made by 17[an Assessing Officer] in the case of such persons or classes of persons as the Board may, having regard to the nature of the cases, the complexities involved and other relevant considerations, direct, may appeal to the Commissioner (Appeals) against the assessment or order, as the case may be, in the prescribed form and verified in the prescribed manner:
Provided that no appeal shall lie under clause (b) of this sub-section against any order referred to in clause (f) of sub-section (1) unless the tax has been paid before the appeal is filed.]
18[(1B) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the Board or the Director-General or the Chief Commissioner or the Commissioner, if so authorised by the Board, may, by order in writing, transfer any appeal which is pending before a Deputy Commissioner (Appeals) and any matter arising out of or connected with such appeal and which is so pending, to the Commissioner (Appeals), if the Board or, as the case may be, the Director-General, the Chief Commissioner or the Commissioner (at the request of the appellant or otherwise) is satisfied that it is necessary or expedient so to do having regard to the nature of the case, the complexities involved and other relevant considerations and the Commissioner (Appeals) may proceed with such appeal or matter from the stage at which it was before it was so transferred:
Provided that the appellant may demand that before proceeding further with the appeal or matter, the previous proceeding or any part thereof be reopened or that he be reheard.]
(2) An appeal shall be presented within thirty days of the receipt of the notice of demand relating to the assessment or penalty objecting to, or the date on which any order objected to, is communicated to him, but the 19[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] 20[or, as the case may be, the Commissioner (Appeals)] may admit an appeal after the expiration of the period aforesaid if he is satisfied that the appellant had sufficient cause for not presenting the appeal within that period.
(3) The 19[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] 20[or, as the case may be, the Commissioner (Appeals)] shall fix a day and place for the hearing of the appeal and may from time to time adjourn the hearing.
(4) The 21[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] 20[or, as the case may be, the Commissioner (Appeals)] may,—
(a) at the hearing of an appeal, allow an appellant to go into any ground of appeal, not specified in the grounds of appeal;
(b) before disposing of an appeal, make such further inquiry as he thinks fit or cause further inquiry to be made by the 21[Assessing Officer].
(5) In disposing of an appeal, the 19[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] 20[or, as the case may be, the Commissioner (Appeals)] may pass such order as he thinks fit which may include or order enhancing the amount of gift-tax determined or penalty imposed:
Provided that no order enchaning the amount of gift-tax determined or penalty imposed shall be made unless the person affected thereby has been given a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against such enhancement.
22[(5A) In disposing of an appeal, the 23[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] 23[or, as the case may be, the Commissioner (Appeals)] may consider and decide any matter arising out of the proceedings in which the order appealed against was passed, notwithstanding that such matter was not raised before the 22[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] 23[or, as the case may be, the Commissioner (Appeals)] by the appellant.
(5B) The order of the 23[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] 24[or, as the case may be, the Commissioner (Appeals)] disposing of the appeal shall be in writing and shall state the points for determination, the decision thereon and the reasons for the decision.]
(6) A copy of every order passed by the 23[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] 24[or, as the case may be, the Commissioner (Appeals)] under this section shall be forwarded to the appellant and the 25[Chief Commissioner or Commissioner].
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1. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “Gifts-tax Officer” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
2. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “Appellate Assistant Commissioner” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
3. Subs. by Act 29 of 1977, sec. 39 and Sch. V, Pt. III, for “any person” (w.e.f. 10-7-1978).
4. The word “his” omitted by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 17(i)(a) (w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
5. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 176 (a)(i) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
6. Certain words omitted by Act 3 of 1989, sec. 88(i) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
7. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “Gift-tax Officer” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
8. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “Gift-tax Officer” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
9. Subs. by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 17 (i)(b)(1), for “Sub-section (1) of section 46 of the Income-tax Act” (w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
10. Ins. by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 17(i) (b)(2)(w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
11. Clauses (g) and (h) ins. by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 17(i) (c) (w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
12. Clause (h) omitted by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 176 (a) (ii) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
13. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “Appellate Assistant Commissioner” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
14. Sub-sections (1A), (1B) and (1C) by Act 29 of 1977, sec. 39 and Sch. V, Pt. III (w.e.f. 10-7-1978).
15. Clauses (b), (c) and (d) subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 176(b) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
16. Clause (c) Subs. by Act 3 of 1989, sec. 88 (ii) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
17. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “a Gift-tax Officer” (1-4-1988).
18. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 176 (c), for sub-sections (1B) and (1C) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
19. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161 for “Appellate Assistant Commissioner” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
20. Ins. by Act 29 of 1977, sec. 39 and Sch. V, Pt. III (w.e.f. 10-7-1978).
21. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161 for “Gift-tax Officer” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
22. Ins. by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 17(ii) (w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
23. Subs. by Act 4 of 1986 sec. 161, for, “Appellate Assistant Commissioner” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
24. Ins. by Act 29 of 1977, sec. 39 and Sch. V, Pt. IV (w.e.f. 10-7-1978).
25. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “Commissioner” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
Section 23. APPEAL TO THE APPELLATE TRIBUNAL.
1[(1) An assessee, objecting to an order passed by the 2[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] 3[or the Commissioner (Appeals)] 4[under section 17 or section 17A] of section 22 5[***] or sub-section (2) of section 36 6[***] may appeal to the Appellate Tribunal within sixty days of the date on which the order is communicated to him.]
(2) The Commissioner may, if he is not satisfied as to the correctness of any order passed by 7[a Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] 3[or a Commissioner (Appeals) under section 22 direct the 8[Assessing Officer] to appeal to the Appellate Tribunal against such order, and such appeal may be made at any time before the expiry of sixty days of the date on which the order is communicated to the Commissioner.
9[(2A) The 8[Assessing Officer] or the assessee, as the case may be, on receipt of the notice that an appeal against the order of the 10[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] 3[or the Commissioner (Appeals)] has been preferred under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) by the other party, may, notwithstanding that he may not have appealed against such order or any part thereof, within thirty days of the receipt of the notice, file a memorandum of cross-objections, verified in the prescribed manner against any part of the order of the 11[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] 12[or the Commissioner (Appeals)] and such memorandum shall be disposed of by the Appellate Tribunal as if it were an appeal presented within the time specified in sub-section (1) or sub-section (2).]
13[(3) The Appellate Tribunal may admit an appeal or permit the filing of a memorandum of cross-objections after the expiry of the relevant period referred to in sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) or sub-section (2A), if it is satisfied that there was sufficient cause for not presenting it within that period.]
(4) An appeal to the Appellate Tribunal shall be in the prescribed form and shall be verified in the prescribed manner and shall, except in the case of an appeal referred to in sub-section (2), be accompanied by 14[a fee of 15[two hundred rupees]].
(5) The Appellate Tribunal may, after giving the parties to the appeal an opportunity of being heard, pass such orders thereon as it thinks fit, and any such orders may include an order enhancing the amount of gift-tax determined or penalty imposed:
Provided that no order enhancing the amount of gift-tax determined or penalty imposed shall be made unless the person affected thereby has been given a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against such enhancement.
16[***]
(9) A copy of every order passed by the Appellate Tribunal under this section shall be forwarded to the assessee and the Commissioner.
(10) Save as provided in section 26, any order passed by the Appellate Tribunal on appeal shall be final.
(11) The provisions of 17[sub-sections (1), (4) and (5) of section 255 of the Income-tax Act] shall apply to the Appellate Tribunal in the discharge of its functions under this Act as they apply to it in the discharge of its functions under the Income-tax Act.
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1. Subs. by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 18(i) (w.e.f. 1-4-1962).
2. Ins. by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 17(ii) (w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
3. Ins. by Act 29 of 1977, sec. 39 and Sch. V, Pt. III (w.e.f 10-7-1978).
4. Subs. by Act 41 of 1975, sec. 116(i), for “under section 17” (w.e.f. 1-4-1976).
5. The words “or section 22A” omitted by Act 3 of 1989, sec. 95 (u) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989). Earlier they were ins. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 186(2) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
6. The words “or to an order passed by the Inspecing Assistant Commissioner under section 17A”, omitted by Act 29 of 1977, sec. 39 and Sch. V, Pt. III (w.e.f. 10-7-1978).
7. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988. sec. 161, for” an Appellate Assistant Commissioner” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
8. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “Gift-Tax Officer” (w.e.f. 14-1988).
9. Ins. by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 18 (ii) (w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
10. Subs. by Act 4 of 1986 sec. 161, for, “Appellate Assistant Commissioner” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
11. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988. sec. 161, for “Appellate Assistant Commissioner” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
12. Ins. by Act 29 of 1977, 539 and Sch. V, Pt. III (w.e.f. 10-7-1978).
13. Subs. by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 18(iii) (w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
14. The words ”a fee of one hundred and twenty-five rupees” subs. by Act 42 of 1970, sec. 67 for “a fee of rupees one hundred” (w.e.f. 1-4-1971).
15. Subs. by Act 16 of 1981, sec. 32, for “one hundred and twenty-five rupees” (w.e.f 1-6-1981).
16. Sub-sections (6), (7) and (8) omitted by Act 45 of 1972, sec. 22, (w.e.f 1-1-1973).
17. Subs. by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 18(iv), for “sub-sections (5), (7) and (8) of section 5A of the Income-tax Act” (w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
Section 24. POWERS OF COMMISSIONER TO REVISE ORDERS OF SUBORDINATE AUTHORITIES.
(1) The Commissioner may, either on his own motion or on application made by an assessee in this behalf, call for the record of any proceeding under this Act in which an order has been passed by any authority subordinate to him, and may make such inquiry or cause such inquiry to be made, and, subject to the provisions of this Act, pass such order thereon not being an order prejudicial to the assessee, as the Commissioner thinks fit:
Provided that the Commissioner shall not revise any order under this sub-section in any case—
(a) where an appeal against the order lies to the 1[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] 2[or to the Commissioner (Appeals)] or to the Appellate Tribu nal and the time within which such appeal can be made has not expired or, 3[in the case, of an appeal to the Commissoner (Appeals) or to the Appellate Tribunal], the assessee has not waived his right of appeal;
(b) where the order is pending in appeal before the 1[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals) or has been the subject of an appeal 2[to the Commissioner (Appeals) or] to the Appellate Tribunal;
(c) where the application is made by the assessee for such revision unless—
(i) the application is accompanied by a fee of rupees twenty-five; and
(ii) the application is made within one year from the date of the order sought to be revised or within such further period as the Commissioner may think fit to allow on being satisfied that the assessee was prevented by sufficient cause from making the application within that period; and
(d) where the order is sought to be revised by the Commissioner of his own motion, if such order is made more than one year previously.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-section,—
(a) the 1[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] shall be deemed to be an authority subordinate to the Commissioner, and
(b) an order by the Commissioner declining to interfere shall be deemed not to be an order prejudicial to the assessee.
(2) Without prejudice to the provisions contained in sub-section (1), the Commissioner may call for and examine the record of any proceeding under this Act, and, if he considers that any order passed therein by 4[an Assessing Officer] is erroneous in so far as it is prejudicial to the interests of revenue, he may, after giving the assessee an opportunity of being heard, and after making or causing to be made such inquiry as he deems necessary, pass such order thereon as the circumstances of the case justify, including an order enhancing or modifying the assessment or cancelling it and directing a fresh assessment.
5[Explanation.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that, for the purposes of this sub-section,—
(a) an order passed 6[on or before or after the 1st day of June,1988,] by the Assessing Officer shall include an order passed by the Deputy Commissioner in exercise of the powers or in performance of the functions of an Assessing Officer conferred on or assigned to him under orders or directions issued by the Board or by the Chief Commissioner or Director-General or Commissioner authorised by the Board in this behalf under section 120 of the Income-tax Act read with section 7 of this Act;
(b) “record”7[shall include and shall be deemed always to have included] all records relating to any proceeding under this Act available at the time of examination by the Commissioner;
(c) where any order referred to in this sub-section and passed by the Assessing Officer had been the subject-matter of any appeal 8[filed on or before or after the 1st day of June,1988], the powers of the Commissioner under this sub-section shall extend 8[and shall be deemed always to have extended] to such matters as had not been considered and decided in such appeal.]
(3) No order shall be made under sub-section (2) after the expiry of two years 9[from the end of the financial year in which the order sought to be revised was passed].
10[Explanation.—In computing the period of limitation for purposes of this sub-section, the time taken in giving an opportunity to the assessee to be reheard under the proviso to section 38 and any period during which any proceeding under this section is stayed by an order or injunction of any Court shall be excluded.]
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1. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “Appellate Assistant Commissioner” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
2. Ins. by Act 29 of 1977, sec. 39 and Sch. V, Pt. III (w.e.f. 10-7-1978).
3. Subs. by Act 29 of 1977, sec. 39 and Sch. V, Pt. III for “in the case of the Appellate Tribunal” (w.e.f. 10-7-1978).
4. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “Gift-tax Officer”. (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
5. Subs. by Act 26 of 1988, sec. 68 (w.e.f. 1-6-1988). Earlier it was ins. by Act 67 of 1984, sec. 74, (a) (w.e.f. 1-10-1984).
6. Ins. by Act 13 of 1989, sec. 32(i) (w.r.e.f. 1-6-1988).
7. Subs. by Act 13 of 1989, sec. 32 (ii), for “includes” (w.r.e.f. 1-6-1988).
8. Ins. by Act 13 of 1989, sec. 32 (iii) (w.r.e.f. 1-6-1988).
9. Subs. by Act 67 of 1984, sec. 74(b), for “from the date of the order sought to be revised” (w.e.f. 1-10-1984).
10. Ins. by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 19 (w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
Section 25. APPEAL TO THE APPELLATE TRIBUNAL FROM ORDERS OF ENHANCEMENT BY CHIEF COMMISSIONER OR COMMISSIONER.
25. Appeal to the Appellate Tribunal from orders of enhancement by 1[Chief Commissioner or Commissioner]—2[(1) An assessee objecting to an order passed by the 1[Chief Commissioner or Commissioner] 3[under section 17 or section 17A] or to an order of enhancement passed by him under section 24 4[or an order passed by the Director-General or Director under section 17A] may appeal to the Appellate Tribunal within sixty days of the date on which the order is communicated to him.]
(2) An appeal to the Appellate Tribunal under sub-section (1) shall be in the prescribed form and shall be verified in the prescribed manner and shall be accompanied by 5[a fee of 6[two hundred rupees]].
(3) The provisions of 7[sub-sections (3),(5),(9) and (10) of section 23 shall apply in relation to any appeal under this section as they apply in relation to any appeal under that section.
—————
1. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “Commissioner” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
2. Subs. by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 20 (w.e.f. 1-4-1963)
3. Subs. by Act 41 of 1975, sec. 117, for “under section 17” (w.e.f. 1-4-1976).
4. Ins. by Act 3 of 1989, sec. 89 (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
5. The words “a fee of one hundred and twenty-five rupees” subs. by Act 42 of 1970, sec. 68, for “a fee of rupees one hundred” (w.e.f. (1-4-1971).
6. Subs. by Act 16 of 1981, sec. 33, for “one hundered and twenty-five rupees” (w.e.f. 1-6-1981).
7. Subs. by Act 45 of 1972, sec. 23 for “sub-sections (3) and (5) to 10” (w.e.f. 1-1-1973).
Section 26. REFERENCE TO HIGH COURT.
1[(1) The assessee or the 2[Chief Commissioner or Commissioner] may, within sixty days of the date upon which he is served with notice of an order under section 23 or section 25 3[or clause (e) of sub-section (1) of section 34], by application in the prescribed form, accompanied, where the application is made by the assessee, by 4[a fee of 5[two hundred rupees]], require the Appellate Tribunal to refer to the High Court any question of law arising out of such order and, subject to the other provisions contained in this section, the Appellate Tribunal shall, within one hundred and twenty days of the receipt of such application, draw up a statement of the case and refer it to the High Court.
(2) The Appellate Tribunal may, if it is satisfied that the applicant was prevented by sufficient cause from presenting the application within the period specified in sub-section (1), allow it to be presented within a further period not exceeding thirty days.]
(3) If, on an application made under sub-section (1), the Appellate Tribunal,—
(a) refuses to state a case on the ground that no question of law arises, or
(b) rejects it on the ground that it is time-barred,
the applicant may, within ninety days from the date on which he is served with a notice of refusal or rejection, as the case may be, apply to the High Court, and the High Court may, if it is not satisfied with the correctness of the decision of the Appellate Tribunal, require the Appellate Tribunal to state the case to the High Court, and on receipt of such requisition the Appellate Tribunal shall state the case:
Provided that, if in any case where the Appellate Tribunal has been required by an assessee to state a case the Appellate Tribunal refuses to do so on the ground that no question of law arises, the assessee may, within thirty days from the date on which he receives notice of refusal to state the case, withdraw his application, and if he does so, the fee paid by him under sub-section (1) shall be refunded to him.
6[(3A) If, on an application made under this section, the Appellate Tribunal is of the opinion that on account of a conflict in the decisions of High Courts in respect of any particular question of law, it is expedient that a reference should be made direct to the Supreme Court, the Appellate Tribunal may draw up a statement of the case and refer it through its President direct to the Supreme Court.]
(4) The statement to the High Court 7[or the Supreme court] shall set forth the facts, the determination of the Appellate Tribunal and the question of law which arises out of this case.
(5) If the High Court 8[or the Supreme Court] is not satisfied that the case as stated is sufficient to enable it to determine the question of law raised thereby, it may require the Appellate Tribunal to make such modification therein as it may direct.
(6) The High Court 8[or the Supreme Court], upon hearing any such case, shall decide the question of law raised therein, and in doing so, may, if it thinks fit, alter the form of the question of law and shall deliver judgment thereon containing the grounds on which such decision is founded and shall send a copy of the judgment under the seal of the Court and the signature of the Registrar to the Appellate Tribunal and the Appellate Tribunal shall pass such orders as are necessary to dispose of the case conformably to such judgment.
9[(7) The costs of any reference to the High Court or the Supreme Court which shall not include the fee for making the reference shall be in the discretion of the Court.]
—————
1. Subs. by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 21(i) (w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
2. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “Commissioner” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
3. Ins. by Act 49 of 1991, sec. 88 (w.e.f. 27-9-1991).
4. The words “a fee of one hundred and twenty-five rupees” subs. by Act 42 of 1970, sec. 69, for” a fee of one hundred rupees” (w.e.f. 1-4-1971).
5. Subs. by Act 16 of 1981, sec. 34 for “one hundred and twenty-five rupees”(w.e.f. 1-6-1981).
6. Ins. by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 21 (ii). (w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
7. Ins. by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 21 (iii) (w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
8. Ins. by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 21 (iii) (w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
9. Subs. by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 27 (iv) (w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
Section 27. HEARING BY HIGH COURT.
When a case has been stated to the High Court under section 26, it shall be heard by a Bench of not less than two Judges of the High Court and shall be decided in accordance with the opinion of such Judges or of the majority of such judges, if any :
Provided that where there is no such majority, the Judges shall state the point of law upon which they differ and the case shall then be heard upon that point only by one or more of the Judges of the High Court, and such point shall be decided according to the opinion of the majority of the Judges who have heard the case, including those who first heard it.
Section 28. APPEAL TO THE SUPREME COURT.
(1) An appeal shall lie to the Supreme Court from any judgment of the High Court delivered on a case stated under section 26 in any case which the High Court certifies as a fit case for appeal to the Supreme Court.
(2) Where the judgment of the High Court is varied or reversed on appeal under this section, effect shall be given to the order of the Supreme Court in the manner provided in sub-section (6) of section 26.
(3) The High Court may, on application made to it for the execution of any order of the Supreme Court in respect of any costs awarded by it, transmit the order for execution to any court subordinate to the High Court.
Section 28A. TAX TO BE PAID NOTWITHSTANDING REFERENCE, ETC.
1 Notwithstanding that a reference has been made to the High Court or the Supreme Court, or an appeal has been preferred to the Supreme Court, tax shall be payable in accordance with the assessment made in the case.
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1. Ins. by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 22 (w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
Section 28B. DEFINITION OF HIGH COURT.
In this Chapter, “High Court” means -
(i) in relation to any State, the High Court of that State;
1[(ii) in relation to the Union territory of Delhi, the High Court of Delhi;
2[(iia) [***]]
3[(iii) in relation to the Union Territories of Arunachal Pradesh *and Mizoram, the Gauhati High Court (the High Court of Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur and Tripura);]
(iv) in relation to the Union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the High Court at Calcutta;
(v) in relation to the Union territory of 4[Lakshadweep], the High Court of Kerala;
5[(va) in relation to the Union territory of Chandigarh, the High Court of Punjab and Haryana;]
6[(vi) in relation to the Union territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Goa**, Daman and Diu, the High Court at Bombay;
(vii) in relation to the Union territory of Pondicherry, the High Court at Madras.]]
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Section 29. GIFT-TAX BY WHOM PAYABLE.
1[29. Gift-tax by whom payable.—Subject to the provisions of this Act, gift-tax shall be payable by the donor but when in the opinion of the 2[Assessing Officer] the tax cannot be recovered from the donor, it may be recovered from the donee:
Provided that where the donees are more than one, they shall be jointly and severally liable for the amount of tax determined to be payable by the donor :
Provided further that the amount of tax which may be recovered from each donee shall not exceed the value of the gift made to him as on the date of the gift.
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1. Subs. by Act, 53 of 1962, sec. 23 (w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
2. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “Gift-tax Officer” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
Section 30. GIFT-TAX TO BE CHARGED ON PROPERTY GIFTED.
Gift-tax payable in respect of any gift comprising immovable property shall be a first charge on that property but any such charge shall not affect the title of a bona fide purchaser for valuable consideration without notice of the charge.
Section 31. NOTICE OF DEMAND.
1[31. Notice of demand.—When any tax, interest, penalty, fine or any other sum is payable in consequence of any order passed under this Act, the 2[Assessing Officer] shall serve upon the assessee a notice of demand in the prescribed form specifying the sum so payable.]
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1. Subs. by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 24 (w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
2. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “Gift-tax Officer” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
Section 32. RECOVERY OF TAX AND PENALTIES.
(1) Any amount specified as payable in a notice of demand under section 31 shall be paid within thirty days of the service of the notice at the place and to the person mentioned in the notice :
Provided that, where the Assessing Officer has any reason to believe that it will be detrimental to revenue if the full period of thirty days aforesaid is allowed, he may, with the previous approval of the Joint Commissioner direct that the sum specified in the notice of demand shall be paid within such period being a period less than the period of thirty days aforesaid, as may be specified by him in the notice of demand.
(2) If the amount specified in any notice of demand under section 31 is not paid within the period limited under sub-section (1), the assessee shall be liable to pay simple interest at one and one-half per cent, for every month or part of a month comprised in the period commencing from the day immediately following the end of the period mentioned in sub-section (1) and ending with the day on which the amount is paid ;
Provided that where as a result of an order under section 22, or section 23, or section 24, or section 25, or section 26 or section 28, or section 34, the amount on which interest was payable under this section had been reduced, the interest shall be reduced accordingly and the excess interest paid, if any, shall be refunded.
Provided further that in respect of any period commencing on or before the 31st day of March, 1989 and ending after that date, such interest shall, in respect of so much of such period as falls after that date, be calculated at the rate of one and one-half per cent for every month or part of a month.
(3) Without prejudice to the provisions contained in sub-section (2), on an
application made by the assessee before the expiry of the due date under sub-section (1), the Assessing Officer may extend the time for payment or allow payment by installments subject to such conditions as he may think fit to impose in the circumstances of the case.
(4) If the amount is not paid within the time limited under sub-section (1) or extended under sub-section (3), as the case may be, at the place and to the person mentioned in the said notice, the assessee shall be deemed to be in default.
(5) If, in a case where payment by installments is allowed under sub-section (3), the assessee commits default in paying any one of the installments within the time fixed under that sub-section, the assessee shall be deemed to be in default as to the whole of the amount then outstanding, and the other installment or installments shall be deemed to have been due on the same date as the installment actually in default.
(6) Where the assessee has presented an appeal under section 22, the Assessing Officer may in his discretion and subject to such conditions as he may think fit to impose in the circumstances of the case, treat the assessee as not being in default in respect of the amount in dispute in the appeal, even though the time for payment has expired as long as such appeal remains undisposed of.
Section 33. MODE OF RECOVERY.
1The provisions contained in 2sections 221 to 227, 228A, 229, 231 and 232 of the Income-tax Act and the Second and Third Schedules to that Act and any rules made thereunder shall, so far as may be, apply as if the said provisions were provisions of this Act and referred to gift-tax and sums imposed by way of penalty, fine and interest under this Act instead of to income-tax and sums imposed by way of penalty fine and interest under that Act 3and to the corresponding gift-tax authorities instead of to the income-tax authorities specified therein.
Explanation I : Any reference to sub-section (2) or sub-section (6) of section 220 of the Income-tax Act in the said provisions of that Act or the rules made thereunder shall be construed as references to sub-sections (2) and (6) respectively of section 32 of this Act.
4Explanation II : The Chief Commissioner or Commissioner and the Tax Recovery Officer referred to in the Income-tax Act shall be deemed to be the corresponding gift-tax authorities for the purpose of recovery of gift-tax and sums imposed by way of penalty, fine and interest under this Act.
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1. Subs. by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 24 (w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
2. Subs. by Act 16 of 1972, sec. 53, for “sections 221 to 227” (w.e.f. 1-4-1972).
3. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 179(a), for certain words (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
4. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 179 (b) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
Section 33A. REFUNDS.
(1) Where, as a result of any order passed in appeal or other proceeding under this Act, refund of any amount becomes due to the assessee, the 1[Assessing Officer] shall, except as otherwise provided in this Act, refund the amount to the assessee without his having to make claim in that behalf:
2[Provided that where, by the order aforesaid.—
(a) an assessment is set aside or cancelled and an order of fresh assessment is directed to be made, the refund, if any, shall become due only on the making of such fresh assessment;
(b)the assessment is annulled, the refund shall become due only of the amount, if any, of the tax paid in excess of the tax chargeable on the 3[taxable gifts] returned by the assessee.]
4(2) Where refund of any amount becomes due to the assessee as a result of an order under this Act or under the provisions of sub-section (1) of section 15 after a return has been made under section 13 or section 14 or in response to a notice under clause (i) of sub-section (4) of section 15 and the Assessing Officer is of the opinion, having regard to the fact that,—
(i) a notice has been issued, or is likely to be issued, under sub-section (2) of section 15 in respect of the said return; or
(ii) the order is the subject-matter of an appeal or further proceeding; or
(iii) any other proceeding under this Act is pending; that the grant of the refund is likely to adversely affect the revenue, the Assessing Officer may, with the previous approval of the Chief Commissioner or Commissoner, withhold the refund till such time as the Chief Commissioner or Commissioner may determine.]
(3) Where a refund is due to the assessee in pursuance of an order referred to in sub-section (1) and the 1[Assessing Officer] does not grant the refund within a period of six months from the date of such order, the Central Government shall pay to the assessee simple interest at 5[fifteen per cent.] per annum on the amount of refund due from the date immediately following the expiry of the period of six months aforesaid to the date on which the refund is granted.
6[(3A) Where the whole or any part of the refund referred to in sub-section (3) is due to an assessee as a result of any amount having been paid by him after the 31st day of March, 1975, in pursuance of any order of assessment or penalty and such amount or any part thereof having been found in appeal or other proceeding under this Act to be in excess of the amount which such assessee is liable to pay as tax or penalty, as the case may be, under this Act, the Central Government shall pay to such assessee simple interest at the rate specified in sub-section (3) on the amount so found to be in excess from the date on which such amount was paid to the date on which the refund is granted:
Provided that, where the amount so found to be in excess was paid in instalments, such interest shall be payable on the amount of each such instalments or any part of such instalment, which was in excess, from the date on which such instalment was paid to the date on which the refund is granted:
Provided further that no interest under this sub-section shall be payable for a period of one month from the date of the passing of the order in appeal or other proceeding:
Provided also that, where interest is payable to an assessee under this sub-section, no interest under sub-section (3) shall be payable to him in respect of the amount so found to be in excess.]
(4) Where a refund is withheld under the provisions of sub-section (2), the Central Government shall pay interest at the aforesaid rate on the amount of refund ultimately determined to be due as a result of the appeal or further proceedings for a period commencing after the expiry of six months from the date of the order referred to in that sub-section to the date the refund is granted.
7[(4A) The provisions of sub-sections (3), (3A) and (4) shall not apply in respect of any assessment for the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1989, or any subsequent assessment year.
(4B) (a) 8[Where refund of any amount becomes due to the assessee under this Act,] he shall, subject to the provisions of this sub-section, be entitled to receive, in addition to the said amount, simple interest thereon calculated at the rate of one 9[***] per cent. for every month or part of a month comprised in the period or periods from the date or, as the case may be, dates of payment of the tax or penalty to the date on which the refund is granted .
Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, “date of payment of the tax or penalty” means the date on and from which the amount of tax or penalty specified in the notice of demand issued under section 31 is paid in excess of such demand.
(b) If the proceedings resulting in the refund are delayed for reasons attributable to the assessee, whether wholly or in part, period of the delay so attribuatable to him shall be excluded from the period for which interest is payable, and where any question arises as to the period to be excluded, it shall be decided by the Chief Commissioner or Commissioner whose decision thereon shall be final.
(c) Where as a result of an order under 10[sub-section (3) or sub-section (5) of section 15 or] section 16 or section 22 or section 23 or section 24 or section 26 or section 28 or section 34 the amount on which the interest was payable under clause (a) has been increased or reduced, as the case may be, interest shall be increased or reduced accordingly, and, in a case where the interest is reduced, the Assessing Officer shall serve on the assessee a notice of demand in the prescribed form specifying the amount of the excess interest paid and requiring him to pay such amount; and such notice of demand shall be deemed to be a notice under section 31 and the provisions of this Act shall apply accordingly.
(d) The provisions of this sub-section shall apply in respect of assessments for the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1989, and subsequent assessment years.]
(5) Where under any of the provisions of this Act, a refund is found to be due to any person, the 11[Assessing Officer], 12[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)], 13[Commissioner (Appeals)] or 14[Chief Commissioner or Commissioner], as the case may be, may, in lieu of payment of the refund, set off the amount to be refunded or any part of that amount, against the sum, if any, remaining payable under this Act by the person to whom the refund is due, after giving an intimation in writing to such person of the action proposed to be taken under this section.]
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1. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “Gift-tax Officer” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
2. Ins. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 180(i) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
3. Subs. by Act 3 of 1989, sec. 90(a), for “total income” (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
4. Subs. by Act 36 of 1989, sec. 33 (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
5. Subs. by Act 67 of 1984 sec. 75, for “twelve per cent.” (w.e.f. 1-10-1984). Earlier the words “twelve per cent.” were subs. by Act 16 of 1972, sec. 52, for “nine per cent.” (w.e.f. 1-4-1972). Prior to that the words “nine per cent.” were subs. by Act 27 of 1967 sec. 3, for “six per cent.” (w.e.f. 1-10-1967). Still earlier, the words “six per cent.” were subs. by Act 15 of 1965, sec. 21 (ii), for “four per cent.” (w.e.f. 1-4-1965).
6. Ins. by Act 41 of 1975, sec. 118 (w.e.f. 1-10-1975).
7. Ins. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 180 (ii) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
8. Subs. by Act 3 of 1989, sec. 9(b) (i) for “where, in pursuance of any order passed under this Act, the refund of any amount becomes due to the assessee”. (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
9. The words “and a half” omitted by Act 49 of 1991, sec. 89 (w.e.f. 1-10-1991).
10. Ins. by Act 3 of 1989, sec. 90 (b) (ii) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
11. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “Gift-tax Officer” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
12. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “Appellate Assistant Commissioner” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
13. Ins. by Act 29 of 1977, sec. 39 and Sch. V, Pt. III (w.e.f. 10-7-1978).
14. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “Commissioner” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
Section 34. RECTIFICATION OF MISTAKES.
1[34. Rectification of mistakes.—(1) With a view to rectifying any mistake apparent from the record—
(a) The 2[Assessing Officer] may amend any order of assessment or of refund or any other order passed by him;
3[(aa) a gift-tax authority may amend any intimation sent by it under sub-section (1) of section 15 or enhance or reduce the amount of refund granted by it under that sub-section;]
4[(b) the Deputy Director or Deputy Commissioner or Director or Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner (Appeals) or Commissioner (Appeals) may amend any order passed by him under section 17A;
(c) the Deputy Commissioner (Appeals) or Commissioner (Appeals) may amend any order passed by him under Section 22 5[***];
(d) the Commissioner may amend any order passed by him under section 24;
(e) the Appellate Tribunal may amend any order passed by it under section 23 or section 25.]
(2) Subject to the other provisions of this section, the authority concerned—
(a) may make an amendment under sub-section (1) of its own motion; and
(b) shall make such amendment for rectifying any such mistake which has been brought to its notice by the assessee, and where the authority concerned is the 6[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] 7[or the Commissioner (Appeals)] or the Appellate Tribunal by the 8[Assessing Officer] also.
(3) An amendment, which has the effect of enhancing an assessment or reducing a refund or otherwise increasing the liability of the assessee, shall not be made under this section unless the authority concerned has given notice to the assessee of its intention so to do and has allowed the assessee a reasonable opportunity of being heard.
(4) Where an amendment is made under this section, an order shall be passed in writing by the gift-tax authority concerned.
(5) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (2) of 9[section 33A], where any such amendment has the effect of reducing the assessment, the 8[Assessing Officer] shall make any refund which may be due to such assessee.
(6) Where any such amendment has the effect of enhancing the assessment or reducing a refund already made, the 8[Assessing Officer] shall serve on the assessee a notice of demand in the prescribed form specifying the sum payable, and such notice of demand shall be deemed to be issued under section 31 and the provisions of this Act shall apply accordingly.
(7) No amendment under this section shall be made after the expiry of four years 10[from the end of the financial year in which the order sought to be amended was passed].]
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1. Subs. by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 26 (w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
2. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “Gift-tax Officer” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
3. Ins. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 181 (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
4. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 186 (3) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
5. The words “or section 22A” omitted by Act 3 of 1989, sec. 91 (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
6. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “Appellate Assistant Commissioner” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
7. Ins. by Act 29 of 1977, sec. 39 and Sch. V, Pt. III (w.e.f. 10-7-1978).
8. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “Gift-tax Officer” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
9. Subs. by Act 5 of 1964, sec. 52 (c), for “section 33” (w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
10. Subs. by Act 67 of 1984, sec. 76, for “from the date of the order sought to be amended” (w.e.f. 1-10-1984).
Section 35. PROSECUTION.
(1) If any person fails without reasonable cause, -
(a) to furnish in time any return of gifts under this Act;
(b) to produce, cause to be produced, on or before the date mentioned in any notice under 1[***] sub-section (4) of section 15, such accounts, records and documents as are referred to in the notice;
2[***]
he shall, on conviction before a magistrate, be punishable with fine which may extend to rupees ten for every day during which the default continues.
(2) If a person makes a statement in a verification in any return of gifts furnished under this Act or in a verification mentioned in section 22, 23 or 25 which is false, and which he either knows or believes to be false, or does not believe to be true, he shall, on conviction before a magistrate, be punishable with simple imprisonment which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to rupees one thousand, or with both.
3[(2A) If a person abets or induces in any manner another person to make and deliver an account, statement or declaration relating to any gifts chargeable to tax which is false and which he either knows to be false or does not believe to be true, he shall, on conviction before a magistrate, be punishable with simple imprisonment which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees or with both.]
4[(3) A person shall not be proceeded against for an offence under this Act except with the previous sanction of the Commissioner or Commissioner (Appeals):
Provided that the Chief Commissioner or, as the case may be, Director General may issue such instructions or directions to the aforesaid gift-tax authorites as he may deem fit for institution of proceedings under this sub-section.
(4) Any such offence may, either before or after the institution of proceedings, be compounded by the Chief Commissioner or Director-General.]
5[6[Explanation 1].—For the purposes of this section, “Magistrate” means a Presidency magistrate or a Magistrate of the first class.]
7[Explanation 2.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that the powers of the Board to issue orders, instructions or directions under this Act shall include and shall be deemed always to have included the power to issue instructions or directions (including instructions or directions to obtain the previous approval of the Board) to other gift-tax authorities for the proper composition of offences under this section.]
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1. The words “sub-section (2) or” omitted by Act 41 of 1975, sec. 119(i) (w.e.f. 1-4-1976).
2. Clause (c) omitted by Act 41 of 1975, sec. 119(ii) (w.e.f. 11-4-1976).
3. Ins. by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 27 (ii) (w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
4. Subs. by Act 49 of 1991, sec. 90(a) (w.e.f. 1-10-1991).
5. Subs. by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 27(ii) (w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
6. Explanation re-numbered as explanation 1 by Act 49 of 1991, sec. 90(b) (w.r.e.f. 1-4-1963).
7. Ins. by Act 49 of 1991, sec. 90(b) (w.r.e.f. 1-4-1958).
Section 35A. OFFENCES BY COMPANIES.
1[35A. Offences by companies.—(1) Where an offence under this Act has been committed by a company, every person who, at the time the offence was committed, was in charge of and was responsible to, the company for the conduct of the business of the company, as well as the company, shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly :
Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall render any such person liable to any punishment if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he had exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where an offence under this Act has been committed by a company and it is proved that the offence has been committed with the consent or connivance of, or is attributable to any neglect on the part of, any director, manager, secretary or other officer of the company, such director, manager, secretary or other officer shall also be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
Explanation : For the purposes of this section, – (a) “company” means a body corporate, and includes – (i) a firm, and
(ii) an association of persons or a body of individuals, whether incorporated or not; and
(b) “director”, in relation to -
(i) a firm, means a partner in the firm,
(ii) an association of persons or a body of individuals, means any member controlling the affairs thereof.
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1. Ins. by Act 41 of 1975, sec. 120 (w.e.f. 1-10-1975).
Section 35B. OFFENCES BY HINDU UNDIVIDED FAMILIES.
(1) Where an offence under this Act has been committed by a Hindu undivided family, the Karta thereof shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly:
Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall render the Karta liable to any punishment if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he had exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where an offence under this Act has been committed by a Hindu undivided family and it is proved that the offence has been committed with the consent or connivance of, or is attributable to any neglect on the part of, any member of the Hindu undivided family, such member shall also be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
Section 35C. SECTION 360 OF THE CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, 1973 AND THE PROBATION OF OFFENDERS ACT, 1958, NOT TO APPLY.
Nothing contained in section 360 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), or in the Probation of Offenders Act, 1958 (20 of 1958), shall apply to a person convicted of an offence under this Act unless that person is under eighteen years of age.
Section 35D. PRESUMPTION AS TO CULPABLE MENTAL STATE.
1[35D. Presumption as to culpable mental state.—(1) In any prosecution for any offence under this Act which requires a culpable mental state on the part of the accused, the court shall presume the existence of such mental state but it shall be a defence for the accused to prove the fact that he had no such mental state with respect to the act charged as an offence in that prosecution.
Explanation : In this sub-section “culpable mental state” includes intention, motive or knowledge of a fact, or belief in, or reason to believe, a fact.
(2) For the purposes of this section, a fact is said to be proved only when the court believes it to exist beyond reasonable doubt and not merely when its existence is established by a preponderance of probability.
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1. Ins. by Act 46 of 1986, sec. 41 (w.e.f. 10-9-1986).
Section 35E. PROOF OF ENTRIES IN RECORDS OR DOCUMENTS.
1[35E. Proof of entries in records or documents.—Entries in the records or other documents in the custody of a gift-tax authority shall be admitted in evidence in any proceedings for the prosecution of any person for an offence under this Act, and all such entries may be proved either by the production of the records or other documents in the custody of the gift-tax authority containing such entries, or by the production of a copy of the entries certified by the gift-tax authority having custody of the records or other documents under its signature and stating that it is a true copy of the original entries and that such original entries are contained in the records or other documents in its custody.
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1. Ins. by Act 3 of 1989, sec. 92 (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
Section 36. POWER REGARDING DISCOVERY, PRODUCTION OF EVIDENCE, ETC.
1[36. Power regarding discovery, production of evidence, etc.—(1) The 2[Assessing Officer], the 3[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)], 4[the Commissioner (Appeals),] the 5[Chief Commissioner or Commissioner] and the Appellate Tribunal shall, for the purposes of this Act, have the same powers as are vested in a Court under the Code of Civil Procedure 1908 (5 of 1908), when trying a suit in respect of the following matters, namely:—
(a) discovery and inspection;
(b) enforcing the attendance of any person, including any officer of a banking company and examinaing him on oath;
(c) compelling the production of books of account and other documents; and
(d) issuing commissions.
6[(1A) If the Director-General or Director or Deputy Director or Assistant Director has reason to suspect that any gifts chargeable to tax under this Act have been concealed, or are likely to be concealed, by any person or class of persons within his jurisdiction, then for the purposes of making any inquiry or investigation relating thereto, it shall be competent for him to exercise the powers conferred under sub-section (1) on the gifts-tax authorities referred to in that sub-section, notwithstanding that no proceedings with respect to such person or class of persons are pending before him or any other gift-tax authority.]
7[***]
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1. Subs. by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 28 (w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
2. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “Gift-tax Officer” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
3. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “Appellate Assistant Commissioner” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
4. Ins. by Act 29 of 1977, sec. 39 and Schedule V, Pt. III (w.e.f. 10-7-1978).
5. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “Commissioner” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
6. Ins. by Act 26 of 1988, sec. 70 (w.e.f. 1-6-1988).
7. Sub-section (2) omitted by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 182(b) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
Section 37. POWER TO CALL FOR INFORMATION.
1[Where, for the purposes of this Act, it appears necessary for any gift-tax authority to obtain any statement or information from any person or banking company,] 2[such gift-tax authority] may serve a notice requiring such person, on or before a date to be therein specified, to furnish such statement or information on the points specified in the notice, and that person shall, notwithstanding anything in any law to the contrary, be bound to furnish such statement or information to such gift-tax authority
Provided that no legal practitioner shall be bound to furnish any statement or information under this section based on any professional communication made to him otherwise than as permitted by section 126 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (1 of 1872).
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1. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 183 (a), for certain words (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
2. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 183 (b), for “the Gift-tax Officer” (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
Section 38. EFFECT OF TRANSFER OF AUTHORITIES ON PENDING PROCEEDINGS.
Whenever in respect of any proceeding under this Act, any gift-tax authority ceases to exercise jurisdiction and is succeeded by another who has and exercises such jurisdiction, the authority so succeeding may continue the proceeding from the stage at which the proceeding was left by his predecessor :
1[Provided that the assessee concerned may demand that before the proceeding is so continued the previous proceeding or any part thereof be reopened or that before any order of assessment is passed against him, he be reheard.]
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Section 39. COMPUTATION OF PERIOD OF LIMITATION.
1 COMPUTATION OF PERIOD OF LIMITATION. In computing the period of limitation prescribed for an appeal or an application under this Act, the day on which the order complained of was served and if the assessee was not furnished with a copy of the order when the notice of the order was served upon him, the time requisite for obtaining a copy of such order shall be excluded.
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Section 40. SERVICE OF NOTICE.
(1) A notice or a requisition under this Act may be served on the person therein named either by post or as if it were a summons issued by a court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908).
(2) Any such notice or requisition may, in the case of a firm or a Hindu undivided family, be addressed to any member of the firm or to the manager or any adult male member of the family, and in the case of a company or association of persons be addressed to the principal officer thereof.
1[(3) After a finding of total partition has been recorded by the 2[Assessing Officer] under section 20 in respect of any Hindu family, notices under this Act in respect of the gifts made by the family shall be served on the person who was the last manager of the Hindu family, or if such person is dead, then on all surviving adults who were members of the Hindu family immediately before the partition.
(4) Where a firm or other association of persons is dissolved, notice under this Act in respect of the gifts made by the firm or association may be served on any person who was a partner (not being a minor) or member of the association, as the case may be, immediately before its dissolution.
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1. Ins. by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 31 (w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
2. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “Gift-tax Officer” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
Section 41.
1[***]
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1. Section 41 omitted by Act 5 of 1964, sec. 52 (e) (w.e.f. 1-4-1964). Earlier it was subs. by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 32 (w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
Section 41A. PUBLICATION OF INFORMATION RESPECTING ASSESSEES.
1[41A. Publication of information respecting assessees.—(1) If the Central Government is of opinion that it is necessary or expedient in the public interest to publish the names of any assessees and any other particulars relating to any proceedings 2or prosecutions under this Act in respect of such assessees, it may cause to be published such names and particulars in such manner as it thinks fit.
3[(2) No publication under this section shall be made in relation to any penalty imposed under this Act until the time for presenting an appeal to the 4[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] 5[or, as case may be, the Commissioner (Appeals)] has expired without an appeal having been presented or the appeal, if presented, has been disposed of.]
Explanation : In the case of a firm, company or other association of persons, the names of the partners of the firm, directors, managing agents, secretaries and treasurers, or managers of the company, or the members of the association, as the case may be, may also be published if, in the opinion of the Central Government the circumstance of the case justify it.
—————
1. Section 41A subs. by Act 5 of 1964, sec. 52 (f) (w.e.f. 1-4-1964). Earlier it was ins. by Act 28 of 1960 sec. 13 (w.e.f. 1-4-1960) and was amended by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 33 (w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
2. Ins. by Act 41 of 1975, sec. 121 (i) (w.e.f. 1-10-1975).
3. Subs. by Act 41 of 1975, sec. 121 (ii) (w.e.f. 1-10-1975).
4. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “Appellate Assistant Commissioner” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
5. Ins by Act 29 of 1977, sec. 39 and Schedule V, Pt. III (w.e.f. 10-7-1978).
Section 41B. DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION RESPECTING ASSESSEES.
1[41B. Disclosure of information respecting assessees.—Where a person makes an application to the 2[Chief Commissioner or Commissioner] in the prescribed form for any information relating to any assessee in respect of any assessment made under this Act, the Chief Commissioner or Commissioner may, if he is satisfied that it is in the public interest so to do, furnish or cause to be furnished the information asked for in respect of that assessment only and his decision in this behalf shall be final and shall not be called in question in any court of law.
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1. Section 41B subs. by Act 5 of 1964, sec. 52 (f) (w.e.f. 1-4-1964). Earlier it was ins. by Act 28 of 1960, sec. 13 (w.e.f. 1-4-1960).
2. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “Commissioner” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
Section 41C. RETURN OF GIFTS, ETC., NOT TO BE INVALID ON CERTAIN GROUNDS.
1[41C. Return of gifts etc., not to be invalid on certain grounds.—No return of gifts, assessment, notice, summons or other proceeding, furnished or made or issued or taken or purported to have been furnished or made or issued or taken in pursuance of any of the provisions of this Act shall be invalid or shall be deemed to be invalid merely by reason of any mistake, defect or omission in such return of gifts, assessment, notice, summons or other proceeding, if such return of gifts, assessment, notice, summons or other proceeding is in substance and effect in conformity with or according to the intent and purpose of this Act.
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1. Ins. by Act 41 of 1975, sec. 122 (w.e.f. 1-10-1975).
Section 42. BAR OF SUITS IN CIVIL COURT.
No suit shall lie in any civil court to set aside or modify 1any proceeding taken or order made under this Act, and no prosecution, suit or other legal proceeding shall lie against 2the Government or any officer of the Government for anything in good faith done or intended to be done under this Act.
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1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1988, sec. 71, for “any order made” (w.e.f. 1-3-1988). Earlier the words “any order made” were subs. by Act 11 of 1987, sec. 91 (w.e.f. 1-3-1987).
2. Ins. by Act 5 of 1964, sec. 52 (g) (w.e.f. 1-4-1964).
Section 43. APPEARANCE BEFORE GIFT-TAX AUTHORITIES BY AUTHORISED REPRESENTATIVES.
1[43. Appearance before Gift-tax authorities by authorised representa-tives.—An assessee who is entitled to or required to attend before any gift-tax authority or the Appellate Tribunal in connection with any proceeding under this Act, except where he is required under this Act to attend in person, may attend by a person who would be entitled to represent him before any income-tax authority or the Appellate Tribunal under section 288 of the Income-tax Act.
—————
1. Subs. by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 34 (w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
Section 43A. APPEARANCE BY REGISTERED VALUER IN CERTAIN MATTERS.
1[43A. Appearance by registered valuer in certain matters.—Any assessee who is entitled or required to attend before any gift-tax authority or the Appellate Tribunal in connection with any matter relating to the valuation of any asset, except where he is required under this Act to attend in person, may attend by a registered valuer.
Explanation : In this section, “registered valuer” has the same meaning as in clause (oaa) of section 2 of the Wealth-tax Act, 1957 (27 of 1957).
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1. Ins. by Act 45 of 1972, sec. 24 (w.e.f. 1-1-1973).
Section 44. AGREEMENT FOR AVOIDANCE OR RELIEF OF DOUBLE TAXATION WITH RESPECT TO GIFT-TAX.
1The Central Government may enter into an agreement with the Government of any reciprocating country -
(a) for the avoidance or relief of double taxation with respect to gift-tax payable under this Act and under the corresponding law in force in the reciprocating country, or
(b) for exchange of information for the prevention of evasion or avoidance of gift-tax chargeable under this Act or under the corresponding law in force in that country or investigation of cases of such evasion or avoidance, or
(c) for recovery of tax under this Act and under the corresponding law in force in that country, and may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make such provision as may be necessary for implementing the agreement.
Explanation : The expression “reciprocating country” for the purposes of this Act means any country which the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare to be a reciprocating country.
—————
1. Subs. by Act 16 of 1972, sec. 54 (w.e.f. 1-4-1972).
Section 44A. ROUNDING OFF OF TAXABLE GIFTS.
1[44A. Rounding off of taxable gifts.—The amount assessed in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Act as being the value of all taxable gifts shall be rounded off to the nearest multiple of ten rupees and, for this purpose, any part of a rupee consisting of paise shall be ignored and thereafter, if such amount is not a multiple of ten rupees, then, if the last figure in that amount is five or more, the amount shall be increased to the next higher amount which is a multiple of ten and, if the last figure is less than five, the amount shall be reduced to the next lower amount which is a multiple of ten; and the amount so rounded off shall be deemed to be the value of all taxable gifts of the assessee for the purposes of this Act.
————
1. Ins. by Act 42 of 1970, sec. 70 (w.e.f. 1-4-1971).
Section 44B. ROUNDING OFF OF TAX, ETC.
The amount of gift-tax, interest, penalty, fine or any other sum payable, and the amount of refund due, under the provisions of this Act, shall be rounded off to the nearest rupee and, for this purpose, where such amount contains a part of rupee consisting of paise, then, if such part is fifty paise or more, it shall be increased to one rupee, and if such part is less than fifty paise, it shall be ignored.
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1. Ins. by Act 42 of 1970, sec. 70 (w.e.f. 1-4-1971).
Section 45. ACT NOT TO APPLY IN CERTAIN CASES.
1[No tax shall be levied under this Act in respect of gifts made by]—
2[(a) a company in which the public are substantially interested;
(b) any company to an Indian company in a scheme of amalgamation;]
(e) any institution or fund the income whereof is exempt from income-tax under 3[section 11 or section 12] of Income-tax Act.
4[Explanation 1.—For the purposes of clause (b) the term “amalgamation” shall have the meaning assigned to it in clause (1B) of section 2 of the Income-tax Act.]
5[Explanation 3.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that the exemption admissible under clause (e) in relation to gifts made by an institution or fund referred to in that clause shall not be denied merely on either or both of the following grounds, namely:—
(i) that, subsequent to the gift, any part of the income of the institution or fund has become chargeable to tax due to non-compliance with any of the provisions of 6[section 11 or section 12 or section 12A] of the Income-tax Act;
(ii) that, under clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 13 of the Income-tax Act, the exemption under 6[section 11 or section 12] of that Act is denied to the institution or fund in relation to any income arising to it from any investment referred to in clause (h) of sub-section (2) of section 13 of the said Act where the aggregate of the funds invested by it in a concern referred to in the said clause (h) does not exceed five per cent. of the capital of that concerm.]
—————
1. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 184 (a), for “The provisions of this Act shall not apply to gifts made by” (w.e.f. 1-4-1984).
2. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 184 (b) (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
3. Subs. by Act 16 of 1972, sec. 55(a), for ”section 11” (w.e.f. 1-4-1973). Earlier “section 11” was subs. by Act 53 of 1962 sec. 35, for” clause (i) of subs-section 3 of section 4″ (w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
4. Subs. by Act 3 of 1989, sec. 93 (w.e.f. 1-4-1989), for Explanations 1 and 2. Earlier Explanation was remembered as Explanation 1 and Explanation 2 was ins. by Act 20 of 1967, sec. 35 (8) (ii) (w.e.f. 1-4-1967)
5. Ins. by Act 32 of 1971 sec. 37(c) (w.e.f. 1-4-1971).
6. Subs. by Act 16 of 1972, sec. 55(b), for “section 11” (w.e.f. 1-4-1973).
Section 46. POWER TO MAKE RULES.
(1) The Board may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act.
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power rules made under this section may provide for -
(a) the manner in which the value of any property may be determined;
(b) the form in which returns under this Act shall be made and the manner
in which they shall be verified;
(c) the form in which appeals and applications under this Act may be made, and the manner in which they shall be verified;
1[(cc) the circumstances in which, the conditions subject to which and the manner in which, the 2[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] 3[or the Commissioner (Appeals)] may permit an appellant to produce evidence which he did not produce or which he was not allowed to produce before the 4[Assessing Officer];
(d) the form of any notice of demand under this Act;
(e) the refunds of gift-tax paid in respect of gifts which are revoked on the happening of any specified event which does not depend on the will of the donor or of any amount paid under section 18;
5[(ee) the procedure to be followed in calculating interest payable by assessees or interest payable by the Government to assessees under any provisions of this Act, including the rounding off of the period for which such interest is to be calculated in cases where such period includes a fraction of a month, and specifying the circumstances in which and the extent to which petty amounts of interest payable by assessees may be ignored:]
(f) the areas for which lists of valuers may be drawn up;
(g) any other matter which has to be, or may be, prescribed for the purposes of this Act.
6[(3) The power to make rules conferred by this section shall include the power to give retrospective effect, from a date not earlier than the date of commencement of this Act, to the rules or any of them and, unless the contrary is permitted (whether expressly or by necessary implication), no retrospective effect shall be given to any rule so as to prejudicially affect the interests of assessees.]
7[(4) The Central Government shall cause every rule made under this Act to be laid as soon as may be after it is made before each House of Parliament while it is in session for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session 8[or in two or more successive sessions], and, if, before the expiry of the session 9[immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid], both Houses agree in making any modifications in the rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejdice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule.]
————
1. Ins. by Act 16 of 1972, sec. 56 (w.e.f 1-4-1972).
2. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “Appellate Assistant Commissioner” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
3. Ins. by Act 29 of 1977, sec. 39 and Sch. V, Pt. III (w.e.f. 10-7-1978).
4. Subs. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 161, for “Gift-tax Officer” (w.e.f. 1-4-1988).
5. Ins. by Act 42 of 1970, sec. 71 (w.e.f. 1-4-1971).
6. Subs. by Act 26 of 1974, sec. 17 (w.e.f. 18-8-1974).
7. Subs. by Act 53 of 1962, sec. 36 (w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
8. Subs. by Act 41 of 1975 , sec. 123 (i), for “or in two successive sessions” (w.e.f. 1-4-1976).
9. Subs. by Act 41 of 1975, sec. 123 (ii), for “in which it is so laid or the session immediately following” (w.e.f. 1-4-1976).
Section 46A. POWER TO MAKE EXEMPTION, ETC., IN RELATION TO CERTAIN UNION TERRITORIES.
1POWER TO MAKE EXEMPTION, ETC., IN RELATION TO CERTAIN UNION TERRITORIES. – If the Central Government considers it necessary or expedient so to do for avoiding any hardships or anomaly or removing any difficulty that may arise as a result of the application of this Act to the Union territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Goa, Daman and Diu, and Pondicherry, or in the case of the Union territory of Pondicherry, for implementing any provision of the Treaty of Cession concluded between France and India on the 28th day of May, 1956, the Central Government may, by general or special order, make an exemption, reduction in rate or other modification in respect of gift-tax in favour of any class of gifts or in regard to the whole or any part of the gifts made by any assessee or class of assessees :
Provided that the power conferred by this section shall not be exercisable after the 31st day of March, 1967, except for the purpose of rescinding an exemption, reduction or modification already made.
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1. Ins. by the Taxation Laws (Extension to Union Territories) Regulation, 1963, sec. 3 and Sch. (w.e.f. 1-4-1963).
Section 47. POWER TO REMOVE DIFFICULTIES.
1POWER TO REMOVE DIFFICULTIES. – (1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this Act as amended by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987, the Central Government may, by order, do anything not inconsistent with such provisions for the purpose of removing the difficulty :
Provided that no such order shall be made after the expiration of three years from the 1st day of April, 1988.
(2) Every order made under sub-section (1) shall be laid before each House of Parliament.
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1. Ins. by Act 4 of 1988, sec. 185 (w.e.f.1-4-1988).
THE SCHEDULE I
1[2[THE SCHEDULE I]
3[[See section 3 (1)]]
RATES OF GIFT-TAX
|
where the value of all taxable gifts does not exceed Rs. 20,000 |
5 per cent of the value of such gifts; |
|
where the vlaue of all taxable gifts
exceeds, Rs. 20,000 but does not exceede Rs.50,000 |
Rs. 1,000 plus 10 per cent. of the
amount by which the value of such
gifts exceeds Rs. 20,000; |
|
where the value of all taxable gifts exceeds, Rs. 50,000 but does not exceed Rs. 1,00,000 |
Rs. 4,000 plus 15 per cent. of the amount by which the value of such gifts exceeds Rs. 50,000; |
|
where the value of all taxable gifts
exceeds Rs. 1,00,000 but does not exceed Rs.2,00,000 |
Rs. 11,500 plus 20 per cent. of the
amount by which the value of such
gifts exceeds Rs. 1,00,000; |
|
wher the value of all taxble gifts exceeds Rs. 2,00,000 but does not exceed Rs. 5,00,000 |
Rs. 31,500 plus 25 per cent, of the
amount by which the value of such
gifts exceeds Rs. 2,00,000; |
|
where the value of all taxable gifts
exceeds Rs. 5,00,000 but does not exceed Rs. 10,00,000 |
Rs. 1,06,500 plus 30 per cent. of the amount by which the vlaue of such gifts exceeds Rs. 5,00,000; |
|
where the value of all taxable gifts
exceeds Rs. 10,00,000 but does not exceed Rs.15,00,000 |
Rs. 2,56,500 plus 40 per cent. of the
amount by which the vlaue of such gifts exceeds Rs. 10,00,000; |
|
where the value of all taxable gifts
exceed Rs.15,00,000 but does not exceed Rs. 20,00,000 |
Rs. 4,56,500 plus 50 per cent. of the
amount by which the value of such
gifts exceeds Rs. 15,00,000; |
|
where the value of all taxable gifts
exceeds Rs. 20,00,000 |
Rs. 7,06,500 plus 75 per cent, of the
amount by which value of such gifts
exceeds Rs. 20,00,000.] |
1. Subs. by Act 19 of 1970, sec. 27 (c) (w.e.f. 1-4-1971). Earlier the Schedule was subs. by Act 13 of 1966 sec. 41(c) (w.e.f. 1-4-1966) and still earlier subs. by Act 5 of 1964 sec. 52 (h) (w.e.f. 1-4-1964).
2. The Schedule renumbered as Schedule I by Act 3 of 1989, sec. 94 (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
3. Subs. by Act 23 of 1986, sec. 46, for “(see section 3)” (w.e.f. 1-4-1987).
THE SCHEDULE II
1[THE SCHEDULE II]
[See section 6(1)
Rules for Determining the Value of Property Gifted
2[1.Value of gifted property how to determined.—3[Subject to the provisions of rules 2 to 7, the value of any property], other than cash, transferred by way of gift shall, for the purposes of this Act, be determined in accordance with the provisions of Schedule III to 4[the Wealth-tax Act, 1957 (27 of 1957) (hereinafter referred to as the Wealth-tax Act)], which shall apply subject to the following modifications, namely:—
In the said Schedule,—
(a) references by whatever form of words to the Wealth-tax Act shall be construed as references to this Act;
(b) in rule 5, the reference to the year ending on the valuation date shall be construed as a reference to the previous year as defined in this Act;
(c) save as provided in clause (b), references, to the valuation date shall be construed as references to the date on which the gift was made;
(d) reference to section 7 of the Wealth-tax Act shall be construed as references to section 6 of this Act;
(e) references to section 16A of the Wealth-tax Act shall be construed as references to sub-section (6) of section 15 of this Act.]
5[2. Quoted shares and debentures of companies.—The value of an equity share or a preference share in any company or a debenture of any company which is a quoted share or a quoted debenture shall be taken as the value quoted in respect of such share or debenture on the date on which the gift was made or where there is no such quotation on such date, the quotation on the date closest to such date and immediately preceding such date.
Explanation—The words and expressions used in this rule and rules 3 to 7 but not defined and defined in rule 2 of Schedule III of the Wealth-tax Act shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in rule 2 of that Schedule.
3. Special provision for quoted shares of companies.—Notwithstanding anything in rule 2, the value of an equity share in any company which is a quoted share may, at the option of the assessee or a company, be taken on the basis of the average of the value quoted on the 31st day of March immediately preceding the assessment year and the values quoted in respect of such share on the said dates in relation to each of the immediately preceding nine assessment years, or where there is no such quotation on any of the aforesaid dates, the quotation on the date closest to the said date and immediately preceding such date:
Provided that where for any reason the value of such share is quoted in relation to lesser number of assessment years than the said nine assessment years, then the value or values so quoted shall be taken into account for the purposes of the aforesaid average:
Provided further that where the assessee opts for the average of the values so quoted, he shall get such vlaues certified by an accountant and attach the certificate to the return of gifts in respect of the relevant assessment year.
- —For the purposes of this rule, “accountant” shall have the same meaning as in the Explanation below sub-section (2) of section 288 of the Income-tax Act.
4. Unquoted preference shares.—(1) Subject to the provisions of sub-rule (2), the value of an unquoted preference share in any company shall,—
(a) where the preference share is issued before the date on which the gift was made at a rate of dividend of not less than eight per cent., be the paid-up value of such share; and
(b) where the preference share is issued before the said date at a rate of dividend of less than eight per cent., be the adjusted paid-up value of such share.
(2) Where no dividend has been paid in respect of an unquoted preference share by any company continuously for not less than three accounting years ending on the date on which the gift was made or, in a case where the accounting year of the company does not end on that date, for not less than three continuous accounting years ending on a date immediately before the date on which the gift was made, the paid-up value or, as the case may be, the adjusted paid-up value shall be reduced—
(a) in the case of a non-cumulative preference share, as indicated in the Table below:—
Number of accounting years ending on the date on which the gifts was made or, in a case where the accounting year does not end on that date, the number of accounting years ending on a date immediately preceding the date on which the gift was made, for which no dividend has been paid |
Rate of reduction |
(1) |
(2) |
Three years |
10% |
For years |
20% of the paid-up value or the |
Five years |
30% adjusted paid-up value, as |
Six years and above |
40% the case may be. |
(b) in the case of cumulative preference share, by one-half of the rates specified in the aforesaid Table.
Explanation—For the purposes of this rule, “adjusted paid-up value”, in relation to a preference share, means an amoount which bears to the paid-up value of the preference share the same proportion as the stipulated rate of dividend [being the rate of dividend on the preference share specified in the terms of issue of such share, and in a case where such dividend is required to be increases under the provisions of section 3 of the Preference Shares (Regulation of Dividends) Act, 1960 (63 of 1960), the rate of dividend as so increased] on such share bears to the rate of eight per cent.
5. Unquoted equiry shares in companies other than investment companies.—(1) The value of an unquoted equity share in any company, other than an investment company, shall be determined in the manner set out in sub-rule (2).
(2) The value of all the liabilities as shown in the balance-sheet of such company shall be deducted from the value of all its assets shown in that balance-sheet; the net amount so arrived at shall be divided by the total amount of its paid-up equity share capital as shown in the balance-sheet; the result multiplied by the paid-up value of each equity share shall be the break up value of each unquoted equity share, and an amount equal to eighty per cent. of the break-up value so determined shall be the value of the unquoted equity share for the purposes of this Act.
(3) For the purposes of sub-rule (2),—
(a) the following amounts shown as assets in the balance-sheet shall not be treated as assets, namely:—
(i) any amount paid as advance tax under the Income-tax Act;
(ii) any amount shown in the balance-sheet including the debit balance of the profit and loss account or the profit and loss appropriation account which does not represent the value of any asset;
(b) the following amounts shown as liabilities in the balance-sheet shall not to be treated as liabilities, namely:—
(i) the paid-up capital in respect of equity shares;
(ii) the amount set apart for payment of dividends on preference shares and equity shares where such dividends have not been declared before the date on which the gift was made at a general body meeting of the company;
(iii) reserves, by whatever name called, other than those set apart towards depreciation;
(iv) credit balance of the profit and loss account;
(v) any amount representing provision for taxation, other than the amount referred to in sub-clause (i) of clause (a), to the extent of the excess over the tax payable with reference to the book profits in accordance with the law applicable thereto;
(vi) any amount representing contingent liabilities other than arrears of dividends payable in respect of cumulative preference shares.
- —For the purposes of this rule “balance-sheet”, in relation to any company, means the balance-sheet of such company (including the Notes annexed thereto and forming part of the accounts) as drawn up on the date on which the gift was made and, where there is no such balance-sheet, the balance-sheet drawn up on a date immediately preceding that date, and, in the absence of both, the balance-sheet drawn up on a date immediately after the date on which the gift was made.
6. Unquoted equity shares in investment companies.—(1) Subject to rule 7, the value of an unquoted equity share in an investment company shall be determined in the manner specified in sub-rule (2).
(2) The value of all the liabilities as shown in the balance-sheet of such company shall be deducted from the value of all its assets shown in that balance-sheet; the net amount so arrived at shall be divided by the total paid-up equity share capital of the company as shown in the balance sheet, and the result multiplied by the paid-up value of each equity share shall be the value of the unquoted equity share in that investment company for the purposes of this Act.
(3) For the purposes of sub-rule (2), the value of an asset disclosed in the balance-sheet of the company shall be taken to be its value determined in accordance with the rules as applicable to that particular asset and, in the absence of any such rule, the value of such asset shall be its value as deter-mined under rule 20 of Schedule III of the Wealth-tax Act.
(4) For the purposes of this rule,—
(a) “balance-sheet” has the same meaining as in rule 5;
(b) the amounts referred to in sub-rule (3) of rule 5 shall not be treated as assets or liabilities.
(5) For the purposes of facilitating the valuation of unquoted equity shares under this rule and rule 7, the company concerned shall have such valuation made by its auditors appointed under section 224 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), and a certificate of the auditors relating to such valuation in the prescribed form shall be furnished to the Assessing Officer and the shareholders of the company; and the valuation made by the auditors shall be taken into account in the assessment of the shareholder of the company.
7. Unquoted equity shares in interlocked companies.—(1) The value of an unquoted equity share in one of the two interlocked companies held by the other interlocked company for the purposes of rule 6 shall be equal to the paid-up value of such share or the value determined under sub-rule (2), whichever is higher.
(2) For the purpose of sub-rule (1), the aggregate value of all the equity shares in an interlocked company shall be arrived at by multiplying the maintainable profits of such company by—
(a) the fraction 100/8.5 in a case where the gross total income of the company consists, to the extent of not less than 51 per cent of income chargeable under the head “Income from house property” under the Income-tax Act; or
(b) the fraction 100/10, in the case of any other interlocked company,and the resultant amount divided by the number of such equity shares shall be the value of such an equity share in such company.
(3) The maintainable profits of the company, for the purpose of sub-rule (2), shall be computed in the following manner, namely:—
(a) the book profits of the company for the five accounting years of the company immediately preceding the date on which the gift was made shall first be ascertained;
(b) adjustments shall be made to the book profits for each of the said five years for all non-recurring and extraordinary items of income and expenditure and losses;
(c) adjustments shall be made to the book profits for expenditure which is not of a revenue nature but is debited in the accounts and for receipts which are in the nature of revenue receipts but are not accounted for in the profit and loss account;
(d) any development rebate or investment allowance debited in the books of account shall be added back to the book profits;
(e) the tax liabilty of the company on the book profits, arrived at after the adjustments at items (a), (b), (c) and (d), shall be deducted from such book profits;
(f) amounts required for paying dividends on preference share or shares with prior rights shall be deducted from such book profits;
(g) the aggregate of the book profits for the accounting years so arrived at, divided by 5, shall be the maintainable profits of the company.
- —For the purposes of this rule, “interlocked companies” means any two investment companies each of which holds shares in the other company.]
—————
1. Ins by Act 3 of 1989, sec. 94 (w.e.f. 1-4-1989).
2. Numbered by Act 38 of 1993 sec. 42 (w.e.f. 1-4-1993).
3. Subs. by Act 28 of 1993, sec. 42 (a) (i), for “The value of any property”.
4. Subs. by Act 38 of 1993, sec. 42(a)(ii), for “the Wealth-tax Act” (w.e.f. 1-4-1993).
5. Ins. by Act 38 of 1993, sec. 42 (b) (w.e.f. 1-4-1993).
November 30, 2014
Chapter 1 – Preliminary
Section 1. Short title, extent and commencement
(1) This Act may be called the Patents Act, 1970.
(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:
PROVIDED that different dates may be appointed for different provisions of this Act, and any reference in any such provision to the commencement of this Act shall be construed as a reference to the coming into force of that provision.
Section 2. Definitions and interpretation
(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—
1[(a) “Appellate Board” means the Appellate Board referred to in section 116;
(ab) “assignee” includes an assignee of the assignee and the legal representative of a deceased assignee and references to the assignee of any person include references to the assignee of the legal representative or assignee of that person;
2[(aba) “Budapest Treaty” means the Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Micro-organisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure done at Budapest on 28th day of April, 1977, as amended and modified from time to time;]
(ac) “capable of industrial application”, in relation to an invention, means that the invention is capable of being made or used in an industry;]
(b) “Controller” means the Controller-General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks referred to in section 73;
(c) “convention application” means an application for a patent made by virtue of section 135;
3[(d) “convention country” means a country or a country which is member of a group of countries or a union of countries or an Inter-governmental organisation [referred to as a convention country in section 133;]]
(e) “district court” has the meaning assigned to that expression by the CPC, 1908;
(f) “exclusive licence” means a licence from a patentee which confers on the licensee, or on the licensee and persons authorised by him, to the exclusion of all other persons (including the patentee), any right in respect of the patented invention, and “exclusive licensee” shall be construed accordingly;
(g) [Clause (g) omitted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005]
(h) “government undertaking” means any industrial undertaking carried on—
(i) by a department of the government; or
(ii) by a corporation established by a Central, Provincial or State Act, which is owned or
controlled by the government; or
(iii) by a government company as defined in section 617 of the Companie Act, 1956(1 of
1956) 4[;or]
4[(iv) by an institution wholly or substantially financed by the Government;] [Certain words omitted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005]
5[(i) “High Court”, in relation to a State or Union territory, means the High Court having territorial jurisdiction in that State or Union territory, as the case may be;]
6[(ia) “international application” means an application for patent made in accordance with the Patent Cooperation Treaty;]
7[(j) “invention” means a new product or process involving an inventive step and capable of industrial application;
5[(ja) “inventive step” means a feature of an invention that involves technical advance as compared to the existing knowledge or having economic significance or both and that makes the invention not obvious to a person skilled in the art;]
(k) “legal representative” means a person who in law represents the estate of a deceased person;
5[(l) “new invention” means any invention or technology which has not been anticipated by publication in any document or used in the country or elsewhere in the world before the date of filing of patent application with complete specification, i.e. the subject matter has not fallen in public domain or that it does not form part of the state of the art;
(m) “patent” means a patent for any invention granted under this Act;]
4[(ia) “pharmaceutical substance” means any new entity involving one or more inventive steps;]
5[(la) “Opposition Board” means an Opposition Board constituted under sub-section (4) of section 25;]
(n) “patent agent” means a person for the time being registered under this Act as a patent agent;
(o) “patented article” and “patented process” mean respectively an article or process in respect of which a patent is in force;
6[(oa) “Patent Co-operation Treaty” means the Patent Cooperation Treaty done at Washington on the 19th day of June, 1970 as amended and modified from time to time;]
(p) “patentee” means the person for the time being entered on the register as the grantee or proprietor of the patent;
(q) “patent of addition” means a patent granted in accordance with section 54;
(r) “patent office” means the patent office referred to in section 74;
(s) “person” includes the government;
(t) “person interested” includes a person engaged in, or in promoting, research in the same field as that to which the invention relates;
8[(u) “prescribed” means,—
(A) in relation to proceedings before a High Court, prescribed by rules made by the High Court;
(B) in relation to proceedings before the Appellate Board, prescribed by rules made by the Appellate Board; and
(C) in other cases, prescribed by rules made under this Act;]
(v) “prescribed manner” includes the payment of the prescribed fee;
(w) “priority date” has the meaning assigned to it by section 11;
(x) “register” means the register of patents referred to in section 67;
(y) “true and first inventor” does not include either the first importer of an invention into India, or a person to whom an invention is first communicated from outside India.
(2) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, any reference—
(a) to the Controller shall be construed as including a reference to any officer discharging the functions of the Controller in pursuance of section 73;
(b) to the patent office shall be construed as including a reference to any branch office of the patent office.
——————–
1. Substituted by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
2. Inserted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
3. Substituted for “notified as such under sub-section (1) of section 133″ by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
4. Inserted by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
5. Substituted, ibid.
6. Inserted by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide SO 561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
7. Substituted, ibid.
8. Substituted by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide SO 561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
Chapter II – Inventions not Patentable
Section 3. What are not inventions
The following are not inventions within the meaning of this Act,—
(a) an invention which is frivolous or which claims anything obviously contrary to well established natural laws;
1[(b) an invention the primary or intended use or commercial exploitation of which could be contrary to public order or morality or which causes serious prejudice to human, animal or plant life or health or to the environment;]
(c) the mere discovery of a scientific principle or the formulation of an abstract theory 2[or discovery of any living thing or non-living substance occurring innatur;]
3[(d) the mere discovery of a new form of a known substance which does not result in the enhancement of the known efficacy of that substance or the mere discovery of any new property or new use for a known substance or of the mere use of a known process, machine or apparatus unless such known process results in a new product or employs at least one new reactant.
Explanation : For the purposes of this clause, salts, esters, ethers, polymorphs, metabolites, pure form, particle size, isomers, mixtures of isomers, complexes, combinations and other derivatives of known substance shall be considered to be the same substance, unless they differ significantly in properties with regard to efficacy;]
(e) a substance obtained by a mere admixture resulting only in the aggregation of the properties of the components thereof or a process for producing such substance;
(f) the mere arrangement or re-arrangement or duplication of known devices each functioning independently of one another in a known way;
(g) [Omitted by Patents (Amdt.) Ad, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.0.561(E), dt. 20-5-2003]
(h) a method of agriculture or horticulture;
(i) any process for the medicinal, surgical, curative, prophylactic 4[diagnostic, therapeutic] or other treatment of human beings or any process for a similar treatment of animals 5[xxxxx] to render them free of disease or to increase their economic value or that of their products.
4[(j) plants and animals in whole or any part thereof other than micro-organisms but including seeds, varieties and species and essentially biological processes for production or propagation of plants and animals;
(k) a mathematical or business method or a computer program per se or algorithms;
(l) a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work or any other aesthetic creation whatsoever including cinematrographic works and television productions;
(m) a mere scheme or rule or method of performing mental act or method of playing game;
(n) a presentation of information;
(o) topography of integrated circuits;
(p) an invention which, in effect, is traditional knowledge or which is an aggregation or duplication of known properties of traditionally known component or components.] , ,
——————-
1. Substituted by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
2. Inserted by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
3. Substituted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
4. Inserted by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561(E),dt. 20-5-2003.
5. Words “or plants” omitted, by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
Section 4. Inventions relating to atomic energy not patentable
No patent shall be granted in respect of an invention relating to atomic energy falling within sub-section (1) of section 20 of the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 (33 of 1962).
Section 5. [Omitted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005]
[Omitted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005]
Chapter III – Applications for Patents
Section 6. Persons entitled to apply for patents
(1) Subject to the provisions contained in section 134, an application for a patent for an invention may be made by any of the following persons, that is to say,—
(a) by any person claiming to be the true and first investor of the invention;
(b) by any person being the assignee of the person claiming to be the true and first inventor in respect of the right to make such an application;
(c) by the legal representative of any deceased person who immediately before his death was entitled to make such an application.
(2) An application under sub-section (1) may be made by any of the persons referred to therein either alone or jointly with any other person.
Section 7. Form of application
Every application for a patent shall be for one invention only and shall be made in the prescribed form and filed in the patent office.
1[(1A) Every international application under the Patent Cooperation Treaty for a patent, as may be filed designating India shall be deemed to be an application under this Act, if a corresponding application has also been filed before the Controller in India.]
2[(1B) The filing date of an application referred to in sub-section (1A) and its complete specification processed by the patent office as designated office or elected office shall be the international filing date accorded under the Patent Cooperation Treaty.]
(2) Where the application is made by virtue of an assignment of the right to apply for a patent for the invention, there shall be furnished with the application, or within such period as may be prescribed after the filing of the application, proof of the right to make the application.
(3) Every application under this section shall state that the applicant is in possession of the invention and shall name the 3[person] claiming to be the true and first inventor; and where the person so claiming is not the applicant or one of the applicants, the application shall contain a declaration that the applicant believes the person so named to be the true and first inventor.
4[(4) Every such application (not being a convention application or an application filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty designating India) shall be accompanied by a provisional or a complete specification.]
——————–
1 Inserted by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561(E),dt. 20-5-2003.
2. Inserted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
3. Substituted for “ownei” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
4. Substituted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 8. Information and undertaking regarding foreign applications
(1) Where an applicant for a patent under this Act is prosecuting either alone or jointly with any other person an application for a patent in any country outside India in respect of the same or substantially the same invention, or where to his knowledge such an application is being prosecuted by some person through whom he claims or by some person deriving title from him, he shall file along with his application [or subsequently 2[within the prescribed period as the Controller may allow]]—
3[(a) a statement setting out detailed particulars or such application; and]
(b) an undertaking that, 4[up to the date of grant of patent in India,] he would keep the Controller informed in writing, from time to time, of 5[detailed particulars as required under] clause (a) in respect of every other application – . relating to the same or substantially the same invention, if any, filed in any country outside India subsequently to the filing of the statement referred to in the aforesaid clause, within the prescribed time.
1[(2) At any time after an application for patent is filed in India and till the grant of a patent or refusal to grant of a patent made thereon, the Controller may also require the applicant to furnish details, as may be prescribed, relating to the processing of the application in a country outside India, and in that event the applicant shall furnish to the Controller information available to him within such period as may be perscribed.]
——————–
1. Substituted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
2. Substituted for “within such period as the Controller may, for good and sufficient reasons, allow” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
3. Substituted by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
4. Substituted for “up to the date of the acceptance of his complete specification filed in India” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
5. Substituted for “details of the nature referred to in” by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561(E),dt. 20-5-2003.
Section 9. Provisional and complete specifications
1[(1) Where an application for a patent (not being a convention application or an application filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty designating India) is accompanied by a provisional specification, a complete specification shall be filed within twelve ‘ months i rum the date of filing of the application, and if the complete specification is not so filed, the application shall be deemed to be abandoned.]
(2) Where two or more applications in the name of the same applicant are accompanied by provisional specifications in respect of inventions which are cognate or of which one is a modification of another and the Controller is of opinion that the whole of such inventions are such as to constitute a single invention and may properly be included in one patent, he may allow one complete specification to be filed in respect of all such provisional specifications:
2[PROVIDED that the period of time specified under sub-section (1) shall be reckoned from the date of filing of the earliest provisional specification.]
1[(3) Where an application for a patent (not being a convention application or an application filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty designating India) is accompanied by a specification purporting to be a complete specification, the Controller may, if the applicant so requests at any time within twelve months from the date of filing of the application, direct that such specification shall be treated, for the purposes of this Act, as a provisional specification and proceed with the application accordingly.]
(4) Where a complete specification has been filed in pursuance of an application for a patent accompanied by a provisional specification or by a specification treated by virtue of a direction under sub-section (3) as a provisional specification, the Controller may, if the applicant so requests at any time before 3[grant of patent] cancel the provisional specification and post-date the application to the date of filing of the complete specification.
S
Mere arrangement or rearrangement or duplication of a known device cannot be patented.— Standipack Pvt. Ltd. v. Oswal Trading Co. Ltd. 1999 (19) PTC 479 (Del)
——————-
1. Substituted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
2. Inserted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
3. Substituted for “the acceptance of the complete specification’ by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005 w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 10. Contents of specifications
(1) Every specification, whether provisional or complete, shall describe the invention and shall begin with a title sufficiently indicating the subject-matter to which the invention relates.
(2) Subject to any rules that may be made in this behalf under this Act, drawings may, and shall, if the Controller so requires, be supplied for the purposes of any specification, whether complete or provisional; and any drawings so supplied shall, unless the Controller otherwise directs, be deemed to form part of the specification, and references in this Act to a specification shall be construed accordingly. –
(3) If, in any particular case, the Controller considers that an application should be further supplemented by a model or sample of anything illustrating the invention or alleged to constitute an invention, such model or sample as he may require shall be furnished 1[before the application is found in order for grant of a patent] but such model or sample shall not be deemed to form part of the specification.
(4) Every complete specification shall—
(a) fully and particularly describe the invention and its operation or use and the method by which it is to be performed;
(b) disclose the best method of performing the invention which is known to the applicant and for which he is entitled to claim protection; and
(c) end with a claim or claims defining the scope of the invention for which protection is claimed.
2[(d) be accompanied by an abstract to provide technical information on the invention:
PROVIDED that—
(i) the Controller may amend the abstract for providing better information to third parties; and
(ii) if the applicant mentions a biological material in the specification which may not be described in such a way as to satisfy clauses (a) and (b), and if such material is not available to the public, the application shall be com-*” pleted by depositing 3[the material to an international depository authority under the Budapest Treaty] and by fulfilling the following conditions, namely:—
4[(A) the deposit of the material shall be made not later than the date of filing the patent application in India and a reference thereof shall be made in the specification within the prescribed period;]
(B) all the available characteristics of the material required for it to be correctly identified or indicated are included in the specification including the name, address of the depository institution and the date and number of the deposit of the material at the institution;
(C) access to the material is available in the depository institution only after the date of the application for patent in India or if a priority is claimed after the date of the priority;
(D) disclose the source and geographical origin of the biological material in the specification, when used in an invention.]
4[(4A) In case of an international application designating India, the title, description, drawings, abstract and claims filed with the application shall be taken as the complete specification for the purposes of this Act.]
5[(5) The claim or claims of a complete specification shall relate to a single invention, or to a group of inventions linked so as to form a single inventive concept, shall be clear and succinct and shall be fairly based on the matter disclosed in the specification.]
(6) A declaration as to the inventorship of the invention shall, in such cases as may be prescribed be furnished in the prescribed form with the complete specification or within such period as may be prescribed after the filing of that specification.
(7) Subject to the foregoing provisions of this section, a complete specification to the invention which was described in the provisional specification, being developments or additions in respect of which the applicant would be entitled under the provisions of section 6 to make a separate application for a patent.
S
Where the invention has not been properly described and will not function in the way claimed by the applicants, the opponents succeed even when they fail to establish “prior publication” as well as “prior public knowledge” and, therefore, the application for grant of patent is liable to be rejected.—Abid Kagalwala v. Edgar Haddley Co. (P) Ltd. 1984 PTC 234 (PO)
Where the invention claimed by the plaintiff involves nothing which is outside the probable capability of skilled craftsman having regard to what was already known in the country and there being no new manner of manufacture or a distinctive improvement on the old contrivance involving novelty or inventive step, ex parte injunction granted is liable to be vacated.—Surendra Lal Mahendra v. Jain Glazers 1981 PTC 112 (Del)
It is incumbent under section 10(4) to fully and particularly describe the invention and its operation or use and the method by which it is to be performed and disclose the best method of performing the invention which is known to the applicant and for which he is entitled to claim protection ending with a claim or claims defining the scope of the invention for which protection is claimed.—Ram Narain Kher v. Ambassador Industries PTC (Suppl.) (1) 180 (Del).
——————–
1. Subs, for “before the acceptance of the application” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
2. Inserted by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
3. Substituted for “the material to an authorised depository institution as may be notified by the Central Government in the Official Gazette” by the Patents (Amdt) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
4. Substituted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
5. Substituted by Patents (Amdt.) Act. 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561 (E), dt. 20-5-2003.
Section 11. Priority dates of claims of a complete specification
(1) There shall be a priority date for each claim of a complete specification.
(2) Where a complete specification is filed in pursuance of a single application accompanied by—
(a) a provisional specification; or
(b) a specification which is treated by virtue of a direction under sub-section (3) of section 9 as a provisional specification,
and the claim is fairly based on the matter disclosed in the specification referred to in clause (a) or clause (b), the priority date of that claim shall be the date of the filing of the relevant specification.
(3) Where the complete specification is filed or proceeded with in pursuance of two or more applications accompanied by such specifications as are mentioned in sub-section (2) and the claim is fairly based on the matter disclosed—
(a) in one of those specifications, the priority date of that claim shall be the date of filing of the application accompanied by that specification;
(b) partly in one and partly in another, the priority date of that claim shall be the date of the filing of the application accompanied by the specification of the later date.
1[(3A) Where a complete specification based on a previously filed application in India has been filed within twelve months from the date of that application and the claim is fairly based on the matter disclosed in the previously filed application, the priority date of that claim shall be the date of the previously filed application in which the matter was first disclosed.]
(4) Where the complete specification has been filed in pursuance of a further application made by virtue of sub-section (1) of section 16 and the claim is fairly based on the matter disclosed in any of the earlier specifications, provisional or complete, as the case may be, the priority date of that claim shall be the date of the filing of that specification in which the matter was first disclosed.
(5) Where, under the foregoing provisions of this section, any claim of a complete specification would, but for the provisions of that sub-section, have two or more priority dates, the priority date of that claim shall be the earlier or earliest of those dates.
(6) In any case to which sub-sections (2), (3), H(3A)]; (4) and (5) do not apply, the priority date of a claim shall, subject to the provisions of section 137, be the date of filing of the complete specification.
(7) The reference to the date of. the filing of the application or of the complete specification in this section shall, in cases where there has been a post-dating under section 9 or section 17 or, as the case may be, an ante-dating under section 16, be a reference to the date as so post-dated or ante-dated.
(8) A claim in a complete specification of a patent shall not be invalid by reason only of —
(a) the publication or use of the invention so far as claimed in that claim on or after the priority date of such claim; or
(b) the grant of another patent which claims the invention, so far as claimed in the first mentioned claim, in a claim of the same or a later priority date.
——————–
1. Inserted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Chapter IV – [Publication and Examination of Applications]
Section 11 A. Publication of applications
1[PUBLICATION AND EXAMINATION OF APPLICATIONS]
2[Publication of applications. 3[(1) Save as otherwise provided, no application for patent shall ordinarily be open to the public for such period as may be prescribed.
(2) The applicant may, in the prescribed manner, request the Controller to publish his application at any time before the expiry of the period prescribed under sub-section (1) and subject to the provisions of sub-section (3), the Controller shall publish such application as soon as possible.
(3) Every application for a patent shall, on the expiry of the period specified under subsection (1), be published, except in cases where the application—
(a) in which secrecy direction is imposed under section 35; or
(b) has been abandoned under sub-section (1) of section 9; or
(c) has been withdrawn three months prior to the period specified under sub-section (1).]
(4) In case a secrecy direction has been given in respect of an application under section 35, then it shall be published after the expiry of the period 4[prescribed under sub-section (1)] or when the secrecy direction has creased to operate, whichever is later.
(5) The publication of every application under this section shall include the particulars of the date of application, number of application, name and address of the applicant identifying the application and an abstract.
(6) Upon publication of an application for a patent under this section—
(a) the depository institution shall make the biological material mentioned in the specification available to the public;
(b) the patent office may, on payment of such fee as may be prescribed, make the specification and drawings, if any, of such application available to the public.
5[(7) On and from the date of publication of the application for patent and until the date of grant of a patent in respect of such application, the applicant shall have the like privileges and rights as if a patent for the invention had been granted on the date of publication of the application:
PROVIDED that the applicant shall not be entitled to institute any proceedings for infringement until the patent has been granted:
PROVIDED FURTHER that the rights of a patentee in respect of applications made under sub-section (2) of section 5 before the 1st day of January, 2005 shall accrue from the date of grant of the patent:
PROVIDED ALSO that after a patent is granted in respect of applications made under sub-section (2) of section 5, the patent-holder shall only be entitled to receive reasonable royalty from such enterprises which have made significant investment and were producing and marketing the concerned product prior to 1-1-2005 and which continue to manufacture the product covered by the patent on the date of grant of the patent and no infringement proceedings shall be instituted against such enterprises.]
——————–
1. Substituted for “Examination of Applications” by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561 (E),dt. 20-5-2003.
2. Inserted, ibid.
3. Substituted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
4. Substituted for “of eighteen months” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
5. Inserted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 11 B. Request for examination
1[(1) No application for a patent shall be examined unless the applicant or any other interested person makes a request in the prescribed manner for such examination within the prescribed period.]
2[(2) xxx]
1[(3) In case of an application in respect of a claim for a patent filed under sub-section (2) of section 5 before the 1st day of January, 2005 a request for its examination shall be made in the prescribed manner and within the prescribed period by the applicant or any other interested person.]
(4) In case the applicant or any other interested person does not make a request for examination of the application for a patent within the period as specified under sub-section (1) 3[x x x] or sub-section (3), the application shall be treated as withdrawn by the applicant:
1[PROVIDED that—
(i) the applicant may, at any time after filing the application but before the grant of a patent, withdraw the application by making a request in the prescribed manner; and
(ii) in a case where secrecy direction has been issued under section 35, the request for examination may be made within the prescribed period from the date of revocation of the secrecy direction.]
——————–
1. Substituted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
2. Omitted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
3. “or sub-section (2)” omitted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 12. Examination of application
(1) When a request for examination has been made in respect of an application for a patent in the prescribed manner1 [under sub-section (1) or sub-section (3) of section 11B, the application and specification and other documents related thereto shall be referred at the earliest by the Controller] to an examiner for making a report to him in respect of the following matters, namely,—
(a) whether the application and the 2[specification and other documents relating thereto] are in accordance with the requirements of this Act and of any rules made thereunder;
(b) whether there is any lawful ground of objection to the grant of the patent under this Act in pursuance of the application;
(c) the result of investigations made under section 13; and
(d) any other matter which may be prescribed.
(2) The examiner to whom the application and the 3[specification and other documents relating thereto] are referred under sub-section (1) shall ordinarily make the report to the Controller within 4[such period as may be prescribed].
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1. Substituted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
2. Substituted for “specification relating thereto” by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561 (E),dt. 20-5-2003.
3. Substituted for “a period of eighteen months from the date of such reference” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
4. Words “as the Controller may direct” omitted by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561 (E),dt. 20-5-2003.
Section 13. Search for anticipation by previous publication and by prior claim
(1) The examiner to whom an application for a patent is referred under section 12 shall make investigation for the purpose of ascertaining whether the invention so far as claimed in any claim of the complete specification—
(a) has been anticipated by publication before the date of filing of the applicant’s complete specification in any specification filed in pursuance of an application for a patent made in India and dated on or after the 1st day of January, 1912;
(b) is claimed in any claim of any other complete specification published on or after the date of filing of the applicant’s complete specification, being a specification filed in pursuance of an application for a patent made in India and dated before or claiming the priority date earlier than that date.
(2) The examiner shall, in addition, make an investigation [x x x] for the purpose of ascertaining, whether the invention, so far as claimed in any claim of the complete specification, has been anticipated by publication in India or elsewhere in any document other than those mentioned in sub-section (1) before the date of filing of the applicant’s complete specification.
(3) Where a complete specification is amended under the provisions of this Act before 1[the grant of a patent], the amended specification shall be examined and investigated in like manner as the original specification.
(4) The examination and investigations required under section 12 and this section shall not be deemed in any way to warrant the validity of any patent, and no liability shall be incurred by the Central Government or any officer thereof by reason of, or in connection with, any such examination or investigation or any report or other proceedings consequent thereon.
S
Prior registration of patent in another country prima facie constitutes prior publication and is liable to be rejected.—Lintech Electronics (P) Ltd. v. Marvel Engineering Co. 1995 (35) DRJ 11
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1. Substituted for “it has been accepted” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 14. Consideration of the report of examiner by Controller
1[Consideration of the report of examiner by Controller. Where, in respect of an application for a patent, the report of the examiner received by the Controller is adverse to the applicant or requires any amendment of the application, the specification or other documents to ensure compliance with the provisions of this Act or of the rules made thereunder, the Controller, before proceeding to dispose of the application in accordance with the provisions hereinafter appearing, shall communicate as expeditiously as possible the gist of the objections to the applicant and shall, if so required by the applicant within the prescribed period, give him an opportunity of being heard.
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1. Substituted for existing sections 14 and 15 by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 15. Power of Controller to refuse or require amended applications, etc., in certain cases
Where the Controller is satisfied that the application or any specification or any other document filed in pursuance thereof does not comply with the requirements of this Act or of any rules made thereunder, the Controller may refuse the application or may require the application, specification or the other documents, as the case may be, to be amended to his satisfaction before he proceeds with the application and refuse the application on failure to do so.]
Section 16. Power of Controller to make orders respecting division of application
(1) A person who has made an application for a patent under this Act may, at any time 1[before the grant of the patent], if he so desires, or with a view to remedy the objection raised by the Controller on the ground that the claims of the complete specification relate to more than one invention, file a further application in respect of an invention disclosed in the provisional or complete specification already filed in respect of the first-mentioned application.
(2) The further application under sub-section (1) shall be accompanied by a complete specification but such complete specification shall not include any matter not in substance disclosed in the complete specification filed in pursuance of the first-mentioned application.
(3) The Controller may require such amendment of the complete specification filed in pursuance of either the original or the further application as may be necessary to ensure that neither of the said complete specification includes a claim for any matter claimed in the other.
2[Explanation: For the purposes of this Act, the further application and the complete specification accompanying it shall be deemed to have been filed on the date on which the first mentioned application had been filed, and the further application shall be proceeded with as a substantive application and be examined when the request for examination is filed within the prescribed period.]
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1. Substituted for “before the acceptance of the complete specification” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
2. Substituted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act. 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 17. Power of Controller to make orders respecting dating of application
(1) Subject to the provisions of section 9, at any time after the filing of an application and 1[before the grant of the patent] under this Act, the Controller may, at the request of the applicant made in the prescribed manner, direct that the application shall be post-dated to such date as may be specified in the request, and proceed with the application accordingly:
PROVIDED that no application shall be post-dated under this sub-section to a date later than six months from the date on which it was actually made or would, but for the provisions of this sub-section, be deemed to have been made..
2[(2) Where an application or specification (including drawings) or any other document is required to be amended under section 15, the application or specification or other document shall, if the Controller so directs, be deemed to have been made on the date on which the requirement is complied with or where the application or specification or other document is returned to the applicant on the date on which it is re-filed after complying with the requirement.]
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1. Substituted for “before acceptance of the complete specification” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
2. Substituted by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561 (E), dt. 20-5-2003.
Section 18. Powers of Controller in cases of anticipation
(1) Where it appears to the Controller that the invention so far as claimed in any claim of the complete specification has been anticipated in the manner referred to in clause (a) of subsection (1) or sub-section (2) of section 13, he may refuse 1[the application] unless the applicant —
(a) shows to the satisfaction of the Controller that the priority date of the claim of his complete specification is not later than the date on which the relevant document was published; or
(b) amends his complete specification to the satisfaction of the Controller.
(2) If it appears to the Controller that the invention is claimed in a claim of any other complete specification referred to in clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 13, he may, subject to the provisions hereinafter contained, direct that a reference to that other specification shall be inserted by way of notice to the public in the applicant’s complete specification unless within such time as may be prescribed—
(a) the applicant shows to the satisfaction of the Controller that the priority date of his claim is not later than the priority date of the claim of the said other specification; or
(b) the complete specification is amended to the satisfaction of the Controller;
(3) If it appears to the Controller, as a result of an investigation under section 13 or otherwise —
(a) that the invention so far as claimed in any claim of the applicant’s complete specification has been claimed in any other complete specification referred to in clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 13; and
(b) that such other complete specification was published on or after the priority date of the applicant’s claim, then, unless it is shown to the satisfaction of the Controller that the priority date of the applicant’s claim is not later than the priority date of the claim of that specification, the provisions of sub-section (2) shall apply thereto in the same manner as they apply to a specification published on or after the date of filing of the applicant’s complete specification.
2[(4) xxx]
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1. Substituted for “to accept the complete specification” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
2. Omitted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 19. Powers of Controller in case of potential infringement
(1) If, in consequence of the investigation required 1[under this Act] it appears to the Controller that an invention in respect of which an application for a patent has been made cannot be performed without substantial risk of infringement of a claim of any other patent, he may direct that a reference to that other patent shall be inserted in the applicant’s complete specification by way of notice to the public, unless within such time as may be prescribed—
(a) the applicant shows to the satisfaction of the Controller that there are reasonable grounds for contesting the validity of the said claim of the other patent; or
(b) the complete specification is amended to the satisfaction of the Controller.
(2) Where, after a reference to another patent has been inserted in a complete specification in pursuance of a direction under sub-section (1)—
(a) that other patent is revoked or otherwise ceases to be in force; or
(b) the specification of that other patent is amended by the deletion of the relevant claim; or
(c) it is found, in proceedings before the court of the Controller, that the relevant claim of that other patent is invalid or is not infringed by any working of the applicant’s invention.
the Controller may, on the application of the applicant, delete the reference to that other patent.
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1. Substituted for “by the foregoing provisions of this Act or of proceedings under section 25″ by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 20. Powers of Controller to make orders regarding substitution of applicants, etc.
(1) If the Controller is satisfied on a claim made in the prescribed manner at any time before a patent has been granted, that by virtue of any assignment or agreement in writing made by the applicant or one of the applicants for the patent or by operation of law, the claimant would, if the patent were then granted, be entitled thereto or to the interest of the applicant therein, or to an undivided share of the patent or of that interest, the Controller may, subject to the provisions of this section, direct that the application shall proceed in the name of the claimant or in the names of the claimants and the applicant or the other joint applicant or applicants, accordingly as the case may require.
(2) No such direction as aforesaid shall be given by virtue of any assignment or agreement made by one of two or more joint applicants for a patent except with the consent of the other joint applicant or applicants.
(3) No such direction as aforesaid shall be given by virtue of any assignment or agreement for the assignment of the benefit of an invention unless—
(a) the invention is identified therein by reference to the number of the application for the patent; or
(b) there is produced to the Controller an acknowledgment by the person by whom the assignment or agreement was made that the assignment or agreement relates to the invention in respect of which that application is made; or
(c) the rights of the claimant in respect of the invention have been finally established by the decision of a court; or
(d) the Controller gives directions for enabling the application to proceed or for regulating the manner in which it should be proceeded with under sub-section (5).
(4) Where one of two or more joint applicants for a patent dies at any time before the patent has been granted, the Controller may, upon a request in that behalf made by the survivor or survivors and with the consent of the legal representative of the deceased, direct that the application shall proceed in the name of the survivor or survivors alone.
(5) If any dispute arises between joint applicants for a patent whether or in what manner the application should be proceeded with, the Controller; may, upon application made to him in the prescribed manner by any of the parties, and after giving to all parties concerned an opportunity to be heard, give such directions as he thinks fit for enabling the application to proceed in the name of one or more of the parties alone or for regulating the manner in which it should be proceeded with, or for both those purposes, as the case may require.
Section 21. Time for putting application in order for grant
1[Time for putting application in order for grant. (1) An application for a patent shall be deemed to have been abandoned unless, within such period as may be prescribed, the applicant has complied with all the requirements imposed on him by or under this Act, whether in connection with the complete specification or otherwise in relation to the application from the date on which the first statement of objections to the application or complete specification or other documents related thereto is forwarded to the applicant by the Controller.
Explanation : Where the application for a patent or any specification or, in the case of a convention application or an application filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty designating India any document filed as part of the application has been returned to the applicant by the Controller in the course of the proceedings, the applicant shall not be deemed to have complied with such requirements unless and until he has refiled it or the applicant proves to the satisfaction of the Controller that for the reasons beyond his control such document could not be re-filed.
(2) If at the expiration of the period as prescribed under sub-section (1),—
(a) an appeal to the High Court is pending in respect of the application for the patent for the main invention; or
(b) in the case of an application for a patent of addition, an appeal to the High Court is pending in respect of either that application or the application for the main invention, the time within which the requirements of the Controller shall be complied with shall, on an application made by the applicant before the expiration of the period as prescribed under sub-section (1), be extended until such date as the High Court may determine.
(3) If the time within which the appeal mentioned in sub-section (2) may be instituted has not expired, the Controller may extend the period as prescribed under sub-section (1), to such further period as he may determine:
PROVIDED that if an appeal has been filed during the said further period, and the High Court has granted any extension of time for complying with the requirements of the Controller, then the requirements may be complied with within the time granted by the Court.]
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1. Substituted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 22. OMITTED
1[xxx]
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1. Sections 22 to 24 omitted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 23. OMITTED
1[xxx]
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1. Sections 22 to 24 omitted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 24. OMITTED
1[xxx]
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1. Sections 22 to 24 omitted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Chapter V – [Opposition Proceedings to Grant of Patents]
Section 25. Opposition to the patent
1[x x x]
2[OPPOSITION PROCEEDINGS TO GRANT OF PATENTS]
3[Opposition to the patent. (1) Where an application for a patent has been published but a patent has not been granted, any person may, in writing, represent by way of opposition to the Controller against the grant of patent on the ground—
(a) that the applicant for the patent or the person under or through whom he’ claims, wrongfully obtained the invention or any part thereof from him or from a person under or through whom he claims;
(b) that the invention so far as claimed in any claim of the complete specification has been published before the priority date of the claim—
(i) in any specification filed in pursuance of an application for a patent made in India on or after the 1st day of January 1912; or
(ii) in India or elsewhere, in any other document:
PROVIDED that the ground specified in sub-clause (ii) shall not be available where such publication does not constitute an anticipation of the invention by virtue of sub-section (2) or sub-section (3) of section 29;
(c) that the invention so far as claimed in any claim of the complete specification is claimed in a claim of a complete specification published on or after the priority date of the applicant’s claim and filed in pursuance of an application for a patent in India, being a claim of which the priority date is earlier than that of the applicant’s claim;
(d) that the invention so far as claimed in any claim of the complete specification was publicly known or publicly used in India before the priority date of that claim.
Explanation : For the purposes of this clause, an invention relating to a process for which a patent is claimed shall be deemed to have been publicly known or publicly used in India before the priority date of the claim if a product made by that process had already been imported into India before }., that date except where such importation has been for the purpose of reasonable trial or experiment only;
(e) that the invention so far as claimed in any claim of the complete specification is obvious and clearly does not involve any inventive step, having regard to the matter published as mentioned in clause (b) or having regard to what : was used in India before the priority date of the applicant’s claim;
(f) that the subject of any claim of the complete specification is not an invention within the meaning of this Act, or is not patentable under this Act; .
(g) that the complete specification does not sufficiently and clearly describe the invention or the method by which it is to be performed;
(h) that the applicant has failed to disclose to the Controller the information required by section 8 or has furnished the information which in any material particular was false to his knowledge;
(i) that in the case of convention application, the application was not made within twelve months from the date of the first application for protection for the invention made in a convention country by the applicant or a person from whom he derives title;
(j) that the complete specification does not disclose or wrongly mentions the source or geographical origin of biological material used for the invention;
(k) that the invention so far as claimed in any claim of the complete specification is anticipated having regard to the knowledge, oral or otherwise, available within any local or indigenous community in India or elsewhere, but on no other ground and the Controller shall, if requested by such person for being heard, hear him and dispose of such representation in such manner and within such period as may be prescribed.
(2) At any time after the grant of patent but before the expiry of a period of one year from the date of publication of grant of a patent, any person interested may give notice of opposition to the Controller in the prescribed manner on any of the following grounds, namely:—
(a) that the patentee or the person under or through whom the claims, wrongfully obtained the invention or any part thereof from him or from a person under or through whom he claims;
(b) that the invention so far as claimed in any claim of the complete specification has been published before the priority date of the claim—
(i) in any specification filed in pursuance of an application for a patent made in India on or after the 1st day of January, 1912; or
(ii) in India or elsewhere, in any other document:
PROVIDED that the ground specified in sub-clause (ii) shall not be available where such publication does not constitute an anticipation of the invention by virtue of subsection (2) or sub-section (3) of section 29;
(c) that the invention so far as claimed in any claim of the complete specification is claimed in a claim of a complete specification published on or after the priority date of the claim of the patentee and filed in pursuance of an application for patent in India, being a claim of which the priority date is earlier than that of the claim of the patentee;
(d) that the invention so far as claimed in any claim of the complete specification was publicly known or publicly used in India before the priority date of that claim.
Explanation : For the purposes of this clause, an invention relating to a process for which a patent is granted shall be deemed to have been publicly known or publicly used in India before the priority date of the claim if a product made by that process had already been imported into India before that date except where such importation has been for the purpose of reasonable trial or experiment only;
(e) that the invention so far as claimed in any claim of the complete specification is obvious and clearly does not involve any inventive step, having regard to the matter published as mentioned in clause (b) or having regard to what was used in India before the priority date of the claim;
(f) that the subject of any claim of the complete specification is not an invention within the meaning of this Act, or is not patentable under this Act;
(g) that the complete specification does not sufficiently and clearly describe the invention or the method by which it is to be performed;
(h) that the patentee has failed to disclose to the Controller the information required by section 8 or has furnished the information which in any material particular was false to his knowledge;
(i) that in the case of a patent granted on convention application, the application for patent was not made within twelve months from the date of the first application for protection for the invention made in a convention country or in India by the patentee or a person from whom he derives title;
(j) that the complete specification does not disclose or wrongly mentions the source and geographical origin of biological material used for the invention;
(k) that the invention so far as claimed in any claim of the complete specification was anticipated having regard to the knowledge, oral or otherwise, available within any local or indigenous community in India or elsewhere but on no other ground.
(3)(a) Where any such notice of opposition is duly given under sub-section (2), the Controller shall notify the patentee.
(b) On receipt of such notice of opposition, the Controller shall, by order in writing, constitute a Board to be known as the Opposition Board consisting of such officers as he may determine and refer such notice of opposition along with the documents to that Board for examination and submission of its recommendations to the Controller.
(c) Every Opposition Board constituted under clause (b) shall conduct the : examination in accordance with such procedure as may be prescribed.
(4) On receipt of the recommendation of the Opposition Board and after giving the patentee and the opponent an opportunity of being heard, the Controller shall order either to maintain or to amend or to revoke the patent.
(5) While passing an order under sub-section (4) in respect of the ground mentioned in clause (d) or clause (e) of sub-section (2), the Controller shall not take into account any personal document or secret trial or secret use.
(6) In case the Controller issues an order under sub-section (4) that the patent shall be maintained subject to amendment of the specification or any other document, the patent shall stand amended accordingly.
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1. Chapter IVA containing sections 24A to 24F omitted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
2. Substituted for “OPPOSITION TO GRANT OF PATENT” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
3. Existing sections 25 and 26 substituted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 26. In cases of “obtaining” Controller may treat the patent as the patent of opponent
(1) Where in any opposition proceeding under this Act the Controller finds that—
(a) the invention, so far as claimed in any claim of the complete specification, was obtained from the opponent in the manner set out in clause (a) of sub-section (2) of section 25 and revokes the patent on that ground, he may, on request by such opponent made in the prescribed manner, direct that the patent shall stand amended in the name of the opponent;
(b) a part of an invention described in the complete specification was so obtained from the opponent, he may pass an order requiring that the specification be amended by the exclusion of that part of the invention.
(2) Where an opponent has, before the date of the order of the Controller requiring the amendment of a complete specification referred to in clause (b) of sub-section (1), filed an application for a patent for an invention which included the whole or a part of the invention held to have been obtained from him and such application is pending, the Controller may treat such application and specification insofar as they relate to the invention held to have been obtained from him, as having been filed, for the purposes of this Act relating to the priority dates of claims of the complete specification, on the date on which the corresponding document was or was deemed to have been filed by the patentee in the earlier application but for all other purposes the application of the opponent shall be proceeded with as an application for a patent under this Act.]
Section 27. [xxx]
1[x x x]
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1. Omitted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 28. Mention of inventor as such in patent
(1) If the controller is satisfied, upon a request or claim made in accordance with the provisions of this section—
(a) that the person in respect of or by whom the request or claim is made is the’ inventor of an invention in respect of which application for a patent has been made, or of a substantial part of that invention; and
(b) that the application for the patent is a direct consequence of his being the inventor, the Controller shall, subject to the provisions of this section, cause him to be mentioned as inventor in any patent granted in pursuance of the application in the complete specification and in the register of patents:
PROVIDED that the mention of any person as inventor under this section shall not confer or derogate from any rights under the patent.
(2) A request that any person shall be mentioned as aforesaid may be made in the prescribed manner by the applicant for the patent or (where the person alleged to be the inventor is not the applicant or one of the applicants) by the applicant and that person.
(3) If any person [other than a person in respect of whom a request in relation to the application in question has been made under sub-section (2),] desires to be mentioned as aforesaid, he may make a claim in the prescribed manner in that behalf.
2[(4) A request or claim under the foregoing provisions of this section shall be made before the grant of patent.]
1[(5) xxx]
(6) 3[Where] a claim is made under sub-section (3), the Controller shall give notice of the claim to every applicant for the patent (not being the claimant) and to any other person whom the Controller may consider to be interested; and before deciding upon any request or claim made under sub-section (2) or sub-section (3), the Controller shall, if required, hear the person in respect of or by whom the request or claim is made, and, in the case of a claim under sub-section (3), any person to whom notice of the claim has been given as aforesaid.
(7) Where any person has been mentioned as inventor in pursuance of this section, any other person who alleges that he ought not to have been so mentioned may at any time apply to the Controller for a certificate to that effect, and the Controller may, after hearing, if required, any person whom he may consider to be interested, issue such a certificate, and if he does so, he shall rectify the specification and the register accordingly.
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1. Omitted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
2. Substituted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
3. Substituted for “Subject to the provisions of sub-section (5), where” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Chapter VI – Anticipation
Section 29. Anticipation by previous publication
(1) An invention claimed in a complete specification shall not be deemed to have been ant.; cipated by reason only that the invention was published in a specification filed in pursuance of an application for a patent made in India and dated before the 1st day of January, 1912.
(2) Subject as hereinafter provided, an invention claimed in a complete specification shall not be deemed to have been anticipated by reason only that the invention was published before the priority date of the relevant claim of the specification, if the patentee or the applicant for the patent proves—
(a) that the matter published was obtained from him, or (where he is not himself the true and first inventor) from any person from whom he derives title and was published without his consent or the consent of any such person; and
(b) where the patentee or the applicant for the patent or any person from whom he derives title learned of the publication before the date of the application for the patent, or in the case of a convention application, before the date of the application for protection in a convention country, that the application or the application in the convention country, as the case may be, was made as soon, as reasonably practicable thereafter:
PROVIDED that this sub-section shall not apply if the invention was before the priority date of the claim commercially worked in India, otherwise than for the purpose of reasonable trial, either by the patentee or the applicant for the patent or any person from whom he derives title or by any other person with the consent of the patentee or the applicant for the patent or any person from whom he derives title.
(3) Where a complete specification is filed in pursuance of an application for a patent made by a person being the true and first inventor or deriving title from him, an invention claimed in that specification shall not be deemed to have been anticipated by reason only of any other application for a patent in respect of the same invention made in contravention of the rights of that person, or by reason only that after the date of filing of that other application the invention was used or published, without the consent of that person, by the applicant in respect of that other application, or by any other person in consequence of any disclosure of any invention by that applicant.
Section 30. Anticipation by previous communication to government
An invention claimed in a complete specification shall not be deemed to have been anticipated by reason only of the communication of the invention to the government or to any person authorised by the government to investigate the invention or its merits, or of anything done, in consequence of such a communication, for the purpose of the investigation.
Section 31. Anticipation by public display, etc.
An invention claimed in a complete specification shall not be deemed to have been anticipated by reason only of—
(a) the display of the invention with the consent of the true and first inventor or a person deriving title from him at an industrial or other exhibition to which the provisions of this section have been extended by the Central Government by notification, in the Official Gazette, or the use thereof with his consent for the purpose of such an exhibition in the place where it is held; or
(b) the publication of any description of the invention in consequence of the display or use of the invention at any such exhibition as aforesaid; or
(c) the use of the invention, after it has been displayed or used at any such exhibition as aforesaid and during the period of the exhibition, by any person without the consent of the true and first inventor or a person deriving title from him; or
(d) the description of the invention in a paper read by the true and first inventor before a learned society or published with his consent in the transactions of such a society, if the application for the patent is made by the true and first inventor or a person deriving title from him 1[not later than twelve months] after the opening of the exhibition or the reading or publication of the paper, as the case may be.
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1. Substituted for “not later than six months” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 32. Anticipation by public working
An invention claimed in a complete specification shall not be deemed to have been anticipated by reason only that at any time within one year before the priority date of the relevant claim of the specification, the invention was publicly worked in India—
(a) by the patentee or applicant for the patent or any person from whom he derives title; or
(b) by any other person with the consent of the patentee or applicant for the patent or any person from whom he derives title, if the working was effected for the purpose of reasonable trial only and if it was reasonably necessary, having regard to the nature of the invention, that the working for that purpose should be effected in public.
Section 33. Anticipation by use and publication after provisional specification
(1) Where a complete specification is filed or proceeded with in pursuance of an application which was accompanied by a provisional specification or where a complete specification filed along with an application is treated by virtue of a direction under sub-section (3) of section 9 as a provisional specification, then, notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the Controller shall not refuse to grant the patent, and the patent shall not be revoked or invalidated, by reason only that any matter described in the provisional specification or in the specification treated as aforesaid as a provisional specification was used in India or published in India or elsewhere at any time after the date of the filing of that specification.
(2) Where a complete specification is filed in pursuance of a convention application, then, notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the Controller shall not refuse to grant the patent, and the patent shall not be revoked or invalidated, by reason only that any matter disclosed in any application for protection in a convention country upon which the convention application is founded was used in India or published in India or elsewhere at any time after the date of that application for protection.
Section 34. No anticipation if circumstances are only as described in sections 29, 30, 31 and 32
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the Controller shall not refuse 1[x x x] to grant a patent, and a patent shall not be revoked or invalidated by reason only of any circumstances which, by virtue of section 29 or section 30 or section 31 or section 32 do not constitute an anticipation of the invention claimed in the specification.
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1. Words “to accept complete specification for a patent or” omitted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Chapter VII – Provisions for Secrecy of Certain Inventions
Section 35. Secrecy directions relating to inventions relevant for defence purposes
(1) Where, in respect of an application made before or after the commencement of this Act for a patent, it appears to the Controller that the invention is one of a class notified to him by the Central Government as relevant for defence purposes, or, where otherwise the invention appears to him to be so relevant, he may give directions for prohibiting or restricting the publication of information with respect to the invention or the communication of such information 1[xxx].
(2) Where the Controller gives any such directions as are referred to in sub-section (1), he shall give notice of the application and of the directions to the Central Government, and the Central Government shall, upon receipt of such notice, consider whether the publication of the invention would be prejudicial to the defence of India, and if upon such consideration, it appears to it that the publication of the invention would not so prejudice, give notice to the Controller to that effect, who shall thereupon revoke the directions and notify the applicant accordingly.
(3) Without prejudice to the provisions contained in sub-section (1), where the Central Government is of opinion that an invention in respect of which the Controller has not given any directions under sub-section (1), is relevant for defence purposes, it may at any time before 2[grant of patent] notify the Controller to that effect, and thereupon the provisions of that subsection shall apply as if the invention were one of the class notified by the Central Government of the directions issued by him.
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1. Words “to any person or class of persons specified in the directions” omitted by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561 (E), dt. 20-5-2003.
2. Substituted for “acceptance of the complete specification” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 36. Secrecy directions to be periodically reviewed
1[(1) The question whether an invention in respect of which directions have been given under section 35 continues to be relevant for defence purposes shall be re-considered by the Central Government at intervals of 2[six] months or on a request made by the applicant which is found to be reasonable by the Controller, and if, on such re-consideration, it appears to the Central Government that the publication of the invention would no longer be prejudicial to the defence of India or in case of an application filed by a foreign applicant it is found that the invention is published outside India it shall forthwith give notice to the Controller to revoke the direction and the Controller shall thereupon revoke the directions previously given by him.]
(2) The result of every re-consideration under sub-section (1), shall be communicated to the applicant within such time and in such manner as may be prescribed.
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1. Substituted by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561 (E), dt. 20-5-2003.
2. Substituted for “twelve” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 37. Consequences of secrecy directions
(1) So long as any directions under section 35 are in force in respect of an application—
(a) the Controller shall not pass an order refusing 1[to grant] the same; and
(b) notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, no appeal shall lie from any order of the Controller passed in respect thereof:
2[PROVIDED that the application may, subject to the directions, proceed upto the stage of grant of the patent, but the application and the specification found to be in order for grant of the patent shall not be published, and no patent shall be granted in pursuance of that application.]
(2) Where a complete specification filed in pursuance of an application for a patent for an invention in respect of which directions have been given under section 35 3[is found to be in order for grant of the patent] during the continuance in force of the directions, then—
(a) if, during the continuance in force of the directions; any use of the invention is made by or on behalf of, or to the order of the government, the provisions of sections 100,101 and 103 shall apply in relation to that use as if the patent had been granted for the invention; and
(b) if it appears to the Central Government that the applicant for the patent has suffered hardship by reason of the continuance in force of the directions the Central Government may make to him such payment (if any) by way of solatium as appears to the Central Government to be reasonable having regard to the novelty and utility of the invention and the purpose for which it is designed, and to any other relevant circumstances.
(3) Where a patent is granted in pursuance of an application in respect of which directions have been given under section 35, no renewal fee shall be payable in respect of any period during which those directions were in force.
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1. Substituted for “to accept” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
2. Substituted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
3. Substituted for “is accepted” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 38. Revocation of secrecy directions and extension of time
When any direction given under section 35 is revoked by the Controller, then, notwithstanding any provisions of this Act specifying the time within which any step should be taken or any act done in connection with an application for the patent, the Controller may, subject to such conditions, if any, as he thinks fit to impose, extend the time for doing anything required to be done by or under this Act in connection with the application, whether or not that time has previously expired.
Section 39. Residents not to apply for patents outside India without prior permission
1[Residents not to apply for patents outside India without prior permission. (1) No person resident in India shall, except under the authority of a written permit sought in the manner prescribed and granted by or on behalf of the Controller, make or cause to be made any application outside India for the grant of a patent for an invention unless—
(a) an application for a patent for the same invention has been made in India, not less than six weeks before the application outside India; and
(b) either no direction has been given under sub-section (1) of section 35 in relation to the application in India, or all such directions have been revoked.
(2) The Controller shall dispose of every such application within such period as may be prescribed:
PROVIDED that if the invention is relevant for defence purpose or atomic energy, the Controller shall not grant permit without the prior consent of the Central Government.
(3) This section shall not apply in relation to an invention for which an application for protection has first been filed in a country outside India by a person resident outside India.]
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1. Substituted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 40. Liability for contravention of section 35 or section 39
Without prejudice to the provisions contained in Chapter XX, if in respect of an application for a patent any person contravenes any direction as to secrecy given by the Controller under section 35, or makes or causes to be made an application for grant of a patent outside India in contravention of section 39 the application for patent under this Act shall be deemed to have been abandoned and the patent granted, if any, shall be liable to be revoked under section 64.
Section 41. Finality of orders of Controller and Central Government
All orders of the Controller giving directions as to secrecy as well as all orders of the Central Government under this Chapter shall be final and shall not be called in question in any court on any ground whatsoever.
Section 42. Saving respecting disclosure to government
Nothing in this Act shall be held to prevent the disclosure by the Controller of information concerning an application for a patent or a specification filed in pursuance thereof to the Central Government for the purpose of the application or specification being examined for considering whether an order under this Chapter should be made or whether an order so made should be revoked.
Chapter VIII – [Grant of Patents and Rights Conferred Thereby]
Section 43. Grant of patents
1[GRANT OF PATENTS AND RIGHTS CONFERRED THEREBY]
2[Grant of patents. (1) Where an application for a patent has been found to be in order for grant of the patent and either—
(a) the application has not been refused by the Controller by virtue of any power vested in him by this Act; or
(b) the application has not been found to be in contravention of any of the provisions of this Act,the patent shall be granted as expeditiously as possible to the applicant or, in the case of a joint application, to the applicants jointly, with the seal of the patent office and the date on which the patent is granted shall be entered in the register.
(2) On the grant of patent, the Controller shall publish the fact that the patent has been granted and thereupon the application, specification and other documents related thereto shall be open for public inspection.]
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1. Substituted for “GRANT AND SEALING OF PATENTS AND RIGHTS CONFERRED THEREBY” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
2. Substituted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 44. Amendment of patent granted to deceased applicant
Where, at any time after a patent has been 1[granted] in pursuance of an application under this Act, the Controller is satisfied that the person to whom the patent was granted had died, or, in the case of a body corporate, had ceased to exist, before the patent was 1[granted], the Controller may amend the patent by substituting for the name of that person the name of the person to whom the patent ought to have been granted, and the patent shall be deemed always to have had effect, accordingly.
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1. Substituted for “sealed” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 45. Date of patent
1[(1) Subject to the other provisions contained in this Act, every patent shall be dated as of the date on which the application for patent was filed.]
(2) The date of every patent be entered in the register.
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, no suit or other proceeding shall be commenced or prosecuted in respect of an infringement committed before 2[the date of publication of the application].
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1. Substituted by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
2. Substituted for “the date of advertisement of the acceptance of the complete specification” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 46. Form, extent and effect of patent
(1) Every patent shall be in the prescribed form and shall have effect throughout India.
(2) A patent shall be granted for one invention only:
PROVIDED that it shall not be competent for any person in a suit or other proceeding to take any objection to a patent on the ground that it has been granted for more than one invention.
Section 47. Grant of patents to be subject to certain conditions
The grant of a patent under this Act shall be subject to the condition that—
(1) any machine, apparatus or other article in respect of which the patent is granted or any article made by using a process in respect of which the patent is granted, may be imported or made by or on behalf of the government for the purpose merely of its own use;
(2) any process in respect of which the patent is granted may be used by or on behalf of the government for the purpose merely of its own use;
(3) any machine, apparatus or other article in respect of which the patent is granted or any article made by the use of the process in respect of which the patent is granted, may be made or used, and any process in respect of which the patent is granted may be used, by any person, for the purpose merely of experiment or research including the imparting of instructions to pupils; and
(4) in the case of a patent in respect of any medicine or drug, the medicine or drug may be imported by the government for the purpose merely of its own use or for distribution in any dispensary, hospital or other medical institution maintained by or on behalf of the government or any other dispensary, hospital or medical institution which the Central Government may, having regard to the public service that such dispensary, hospital or medical institution renders, specify in this behalf by notification in the Official Gazette.
Section 48. Rights of patentees
1[Rights of patentees. Subject to the other provisions contained in this Act and the conditions specified in section 47, a patent granted under this Act shall confer upon the patentee—
(a) where the subject matter of the patent is a product, the exclusive right to prevent third parties, who do not have his consent, from the act of making, using, offering for sale, selling or importing for those purposes that product in India:
(b) where the subject matter of the patent is a process the exclusive right to prevent third parties, who do not have his consent, from the act of using that process, and from the act of using, offering for sale, selling or importing for those purposes the product obtained directly by that process in India:
2[x x x]
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1. Substituted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide SO 561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
2. Proviso omitted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 49. Patent rights not infringed when used on foreign vessels, etc. temporarily or accidentally in India
Patent rights not infringed when used on foreign vessels, etc. temporarily or accidentally in India. (1) Where a vessel or aircraft registered in a foreign country or a land vehicle owned by a person ordinarily resident in such country comes into India (including the territorial waters thereof) temporarily or accidentally only, the rights conferred by a patent for an invention shall not be deemed to be infringed by the use of the invention—
(a) in the body of the vessel or in the machinery, tackle, apparatus or other – accessories thereof, so far as the invention is used on board the vessel and for its actual needs only; or
(b) in the construction or working of the aircraft or land vehicle or of the accessories thereof, as the case may be.
(2) This section shall not extend to vessels, aircraft or land vehicles owned by persons ordinarily resident in a foreign country the law of which do not confer corresponding rights with respect to the use of inventions in vessels, aircraft or land vehicles owned by persons ordinarily resident in India while in the ports or within the territorial waters of that foreign country or otherwise within the jurisdiction of its courts.
Section 50. Rights of co-owners of patents
(1) Where a patent is granted to two or more persons, each of those persons shall, unless an agreement to the contrary is in force, be entitled to an equal undivided share in the patent.
(2) Subject to the provisions contained in this section and in section 51, where two or more persons are registered as grantee or proprietor of a patent, then, unless an agreement to the contrary is in force, each of those persons shall be entitled, by himself or his agents, to 1[the rights conferred by section 48] for his own benefit without accounting to the other person or persons.
(3) Subject to the provisions contained in this section and in section 51 and to any agreement for the time being in force, where two or more persons are registered as grantee or proprietor of a patent, then, a licence under the patent shall not be granted and a share in the patent shall not be assigned by one of such persons except with the consent of the other person or persons.
(4) Where a patented article is sold by one of two or more persons registered as grantee or proprietor of a patent, the purchaser and any person claiming through him shall be entitled to deal with the article in the same manner as if the article had been sold by a sole patentee.
(5) Subject to the provisions contained in this section, the rules of law applicable to the ownership and devolution of movable property generally shall apply in relation to patents, and nothing contained in sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) shall affect the mutual rights or obligations of trustees or of the legal representatives of a deceased person or their rights or obligations as such.
(6) Nothing in this section shall affect the rights of the assignees of a partial interest in a patent created before the commencement of this Act.
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1. Substituted for “make, use, exercise and sell the patented invention” by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.0.561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
Section 51. Power of Controller to give directions to co-owners
(1) Where two or more persons are registered as grantee or proprietor of a patent, the Controller may, upon application made to him in the prescribed manner by any of those persons, give such directions in accordance with the application as to the sale or lease of the patent or any interest therein, the grant of licence under the patent, or the exercise of any right under section 50 in relation thereto, as he thinks fit.
(2) If any person registered as grantee or proprietor of a patent fails to execute any instrument or to do any other thing required for the carrying out of any direction given under this section within fourteen days after being requested in writing so to do by any of the other persons so registered, the Controller may upon application made.to him in the prescribed manner by any such other person give directions empowering any person to execute that instrument or to do that in the name and on behalf of the person in default.
(3) Before giving any directions in pursuance of an application under this section, the Controller shall give an opportunity to be heard—
(a) in the case of an application under sub-section (1), to the other person or persons registered as grantee or proprietor of the patent;
(b) in the case of an application under sub-section (2), to the person in default.
(4) No direction shall be given under this section so as to affect the mutual rights or obligations of trustees or of the legal representatives of a deceased person or of their rights or obligations as such, or which is inconsistent with the terms of any agreement between persons registered as grantee or proprietor of the patent.
Section 52. Grant of patent to true and first inventor where it has been obtained by another in fraud of him
(1) 1[Where the patent has been revoked under section 64] on the ground that the patent was obtained wrongfully and in contravention of the rights of the petitioner or any person under or through whom he claims, or, where in a petition for revocation, the 2[Appellate Board or court], instead of revoking the patent, directs the complete specification to be amended by the exclusion of a claim or claims in consequence of a finding that the invention covered by such claim or claims had been obtained from the petitioner, the 2[Appellate Board or court] may, by order passed in the same proceeding, permit the grant to the petitioner of the whole or such part of the invention which the court finds has been wrongfully obtained by the patentee, in lieu of the patent so revoked or is excluded by amendment.
(2) Where any such order is passed, the Controller shall, on request by the petitioner made in the prescribed manner grant to him—
(i) in cases where the 3[Appellate Board or court] permits the whole of the patent to be granted, a new patent bearing the same date and number as the patent revoked;
(ii) in cases where the 3[Appellate Board or court] permits a part only of the patent to be granted, a new patent for such part bearing the same date as the patent revoked and numbered in such manner as may be prescribed:
PROVIDED that the Controller may, as a condition of such grant, require the petitioner to file a new and complete specification to the satisfaction of the Controller describing and claiming that part of the invention for which the patent is to be granted.
(3) No suit shall be brought for any infringement of a patent granted under this section committed before the actual date on which such patent was granted.
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1. Substituted for “Where a patent has been revoked” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
2. Substituted for “court” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, effective date to be notified.
3. Substituted for “court” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, effective date to be notified.
Section 53. Term of patent
1[(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the term of every patent granted, after the commencement of the Patents (Amendment) Act, 2002, and the term of every patent which has not expired and has not ceased to have effect, on the date of such commencement, under this Act, shall be twenty years from the date of filing of the application for the patent.]
2[Explanation : For the purposes of this sub-section, the term of patent in case of International applications filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty designating India, shall be twenty years from the international filing date accorded under the Patent Cooperation Treaty.]
(2) A patent shall cease to have effect notwithstanding anything therein or in this Act on the expiration of the period prescribed for the payment of any renewal fee, if that fee is not paid within the prescribed period 3[or within such extended period as may be prescribed].
4[(3) xxx]
5[(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, on cessation of the patent right due to non-payment of renewal fee or on the expiry of the term of patent, the subject matter covered by the said patent shall not be entitled to any protection.]
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1. Substituted by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
2. Inserted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
3. Substituted for “or within that period as extended under this section” by the Patents (Amdt) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
4. Omitted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
5. Inserted by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
Chapter IX – Patents of Addition
Section 54. Patents of addition
(1) Subject to the provisions contained in this section, where an application is made for a patent in respect of any improvement in or modification of an invention described or disclosed in the complete specification filed therefor (in this Act referred to as the “main invention”) and the applicant also applies or has applied for a patent for that invention or is the patentee in respect thereof, the Controller may, if the applicant so requests, grant the patent for the improvement or modification as a patent of addition.
(2) Subject to the provisions contained in this section, when an invention, being an improvement in or modification of another invention, is the subject of an independent patent and the patentee in respect of that patent is also the patentee in respect of the patent for the main invention, the Controller may, if the patentee so requests, by order, revoke the patent for the improvement or modification and grant to the patentee a patent of addition in respect thereof, bearing the same date as the date of the patent so revoked.
(3) A patent shall not be granted as a patent of addition unless the date of filing of the 1[application] was the same as or later than the date of filing of the 1[application] in respect of the main invention.
2[(4) A patent of addition shall not be granted before grant of the patent for the main invention.]
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1. Substituted for “complete specification” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
2. Substituted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 55. Term of patents of addition
(1) A patent of addition shall be granted for a term equal to that of the patent for the main invention, or so much thereof as has not expired, and shall remain in force during that term or until the previous cesser of the patent for the main invention and no longer:
PROVIDED that if the patent for the main invention is revoked under this Act, the court, or, as the case may be, the Controller, on request made to him by the patentee in the prescribed manner, may order that the patent of addition shall become an independent patent for the remainder of the term for the patent for the main invention and thereupon the patent shall continue in force as an independent patent accordingly.
(2) No renewal fees shall be payable in respect of a patent of addition, but if any such patent becomes an independent patent under sub-section (1), the same fees shall thereafter be payable, upon the same dates, as if the patent had been originally granted as an independent patent.
Section 56. Validity of patents of addition
(1) The grant of a patent of addition shall not be refused, and a patent granted as a patent of addition shall not be revoked or invalidated, on the ground only that the invention claimed in the complete specification does not involve any inventive step having regard to any publication or use of—
(a) the main invention described in the complete specification relating thereto; or .
(b) any improvement in or modification of the main invention described in the complete specification of a patent of addition to the patent for the main invention or of an application for such a patent of addition, and the validity of a patent of addition shall not be questioned on the ground that the invention ought to have been the subject of an independent patent.
(2) For the removal of doubts it is hereby declared that in determining the novelty of the invention claimed in the complete specification filed in pursuance of an application for a patent of addition regard shall be had also to the complete specification in which the main invention is described.
Chapter X – Amendment of Applications and Specifications
Section 57. Amendment of application and specification before Controller
(1) Subject to the provisions of section 59, the Controller may, upon application made under this section in the prescribed manner by an applicant for a patent or by a patentee, allow the application for the patent or the complete specification 1[or any document relating thereto] to be amended subject to such conditions, if any, as the Controller thinks fit:
PROVIDED that the Controller shall not pass any order allowing or refusing an application to amend an application for a patent or a specification 1[or any document relating thereto] under this section while any suit before a court for the infringement of the patent or any proceeding before the High Court for the revocation of the patent is pending, whether the suit or proceeding commenced before or after the filing of the application to amend.
(2) Every application for leave to amend an application for a patent 2[or a complete specification or any document relating thereto] under this section shall state the nature of the proposed amendment, and shall give full particulars of the reasons for which the application is made.
3[(3) Any application for leave to amend an application for a patent or a complete specification or a document related thereto under this section made after the grant of patent and the nature of the proposed amendment may be published.]
(4) Where an application is 4[published] under sub-section (3), any person interested may, within the prescribed period after the 5[publication] thereof, give notice to the Controller of opposition thereto; and where such a notice is given within the period aforesaid, the Controller shall notify the person by whom the application under this section is made and shall give to the person and to the opponent an opportunity to be heard before he decides the case.
(5) An amendment under this section of a complete specification may be, or include, an amendment of the priority date of a claim.
3[(6) The provisions of this section shall be without prejudice to the right of an applicant for a patent to amend his specification or any other document related thereto to comply with the directions of the Controller issued before the grant of a patent.]
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1. Inserted by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
2. Substituted for “or a specification”, by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
3. Substituted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 200S, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
4. Substituted for “advertised” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
5. Substituted for “advertisement” by the Patent (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 58. Amendment of specification before Appellate Board or High Court
1[Amendment of specification before Appellate Board or High Court. (1) In any proceeding before the Appellate Board or the High Court for the revocation of a patent, the Appellate Board or the High Court, as the case may be, may, subject to the provisions contained in section 59, allow the patentee to amend his complete specification in such manner and subject to such terms as to costs, advertisement or otherwise, as the Appellate Board or the High Court may think fit, and if, in any proceedings for revocation, the Appellate Board or the High Court decides that the patent is invalid, it may allow the specification to be amended under this section instead of revoking the patent.
(2) Where an application for an order under this section is made to the Appellate Board or the High Court, the applicant shall give notice of the application to the Controller, and the Controller shall be entitled to appear and be heard, and shall appear if so directed by the Appellate Board or the High Court.
(3) Copies of all orders of the Appellate Board or the High Court allowing the patentee to amend the specification shall be transmitted by the Appellate Board or the High Court to the Controller who shall, on receipt thereof, cause an entry thereof and reference thereto to be made in the register.]
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1. Substituted, ibid, w.e.f. the date to be notified.
Section 59. Supplementary provisions as to amendment of application or specification
1[(l) No amendment of an application for a patent or a complete specification or any document relating thereto shall be made except by way of disclaimer, correction or explanation, and no amendment thereof shall be allowed, except for the purpose of incorporation of actual fact, and no amendment of a complete specification shall be allowed, the effect of which would be that the specification as amended would claim or describe matter not in substance disclosed or shown in the specification before the amendment, or that any claim of the specification as amended would not fall wholly within the scope of a claim of the specification before the amendment.]
2[(2) Where after the date of grant of patent any amendment of the specification or any other documents related thereto is allowed by the Controller or by the Appellate Board or the High Court, as the case may be,—
(a) the amendment shall for all purposes be deemed to form part of the specification along with other documents related thereto;
(b) the fact that the specification or any other documents related thereto has been amended shall be published as expeditiously as possible; and
(c) the right of the applicant or patentee to make amendment shall not be called in question except on the ground of fraud.]
(3) In construing the specification as amended, reference may be made to the specification as originally accepted.
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1. Substituted by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
2. Substituted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. the date to be notified.
Chapter XI – Restoration of Lapsed Patents
Section 60. Applications for restoration of lapsed patents
(1) Where a patent has ceased to have effect by reason of failure to pay any renewal fee within the 1[period prescribed under section 53 or within such period as may be allowed under sub-section (4) of section 142], the patentee or his legal representative, and where the patent was held by two or more persons jointly, then, with the leave of the Controller, one or more of them without joining the others, may, within 2[eighteen months] from the date on which the patent ceased to have effect, make an application for the restoration of the patent.
[Omitted by Patents (Arndt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.0.561(E), dt. 20-5-2003]
(3) An application under this section shall contain a statement, verified in the prescribed manner, fully setting out the circumstances which led to the failure to pay the prescribed fee, and the Controller may require from the applicant such further evidence as he may think necessary.
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1. Substituted for “prescribed period or within that period as extended under sub-section (3) of section53″ by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
2. Substituted for “one year” by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
Section 61. Procedure for disposal of applications for restoration of lapsed patents
(1) If, alter hearing the applicant in cases where the applicant so desires or the Controller thinks fit, the Controller is prima facie satisfied that the failure to pay the renewal fee was unintentional and that there has been no undue delay in the making of the application, he shall 1[ublish] the application in the prescribed manner; and within the prescribed period any person interested may give notice to the Controller of opposition thereto on either or both of the following grounds, that is to say—
(a) that the failure to pay the renewal fee was not unintentional; or ;
(b) that there has been undue delay in the making of the application.
(2) If notice of opposition is given within the period aforesaid, the Controller shall notify the applicant and shall give to him and to the opponent an opportunity to be heard before he decides the case.
(3) If no notice of opposition is given within the period aforesaid or if in the case of opposition, the decision of the Controller is in favour of the applicant, the Controller shall, upon payment of any unpaid renewal fee and such additional fee as may be prescribed, restore the patent and any patent of addition specified in the application which has ceased to have effect on the cesser, of that patent.
(4) The Controller may, if he thinks fit, as a condition of restoring the patent, require that an entry shall be made in the register of any document or matter which, under the provisions of this Act, has to be entered in the register but which has not been so entered.
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1. Substituted for “advertise” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 62. Rights of patentees of lapsed patents which have been restored
(1) Where a patent is restored, the rights of the patentee shall be subject to such provisions as may be prescribed and to such other provisions as the Controller thinks fit to impose for the protection or compensation of persons who may have begun to avail themselves of, or have taken definite steps by contract or otherwise to avail themselves of, the patented invention between the date when the patent ceased to have effect and the date of the 1[publication] of the application for restoration of the patent under this chapter.
(2) No suit or other proceeding shall be commenced or prosecuted in respect of an infringement of a patent committed between the date on which the patent ceased to have effect and the date of 1[publication] of the application for restoration of the patent.
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1. Substituted for “advertisement” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Chapter XII – Surrender and Revocation of Patents
Section 63. Surrender of patents
(1) A patentee may, at any time by giving notice in the prescribed manner to the Controller, offer to surrender his patent.
(2) Where such an offer is made, the Controller shall 1[publish] the offer in the prescribed manner, and also notify every person other than the patentee whose name appears in the register as having an interest in the patent.
(3) Any person interested may, within the prescribed period after such 2[publi-cation], give notice to the Controller of opposition to the surrender, and where any such notice is given the Controller shall notify the patentee.
(4) If the Controller is satisfied after hearing the patentee and any opponent, if desirous of being heard, that the patent may properly be surrendered, he may accept the offer and, by order, revoke the patent.
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1. Substituted for “advertise” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
2. Substituted for “advertisement” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 64. Revocation of patents
(1) Subject to the provisions contained in this Act, a patent, whether granted before or after the commencement of this Act, may, 1[be revoked on a petition of any person interested or of the Central Government by the Appellate Board or on a counterclaim in a suit for infringement of the patent by the High Court] on any of the following grounds, that is to say—
(a) that the invention, so far as claimed in any claim of the complete specification, was claimed in a valid claim of earlier priority date contained in the complete specification of another patent granted in India;
(b) that the pa tent was granted on the application of a person not entitled under the provisions of this Act to apply therefor: 2[xxxx]
(c) that the patent was obtained wrongfully in contravention of the rights of the petitioner or any person under or through whom he claims;
(d) that the subject of any claim of the complete specification is not an invention within the meaning of this Act;
(e) that the invention so far as claimed in any claim of the complete specification is not new, having regard to what was publicly known or publicly used in India before the priority date of the claim or to what was published in India or elsewhere in any of the documents referred to in section 13 : 2[xxxx]
(f) that the invention so far as claimed in any claim of the complete specification is obvious or does not involve any inventive step, having regard to what was publicly known or publicly used in India or what was published in India or elsewhere before the priority date of the claim; 2[xxx]
(g) that the invention, so far as claimed in any claim of the complete specification, is not useful;
(h) that the complete specification does not sufficiently and fairly describe the invention and the method by which it is to be performed, that is to say, that the description of the method or the instructions for the working of the invention, as contained in the complete specification are not by themselves sufficient to enable a person in India possessing average skill in, and average knowledge of, the art to which the invention relates, to work the invention, or that it does not disclose the best method of performing it which was known to the applicant for the patent and for which he was entitled to claim protection;
(i) that the scope of any claim of the complete specification is not sufficiently and clearly defined or that any claim of the complete specification is not fairly, based on the matter disclosed in the specification;
(j) that the patent was obtained on a false suggestion or representation;
(k) that the subject of any claim of the complete specification is not patentable under this Act;
(l) that the invention so far as claimed in any claim of the complete specification was secretly used in India, otherwise than as mentioned in sub-section (3), before the priority date of the claim;
(m) that the applicant for the patent has failed to disclose to the Controller the information required by section 8 or has furnished information which in any material particular was false to his knowledge;
(n) that the applicant contravened any direction for secrecy passed under section 35 3[or made or caused to be made an application for the grant of a patent outside India in contravention of section 39;]
(o) that leave to amend the complete specification under section 57 or section 58 was obtained by fraud.
3[(p) that the complete specification does not disclose or wrongly mentions the source or geographical origin of biological material used for the invention;
(q) that the invention so far as claimed in any claim of the complete specification was anticipated having regard to the knowledge, oral or otherwise, available within any local or indigenous community in India or elsewhere.]’
(2) For the purposes of clauses (e) and (f) of sub-section (1),—
(a) no account shall be taken of 4[personal document or secret trial or secret use]; and
(b) where the patent is for a process or for a product as made by a process described or claimed, the importation into India of the product made abroad by that process shall constitute knowledge or use in India of the invention on the date of the importation, except where such importation has been for the purpose of reasonable trial or experiment only.
(3) For the purpose of clause (1) of sub-section (1), no account shall be taken of any use of the invention—
(a) for the purpose of reasonable trial or experiment only; or
(b) by the government or by any person authorised by the government or by a government undertaking, in consequence of the applicant for the patent or any person from whom he derives title having communicated or disclosed the invention directly or indirectly to the government or person authorized as aforesaid or to the government undertakings; or
(c) by any other person, in consequence of the applicant for the patent or any person from whom he derives title having communicated or disclosed the , invention, and without the consent or acquiescence of the applicant or of any person from whom he derives title.
(4) Without prejudice to the provisions contained in sub-section (1), a patent may be revoked by the High Court on the petition of the Central Government, if the High Court is satisfied that the patentee has without reasonable cause failed to comply with the request of the Central Government to make, use or exercise the patented invention for the purposes of government within the meaning of section 99 upon reasonable terms.
(5) A notice of any petition for revocation of a patent under this section shall be served on all persons appearing from the register to be proprietors of that patent or to have shares or interest therein and it shall not be necessary to serve a notice on any other person.
S
To be entitled to the grant of an ad interim injunction, the plaintiff has to show existence of a prima facie case, balance of convenience in his favour, and irreparable injury. Sec. 107 of the Act clearly provides that in any suit for injunction, every ground on which it may be revoked shall be available as a ground of defence.—Franz Zaver Huemer v. New Yesh Engineers 1996 PTC (16) (Del) 164
To satisfy the requirement of being publicly known as used in clauses (e) and (f) of s. 64(1), it is not necessary that it should be widely used to the knowledge of the consumer public. It is sufficient if it is known to the persons who are engaged in the pursuit of the knowledge of the patented product or process either as men of science or men of commerce or consumers.— Monsanto Company v. Coramandal Indag Products (P) Ltd. AIR 1986 SC 712
There is a distinction maintained as between the defence raised to a suit for infringement of a patent (vide s. 107) on the one hand and the revocation sought of a patent on the other (vide s. 64). The grounds may be the same, but still there is no inconsistency on account of the suit being defended as liable to dismissal in a particular case and a case where the defendant seeks also that the patent asserted by the plaintiff be revoked. It is only when there is a counterclaim seeking revocation of the patent that the jurisdiction of the District Court is ousted. The proviso to s. 104 being in the nature of an exception to the general rule, it has to be strictly construed. There is no express claim on the part of the defendant for revocation whereof infringement is alleged by the plaintiff. That the defendant pleads that the patent set up by the plaintiff is invalid amounts only to the defendant raising a ground for the relief sought by the plaintiff being declined; it does not follow necessarily that the defendant also seeks by way of a counterclaim that the patent be revoked. The defendant has not asserted in the pleadings anywhere that they are the patentee or that they are entitled to be registered as such. The grounds raised are cumulatively and also individually by way of defence to the plaintiff’s action.— Fabcon Corporation v. Industrial Engineering Corporation AIR 1987 All 338
In Ram Narain Kher v. Ambassador Industries PTC (Suppl.) (1) 180 (Del), the defendant pleaded that the invention and the advantages claimed by the plaintiff had not been adequately described in the patent and adequately claimed in the claim to bring it within the ambit of the term “invention” within the meaning of the Act. The High Court held that the defendants having specifically raised the ground that claims made by the plaintiff in the patent were vague and did not describe the invention clearly and properly, are competent to claim revocation of the patent on that ground in the terms of section 64(1) of the Act.
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1. Substituted for “on the petition of any person interested or of the Central Government or on a counter-claim in a suit for infringement of the patent, be revoked by the High Court” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. the date to be notified.
2. Proviso omitted by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.0.561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
3. Inserted by Patents (Amdt) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.0.561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
4. Substituted for “secret use”, ibid.
Section 65. Revocation of patent or amendment of complete specification on directions from Government in cases relating to atomic energy
1[Revocation of patent or amendment of complete specification on directions from Government in cases relating to atomic energy. (1) Where at any time after grant of a patent, the Central Government is satisfied that a patent is for an invention relating to atomic energy for which no patent can be granted under sub-section (1) of section 20 of the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 (33 of 1962), it may direct the Controller to revoke the patent, and thereupon the Controller, after giving notice, to the patentee and every other person whose name has been entered in the register as having an interest in the patent, and after giving them an opportunity of being heard, may revoke the patent.
(2) In any proceedings under sub-section (1), the Controller may allow the patentee to amend the complete specification in such manner as he considers necessary instead of revoking the patent.]
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1. Substituted for existing sub-sec. (4) by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
Section 66. Revocation of patent in public interest
Where the Central Government is of opinion that a patent or the mode in which it is exercised is mischievous to the State or generally prejudicial to the public, it may, after giving the patentee an opportunity to be heard, make a declaration to that effect in the Official Gazette and thereupon the patent shall be deemed to be revoked.
Chapter XIII – Register of Patents
Section 67. Register of patents and particulars to be entered therein
(1) There shall be kept at the patent office a register of patents, wherein shall be entered —
(a) the names and addresses of grantees of patents;
(b) notifications of assignments and of transmissions of patents, of-licences under patents, and of amendments, and revocations of patents; and
(c) particulars of such other matters affecting the validity or proprietorship of patents as may be prescribed.
(2) No notice of any trust, whether express, implied or constructive, shall be entered in the register, and the Controller shall not be affected by any such notice.
(3) Subject to the superintendence and direction of the Central Government, the register shall be kept under the control and management of the Controller.
1[(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), it shall be lawful for the Controller to keep the register of patents or any part thereof in computer floppies, diskettes or any other electronic form subject to such safeguards as may be prescribed.
(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, a copy of, or extracts from, the register of patents, certified to be a true copy under the hand of the Controller or any officer duly authorised by the Controller in this behalf shall, in all legal proceedings, be admissible in evidence.
(6) In the event the register is kept wholly or partly in computer floppies, diskettes or any other electronic form,—
(a) reference in this Act to an entry in the register shall be deemed to include reference to a record of particulars kept in computer floppies, diskettes or c. any other electronic form and comprising the register or part of the register;
(b) references in this Act to particulars being registered or entered in the register shall be deemed to include references to the keeping of record of those particulars comprising the register or part of the register in computer floppies, diskettes or any other electronic form; and
(c) references in this Act to the rectification of the register are to be read as including references to the rectification of the record of particulars kept in computer floppies, diskettes or any other electronic form and comprising the register or part of the register.]
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1. Substituted for existing sub-sec. (4) by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
Section 68. Assignments, etc. not to be valid unless in writing and duly executed
1[Assignments, etc. not to be valid unless in writing and duly executed. An assignment of a patent or of a share in a patent, a mortage, licence or the creation of any other interest in a patent shall not be valid unless the same were in writing and the agreement between the parties concerned is reduced to the form of a document embodying all the terms and conditions governing their rights and obligations and duly executed.]
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1. Substituted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 69. Registration of assignments, transmissions, etc.
(1) Where any person becomes entitled by assignment, transmission or operation of law to a patent or to a share in a patent or becomes entitled as a mortgagee, licensee or otherwise to any other interest in a patent, he shall apply in writing in the prescribed manner to the Controller for the registration of his title or, as the case may be of notice of his interest in the register.
(2) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (1), an application for the registration of the title of any person becoming entitled by assignment to a patent or a share in a patent or becoming entitled by virtue of a mortgage, licence or other instrument to any other interest in a patent may be made in the prescribed manner by the assignor, mortgagor, licensor or other party to that instrument, as the case may be.
(3) Where an application is made under this section for the registration of the title of any person, the Controller shall, upon proof of title to his satisfaction,—
(a) where that person is entitled to a patent or a share in a patent, register him in the register as proprietor or co-proprietor of the patent, and enter in the register particulars of the instrument or event by which he derives title; or ,
(b) where that person is entitled to any other interest in the patent, enter in the register notice of his interest, with particulars of the instrument, if any, creating it:
PROVIDED that if there is any dispute between the parties whether the assignment, mortgage, licence, transmission, operation of law or any other such transaction has validly vested in such person a title to the patent or any share or interest therein, the Controller may refuse to take any action under clause (a), or, as the case may be, under clause (b), until the rights of the parties have been determined by a competent court.
(4) There shall be supplied to the Controller in the prescribed manner for being filed in the patent office copies of all agreements, licences and other documents affecting the title to any patent of any licence thereunder authenticated in the prescribed manner and also such other documents as may be prescribed relevant to the subject-matter:
PROVIDED that in the case of a licence granted under a patent, the Controller shall, if so requested by the patentee or licensee, take steps for securing that the terms of the licence are not disclosed to any person except under the order of a court.
(5) Except for the purposes of an application under sub-section (1) or of an application to rectify the register, a document in respect of which no entry has been made in the register under sub-section (3) shall not be admitted by the Controller or by any court as evidence of the title of any person to a patent or to a share or interest therein unless the Controller or the court, for reasons to be recorded in writing, otherwise directs.
Section 70. Power of registered grantee or proprietor to deal with patent
Subject to the provisions contained in this Act relating to co-ownership of patents and subject also to any rights vested in any other person of which notice is entered in the register, the person or persons registered as grantee or proprietor of patent shall have power to assign, grant licences under, or otherwise deal with the patent and to give effectual receipts for consideration for any such assignment, licence or dealing:
PROVIDED that any equities in respect of the patent may be enforced in like manner as in respect of any other movable property.
Section 71. Rectification of register by [Appellate Board]
Rectification of register by 1[Appellate Board]. (1) The 1[Appellate Board] may, on the application of any person aggrieved—
(a)- by the absence or omission from the register of any entry; or
(b) by any entry made in the register without sufficient cause; or
(c) by any entry wrongly remaining on the register; or
(d) by any error or defect in any entry in the register, make such order for the making, variation or deletion, of any entry therein as it may think fit.
(2) In any proceeding under this section the 1[Appellate Board] may decide any question that may be necessary or expedient to decide in connection with the rectification of the register.
(3) Notice of any application to the 1[Appellate Board] under this section shall be given in the prescribed manner to the Controller who shall be entitled to appear and be heard on the application, and shall appear if so directed by the 2[Board].
(4) Any order of the 1[Appellate Board] under this section rectifying the register shall direct that notice of the rectification shall be served upon the Controller in the prescribed manner who shall upon receipt of such notice rectify the register accordingly.
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1. Substituted for “High Court” by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
2. Substituted for “Court”, ibid.
Section 72. Register to be open for inspection
(1) Subject to the provisions contained in this Act and any rules made thereunder, the register shall at all convenient times be open to inspection by the public; and certified copies, sealed with the seal of the patent office, of any entry in the register shall be given to any person requiring them on payment of the prescribed fee.
(2) The register shall be prima facie evidence of any matters required or authorised by or under this Act to be entered therein.
1[(3) If the record or particulars is kept in computer floppies or diskettes or in any other electronic form, sub-sections (1) and (2) shall be deemed to have been complied with if the public is given access to such computer floppies, diskettes or any other electronic form or printouts of such record of particulars for inspection.]
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1. Inserted by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
Chapter XIV – Patent Office and its Establishment
Section 73. Controller and other officers
(1) The Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks appointed under subsection (1) of 1[section 3 of the Trade Marks Act, 1999] shall be the Controller of Patents for the purposes of this Act.
(2) For the purposes of this Act the Central Government may appoint as many examiners and other officers and with such designations as it thinks fit.
(3) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the officers appointed under sub-section (2) shall discharge under the superintendence and directions of the Controller such functions of the Controller under this Act as he may, from time to time, by general or special order in writing, authorise them to discharge.
(4) Without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of sub-section (3), the Controller may, by order in writing and for reasons to be recorded therein withdraw any matter pending before an officer appointed under sub-section (2) and deal with such matter himself either de novo or from the stage it was so withdrawn or transfer the same to another officer appointed under sub-section (2) who may, subject to special directions in the order of transfer, proceed with the matter either de novo or from the stage it was so transferred.
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1. Substituted for “section 4 of the Trade and Merchandise Marks Act, 1958″, by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O.561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
Section 74. Patent office and its branches
(1) For the purposes of this Act, there shall be an office which shall be known as the patent office.
1[(2) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify the name of the Patent Office.]
(3) The head office of the patent office shall be at such place as the Central Government may specify, and for the purpose of facilitating the registration of patents there may be established, at such other places as the Central Government may think fit, branch offices of the patent office.
(4) There shall be a seal of the patent office.
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1. Substituted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 75. Restriction on employees of patent office as to right or interest in patents
All officers and employees of the patent office shall be incapable, during the period for which they hold their appointments, to acquire or take, directly or indirectly, except by inheritance or bequest, any right or interest in any patent issued by that office.
Section 76. Officers and employees not to furnish information, etc.
An officer or employee in the patent office shall not, except when required or authorised by this Act or under a direction in writing of the 1[Central Government or Appellate Board] or the Controller or by order of a court—
(a) furnish information on a matter which is being, or has been, dealt with under this Act 2[x x x]; or
(b) prepare to assist in the preparation of a document required or permitted by or under this Act +[x x x] to be lodged in the patent office; or
(c) conduct a search in the records of the patent office.
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1. Substituted for “Central Government” by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561 (E), dt. 20-5-2003.
2. Words “or under the Indian Patents and Designs Act, 1911″ omitted, ibid.
Chapter XV – Powers of Controller Generally
Section 77. Controller to have certain powers of a civil court
(1) Subject to any rules made in this behalf, the Controller in any proceedings before him under this Act have the powers of a civil court while trying a suit under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908) in respect of the following matters, namely,—
(a) summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath;
(b) requiring the discovery and production of any document;
(c) receiving evidence on affidavits;
(d) issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses of documents;
(e) awarding costs;
(f) reviewing his own decision on application made within the prescribed time and in the prescribed manner;
(g) setting aside an order passed ex parte on application made within the prescribed time and in the prescribed manner;
(h) any other matter which may be prescribed.
(2) Any order for costs awarded by the Controller in exercise of the powers conferred upon him under sub-section (1) shall be executable as a decree of a civil court.
Section 78. Power of Controller to correct clerical errors, etc.
(1) Without prejudice to the provisions contained in sections 57 and 59 as regards amendment of applications for patents or complete specifications 1[or other documents relating thereto] and subject to the provisions of section 44, the Controller may, in accordance with the provisions of this section, correct any clerical error in any patent or in any specification or other document filed in pursuance of such application or in any application for a patent or any clerical error in any matter which is entered in the register.
(2) A correction may be made in pursuance of this section either upon a request in writing made by any person interested and accompanied by the prescribed fee, or without such a request.
(3) Where” the Controller proposes to make any such correction as aforesaid otherwise than in pursuance of a request made under this section, he shall give notice of the proposal to the patentee or the applicant for the patent, as the case may be, and to any other person who appears to him to be concerned, and shall give them an opportunity to be heard before making the correction.
(4) Where a request is made under this section for the correction of any error in a patent or application for a patent or any document filed in pursuance of such an application, and it appears to the Controller that the correction would materially alter the meaning or scope of the document to which the request relates and ought not to be made without notice to persons affected thereby, he shall require notice of the nature of the proposed correction to be 2[published] in the prescribed manner.
(5) Within the prescribed time after any such 3[publication] as aforesaid any person interested may give notice to the Controller of opposition to the request, and, where such notice of opposition is given, the Controller shall give notice thereof to the person by whom the request was made, and shall give to him and to the opponent an opportunity to be heard before he decides the case.
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1. Inserted, ibid.
2. Substituted for “advertised” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
3. Substituted for “advertisement” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 79. Evidence how to be given and powers of Controller in respect thereof
Subject to any rules made in this behalf, in any proceeding under this Act before the Controller, evidence shall be given by affidavit in the absence of directions by the Controller to the contrary, but in any case in which the Controller thinks it right so to do, he may take oral evidence in lieu of, or in addition to, evidence by affidavit, or may allow any party to be crossexamined on the contents of his affidavit.
Section 80. Exercise of discretionary powers by Controller
Without prejudice to any provision contained in this Act requiring the Controller to hear any party to the proceedings thereunder or to give any such party an opportunity to be heard, the Controller shall give to any applicant for a patent, or for amendment of a specification (if within the prescribed time the applicant so requires) an opportunity to be heard before exercising adversely to the applicant any discretion vested in the Controller by or under this Act:
1[PROVIDED that the party desiring a hearing makes the request for such hearing to the Controller at least ten days in advance of the expiry of the time-limit specified in respect of the proceeding.]
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1. Inserted by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.0.561 (E), dt. 20-5-2003.
Section 81. Disposal by Controller of applications for extension of time
Where under the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder the Controller may extend the time for doing any act, nothing in this Act shall be deemed to require him to give notice to or hear the party interested in opposing the extension, nor shall any appeal lie from any order of the Controller granting such extension.
Chapter XVI – Working of Patents, Compulsory Licences and Revocation
Section 82. Definitions of “patented articles” and “patentee”
1[CHAPTER XVI
WORKING OF PATENTS, COMPULSORY LICENCES AND REVOCATION
In this Chapter, unless the context otherwise requires,—
(a) “patented article” includes any article made by a patented process; and
(b) “patentee” includes an exclusive licensee.
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1. As amended by Section 39 of “The Patents (Amendment) Act, 2002″. (No. 38 of 2002).
Section 83. General principles applicable to working of patented inventions
Without prejudice to the other provisions contained in this Act, in exercising the powers conferred by this Chapter, regard shall be had to the following general considerations, namely,—
(a) that patents are granted to encourage inventions and to secure that the inventions are worked in India on a commercial scale and to the fullest extent that is reasonably practicable without undue delay;
(b) that they are not granted merely to enable patentees to enjoy a monopoly for the importation of the patented article;
(c) that the protection and enforcement of patent rights contribute to the promotion of technological innovation and to the transfer and dissemination of technology, to the mutual advantage of producers and users of technological knowledge and in a manner conducive to social and economic welfare, and to a balance of rights and obligations;
(d) that patents granted do not impede protection of public health and nutrition and should act as instrument to promote public interest specially in sectors of vital importance for socio-economic and technological development of India;
(e) that patents granted do not in any way prohibit Central Government in taking measures to protect public health;
(f) that the patent right is not abused by the patentee or person deriving title or interest on patent from the patentee, and the patentee or a person deriving title or interest on patent from the patentee does not resort to practices which unreasonably restrain trade or adversely affect the international transfer of technology; and
(g) that patents are granted to make the benefit of the patented invention available at reasonably affordable prices to the public.
Section 84. Compulsory licences
(1) At any time after the expiration of three years from the date of the 1[grant] of a patent, any person interested may make an application to the Controller for grant of compulsory licence on patent on any of the following grounds, namely:—
(a) that the reasonable requirements of the public with respect to the patented invention have not been satisfied, or
(b) that the patented invention is not available to the public at a reasonably affordable price, or
(c) that the patented invention is not worked in the territory of India.
(2) An application under this section may be made by any person notwithstanding that he is already the holder of a licence under the patent and no person shall be estopped from alleging that the reasonable requirements of the public with respect to the patended invention are not satisfied or that the patented invention is not worked in the territory of India or that the patented invention is not available to the public at a reasonably affordable price by reason of any admission made by him, whether in such a licence or otherwise or by reason of his having accepted such a licence.
(3) Every application under sub-section (1) shall contain a statement setting out the nature of the applicant’s interest together with such particulars as may be prescribed and the facts upon which the application is based.
(4) The Controller, if satisfied that the reasonable requirements of the public with respect to the patented invention have not been satisfied or that the patented invention is not worked in the territory of India or that the patented invention is not available to the public at a reasonably price, may grant a licence upon such terms as he may deem fit.
(5) Where the Controller directs the patentee to grant a licence he may, as incidental thereto, exercise the powers set out in section 88.
(6) In considering the application filed under this section, the Controller shall take into account,—
(i) the nature of the invention, the time which has elapsed since the sealing of the patent and the measures already taken by the patentee or any licensee to make full use of the invention;
(jj) the ability of the applicant to work the invention to the public advantage;
(iii) the capacity of the applicant to undertake the risk in providing capital and working the invention, if the application were granted;
(iv) as to whether the applicant has made efforts to obtain a licence from the patentee on reasonable terms and conditions and such efforts have not been successful within a reasonable period as the Controller may deem fit: PROVIDED that this clause shall not be applicable in case of national emergency or other circumstances of extreme urgency or in case of public non-commercial use or on establishment of a ground of anti-competitive practices adopted by the patentee,
but shall not be required to take into account matters subsequent to the making of the application.
2[Explanation : For the purposes of clause (iv), “reasonable period” shall be construed as a period not ordinarily exceeding a period of six months.]
(7) For the purposes of this Chapter, the reasonable requirements of the public shall be deemed not to have been satisfied—
(a) if, by reason of the refusal of the patentee to grant a licence or licences on reasonable terms,—
(i) an existing trade or industry or the development thereof or the establishment of any new trade or industry in India or the trade or industry in India or the trade or industry of any person or class of persons trading or manufacturing in India is prejudiced; or
(ii) the demand for the patented article has not been met to an adequate extent or on reasonable terms; or
(iii) a market for export of the patented article manufactured in India is not being supplied or developed; or
(iv) the establishment or development of commercial activities in India is prejudiced; or
(b) if, by reason of conditions imposed by the patentee upon the grant of licences under the patent or upon the purchase, hire or use of the patented article or process, the manufacture, use or sale of materials not protected by the patent, or the establishment or development of any trade or industry in India, is prejudiced; or
(c) if the patentee imposes a condition upon the grant of licences under the patent to provide exclusive grant back, prevention to challenges to the validity of patent or coercive package licensing; or
(d) if the patented invention is not being worked in the territory of India on a commercial scale to an adequate extent or is not being so worked to the fullest extent that is reasonably practicable; or
(e) if the working of the patented invention in the territory of India on a commercial scale is being prevented or hindered by the importation from abroad of the patented article by—
(i) the patentee or persons claiming under him; or
(ii) persons directly or indirectly purchasing from him; or
(iii) other persons against whom the patentee is not taking or has not taken proceedingsfor infringement.
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1. Substituted for “sealing” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
2. Inserted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 85. Revocation of patents by the Controller for non-working
(1) Where, in respect of a patent, a compulsory licence has been granted, the Central Government or any person interested may, after the expiration of two years from the date of the order granting the first compulsory licence, apply to the Controller for an order revoking the patent on the ground that the patented invention has not been worked in the territory of India or that reasonable requirements of the public with respect to the patented invention have not been satisfied or that the patented invention is not available to the public at a reasonably affordable price.
(2) Every application under sub-section (1) shall contain such particulars as may be prescribed, the facts upon which the application is based, and, in the case of an application other than by the Central Government, shall also set out the nature of the applicant’s interest.
(3) The Controller, if satisfied that the reasonable requirements of the public with respect to the patented invention have not been satisfied or that patented invention has not been worked in the territory of India or that the patented invention is not available to the public at a reasonably affordable price, may make an order revoking the patent.
(4) Every application under sub-section (1) shall ordinarily be decided within one year of its being presented to the Controller.
Section 86. Power of Controller to adjourn applications for compulsory licences, etc., in certain cases
(1) Where an application under section 84 or section 85, as the case may be, is made on the grounds that the patented invention has not been worked in the territory of India or on the ground mentioned in clause (d) of sub-section (7) of section 84 and the Controller is satisfied that the time which has elapsed since the sealing of the patent has for any reason been insufficient to enable the invention to be worked on a commercial scale to an adequate extent or to enable the invention to be so worked to the fullest extent that is reasonably practicable, he may, by order, adjourn the further hearing of the application for such period not exceeding twelve months in the aggregate as appears to him to be sufficient for the invention to be so worked:
PROVIDED that in any case where the patentee establishes that the reason why a patented invention could not be worked as aforesaid before the date of the application was due to any State or Central Act or any rule or regulation made thereunder or any order of the Government imposed otherwise than by way of a condition for the working of the invention in the territory of India or for the disposal of the patented articles or of the articles made by the process or by the use of the patented plant, machinery, or apparatus, then, the period of adjournment ordered under this sub-section shall be reckoned from the date on which the period during which the working of the invention was prevented by such Act, rule or regulation or order of Government as computed from the date of the application, expires.
(2) No adjournment under sub-section (1) shall be ordered unless the Controller is satisfied that the patentee has taken with promptitude adequate or reasonable steps to start the working of the invention in the territory of India on a commercial scale and to an adequate extent.
Section 87. Procedure for dealing with applications under sections 84 and 85
(1) Where the Controller is satisfied, upon consideration of an application under section 84, or section 85, that a prima facie case has been made out for the making of an order, he shall direct the applicant to serve copies of the application upon the patentee and any other person appearing from the register to be interested in the patent in respect of which the application is made, and 1[shall publish the application in the Official journal].
(2) The patentee or any other person desiring to oppose the application may, within such time as may be prescribed or within such further time as the Controller may on application (made either before or after the expiration of the prescribed time) allow, give to the Controller notice of opposition.
(3) Any such notice of opposition shall contain a statement setting out the grounds on which the application is opposed.
(4) Where any such notice of opposition is duly given, the Controller shall notify the applicant, and shall give to the applicant and the opponent an opportunity to be heard before deciding the case.
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1. Substituted for “shall advertise the application in the Official Gazette” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 88. Powers of Controller in granting compulsory licences
(1) Where the Controller is satisfied on an application made under section 84 that the manufacture, use or sale of materials not protected by the patent is prejudiced by reason of conditions imposed by the patentee upon the grant of licences under the patent, or upon the purchase, hire or use of the patented article or process, he may, subject to the provisions of that section, order the grant of licences under the patent to such customers of the applicant as he thinks fit as well as to the applicant.
(2) Where an application under section 84 is made by a person being the holder of a licence under the patent, the Controller may, if he makes an order for the grant of a licence to the applicant, order the existing licence to be cancelled, or may, if the thinks fit, instead of making an order for the grant of a licence to the applicant, order the existing licence to be amended.
(3) Where two or more patents are held by the same patentee and an applicant for a compulsory licence establishes that the reasonable requirements of the public have not been satisfied with respect to some only of the said patents, then, if the Controller is satisfied that the applicant cannot efficiently or satisfactorily work the licence granted to him under those patents without infringing the other patents held by the patentee and if those patents involve important technical advancement or considerable economic significance in relation to the other patents, he may, by order, direct the grant of a licence in respect of the other patents also to enable the licensee to work the patent or patents in regard to which a licence is granted under section 84.
(4) Where the terms and conditions of a licence have been settled by the Controller, the licensee may, at any time after he has worked the invention on a commercial scale for a period of not less than twelve months, make an application to the Controller for the revision of the terms and conditions on the ground that the terms and conditions settled have proved to be more onerous than originally expected and that in consequence thereof the licensee is unable to work the invention except at a loss:
PROVIDED that no such application shall be entertained a second time.
Chapter XVII – Use of Inventions for Purposes of Government and Acquisition of Inventions by Central Government
Section 89. General purposes for granting compulsory licences
The powers of the Controller upon an application made under section 84 shall be exercised with a view to securing the following general purposes, that is to say,—
(a) that patented inventions are worked on a commercial scale in the territory of India without undue delay and to the fullest extent that is reasonably practicable;
(b) that the interests of any person for the time being working or developing an invention in the territory of India under the protection of a patent are not unfairly prejudiced.
Section 90. Terms and conditions of compulsory licences
(1) In settling the terms and conditions of a licence under section 84, the Controller shall endeavour to secure—
(i) that the royalty and other remuneration, if any, reserved to the patentee or other person beneficially entitled to the patent, is reasonable, having regard to the nature of the invention, the expenditure incurred by the patentee in making the invention or in developing it and obtaining a patent and keeping it in force and other relevant factors;
(ii) that the patented invention is worked to the fullest extent by the person to whom the licence is granted and with reasonable profit to him;
(iii) that the patented articles are made available to the public at reasonably affordable prices;
(iv) that the licence granted is a non-exclusive licence;
(v) that the right of the licensee is non-assignable;
(vi) that the licence is for the balance term of the patent unless a shorter term is consistent with public interest;
1[(vii) that the licence is granted with a predominant purpose of supply in the Indian market and that the licensee may also export the patented product, if need be in accordance with the provisions of sub-clause (iii) of clause (a) of sub-section (7) of section 84;
(viii) that in the case of semi-conductor technology, the licence granted is to work the invention for public non-commercial use;
(ix) that in case the licence is granted to remedy a practice determined after judicial or administrative process to be anti-competitive, the licensee shall be permitted to export the patented product, if need be.]
(2) No licence granted by the Controller shall authorise the licensee to import the patented article or an article or substance made by a patented process from abroad where such importation would, but for such authorisation, constitute an infringement of the rights of the patentee.
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (2), the Central Government may, if in its opinion it is necessary so to do, in the public interest, direct the Controller at any time to authorise any licensee in respect of a patent to import the patented article or an article or substance made by a patented process from abroad (subject to such conditions as it considers necessary to impose relating among other matters to the royalty and other remuneration, if any, payable to the patentee, the quantum of import, the sale price of the imported article and the period of importation), and thereupon the Controller shall give effect to the directions.
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1. Substituted for the existing clause (vii) by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 91. Licensing of related patents
(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the other provisions of this Chapter, at any time after the sealing of a patent, any person who has the right to work any other patented invention either as patentee or as licensee thereof, exclusive or otherwise, may apply to the Controller for the grant of a licence of the first mentioned patent on the ground that he is prevented or hindered without such licence from working the other invention efficiently or to the best advantage possible.
(2) No order under sub-section (1) shall be made unless the Controller is satisfied—
(i) that the applicant is able and willing to grant, or procure the grant to the ; patentee and his licensees if they so desire, of a licence in respect of the other invention on reasonable terms; and
(ii) that the other invention has made a substantial contribution to the establishment or development of commercial or industrial activities in the territory of India.
(3) When the Controller is satisfied that the conditions mentioned in sub-section (1) have been established by the applicant, he may make an order on such terms as he thinks fit granting a licence under the first mentioned patent and a similar order under the other patent if so requested by the proprietor of the first mentioned patent or his licensee:
PROVIDED that the licence granted by the Controller shall be non-assignable except with the assignment of the respective patents.
(4) The provisions of sections 87, 88, 89 and 90 shall apply to licences granted under this section as they apply to licences granted under section 84.
Section 92. Special provision for compulsory licences on notifications by Central Government
(1) If the Central Government is satisfied, in respect of any patent in force in circumstances of national emergency or in circumstances of extreme urgency or in case of public non-commercial use, that it is necessary that compulsory licenses should be granted at any time after the sealing thereof to work the invention, it may make a declaration to that effect, by notification in the Official Gazette, and thereupon the following provisions shall have effect, that is to say—
(i) the Controller shall, on application made at any time after the notification by any person interested, grant to the applicant a licence under the patent on such terms and conditions as he thinks fit;
(ii) in settling the terms and conditions of a licence granted under this section, the Controller shall endeavour to secure that the articles manufactured under the patent shall be available to the public at the lowest prices consistent with the patentees deriving a reasonable advantage from their patent rights.
(2) The provisions of sees. 83,87,88,89 and 90 shall apply in relation to the grant of licences under this section as they apply in relation to the grant of licences under sec. 84.
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (2), where the Controller is satisfied on consideration of the application referred to in clause (i) of sub-section (1) that it is necessary in—
(i) a circumstance of national emergency; or
(ii) a circumstance of extreme urgency; or
(iii) a case of public non-commercial use,
which may arise or is required, as the case may be, including public health crises, relating to Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome, human immunodeficiencyvirus, tuberculosis, malaria or other epidemics, he shall not apply any procedure specified in section 87 in relation to that application for grant of licence under this section:
PROVIDED that the Controller shall, as soon as may be practicable, inform the patentee of the patent relating to the application for such non-application of section 87.
Section 92 A. Compulsory licence for export of patented pharmaceutical products in certain exceptional circumstances
1[Compulsory licence for export of patented pharmaceutical products in certain exceptional circumstances. (1) Compulsory licence shall be available for manufacture and export of patented pharmaceutical product to any country having insufficient or no manufacturing capacity in the pharmaceutical sector for the concerned product to address public health problems, provided compulsory licence has been granted by such country or such country has, by notification or otherwise, allowed importation of the patented pharmaceutical products from India.
(2) The Controller shall, on receipt of an application in the prescribed manner, grant a compulsory licence solely for manufacture and export of the concerned pharmaceutical product to such country under such terms and conditions as may be specified and published by him.
(3) The provisions of sub-sections (1) and (2) shall be without prejudice to the extent to which pharmaceutical products produced under a compulsory licence can be exported under any other provision of this Act.
Explanation: For the purposes of this section, ‘pharmaceutical products’ means any patented product, or product manufactured through a patented process, of the pharmaceutical sector needed to address public health problems and shall be inclusive of ingredients necessary for their manufacture and diagnostic kits required for their use.]
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1. Inserted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 93. Order for licence to operate as a deed between parties concerned
Any order for the grant of a licence under this Chapter shall operate as if it were a deed granting a licence executed by the patentee and all other necessary parties embodying the terms and conditions, if any, settled by the Controller.
Section 94. Termination of compulsory licence
(1) On an application made by the patentee or any other person deriving title or interest in the patent, a compulsory licence granted under section 84 may be terminated by the Controller, if and when the circumstances that gave rise to the grant thereof no longer exist and such circumstances are unlikely to recur:
PROVIDED that the holder of the compulsory licence shall have the right to object to such termination.
(2) While considering an application under sub-section (1), the Controller shall take into account that the interest of the person who had previously been granted the licence is not unduly prejudiced.]
Section 95. [xxx]
Omitted by Section 39 of “The Patents (Amendment) Act, 2002”.
(No. 38 of 2002).
Section 96. [xxx]
Omitted by Section 39 of “The Patents (Amendment) Act, 2002”.
(No. 38 of 2002).
Section 97. [xxx]
Omitted by Section 39 of “The Patents (Amendment) Act, 2002”.
(No. 38 of 2002).
Section 98. [xxx]
Omitted by Section 39 of “The Patents (Amendment) Act, 2002”.
(No. 38 of 2002).
Section 99. Meaning of use of invention for purposes of government
(1) For the purposes of this chapter, an invention is said to be used for the purposes of government if it is made, used, exercised or vended for the purposes of the Central Government, a State Government or a government undertaking.
1[(2) xxx]
(3) Nothing contained in this Chapter shall apply in respect of any such importation making or using of any machine, apparatus, or other article or of any such using of any process or of any such importation, using or distribution of any medicine or drug, as may be made by virtue of one or more of the conditions specified in section 47.
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1. Omitted by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
Section 100. Power of Central Government to use inventions for purposes of government
(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, at any time after an application for a patent has been filed at the patent office or a patent has been granted, the Central Government and any person authorised in writing by it may use the invention for the purposes of government in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
(2) Where an invention has, before the priority date of the relevant claim of the complete specification, been duly recorded in a document, or tested or tried, by or on behalf of the government or a government undertaking, otherwise than in consequence of the communication of the invention directly or indirectly, by the patentee or by a person from whom he derives title, any use of the invention by the Central Government or any person authorised in writing by it for the purposes of government may be made free of any royalty or other remuneration to the patentee.
(3) If and so far as the invention has not been so recorded or tried or tested as aforesaid, any use of the invention made by the Central Government of any person authorised by it under sub-section (1), at any time after 1[grant of the patent] or in consequence of any such communication as aforesaid, shall be made upon terms as may be agreed upon either before or after the use, between the Central Government or any person authorised under sub-section (1) and the patentee, or, as may in default of agreement be determined by the High Court on a reference under section 103:
2[PROVIDED that in case of any such use of any patent, the patentee shall be paid not more than adequate remuneration in the circumstances of each case, taking into account the economic value of the use of the patent.]
(4) The authorisation by the Central Government in respect of an invention may be given under this section, either before or after the patent is granted and either before or after the acts in respect of which such authorisation is given or done, and may be given to any person, whether or not he is authorised directly or indirectly by the applicant or the patentee to make, use, exercise or vend the invention or import the machine, apparatus or other article or medicine or drug covered by such patent.
(5) Where an invention has been used by or with the authority of the Central Government for the purposes of government under this section, then 3[except in case of national emergency or other circumstances of extreme urgency or for non-commercial use], the government shall notify the patentee as soon as practicable of the fact and furnish him with such information as to the extent of the use of the invention as he may, from time to time, reasonably require; and where the invention has been for the purposes of a government undertaking, the Central Government may call for such information as may be necessary for this purpose from such undertaking.
(6) The right to make, use, exercise and vend an invention for the purposes of government under sub-section (1) shall include the 4[right to sell on non-commercial basis, the goods] which have been made in exercise of that right, and a purchaser of goods so sold, and a person claiming through him, shall have the power to deal with the goods as if the Central Government or the person authorised under sub-section (1) were the patentee of the invention.
(7) Where in respect of a patent which has been the subject of an authorisation under this section, there is an exclusive licensee as is referred to in sub-section (3) of section (3) of section 101, or where such patent has been assigned to the patentee in consideration of royalties or other benefits determined by reference to the use of the invention (including payments by way of minimum royalty), the notice directed to be given under sub-section (5) shall also be given to such exclusive licensee or assignor, as the case may be, and the reference to the patentee in sub-section (3) shall be deemed to include a reference to such assignor or exclusive licensee.
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1. Substituted for “the acceptance of the complete specification in respect of the patent” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
2. Substituted by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
3. Substituted for “unless it appears to the Govt. that it would be contrary to the public interest so to do” by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561 (E), dt. 20-5-2003.
4. Substituted for “right to sell the goods”, ibid.
Section 101. Right of third parties in respect of use of invention for purposes of government
(1) In relation to any use of a patented invention, or an invention in respect of which an application for a patent is pending, made for the purposes of government
(a) by the Central Government or any person authorised by the Central Government under section 100; or
(b) by the patentee or applicant for the patent to the order made by the Central Government,
the provisions of any licence, assignment or agreement pranted or made, 1[xxx] between the patentee or applicant for the patent (or any person who derives title from him or from whom he derives title) and any person other than the Central Government shall be of no effect so far as those provisions—
(i) restrict or regulate the use for the purposes of government of the invention, or of any model, document or information relating thereto, or
(ii) provide for the making of payments in respect of any use of the invention or of the model, document or information relating thereto for the purposes of government 2[x x x], and the reproduction or publication of any model or document in connection with the said use for the purposes of government shall not been deemed to be an infringement of any copyright subsisting in the model or document.
(2) Where the patent, or the right to apply for or obtain the patent, has been assigned to the patentee in consideration of royalties or other benefits determined by reference to the use of the invention 3[x x x] then, in relation to any use of the invention made for the purposes of government by the patentee to the order of the Central Government, sub-section (3) of section 100 shall have effect as if that use were made by virtue of an authority given under that section, and any use of the invention for the purposes of government by virtue of sub-section (3) of that section shall have effect as if the reference to the patentee included a reference to the assignor of the patent, and any sum payable by virtue of that sub-section shall be divided between the patentee and the assignor in such proportion as may be agreed upon between them or as may in default of agreement be determined by the High Court on a reference under section 103.
(3) Where by virtue of sub-section (3) of section 100, payments are required to be made by the Central Government or persons authorised under sub-section (1) of that section in respect of the use of an invention for the purposes of government, and where in respect of such patent there is an exclusive licensee authorised under his licence to use the invention for the purposes of government, such sum shall be shared by the patentee and such licensee in such proportions, if any, as may be agreed upon between them or as may in default of agreement be determined by the High Court on a reference under section 103 to be just, having regard to any expenditure incurred by the licensee—
(a) in developing the said invention; or
(b) in making payments to the patentees other than royalties or other benefits determined by reference to the use of the invention 1[x x x] in consideration of the licence.
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1. Words “whether before or after the commencement of this Act” omitted, ibid.
2. Bracket and words “(including payments by way of minimum royalty)” omitted, ibid.
3. Brackets and words “(including payments by way of minimum royalty)” omitted, by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
Section 102. Acquisition of inventions and patents by the Central Government
(1) The Central Government may, if satisfied that it is necessary that an invention which is the subject of an application for a patent or a patent should be acquired from the applicant or the patentee for a public purpose, publish a notification to that effect in the Official Gazette, and thereupon the invention or patent and all rights in respect of the invention or patent shall, by force of this section, stand transferred to and be vested in the Central Government.
(2) Notice of the acquisition shall be given to the applicant, and, where a patent has been granted, to the patentee and other persons, if any, appearing in the register as having an interest in the patent.
(3) The Central Government shall pay to the applicant, or as the case may be, the patentee and other persons appearing on the register as having an interest in the patent such other compensation as may be agreed upon between the Central Government and the applicant or the patentee and other persons; or, as may, in default of agreement, be determined by the High Court on a reference under section 103 to be just having regard to the expenditure incurred in connection with the invention and, in the case of a patent, the term thereof, the period during which and the manner in which it has already been worked (including the profits made during such period by the patentee or by his licensee whether exclusive or otherwise) and other relevant factors.
Section 103. Reference to High Court of disputes as to use for purposes of government
(1) Any dispute as to the exercise by the Central Government or a person authorised by it of the powers conferred by section 100, or as to terms for the use of an invention for the purposes of government thereunder or as to the right of any person to receive any part of a payment made in pursuance of sub-section (3) of that section or as to the amount of compensation payable for the acquisition of an invention or a patent under section 102, may be referred to the High Court by either party to the dispute in such manner as may be prescribed by the rules of the High Court.
(2) In any proceedings under this section to which the Central Government is a party, the Central Government may—
(a) if the patentee is a party to the proceedings, petition by way of counter-claim for revocation of the patent on any ground upon which a patent may be revoked under section 64; and
(b) whether a patentee is or is not a party to the proceedings, put in issue the validity of the patent without petitioning for its revocation.
(3) If in such proceedings as aforesaid any question arises whether an invention has been recorded, tested or tried as is mentioned in section 100, and the disclosure of any document regarding the invention, or of any evidence of the test or trial thereof, would, in the opinion of the Central Government, be prejudicial to the public interest, the disclosure may be made confidentially to the advocate of the other party or to an independent expert mutually agreed upon.
(4) In determining under this section any dispute between the Central Government and any person as to terms for the use of an invention for the purposes of government, the High Court shall have regard to any benefit or compensation which that person or any person from whom he derives title, may have received, or may be entitled to receive, directly or indirectly in respect of the use of the invention in question for the purposes of government.
(5) In any proceedings under this section, the High Court may at any time order the whole proceedings or any question or issue of fact arising therein to be referred to an official referee, commissioner or an arbitrator on such terms as the High Court may direct, and references to the High Court in the foregoing provisions of this section shall be construed accordingly.
(6) Where the invention claimed in a patent was made by a person who at time it was made was in the service of the Central Government or of a State Government or was an employee of a government undertaking and the subject-matter of the invention is certified by the relevant government or the principal officer of the government undertaking to be connected with the work done in the course of the normal duties of the government servant or employee of the government undertaking, then, notwithstanding anything contained in this section, any dispute of the nature referred to in sub-section (1) relating to the invention shall be disposed of by the Central Government conformably to the provisions of this section so far as may be applicable, but before doing so the Central Government shall give an opportunity to the patentee and such other parties as it considers have an interest in the matter to be heard.
Chapter XVIII – Suits Concerning Infringement of Patents
Section 104. Jurisdiction
No suit for a declaration under section 105 or for any relief under section 106 or for infringement of a patent shall be instituted in any court inferior to a district court having jurisdiction to try the suit:
PROVIDED that where a counter-claim for revocation of the patent is made by the defendant, the suit, along with the counter-claim, shall be transferred to the High Court for decision.
S
There is a distinction maintained as between the defence raised to a suit for infringement of a patent (vide s. 107) on the one hand and the revocation sought of a patent on the other (vide s. 64). The grounds may be the same, but still there is no inconsistency on account of the suit being defended as liable to dismissal in a particular case and a case where the defendant seeks also that the patent asserted by the plaintiff be revoked. It is only when there is a counter claim seeking revocation of the patent that the jurisdiction of the District Court is ousted. The proviso to s. 104 being in the nature of an exception to the general rule, it has to be strictly construed. There is no express claim on the part of the defendant for revocation of the patent whereof infringement is alleged by the plaintiff. That the defendant pleads that the patent set up by the plaintiff is invalid amounts only to the defendant raising a ground for the relief sought by the plaintiff being declined; it does not follow necessarily that the defendant also seeks by way of a counterclaim that the patent be revoked. The defendant has not asserted in the pleadings anywhere that they are the patentee or that they are entitled to be registered as such. The grounds raised are cumulatively and also individually by way of defence to the plaintiff’s action.—Fabcon Corporation v. Industrial Engineering Corporation AIR 1987 All 338
Section 104 A. Burden of proof in case of suits concerning infringement
1[Burden of proof in case of suits concerning infringement. (1) In any suit for infringement of a patent, where the subject matter of patent is a process for obtaining a product, the court may direct the defendant to prove that the process used by him to obtain the product, identical to the product of the patented process, is different from the patented process if,—
(a) the subject matter of the patent is a process for obtaining a new product; or
(b) there is a substantial likelihood that the identical product is made by the process, and the patentee or a person deriving title or interest in the patent from him, has been unable through reasonable efforts to determine the process actually used:
PROVIDED that the patentee or a person deriving title or interest in the patent from him, first proves that the product is identical to the product directly obtained by the patented process.
(2) In considering whether a party has discharged the burden imposed upon him by subsection (1), the court shall not require him to disclose any manufacturing or commercial secrets, if it appears to the court that it would be unreasonable to do so.]
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1. Inserted by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O.561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
Section 105. Power of court to make declaration as to non-infringement
(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 34 of the Specific Relief Act, 1963, (47 of 1963), any person may institute a suit for a declaration that the use by him of any process, or the making, use or sale of any article by him does not, or would not, constitute an infringement of a claim of a patent against the patentee or the holder of an exclusive licence under the patent, notwithstanding that no assertion to the contrary has been made by the patentee or the licensee, if it is shown—
(a) that the plaintiff has applied in writing to the patentee or exclusive licensee for a written acknowledgment to the effect of the declaration claimed and has furnished him with full particulars in writing of the process or article in question; and
(b) that the patentee or licensee has refused or neglected to give such an acknowledgment.
(2) The costs of all parties in a suit for a declaration brought by virtue of this section shall, unless for special reasons the court thinks fit to order otherwise, be paid by the plaintiff.
(3) The validity of a claim of the specification of a patent shall not be called in question in a suit for declaration brought by virtue of this section, and accordingly the making or refusal of such a declaration in the case of a patent shall not be deemed to imply that the patent is valid or invalid.
(4) A suit for a declaration may be brought by virtue of this section at any time 1[after the publication of grant of a patent], and references in this section to the patentee shall be construed accordingly.
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1. Substituted for “after the date of advertisement of acceptance of the complete specification of a patent” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 106. Power of court to grant relief in cases of groundless threats of infringement proceedings
(1) Where any person (whether entitled to or interested in a patent or an application for a patent or not) threatens any other person by circulars or advertisements or by communications, oral or in writing addressed to that or any other person, with proceedings for infringement of a patent, any person aggrieved thereby may bring a suit against him praying for the following reliefs, that is to say—
(a) a declaration to the effect that the threats are unjustifiable;
(b) an injunction against the continuance of the threats; and
(c) such damages, if any, as he has sustained thereby.
(2) Unless in such suit the defendant proves that the acts in respect of which the proceedings were threatened constitute or, if done, would constitute, an infringement of a patent or of rights arising from the publication of a complete specification in respect of a claim of the specification not shown by the plaintiff to be invalid, the court may grant to the plaintiff all or any of the reliefs prayed for.
Explanation: A mere notification of the existence of a patent does not constitute a threat of proceeding within the meaning of this section.
Section 107. Defences, etc. in suits for infringement
(1) In any suit for infringement of a patent, every ground on which it may be revoked under section 64 shall be available as a ground for-defence.
(2) In any suit for infringement of a patent by the making, using or importation of any machine, apparatus or other article or by the using of any process or by the importation, use or distribution of any medicine or drug, it shall be a ground for defence that such making, using, importation or distribution is in accordance with any one or more of the conditions specified in section 47.
S
There is a distinction maintained as between the defence raised to a suit for infringement of a patent (vide s. 107) on the one hand and the revocation sought of a patent on the other (vide s. 64). The grounds may be the same, but still there is no inconsistency on account of the suit being defended as liable to dismissal in a particular case and a case where the defendant seeks also that the patent asserted by the plaintiff be revoked. It is only when there is a counter claim seeking revocation of the patent that the jurisdiction of the District Court is ousted. The proviso to s. 104 being in the nature of an exception to the general rule, it has to be strictly construed. There is no express claim on the part of the defendant for revocation of the patent whereof infringement is alleged by the plaintiff. That the defendant pleads that the patent set up by the plaintiff is invalid amounts only to the defendant raising a ground for the relief sought by the plaintiff being declined; it does not follow necessarily that the defendant also seeks by way of a counterclaim that the patent be revoked. The defendant has not asserted in the pleadings anywhere that they are the patentee or that they are entitled to be registered as such. The grounds raised are cumulatively and also individually by way of defence to the plaintiff’s action.—Fabcon Corporation v. Industrial Engineering Corporation AIR 1987 All 338
Where the defendant neither claims to be the owner of the patent nor has it filed any petition or counter-claim, it cannot plead that the plaintiff has no locus standi to institute proceeding for infringement of patent, merely raising the plea that the plaintiff’s registration is improper.—Schnie-der Electric Industries SA v. Telemecanique and Controls (I) Ltd. (IA No. 8522) 2000 (20) PTC 620 (Del).
Section 107 A. Certain acts not to be considered as infringement
1[Certain acts not to be considered as infringement. For the purposes of this Act,—
(a) any art of making, constructing, 2[using, selling or importing] a patented invention solely for uses reasonably relating to the development and submission of information required under any law for the time being in force, in India, or in a country other than India, that regulates the manufacture, construction, 3[use, sale or import] of any product;
(b) importation of patented products by any person from a person 4 [who is duly authorised under the law to produce and sell or distribute the product], shall not be considered as an infringement of patent rights.]
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1. Inserted by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
2. Substituted for “using or selling” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
3. Substituted for “use or sale” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
4. Substituted for “who is duly authorised by the patentee to sell or distribute the product” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 108. Reliefs in suits for infringement
1[(1)] The reliefs which a court may grant in any suit for infringement include an injunction (subject to such terms, if any, as the court thinks fit) and, at the option of the plaintiff either damages or an account of profits.]
2[(2) The court may also order that the goods which are found to be infringing and materials and implement, the predominant use of which is in the creation of infringing goods shall be seized, forfeited or destroyed, as the court deems fit under the circumstances of the case without payment of any compensation.]
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1. Existing section 108 renumbered as sub-section (1) thereof by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
2. Inserted by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
Section 109. Right of exclusive licensee to take proceedings against infringement
(1) The holder of an exclusive licence shall have the like right as the patentee to institute a suit in respect of any infringement of the patent committed after the date of the licence, and in awarding damages or an account of profits or granting any other relief in any such suit the court shall take into consideration any loss suffered or likely to be suffered by the exclusive licensee as such or, as the case may be, the profits earned by means of the infringement so far as it constitutes an infringement of the rights of the exclusive licensee as such.
(2) In any suit for infringement of a patent by the holder of an exclusive licence under sub-section (1), the patentee shall, unless he has joined as a plaintiff in the suit, be added as a defendant, but a patentee so added as defendant shall not be liable for any costs unless he enters an appearance and takes part in the proceedings.
Section 110. Right of licensee under section 84 to take proceedings against infringement
Any person to whom a licence has been granted under section 84 shall be entitled to call upon the patentee to take proceedings to prevent any infringement of the patent, and, if the patentee refuses or neglects to do so within two months after being so called upon, the licensee may institute proceedings for the infringement in his own name as though he were the patentee, making the patentee a defendant; but a patentee so added as defendant shall not be liable for any costs unless he enters an appearance and takes part in the proceedings.
Section 111. Restriction on power of court to grant damages or an account of profits for infringement
(1) In a suit for infringement of a patent, damages or an account of profits shall not be granted against the defendant who proves that at the date of the infringement he was not aware and had no reasonable grounds for believing that the patent existed.
Explanation : A person shall not be deemed to have been aware or to have had reasonable grounds for believing that a patent exists by reason only of the application to an article of the word “patent”, “patented” or any word or words expressing or implying that a patent has been obtained for the article, unless the number of the patent accompanies the word or words in question.
(2) In any suit for infringement of a patent the court may, if it thinks fit, refuse to grant any damages or an account of profits in respect of any infringement committed after a failure to pay any renewal fee within the prescribed period and before any extension of that period.
(3) Where an amendment of a specification by way of disclaimer, correction or explanation has been allowed under this Act after the publication of the specification, no damages or account of profits shall be granted in any proceeding in respect of the use of the invention before the date of the decision allowing the amendment, unless the court is satisfied that the specification as originally published was framed in good faith and with reasonable skill and knowledge.
(4) Nothing in this section shall affect the power of the court to grant an injunction in any suit for infringement of a patent.
Section 112. [x x x]
1[x x x]
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1. Omitted by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
Section 113. Certificate of validity of specification and costs of subsequent suits for infringement thereof
1[(1) If in any proceedings before the Appellate Board or a High Court for the revocation of a patent under section 64 and section 104, as the case may be, the validity of any claim of a specification is contested and that claim is found by the Appellate Board or the High Court to be valid, the Appellate Board or the High Court may certify that the validity of that claim was contested in those proceedings and was upheld.]
(2) Where any such certificate has been granted, then, if any subsequent suit before a court for infringement of that claim of the patent or in any subsequent proceeding for revocation of the patent in so far as it relates to that claim, the patentee or other person relying on the validity of the claim obtains a final order or judgment in his favour, he shall be entitled to an order for the payment of his full costs, charges and expenses of and incidental to any such suit or proceeding properly incurred so far as they concern the claim in respect of which the certificate was granted, unless the court trying the suit or proceeding otherwise directs:
PROVIDED that the costs as specified in this sub-section shall not be ordered when the party disputing the validity of the claim satisfies the court that he was not aware of the grant of the certificate when he raised the dispute and withdrew forthwith such defence when he became aware of such a certificate.
1[(3) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed as authorising the courts or the Appellate Board hearing appeals from decrees or orders in suits for infringement or petitions for revocation, as the case may be, to pass orders for costs on the scale referred to therein.]
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1. Substituted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. the date to be notified.
Section 114. Relief for infringement of partially valid specification
(1) If in proceedings for infringement of a patent it is found that any claim of the specification, being a claim in respect of which infringement is alleged, is valid but that any other claim is invalid, the court may grant relief in respect of any valid claim which is infringed:
PROVIDED that the court shall not grant relief except by way of injunction save in the circumstances mentioned in sub-section (2).
(2) Where the plaintiff proves that the invalid claim was framed in good faith and with reasonable skill and knowledge, the court shall grant relief in respect of any valid claim which is infringed subject to the discretion of the court as to costs and as to the date from which damages or an account of profits should be reckoned, and in exercising such discretion the court may take into consideration the conduct of the parties in inserting such invalid claim in the specification or permitting them to remain there.
Section 115. Scientific advisers
(1) In any suit for infringement or in any proceeding before a court under this Act, the court may at any time, and whether or not an application has been made by any party for that purpose appoint an independent scientific adviser to assist the court or to inquire and report upon any such question of fact or of opinion (not involving a question of interpretation of law) as it may formulate for the purpose.
(2) The remuneration of the scientific adviser shall be fixed by the court and shall include the costs of making a report and a proper daily fee for any day on which the scientific adviser may be required to attend before the court, and such remuneration shall be defrayed out of moneys provided by Parliament by law for the purpose.
Chapter XIX – Appeals to the Appellate Board
Section 116. Appellate Board
1[CHAPTER XIX
APPEALS TO THE APPELLATE BOARD
(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Appellate Board established under section 83 of the Trade Marks Act, 1999 shall be the Appellate Board for the purposes of this Act and the said Appellate Board shall exercise the jurisdiction, power and authority conferred on it by or under this Act:
PROVIDED that the Technical Member of the Appellate Board for the purposes of this Act shall have the qualifications specified in sub-section (2).
(2) A person shall not be qualified for appointment as a Technical Member for the purposes of this Act unless he—
(a) has at least five years held the post of Controller under this Act or has exercised the functions of the Controller under this Act for at least five years; or
(b) has been for at least ten years functioned as a Registered Patent Agent and possesses a degree in engineering or technology or a masters degree in science from any University established under law for the time being in force or equivalent; or
2[(c) xxx]
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Refusal of Controller to proceed with an application under section 15 not being an order, appeal thereagainst is maintainable.—Danieli AC Officcine Meccaniche SPA v. Controller of Patents 2000 (20) PTC 219 (Call)
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1. Substituted by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
2. Clause (c) omitted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. the date to be notified.
Section 117. Staff of Appellate Board
(1) The Central Government shall determine the nature and categories of the officers and other employees required to assist the Appellate Board in the discharge of its functions under this Act and provide the Appellate Board with such officers and other employees as it may think fit.
(2) The salaries and allowances and conditions of service of the officers and other employees of the Appellate Board shall be such as may be prescribed.
(3) The officers and other employees of the Appellate Board shall discharge their functions under the general superintendence of the Chairman of the Appellate Board in the manner as may be prescribed.
Section 117 A. Appeals to Appellate Board
(1) Save as otherwise expressly provided in sub-section (2), no appeal shall lie from any decision, order or direction made or issued under this Act by the Central Government, or from any act or order of the Controller for the purpose of giving effect to any such decision, order or direction.
(2) An appeal shall lie to the Appellate Board from any decision, order or direction of the Controller or Central Government under section 15, section 16, section 17, section 18, section 19, 1[section 20, sub-section (4) of section 25, section 28], section 51, section 54, section 57, section 60, section 61, section 63, section 66, sub-section (3) of section 69, section 78, subsections (1) to (5) of section 84, section 85, section 88, section 91, section 92 and section 94.
(3) Every appeal under this section shall be in the prescribed form and shall be verified in such manner as may be prescribed and shall be accompanied by a copy of the decision, order or direction appealed against and by such fees as may be prescribed.
(4) Every appeal shall be made within three months from the date of the decision, order or direction, as the case may be, of the Controller or the Central Government or within such further time as the Appellate Board may, in accordance with the rules made by it, allow.
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1. Substituted for “section 20, section 25, section 27, section 28″ by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. the date to be notified.
Section 117 B. Procedure and powers of Appellate Board
The provisions of sub-sections (2) to (6) of section 84, section 87, section 92, section 95 and section 96 of the Trade Marks Act, 1999 shall apply to the Appellate Board in the discharge of its functions under this Act as they apply to it in the discharge of its functions under the Trade Marks Act, 1999.
Section 117 C. Bar of jurisdiction of courts, etc
No court or other authority shall have or, be entitled to, exercise any jurisdiction, powers or authority in relation to the matters referred to in sub-section (2) of section 117A or section 117D.
Section 117 D. Procedure for application for rectification, etc., before Appellate Board
(1) An application 1[for revocation of a patent before the Appellate Board under section 64 and an application for rectification of the register] made to the Appellate Board under section 71 shall be in such form as may be prescribed.
(2) A certified copy of every order or judgment of the Appellate Board relating to a patent under this Act shall be communicated to the Controller of the Board and the Controller shall give effect to the order of the Board and shall, when so directed, amend the entries in, or rectify, the register in accordance with such order.
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1. Substituted for “for rectification of the register” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. the date to be notified.
Section 117 E. Appearance of Controller in legal proceedings
(1) The Controller shall have the right to appear and be heard—
(a) in any legal proceedings before the Appellate Board in which the relief sought includes alteration or rectification of the register or in which any question relating to the practice of the patent office is raised;
(b) in any appeal to the Appellate Board from an order of the Controller on an application for grant to a patent—
(i) which is not opposed, and the application is either refused by the Controller or is accepted by him subject to any amendments, modifications, conditions or limitations, or
(ii) which has been opposed and the Controller considers that his appearance is necessary in the public interest, and the Controller shall appear in any case if so directed by the Appellate Board.
(2) Unless the Appellate Board otherwise directs, the Controller may, in lieu of appearing, submit a statement in writing signed by him, giving such particulars as he thinks proper of the proceedings before him relating to the matter in issue or of the grounds of any decision given by him or of the practice of the patent office in like cases, or of other matters relevant to the issues and within his knowledge as the Controller may deem it necessary, and such statement shall be evidence in the proceedings.
Section 117 F. Costs of Controller in proceedings before Appellate Board
In all proceedings under this Act before the Appellate Board, the costs of the Controller shall be in the discretion of the Board, but the Controller shall not be ordered to pay the costs of any of the parties.
Section 117 G. Transfer of pending proceedings to Appellate Board
1[Transfer of pending proceedings to Appellate Board. All cases of appeals against any order or decision of the Controller and all cases pertaining to revocation of patent other than on a counter-claim in a suit for infringement and rectification of register pending before any High Court, shall be transferred to the Appellate Board from such date as may be notified by the Central Government in the Official Gazette and the Appellate Board may proceed with the matter either de novo or from the stage it was so transferred.]
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1. Substituted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. the date to be notified.
Section 117 H. Power of Appellate Board to make rules
[The Appellate Board may make rules consistent with this Act as to the conduct and procedure in respect of all proceedings before it under this Act.]
Chapter XX – Penalties
Section 118. Contravention of secrecy provisions relating to certain inventions
If any person fails to comply with any direction given under section 35, 1[or makes or causes to be made an application for the grant of a patent in contravention of section 39] he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
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1. Inserted, by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
Section 119. Falsification of entries in register, etc.
If any person makes, or causes to be made, a false entry in any register kept under this Act, or a writing falsely purporting to be a copy of an entry in such a register, or produces or tenders, or causes to be produced or tendered, in evidence any such writing knowing the entry or writing to be false, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
Section 120. Unauthorised claim of patent rights
If any person falsely represents that any article sold by him is patented in India or is the subject of an application for a patent in India, he shall be punishable with fine which may extend to 1[one lakh] rupees.
Explanation 1 : For the purposes of this section, a person shall be deemed to represent —
(a) that an article is patented in India if there is stamped, engraved or impressed on, or otherwise applied to, the article the word “patent” or “patented” or some other word expressing or implying that a patent for the article has been obtained in India;
(b) that an article is the subject of an application for a patent in India if there are stamped, engraved or impressed on, or otherwise applied to, the article the words “patent applied for”, “patent pending”, or some other words implying that an application for a patent for the article has been made in India.
Explanation 2: The use of words “patent”, “patented”, “patent applied for”, “patent pending” or other words expressing or implying that an article is patended or that a patent has been applied for shall be deemed to refer to a patent in force in India, or to a pending application for a patent in India, as the case may be, unless there is an accompanying indication that the patent has been obtained or applied for in any country outside India.
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1. Substituted for “ten thousand” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 121. Wrongful use of words, “patent office”
If any person uses on his place of business or any document issued by him or otherwise the words “patent office” or any other words which would reasonably lead to the belief that his place of business is or is officially connected with, the patent office, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine, or with both.
Section 122. Refusal or failure to supply information
(1) If any person refuses or fails to furnish—
(a) to the Central Government any information which he is required to furnish under sub-section (5) of section 100,
(b) to the Controller any information or statement which he is required to furnish by or under section 146. he shall be punishable with fine which may extend to 1[ten lakh rupees]
(2) If any person, being required to furnish any such information as is referred to in subsection (1), furnishes information or statement which is false and which he either knows or has reason to believe to be false or does not believe to be true, he shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to six months, or with fine, or with both.
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1. Substituted for “twenty thousand rupees” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 123. Practice by non-registered patent agents
If any person contravenes the provisions of section 129, he shall be punishable with fine which may extend to 1[one lakh rupees in the case of a first offence and five lakh rupees] in the case of a second or subsequent offence.
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1. Substituted for “ten thousand rupees in the case of a first offence and forty thousand rupees” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 124. Offences by companies
(1) If the person committing an offence under this Act is a company, the company as well as every person in charge of, and responsible to, the company for the conduct of its business at the time of the commission of the offence shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly:
PROVIDED that nothing contained in this sub-section shall render any such person liable to any punishment if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where an offence under this Act has been committed by a company and it is proved that the offence has been committed with the consent or connivance of, or that the commission of the offence is attributable to any neglect on the part of any director, manager, secretary or other officer of the company, such director, manager, secretary or other officer shall also be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
Explanation : For the purposes of this section—
(a) “company” means any body corporate and includes a firm or other association of individuals; and
(b) “director”, in relation to a firm, means a partner in the firm.
Chapter XXI – Patent Agents
Section 125. Register of patent agents
1[Register of patent agents. (1) The Controller shall maintain a register to be called the register of patent agents in which shall be entered the names, addresses and other relevant particulars, as may be prescribed, of all persons qualified to have their names so entered under section 126.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), it shall be lawful for the Controller to keep the register of patent agents in computer floppies, diskettes or any other electronic form subject to such safeguards as may be prescribed.]
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1. Substituted by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561 (E), dt. 20-5-2003.
Section 126. Qualifications for registration as patent agents
(1) A person shall be qualified to have his name entered in the register of patent agents if he fulfils the following conditions, namely,—
(a) he is a citizen of India;
(b) he has completed the age of 21 years;
(c) he has obtained a 1[degree in science, engineering or technology from any University established under law for the time being in force] in the territory of India or possesses such other equivalent qualifications as the Central Government may specify in this behalf, and, in addition—
2[(i) xxx]
(ii) has passed the qualifying examination prescribed for the purpose; 3[or]
3[(iii) has, for a total period of not less than ten years, functioned either as an examiner or discharged the functions of the Controller under section 73 or both, but ceased to hold any such capacity at the time of making the application for registration.]
(d) he has paid such fee as may be prescribed.
4[(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), a person who has been registered as a patent agent before the commencement of 5[the Patents (Amendment) Act, 2005] shall be entitled to continue to be, or when required to be re-registered, as a patent agent, on payment of the fee as may be prescribed].
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1. Substituted for “degree from any university”, ibid.
2. Sub-clause (i) omitted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
3. Inserted by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561 (E), dt. 20-5-2003.
4. Substituted by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
5. Substituted for “the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002″ by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 127. Rights of patent agents
Subject to the provisions contained in this Act and to any rules made thereunder, every patent agent whose name is entered in the register shall be entitled—
(a) to practise before the Controller; and
(b) to prepare all documents, transact all business and discharge such other functions as may be prescribed in connection with any proceedings before the Controller under this Act.
Section 128. Subscription and verification of certain documents by patent agents
(1) All applications and communications to the Controller under his Act may be signed by a patent agent authorised in writing in this behalf by the person concerned.
1[(2) xxx]
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1. Omitted by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
Section 129. Restrictions on practice as patent agents
(1) No person, either alone or in partnership with any other person, shall practise, describe or hold himself out as a patent agent or permit himself to be so described or held out, unless he is registered as patent agent or, as the case may be, unless he and all his partners are so registered.
(2) No company or other body corporate shall practise, describe itself or hold itself out as patent agents or permit itself to be so described or held out.
Explanation : For the purposes of this section, practise, as a patent agent includes any of the following acts, namely,—
(a) applying for or obtaining patents in India or elsewhere;
(b) preparing specifications or other documents for the purposes of this Act or of the patent law of any other country;
(c) giving advice other than of scientific or technical nature as to the validity of patents or their infringement.
Section 130. Removal from register of patent agents and restoration
(1) The 1[Controller] may remove the name of any person from the register when it is satisfied, after giving that person a reasonable opportunity of being heard and after such further inquiry, if any, as 2[he] thinks fit to make—
(i) that his name has been entered in the register by error or on account of misrepresentation or suppression of material fact; or
(ii) that he has been convicted of any offence and sentenced to a term of imprisonment or has been guilty of misconduct in his professional capacity which in the opinion of the 3[Controller] renders him unfit to be kept in the register.
(2) The 3[Controller] may, on application and on sufficient cause being shown, restore to the register the name of any person removed therefrom.
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1. Substituted for “Central Government”, ibid.
2. Substituted for “it”, ibid.
3. Substituted for “Central govt.” by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.0.561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
Section 131. Power of Controller to refuse to deal with certain agents
(1) Subject to any rules made in this behalf, the Controller may refuse to recognise as agent in respect of any business under this Act—
(a) any individual whose name has been removed from, and not restored to, the register;
(b) any person who has been convicted of an offence under section 123; ,
(c) any person, not being registered as a patent agent, who in the opinion of the 1[Controller] is engaged wholly or mainly in acting as agent in applying for patents in India or elsewhere in the name or for the benefit of the person by whom he is employed;
(d) any company or firm, if any person whom the 1[Controller] could refuse to recognise as agent in respect of any business under this Act, is acting as a director or manager of the company or is a partner in the firm.
(2) The 1[Controller] shall refuse to recognise as agent in respect of any business under this Act any person who neither resides nor has a place of business in India.
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1. Substituted for “Central govt.” by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.0.561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
Section 132. Saving in respect of other persons authorised to act as agents
Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to prohibit—
(a) the applicant for a patent 1[x x x] from drafting any specification or appearing or acting before the Controller; or
(b) an advocate, not being a patent agent, from taking part in any 2[hearing before the Controller on behalf of a party who is taking part in any proceeding under this Act].
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1. Words “or any person, not being a patent agent who is duly authorised by the applicant” omitted, by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561 (E), dt. 20-5-2003.
2. Substituted for “proceedings under this Act otherwise than by way of drafting any specification”, ibid.
Chapter XXII – International Arrangements
Section 133. Convention countries
1[Convention countries. Any country, which is a signatory or party or a group of countries, union of countries or inter-governmental organizations which are signatories or parties to an international, regional or bi-lateral treaty, convention or arrangement to which India is also a signatory or party and which affords to the applicants for patents in India or to citizens of India similar privileges as are granted to their own citizens or citizens to their member countries in respect of the grant of patents and protection of patent rights shall be a convention country or convention countries for the purposes of this Act.]
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1. Substituted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 134. Notification as to countries not providing for reciprocity
Where any country specified by the Central Government in this behalf by notification in the Official Gazette does not accord to citizens of India the same rights in respect of the grant of patents and the protection of patent rights as it accords to its own nationals, no national of such country shall be entitled, either solely or jointly with any other person—
(a) to apply for the grant of a patent or be registered as the proprietor of a patent;
(b) to be registered as the assignee of the proprietor of a patent; or
(c) to apply for a licence or hold any licence under a patent granted under this Act.
Section 135. Convention applications
(1) Without prejudice to the provisions contained in section 6, where a person has made an application for a patent in respect of an invention in a convention country (hereinafter referred to as the “basic application”), and that person or the legal representative or assignee of that person makes an application under this Act for a patent within twelve months after the date on which the basic application was made, the priority date of a claim of the complete specification, being a claim based on matter disclosed in the basic application, is the date of making of the basic application.
Explanation : Where applications have been made for similar protection in respect of an invention in two or more convention countries, the period of twelve months referred to in this sub-section shall be reckoned from the date on which the earlier or earliest of the said applications was made.
(2) Where applications for protection have been made in one or more convention countries in respect of two or more inventions which are cognate or of which one is a modification of another, a single convention application may, subject to the provisions contained in section 10, be made in respect of those inventions at any time within twelve months from the date of the earliest of the said applications for protection:
PROVIDED that the fee payable on the making of any such application shall be the same as if separate applications have been made in respect of each of the said inventions, and the requirements of clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 136 shall, in the case of any such application, apply separately to the applications for protection in respect of the said inventions.
1[(3) In case of an application filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty designating India and claiming priority from a previously filed application in India, the provisions of subsections (1) and (2) shall apply as if the previously filed application were the basic application:
PROVIDED that a request for examination under section 11B shall be made only for one of the applications filed in India.]
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1. Inserted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 136. Special provisions relating to convention applications
(1) Every convention application shall—
(a) be accompanied by a complete specification; and
(b) specify the date on which and the convention country in which the application for protection, or as the case may be, the first of such applications was made; and
(c) state that no application for protection in respect of the invention had been made in a convention country before that date by the applicant or by any person from whom he derives title.
(2) Subject to the provisions contained in section 10, a complete specification filed with a convention application may include claims in respect of developments of, or additions to, the invention in respect of which the application for protection was made in a convention country, being developments or additions in respect of which the applicant would be entitled under the provisions of section 6 to make a separate application for a patent.
(3) A convention application shall not be post-dated under sub-section (1) of section 17 to a date later than the date on which under the provisions of this Act the application could have been made.
Section 137. Multiple priorities
(1) Where two or more applications for patents in respect of inventions have been made in one or more convention countries and those inventions are so related as to constitute one invention, one application may be made by any or all of the persons referred to in subsection (1) of section 135 within twelve months from the date on which the earlier or earliest of those applications was made, in respect of the inventions disclosed in the specifications which accompanied the basic applications.
(2) The priority date of a claim of the complete specification, being a claim based on matters disclosed in one or more of the basic applications, is the date on which that matter was first so disclosed.
(3) For the purposes of this Act, a matter shall be deemed to have been disclosed in a basic application for protection in a convention country if it was claimed or disclosed (otherwise than by way of disclaimer or acknowledgment of a prior art) in that application, or any documents submitted by the applicant for protection in support of and at the same time as that application, but no account shall be taken of any disclosure effected by any such document unless a copy of the document is filed at the patent office with the convention application or within such period as may be prescribed after the filing of that application.
Section 138. Supplementary provisions as to convention applications
1[(1) Where a convention application is made in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter, the applicant shall furnish, when required by the Controller, in addition to the complete specification, copies of the specifications or corresponding documents filed or deposited by the applicant in the patent office of the convention country as referred to in section 133 verified to the satisfaction of the Controller, within the prescribed period from the date of communication by the Controller.]
(2) If any such specification or other document is in a foreign language, a translation into English of the specification or document, verified by affidavit or otherwise to the satisfaction of the Controller, shall be 2[furnished when required by the Controller].
(3) For the purposes of this Act, the date on which an application was made in a convention country is such date as the Controller is satisfied, by certificate of the official chief or head of the patent office of the convention country or otherwise is the date on which the application was made in that convention country.
3[(4) An international application filed under the Patent Co-operation Treaty designating India shall have effect of filing an application for patent under section 7, section 54 and section 135, as the case may be, and the title, description, claim and abstract and drawings, if any, filed in the international application shall be taken as complete specification for the purposes of this Act.
(5) The filing date of an application for patent and its complete specification processed by the patent office as designated office shall be the international filing date accorded under the Patent Cooperation Treaty.
(6) Amendment, if any, proposed by the applicant for an international application designating India or designating and electing India before international searching authority or preliminary examination authority shall, if the applicant so desires, be taken as an amendment made before the patent office.]
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1. Substituted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
2. Substituted for “annexed to the specification or document”, by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561 (E), dt. 20-5-2003.
3. Inserted by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
Section 139. Other provisions of Act to apply to convention applications
Save as otherwise provided in this chapter, all the provisions of this Act shall apply in relation to convention application and a patent granted in pursuance thereof as they apply in relation to an ordinary application and a patent granted in pursuance thereof.
Chapter XXIII – Miscellaneous
Section 140. Avoidance of certain restrictive conditions
(1) It shall not be lawful to insert—
(i) in any contract for or in relation to the sale or lease of a patented article or an article made by a patented process; or
(ii) in a licence to manufacture or use a patented article; or
(iii) in a licence to work any process protected by a patent, a condition the effect of which may be—
(a) to require the purchaser, lessee, or licensee to acquire from the vendor, lessor, or licensor, or his nominees, or to prohibit him from acquiring or to restrict in any manner or to any extent his right to acquire from any person or to prohibit him from acquiring except from the vendor, lessor, or licensor or his nominees, any article other than the patented article or an article other than that made by the patented process; or
(b) to prohibit the purchaser, lessee or licensee from using, or to restrict in any manner or to any extent the right of the purchaser, lessee or licensee, to use an article other than the patented article or an article other than that made by the patented process, which is not supplied by the vendor, lessor or licensor or his nominee; or
(c) to prohibit the purchaser, lessee or licensee from using or to restrict in any manner or to any extent the right of the purchaser, lessee or licensee to use any process other than the patented process, and any such condition shall be void.
1[(d) to provide exclusive grant back, prevention to challenges to validity of patent and coercive package licensing.]
(2) A condition of the nature referred to in clause (a) or clause (b) or clause (c) of subsection (1) shall not cease to be a condition falling within that sub-section merely by reason of the fact that the agreement containing it has been entered into separately, whether before or after the contract relating to the sale, lease or licence of the patented article or process.
(3) In proceedings against any person for the infringement of a patent, it shall be a defence to prove that at the time of the infringement there was in force a contract relating to the patent and containing a condition declared unlawful by this section:
PROVIDED that this sub-section shall not apply if the plaintiff is not a party to the contract and proves to the satisfaction of the court that the restrictive condition was inserted in the contract without his knowledge and consent, express or implied.
(4) Nothing in this section shall—
(a) affect a condition in a contract by which a person is prohibited from selling goods other than those of a particular person;
(b) validate a contract which, but for this section, would be invalid;
(c) affect a condition in a contract for the lease of, or licence to use, a patented article, by which the lessor or licensor reserves to himself or his nominee the right to supply such new parts of the patented article as may be required or to put or keep it in repair.
2[(5) xxx]
——————–
1. Inserted by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
2. Omitted by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
Section 141. Determination of certain contracts
(1) Any contract for the sale or lease of a patented article or for licence to manufacture, use or work a patented article or process, or relating to any such sale, lease or licence, 1[x x x], may at any time after the patent or all the patents by which the article or process was protected at the time of the making of the contract has or have ceased to be in force, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the contract or in any other contract, be determined by the purchaser, lessee, or licensee, as the case may be, of the patent on giving three months’ notice in writing to the other party.
(2) The provisions of this section shall be without prejudice to any right of determining a contract exercisable apart from this section.
——————–
1. Words “whether made before or after the commencement to this Act” omitted, by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
Section 142. Fees
(1) There shall be paid in respect of the grant of patents and applications therefor, and in respect of other matters in relation to the grants of patents under this Act, such fees as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
(2) Where a fee is payable in respect of the doing of an act by the Controller, the Controller shall not do that act until the fee has been paid.
1[(3) Where a fee is payable in respect of the filing of a document at the patent office, the fee shall be paid along with the document or within the prescribed time and the document shall be deemed not to have been filed at the office if the fee has not been paid within such time.]
(4) Where a principal patent is granted later than two years from the date of filing of the 2[the application], the fees which have become due in the meantime may be paid within a term of three months from the date of the recording of the patent in the register 3[or within the extended period not later than nine months from the date of recording.]
——————–
1. Substituted by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
2. Substituted for “complete specification” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
3. Inserted by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
Section 143. Restrictions upon publication of specification
1[Restrictions upon publication of specification. Subject to the provisions of Chapter VII, an application for a patent, and any specification filed in pursuance thereof, shall not, except with the consent of the applicant, be published by the Controller before the expiration of the period prescribed under sub-section (1) of section 11A or before the same is open to public inspection in pursuance of sub-section (3) of section 11A or section 43.]
——————–
1. Substituted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 144. Reports of examiners to be confidential
The reports of examiners to the Controller under this Act shall not be open to public inspection or be published by the Controller; and such reports shall not be liable to production or inspection in any legal proceeding unless the court certifies that the production or inspection is desirable in the interest of justice, and ought to be allowed.
Section 145. Publication of official journal
1[Publication of official journal. The Controller shall publish periodically an official journal which shall contain such information as may be required to be published by or under the provisions of this Act or any rule made thereunder.]
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1. Substituted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 146. Power of Controller to call for information from patentees
(1) The Controller may, at any time during the continuance of the patent, by notice in writing, require a patentee or a licensee, exclusive or otherwise, to furnish to him within two months from the date of such notice or within such further time as the Controller may allow, such information or such periodical statements as to the extent to which the patented invention has been commercially worked in India as may be specified in the notice.
(2) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (1), every patentee and every licensee (whether exclusive or otherwise) shall furnish in such manner and form and at such intervals (not being less than six months) as may be prescribed statements as to the extent to which the patented invention has been worked on a commercial scale in India.
(3) The Controller may publish the information received by him under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) in such manner as may be prescribed.
Section 147. Evidence of entries, documents, etc.
(1) A certificate purporting to be signed by the Controller as to any entry, matter or thing which he is authorised by this Act or any rules made thereunder to make or do, shall be prima facie evidence of the entry having been made and of the contents thereof and of the matter or thing having been done or omitted to be done.
(2) A copy of any entry in any register or of any document kept in the patent office or of any patent, or an extract from any such register or document, purporting to be certified by the Controller and sealed with the seal of the patent office shall be admitted in evidence in all courts, and in all proceedings, without further proof or production of the original.
(3) The Controller or any other officer of the patent office shall not, in any legal proceedings to which he is not a party, be compellable to produce the register or any other document in his custody, the contents of which can be proved by the production of a certified copy issued under this Act or to appear as a witness to prove the matters therein recorded unless by order of the court made for special causes.
Section 148. Declaration by infant, lunatic, etc.
(1) If any person is, by reason of minority, lunacy or other disability, incapable of making any statement or doing anything required or permitted by or under this Act the lawful guardian, committee or manager (if any) of the person subject to the disability, or if there be none, any person appointed by any court possessing jurisdiction in respect of his property, may make such statement or a statement as nearly corresponding thereto as circumstances permit, and do such thing in the name and on behalf of the person subject to the disability.
(2) An appointment may be made by the court for the purposes of this section upon the petition of any person acting on behalf of the person subject to the disability or of any person interested in the making of the statement or the doing of the thing.
Section 149. Service of notices, etc. by post
Any notice required or authorised to be given by or under this Act, and any application or other document so authorised or required to be made or filed, may be given, made or filed by post.
Section 150. Security for costs
If any party by whom notice of any opposition is given under this Act or by whom application is made to the Controller for the grant of a licence under a patent neither resides nor carries on business in India, the Controller may require him to give security for the cost of the proceedings, and in default of such security being given may treat the opposition or application as abandoned.
Section 151. Transmission of orders of courts to Controller
(1) Every order of 1[the High Court or the Appellate Board] on a petition for revocation, including orders granting certificates of validity of any claim, shall be transmitted by 1[the High Court or the Appellate Board] to the Controller who shall cause an entry thereof and reference thereto to be made in the register.
(2) Where in any suit for infringement of a patent or in any suit under section 106 the validity of any claim or a specification is contested and that claim is found by the court to be valid or not valid, as the case may be, the court shall transmit a copy of its judgment and decree to the Controller who shall on receipt thereof cause an entry in relation to such proceeding to be made in the prescribed manner in a supplemental record.
(3) The provisions of sub-sections (1) and (2) shall also apply to the court to which appeals are preferred against decisions of the 2[Appellate Board or the Courts] referred to in those sub-sections.
——————–
1. Substituted for “the High Court” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. the date to be notified.
2. Substituted for “courts” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. the date to be notified.
Section 152. [xxx]
1[xxx]
——————–
1. Omitted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 153. Information relating to patents
A person making a request to the Controller in the prescribed manner for information relating to any such matters as may be prescribed as respects any patent specified in the request or as respects any application for a patent so specified shall be entitled, subject to the payment of the prescribed fee to have information supplied to him accordingly.
Section 154. Loss or destruction of patents
If a patent is lost or destroyed, or its non-production is accounted for to the satisfaction of the Controller, the Controller may at any time, on application made in the prescribed manner and on payment of the prescribed fee, cause a duplicate thereof to be sealed and delivered to the applicant.
Section 155. Reports of Controller to be placed before Parliament
The Central Government shall cause to be placed before both Houses of Parliament once a year a report respecting the execution of this Act by or under the Controller.
Section 156. Patent to bind government
Subject to the other provisions contained in this Act, a patent shall have to all intents the like effect as against government as it has against any person.
Section 157. Right of government to sell or use forfeited articles
Nothing in this Act shall affect the power of the government or of any person deriving title directly or indirectly from the government to sell or use any articles forfeited under any law for the time being in force.
Section 157 A. Protection of security of India
1[Protection of security of India. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the Central Government shall —
(a) not disclose any information relating to any patentable invention or any application relating to the grant of patent under this Act, which it considers prejudicial to the interest of the security of India;
(b) take any action including the revocation of any patent which it considers necessary in the interest of the security of India by issue of a notification in the official gazette to that effect.
Explanation : For the purposes of this section, the expression “security of India” includes any action necessary for the security of India which —
(i) relates to fissionable materials or the materials from which they are derived; or
(ii) relates to the traffic in arms, ammunition and implements of war -and to such traffic in other goods and materials as is carried on directly or indirectly for the purpose of supplying a military establishment; or
(iii) is taken in time of war or other emergency in international relations.]
——————–
1. Substituted by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561 (E), dt. 20-5-2003.
Section 158. Power of High Courts to make rules
The High Court may make rules consisent with this Act as to the conduct and procedure in respect of all proceedings before it under this Act.
Section 159. Power of Central Government to make rules
(1) The Central Government may, by notification on the Official Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the forgoing power, the Central Government may make rules to provide for all or any of the following matters, namely,—
(i) the form and manner in which any application for a patent, any specifications or drawings and any other application or document may be filed in the patent office;
1[(ia)the period which the Controller may allow the filing of statement and undertaking for in respect of applications under sub-section (1), the period within which the details relating to processing of applications may be filed before the Controller and the details to be furnished by the applicant to the Controller under sub-section (2) of section 8;
(ib) the period within which a reference to the deposit of materials shall be made in the specification under sub-clause (A) of clause (ii) of the proviso to sub-section (4) of section 10;
(ic) the period for which application for patent shall not be open to the public under sub-section (1) and the manner in which the applicant may make a request to the Controller to publish his application under sub-section (2) of section 11A;
(id) the manner of making the request for examination for an application for patent and the period within which such examination shall be made under sub-sections (1) and (3) of section 11B;
(ie) the manner in which an application for withdrawal of an application for grant of a patent shall be made and the period within which a request for examination from the date of revocation of secrecy directions shall be made under the proviso to sub-section (4) of section 11B.]
(ii) the time within which any act or thing may be done under this Act, including the manner in which and the time within which any matter may be 2[published] under this Act;
(iii) the fees which may be payable under this Act and the manner and time of payment of such fees;
(iv) the matters in respect of which the examiner may make a report to the Controller;
3[(v)the manner in which and the period within which the Controller shall consider and dispose off a representation under sub-section (1) of section 25;
(va) the period within which the Controller is required to dispose off an application under section 39;]
(vi) the form and manner in which and the time within which any notice may be given under this Act;
(vii) the provisions which may be inserted in an order for restoration of a patent for the protection of persons who may have availed themselves of the subjectmatter of the patent after the patent had ceased;
(viii) the establishment of branch offices of the patent office, and the regulation generally of the business of the patent office, including its branch offices;
(ix) the maintenance of the register of patents 4[and the safeguards to be observed in the maintenance of such register in computer floppies, diskettes or any other electronic form] and the matters to be entered therein;
(x) the matters in respect of which the Controller shall have powers of a civil court;
(xi) the time when and the manner in which the register and any other document open to inspection may be inspected under this Act;
(xii) the qualifications of, and the preparation of a roll of, scientific advisers for the purpose of section 115;
4[(xiia) the salaries and allowances and other conditions of service of the officers and other employees of the Appellate Board under sub-section (2), and the manner in which the officers and other employees of the Appellate Board shall discharge their functions under sub-section (3) of section 117;
(xiib) the form of making an appeal, the manner of verification and the fee payable under sub-section (3) of section 117A;
(xiic) the form in which, and the particulars to be included in, the application to the Appellate Board under sub-section (1) of section 117D;]
(xiii) the manner in which any compensation for acquisition by government of an invention may be paid;
(xiv) the manner in which the register of patent agents may be maintained 4[under sub-section (1) of section 125 and the safeguards to be observed in the maintenance of such register of patent agents on computer floppies, diskettes or any other electronic form under sub-section (2) of that section;] the conduct of qualifying examinations for patent agents; and matters connected with their practice and conduct, including the taking of disciplinary proceedings against patent agents for misconduct;
(xv) the regulation of the making, printing, publishing and selling of indexes to, and abridgments of specifications and other documents in the patent office, and the inspection of indexes and abridgments and other documents;
(xiv) any other matter which has to be or may be prescribed.
(3) The power to make rules under this section shall be subject to condition of the rules being made after previous publication:
5[PROVIDEO that the Central Government may, if it is satisfied that circumstances exist which render it practically not possible to comply with such condition of previous publication, dispense with such compliance.]
——————–
1. Existing clauses (ia) and (ib) substituted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
2. Substituted for “advertised” by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
3. Substituted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
4. Inserted by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
5. Inserted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
Section 160. Rules to be placed before Parliament
Every rule made under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parliament while it is in session for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions and, if before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid both Houses agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule.
Section 161. [xxx]
1[xxx]
——————–
1. Omitted by Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2002, w.e.f. 20-5-2003 vide S.O. 561(E), dt. 20-5-2003.
Section 162. Repeal of Act 2 of 1911 insofar as it relates to patents and saving
(1) The Indian Patents and Designs Act, 1911, in so far as it relates to patents, is hereby repealed, that is to say, the said Act shall be amended in the manner specified in the schedule.
1[x x x]
(4) The mention of particular matters in this section shall not prejudice the general application of the General Clauses Act, 1897, (10 of 1897) with respect to repeals.
(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, any suit for infringement of a patent or any proceeding for revocation of a patent, pending in any court at the commencement of this Act, may be continued and disposed of, as if this Act had not been passed.
——————–
1. Sub-sections (2) & (3) omitted, ibid.
Section 163. [xxx]
1[xxx]
——————–
1. Existing section 163 omitted by the Patents (Amdt.) Act, 2005, w.e.f. 1-1-2005.
November 29, 2014
Section 1. Name and territory of the Union
(1) India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States.
1[(2) The States and Territories thereof shall be a specified in the First Schedule.]
(3) The Territory of the India shall comprise-
(a) the Territories of the States;
2[(b) the Union Territories specified in the First Schedule; and
(c) such other Territories as may be acquired;
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, Sec. 2, for clause (2).
2. 1. Subs. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, Sec. 2, for sub-clause (b).
Section 2. Admission or establishment of new States
Parliament may by law admit into the Union, or establish, new States on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit.
Section 2A. Sikkim to be associated with the Union
12A. [Sikkim to be associated with the Union.]
Rep. by the Constitution (Thirty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1975, s. 5 (w.e.f. 26-4-1975).
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Thirty-fifth Amendment) Act, 1974, s.2 (w.e.f. 1-3 1975).
Section 3. Formation of new States and alteration of areas, boundaries or names of existing States
Parliament may by law-
(a) Form a new State by separation of territory from any State or by uniting two or more States or parts of States or by uniting any territory to a part of any State;
(b) Increase the area of any State;
(c) Diminish the area of any State;
(d) Alter the boundaries of any State;
(e) Alter the name of any State:
1[Provided that no Bill for the purpose shall be introduced in either House of Parliament except on the recommendation of the President and unless, where the proposal contained in the Bill affects the area, boundaries or name of any of the States 2***, the Bill has been referred by the President to the Legislature of that State for expressing its views thereon within such period as may be specified in the reference or within such further period as the President may allow and the period so specified or allowed has expired.]
3[Explanation I.
In this article, in clauses (a) to (e), “State” includes a Union territory, but in the proviso, “State” does not include a Union territory.
Explanation II.
The power conferred on Parliament by clause (a) includes the power to form a new State or Union territory by uniting a part of any State or Union territory to any other State or Union territory.]
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Fifth Amendment) Act, 1955, s. 2, for the proviso
2. The words and letters “specified in Part A or Part B of the First Schedule” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch.
3. Ins. by the Constitution (Eighteenth Amendment) Act, 1966, s. 2.
Section 4. Laws made under articles 2 and 3 to provide for the amendment of the First and the Fourth Schedules and supplemental, incidental and consequential matters
(1) Any law referred to in article 2 or article 3 shall contain such provisions for the amendment of the First Schedule and the Fourth Schedule as may be necessary to give effect to the provisions of the law and may also contain such supplemental, incidental and consequential provisions (including provisions as to representation in Parliament and in the Legislature or Legislatures of the State or States affected by such law) as Parliament may deem necessary.
(2) No such law as aforesaid shall be deemed to be an amendment of this Constitution for the purposes of article 368.
Section 5. Citizenship at the commencement of the Constitution
At the commencement of this Constitution, every person who has his domicile in the territory of India and-
(a) Who was born in the territory of India; or
(b) Either of whose parents was born in the territory of India; or
(c) Who has been ordinarily resident in the territory of India for not less than five years immediately preceding such commencement, Shall be a citizen of India.
Section 6. Rights of citizenship of certain persons who have migrated to India from Pakistan.
Notwithstanding anything in article 5, a person who has migrated to the territory of India from the territory now included in Pakistan shall be deemed to be a citizen of India at the commencement of this Constitution if-
(a) He or either of his parents or any of his grand-parents was born in India as defined in the Government of India Act, 1935 (as originally enacted); and
(b) (i) In the case where such person has so migrated before the nineteenth day of July, 1948, he has been ordinarily resident in the territory of India since the date of his migration, or
(ii) In the case where such person has so migrated on or after the nineteenth day of July, 1948, he has been registered as a citizen of India by an officer appointed in that behalf by the Government of the Dominion of India on an application made by him therefor to such officer before the commencement of this Constitution in the form and manner prescribed by that Government:
Provided that no person shall be so registered unless he has been resident in the territory of India for at least six months immediately preceding the date of his application.
(2) No such law as aforesaid shall be deemed to be an amendment of this Constitution for the purposes
Section 7. Rights of citizenship of certain migrants to Pakistan
Notwithstanding anything in articles 5 and 6, a person who has after the first day of March, 1947, migrated from the territory of India to the territory now included in Pakistan shall not be deemed to be a citizen of India:
Provided that nothing in this article shall apply to a person who, after having so migrated to the territory now included in Pakistan, has returned to the territory of India under a permit for resettlement or permanent return issued by or under the authority of any law and every such person shall for the purposes of clause (b) of article 6 be deemed to have migrated to the territory of India after the nineteenth day of July, 1948.
Section 8. Rights of citizenship of certain persons of Indian origin residing outside India
Notwithstanding anything in article 5, any person who or either of whose parents or any of whose grand-parents was born in India as defined in the Government of India Act, 1935 (as originally enacted), and who is ordinarily residing in any country outside India as so defined shall be deemed to be a citizen of India if he has been registered as a citizen of India by the diplomatic or consular representative of India in the country where he is for the time being residing on an application made by him therefor to such diplomatic or consular representative, whether before or after the commencement of this Constitution, in the form and manner prescribed by the Government of the Dominion of India or the Government of India.
Section 9. Persons voluntarily acquiring citizenship of a foreign State not to be citizens
No person shall be a citizen of India by virtue of article 5, or be deemed to be a citizen of India by virtue of article 6 or article 8, if he has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of any foreign State.
Section 10. Continuance of the rights of citizenship
Every person who is or is deemed to be a citizen of India under any of the foregoing provisions of this Part shall, subject to the provisions of any law that may be made by Parliament, continue to be such citizen.
Section 11. Parliament to regulate the right of citizenship by law
Nothing in the foregoing provisions of this Part shall derogate from the power of Parliament to make any provision with respect to the acquisition and termination of citizenship and all other matters relating to citizenship
Section 12. Definition
In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires, “the State” includes the Government and Parliament of India and the Government and the Legislature of each of the States and all local or other authorities within the territory of India or under the control of the Government of India.
Section 13. Laws inconsistent with or in derogation of the fundamental rights
(1) All laws in force in the territory of India immediately before the commencement of this Constitution, in so far as they are inconsistent with the provisions of this Part, shall, to the extent of such inconsistency, be void.
(2) The State shall not make any law, which takes away or abridges the rights conferred by this Part and any law made in contravention of this clause shall, to the extent of the contravention, be void.
(3) In this article, unless the context otherwise requires, -
(a) “Law” includes any Ordinance, order, bye-law, rule, regulation, notification, custom or usage having in the territory of India the force of law;
(b) “Laws in force” includes laws passed or made by a Legislature or other competent authority in the territory of India before the commencement of this Constitution and not previously repealed, notwithstanding that any such law or any part thereof may not be then in operation either at all or in particular areas.
1[(4) Nothing in this article shall apply to any amendment of this Constitution made under article 368.]
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Twenty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1971, s.2.
Section 14. Equality before law
The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India.
Section 15. Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth
(1) The State shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them.
(2) No citizen shall, on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them, be subject to any disability, liability, restriction or condition with regard to-
(a) Access to shops, public restaurants, hotels and places of public entertainment; or
(b) The use of wells, tanks, bathing ghats, roads and places of public resort maintained wholly or partly out of State funds or dedicated to the use of the general public.
(3) Nothing in this article shall prevent the State from making any special provision for women and children.
1[(4) Nothing in this article or in clause (2) of article 29 shall prevent the State from making any special provision for the advancement of any socially and educationally backward classes of citizens or for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.]
1. Added by the Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951, s. 2.
Section 16. Equality of opportunity in matters of public employment
(1) There shall be equality of opportunity for all citizens in matters relating to employment or appointment to any office under the State.
(2) No citizen shall, on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, descent, place of birth, residence or any of them, be ineligible for, or discriminated against in respect of, any employment or office under the State.
(3) Nothing in this article shall prevent Parliament from making any law prescribing, in regard to a class or classes of employment or appointment to an office 1[under the Government of, or any local or other authority within, a State or Union territory, any requirement as to residence within that State or Union territory] prior to such employment or appointment.
(4) Nothing in this article shall prevent the State from making any provision for the reservation of appointment or posts in favour of any backward class of citizen which, in the opinion of the State, is not adequately represented in the services under the State.
2[(4A) Nothing in this article shall prevent the State from making any provision for reservation 4[in matters of promotion to any class] or classes of posts in the services under the State in favour of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes which, in the opinion of the State, are not adequately represented in the services under the State.]
3[(4B) Nothing in this article shall prevent the State from considering any unfilled vacancies of a year which are reserved for being filled up in that year in accordance with any provision for reservation made under clause (4) or clause (4A) as a separate class of vacancies to be filled up in any succeeding year or years and such class of vacancies shall not be considered together with the vacancies of the year in which they are being filled up for determining the ceiling of fifty per cent. reservation on total number of vacancies of that year.]
(5) Nothing in this article shall affect the operation of any law which provides that the incumbent of an office in connection with the affairs of any religious or denominational institution or any member of the governing body thereof shall be a person professing a particular religion or belonging to a particular denomination.
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch., for “under any State specified in the First Schedule or any local or other authority within its territory, any requirement as to residence within that State”.
2. Ins. by the Constitution (Seventy-seventh Amendment) Act, 1995,s. 2. (w.e.f. 17-6-1995).
3. Ins. by the Constitution (Eighty-first Amendment) Act, 2000, s.2 (w.e.f. 09-06-2000)
4. Subs. by the Constitution (Eighty-fifth Amendment) Act, 2001, sec. 2 (w.r.e.f. 17-6-1995).
Section 17. Abolition of Untouchability
“Untouchability” is abolished and its practice in any form is forbidden. The enforcement of any disability rising out of “Untouchability” shall be an offence punishable in accordance with law.
Section 18. Abolition of titles
(1) No title, not being a military or academic distinction, shall be conferred by the State.
(2) No citizen of India shall accept any title from any foreign State.
(3) No person who is not a citizen of India shall, while he holds any office of profit or trust under the State, accept without the consent of the President any title from any foreign State.
(4) No person holding any office of profit or trust under the State shall, without the consent of the President, accept any present, emolument, or office of any kind from or under any foreign State.
Section 19. Protection of certain rights regarding freedom of speech, etc.
(1) All citizens shall have the right-
(a) To freedom of speech and expression;
(b) To assemble peaceably and without arms;
(c) To form associations or unions;
(d) To move freely throughout the territory of India;
(e) To reside and settle in any part of the territory of India; 1[and]
(f) 2* * * * *
(g) To practise any profession, or to carry on any occupation, trade or business.
3[(2) Nothing in sub-clause (a) of clause (1) shall affect the operation of any existing law, or prevent the State from making any law, in so far as such law imposes reasonable restrictions on the exercise of the right conferred by the said sub-clause in the interests of 4[the sovereignty and integrity of India,] the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality, or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence.]
(3) Nothing in sub-clause (b) of the said clause shall affect the operation of any existing law in so far as it imposes, or prevent the State from making any law imposing, in the interests of 4[the sovereignty and integrity of India or] public order, reasonable restrictions on the exercise of the right conferred by the said sub-clause.
(4) Nothing in sub-clause (c) of the said clause shall affect the operation of any existing law in so far as it imposes, or prevent the State from making any law imposing, in the interests of 4[the sovereignty and integrity of India or] public order or morality, reasonable restrictions on the exercise of the right conferred by the said sub-clause.
(5) Nothing in 5[sub-clauses (d) and (e)] of the said clause shall affect the operation of any existing law in so far as it imposes, or prevent the State from making any law imposing, reasonable restrictions on the exercise of any of the rights conferred by the said sub-clauses either in the interests of the general public or for the protection of the interests of any Scheduled Tribe.
(6) Nothing in sub-clause (g) of the said clause shall affect the operation of any existing law in so far as it imposes, or prevent the State from making any law imposing, in the interests of the general public, reasonable restrictions on the exercise of the right conferred by the said sub-clause, and, in particular, 6[nothing in the said sub-clause shall affect the operation of any existing law in so far as it relates to, or prevent the State from making any law relating to, -
(i) The professional or technical qualifications necessary for practising any profession or carrying on any occupation, trade or business, or
(ii) The carrying on by the State, or by a corporation owned or controlled by the State, of any trade, business, industry or service, whether to the exclusion, complete or partial, of citizens or otherwise].
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 2 (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
2. Sub-clause (f) omitted by s. 2, Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978 (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
3. Subs. by the Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951, s. 3, for cl. (2) (with retrospective effect
4. Ins. by the Constitution (Sixteenth Amendment) Act, 1963, s. 2.
5. Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 2, for “sub-clauses (d), (e) and (f)” (w.e.f. 20-6-1979)
6. Subs. by the Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951, s. 3, for certain words.
Section 20. Protection in respect of conviction for offences
(1) No person shall be convicted of any offence except for violation of a law in force at the time of the commission of the Act charged as an offence, nor be subjected to a penalty greater than that which might have been inflicted under the law in force at the time of the commission of the offence.
(2) No person shall be prosecuted and punished for the same offence more than once.
(3) No person accused of any offence shall be compelled to be a witness against himself.
Section 21. Protection of life and personal liberty
No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law.
Section 21A. Right to education
1[21A. Right to education.
The State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of six to fourteen years in such manner as the State may, by law, determine.]
1. Ins. By the Constitution (Eighty-sixth Amendment) Act, 2002.
22. Protection against arrest and detention in certain cases
122. Protection against arrest and detention in certain cases.
(1) No person who is arrested shall be detained in custody without being informed, as soon as may be, of the grounds for such arrest nor shall he be denied the right to consult, and to be defended by, a legal practitioner of his choice.
(2) Every person who is arrested and detained in custody shall be produced before the nearest magistrate within a period of twenty-four hours of such arrest excluding the time necessary for the journey from the place of arrest to the court of the magistrate and no such person shall be detained in custody beyond the said period without the authority of a magistrate.
(3) Nothing in clauses (1) and (2) shall apply-
(a) To any person who for the time being is an enemy alien; or
(b) To any person who is arrested or detained under any law providing for preventive detention.
(4) No law providing for preventive detention shall authorise the detention of a person for a longer period than three months unless-
(a) An Advisory Board consisting of persons who are, or have been, or are qualified to be appointed as, Judges of a High Court has reported before the expiration of the said period of three months that there is in its opinion sufficient cause for such detention:
Provided that nothing in this sub-clause shall authorise the detention of any person beyond the maximum period prescribed by any law made by Parliament under sub-clause (b) of clause (7); or
(b) Such person is detained in accordance with the provisions of any law made by Parliament under sub-clauses (a) and (b) of clause (7).
(5) When any person is detained in pursuance of an order made under any law providing for preventive detention, the authority making the order shall, as soon as may be, communicate to such person the grounds on which the order has been made and shall afford him the earliest opportunity of making a representation against the order.
(6) Nothing in clause (5) shall require the authority making any such order as is referred to in that clause to disclose facts which such authority considers to be against the public interest to disclose.
(7) Parliament may by law prescribe-
(a) The circumstances under which, and the class or classes of cases in which, a person may be detained for a period longer than three months under any law providing for preventive detention without obtaining the opinion of an Advisory Board in accordance with the provisions of sub-clause (a) of clause (4);
(b) The maximum period for which any person may in any class or classes of cases be detained under any law providing for preventive detention; and
(c) The procedure to be followed by an Advisory Board in an inquiry under sub-clause (a) of clause (4).
1. On the enforcement of s. 3 of the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, art. 22 shall stand amended as directed in s. 3 of that Act. For the text of s. 3 of that Act, see Appendix III.
Section 23. Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labour
(1) Traffic in human beings and begar and other similar forms of forced labour are prohibited and any contravention of this provision shall be an offence punishable in accordance with law.
(2) Nothing in this article shall prevent the State from imposing compulsory service for public purposes, and in imposing such service the State shall not make any discrimination on grounds only of religion, race, caste or class or any of them.
Section 24. Prohibition of employment of children in factories, etc.
No child below the age of fourteen years shall be employed to work in any factory or mine or engaged in any other hazardous employment.
Section 25. Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion.
(1) Subject to public order, morality and health and to the other provisions of this Part, all persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practise and propagate religion.
(2) Nothing in this article shall affect the operation of any existing law or prevent the State from making any law-
(a) Regulating or restricting any economic, financial, political or other secular activity which may be associated with religious practice;
(b) Providing for social welfare and reform or the throwing open of Hindu religious institutions of a public character to all classes and sections of Hindus.
Explanation I. The wearing and carrying of kirpans shall be deemed to be included in the profession of the Sikh religion.
Explanation II. In sub-clause (b) of clause (2), the reference to Hindus shall be construed as including a reference to persons professing the Sikh, Jaina or Buddhist religion, and the reference to Hindu religious institutions shall be construed accordingly.
Section 26. Freedom to manage religious affairs.
Subject to public order, morality and health, every religious denomination or any section thereof shall have the right-
(a) To establish and maintain institutions for religious and charitable purposes;
(b) To manage its own affairs in matters of religion;
(c) To own and acquire movable and immovable property; and
(d) To administer such property in accordance with law.
Section 27. Freedom as to payment of taxes for promotion of any particular religion
No person shall be compelled to pay any taxes, the proceeds of which are specifically appropriated in payment of expenses for the promotion or maintenance of any particular religion or religious denomination.
Section 28. Freedom as to attendance at religious instruction or religious worship in certain educational institutions
(1) No religious instruction shall be provided in any educational institution wholly maintained out of State funds.
(2) Nothing in clause (1) shall apply to an educational institution, which is administered by the State but has been established under any endowment or trust which requires that religious instruction shall be imparted in such institution.
(3) No person attending any educational institution recognised by the State or receiving aid out of State funds shall be required to take part in any religious instruction that may be imparted in such institution or to attend any religious worship that may be conducted in such institution or in any premises attached thereto unless such person or, if such person is a minor, his guardian has given his consent thereto.
Section 29. Protection of interests of minorities
(1) Any section of the citizens residing in the territory of India or any part thereof having a distinct language, script or culture of its own shall have the right to conserve the same.
(2) No citizen shall be denied admission into any educational institution maintained by the State or receiving aid out of State funds on grounds only of religion, race, caste, language or any of them.
Section 30. Right of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions
(1) All minorities, whether based on religion or language, shall have the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.
1[(1A) In making any law providing for the compulsory acquisition of any property of any educational institution established and administered by a minority, referred to in clause (1), the State shall ensure that the amount fixed by or determined under such law for the acquisition of such property is such as would not restrict or abrogate the right guaranteed under that clause.]
(2) The State shall not, in granting aid to educational institutions, discriminate against any educational institution on the ground that it is under the management of a minority, whether based on religion or language 2[* * *]
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 4 (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
2. The sub-heading “Right to Property” omitted by s. 5, Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978 (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
Section 31. Compulsory acquisition of property
Rep. by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 6 (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
Section 31A. Saving of laws providing for acquisition of estates, etc.
1[Saving of Certain Laws]
2[31A. Saving of laws providing for acquisition of estates, etc.
3[(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in article 13, no law providing for-
(a) The acquisition by the State of any estate or of any rights therein or the extinguishment or modification of any such rights, or
(b) The taking over of the management of any property by the State for a limited period either in the public interest or in order to secure the proper management of the property, or
(c) The amalgamation of two or more corporations either in the public interest or in order to secure the proper management of any of the corporations, or
(d) The extinguishment or modification of any rights of managing agents, secretaries and treasurers, managing directors, directors or managers of corporations, or of any voting rights of shareholders thereof, or
(e) The extinguishment or modification of any rights accruing by virtue of any agreement, lease or licence for the purpose of searching for, or winning, any mineral or mineral oil, or the premature termination or cancellation of any such agreement, lease or licence, shall be deemed to be void on the ground that it is inconsistent with, or takes away or abridges any of the rights conferred by 4[article 14 or article 19]:
Provided that where such law is a law made by the Legislature of a State, the provisions of this article shall not apply thereto unless such law, having been reserved for the consideration of the President, has received his assent:]
5[Provided further that where any law makes any provision for the acquisition by the State of any estate and where any land comprised therein is held by a person under his personal cultivation, it shall not be lawful for the State to acquire any portion of such land as is within the ceiling limit applicable to him under any law for the time being in force or any building or structure standing thereon or appurtenant thereto, unless the law relating to the acquisition of such land, building or structure, provides for payment of compensation at a rate which shall not be less than the market value thereof.]
(2) In this article, -
6[(a) The expression “estate” shall, in relation to any local area, have the same meaning as that expression or its local equivalent has in the existing law relating to land tenures in force in that area and shall also include-
(i) Any jagir, inam or muafi or other similar grant and in the States of 7[Tamil Nadu] and Kerala, any janmam right;
(ii) Any land held under ryotwari settlement;
(iii) Any land held or let for purposes of agriculture or for purposes ancillary thereto, including waste land, forest land, land for pasture or sites of buildings and other structures occupied by cultivators of land, agricultural labourers and village artisans;]
(b) The expression “rights”, in relation to an estate, shall include any rights vesting in a proprietor, sub-proprietor, under-proprietor, tenure-holder, 8[raiyat, under-raiyat] or other intermediary and any rights or privileges in respect of land revenue.]
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 3 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
2. Ins. by the Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951, s. 4 (with retrospective effect).
3. Subs. by the Constitution (Fourth Amendment) Act, 1955, s. 3, for cl. (1) (with retrospective effect).
4. Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 7, for “article 14, article 19 or article 31″ (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
5. Ins. by the Constitution (Seventeenth Amendment) Act, 1964, s. 2.
6. Subs. by s. 2, the Constitution (Seventeenth Amendment) Act, 1964, for sub-clause (a) (with retrospective effect).
7. Subs. by the Madras State (Alteration of Name) Act, 1968 (53 of 1968), s. 4, for “Madras” (w.e.f. 14-1-1969).
8. Ins. by the Constitution (Fourth Amendment) Act, 1955, s. 3 (with retrospective effect).
Section 31B. Validation of certain Acts and Regulations
1[31B. Validation of certain Acts and Regulations.
Without prejudice to the generality of the provisions contained in article 31A, none of the Acts and Regulations specified in the Ninth Schedule nor any of the provisions thereof shall be deemed to be void, or ever to have become void, on the ground that such Act, Regulation or provision is inconsistent with, or takes away or abridges any of the rights conferred by, any provisions of this Part, and notwithstanding any judgment, decree or order of any court or Tribunal to the contrary, each of the said Acts and Regulations shall, subject to the power of any competent Legislature to repeal or amend it, continue in force.]
1. Ins. by the Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951, s. 5. (w.e.f. 8-6-1951)
Section 31C. Saving of laws giving effect to certain directive principles
1[31C. Saving of laws giving effect to certain directive principles.
Notwithstanding anything contained in article 13, no law giving effect to the policy of the State towards securing 2[all or any of the principles laid down in Part IV] shall be deemed to be void on the ground that it is inconsistent with, or takes away or abridges any of the rights conferred by 3[article 14 or article 19]; 4[and no law containing a declaration that it is for giving effect to such policy shall be called in question in any court on the ground that it does not give effect to such policy:
Provided that where such law is made by the Legislature of a State, the provisions of this article shall not apply thereto unless such law, having been reserved for the consideration of the President, has received his assent.]
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Twenty-fifth Amendment) Act, 1971, s.3 (w.e.f. 20-4-1972).
2. Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 4, for “the principles specified in clause (b) or clause (c) of article 39″ (w.e.f. 3-1-1977). Section 4 has been declared invalid by the Supreme Court in Minerva Mills Ltd. and Others Vs. Union of India and Others (1980) 2. S.C.C. 591.
3. Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 8, for “article 14, article 19 or article 31″ (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
4. In Kesavananda Bharati Vs. The State of Kerala, (1973) Supp. S.C.R.1, the Supreme Court held the provision in italics to be invalid.
Section 31D. Saving of laws in respect of anti-national activities
1[31D. [Saving of laws in respect of anti-national activities.]
Rep. by the Constitution (Forty-third Amendment) Act, 1977, s. 2 (w.e.f. 13-4-1978).
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 5 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
Section 32. Remedies for enforcement of rights conferred by this Part
(1) The right to move the Supreme Court by appropriate proceedings for the enforcement of the rights conferred by this Part is guaranteed.
(2) The Supreme Court shall have power to issue directions or orders or writs, including writs in the nature of habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, quo warranto and certiorari, whichever may be appropriate, for the enforcement of any of
(3) Without prejudice to the powers conferred on the Supreme Court by clauses (1) and (2), Parliament may by law empower any other court to exercise within the local limits of its jurisdiction all or any of the powers exercisable by the Supreme Court under clause (2).
(4) The right guaranteed by this article shall not be suspended except as otherwise provided for by this Constitution.
Section 32A. Constitutional validity of State laws not to be considered in proceedings under article 32
1[32A. [Constitutional validity of State laws not to be considered in proceedings under article 32.]
Rep. by the Constitution (Forty-third Amendment) Act, 1977, s. 3 (w.e.f. 13-4-1978).
1. Ins. by s. 6, the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976 (w.e.f. 1-2-1977).
Section 33. Power of Parliament to modify the rights conferred by this Part in their application to Forces, etc.
1[33. Power of Parliament to modify the rights conferred by this Part in their application to Forces, etc.
Parliament may, by law, determine to what extent any of the rights conferred by this Part shall, in their application to, -
(a) The members of the Armed Forces; or
(b) The members of the Forces charged with the maintenance of public order; or
(c) Persons employed in any bureau or other organisation established by the State for purposes of intelligence or counter intelligence; or
(d) Persons employed in, or in connection with, the telecommunication systems set up for the purposes of any Force, bureau or organisation referred to in clauses (a) to (c),
be restricted or abrogated so as to ensure the proper discharge of their duties and the maintenance of discipline among them.]
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Fiftieth Amendment) Act, 1984, s. 2, for art. 33(w.e.f.11-9-1984).
Section 34. Restriction on rights conferred by this Part while martial law is in force in any area
Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this Part, Parliament may by law indemnify any person in the service of the Union or of a State or any other person in respect of any act done by him in connection with the maintenance or restoration of order in any area within the territory of India where martial law was in force or validate any sentence passed, punishment inflicted, forfeiture ordered or other act done under martial law in such area.
Section 35. Legislation to give effect to the provisions of this Part
Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, -
(a) Parliament shall have, and the Legislature of a State shall not have, power to make laws-
(i) With respect to any of the matters which under clause (3) of article 16, clause (3) of article 32, article 33 and article 34 may be provided for by law made by Parliament; and
(ii) For prescribing punishment for those acts which are declared to be offences under this Part;
and Parliament shall, as soon as may be after the commencement of this Constitution, make laws for prescribing punishment for the acts referred to in sub-clause (ii);
(b) any law in force immediately before the commencement of this Constitution in the territory of India with respect to any of the matters referred to in sub-clause (i) of clause (a) or providing for punishment for any act referred to in sub-clause (ii) of that clause shall, subject to the terms thereof and to any adaptations and modifications that may be made therein under article 372, continue in force until altered or repealed or amended by Parliament.
In this article, the expression “law in force” has the same meaning as in article 372.
Section 36. Definition
In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires, “the State” has the same meaning as in Part III.
Section 37. Application of the principles contained in this Part
The provisions contained in this Part shall not be enforceable by any court, but the principles therein laid down are nevertheless fundamental in the governance of the country and it shall be the duty of the State to apply these principles in making laws.
Section 38. State to secure a social order for the promotion of welfare of the people
1[(1)] The State shall strive to promote the welfare of the people by securing and protecting as effectively as it may a social order in which justice, social, economic and political, shall inform all the institutions of the national life.
2[(2) The State shall, in particular, strive to minimise the inequalities in income, and endeavour to eliminate inequalities in status, facilities and opportunities, not only amongst individuals but also amongst groups of people residing in different areas or engaged in different vocations.]
1. Art. 38 renumbered as cl. (1) thereof by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 9 (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
2. Ins. by s. 9, the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978 (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
Section 39. Certain principles of policy to be followed by the State
The State shall, in particular, direct its policy towards securing-
(a) That the citizens, men and women equally, have the right to an adequate means of livelihood;
(b) That the ownership and control of the material resources of the community are so distributed as best to subserve the common good;
(c) That the operation of the economic system does not result in the concentration of wealth and means of production to the common detriment;
(d) That there is equal pay for equal work for both men and women;
(e) That the health and strength of workers, men and women, and the tender age of children are not abused and that citizens are not forced by economic necessity to enter avocations unsuited to their age or strength
1[(f) That children are given opportunities and facilities to develop in a healthy manner and in conditions of freedom and dignity and that childhood and youth are protected against exploitation and against moral and material abandonment.]
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 7, for cl. (f) (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
Section 39A. Equal justice and free legal aid
1[39A. Equal justice and free legal aid.
The State shall secure that the operation of the legal system promotes justice, on a basis of equal opportunity, and shall, in particular, provide free legal aid, by suitable legislation or schemes or in any other way, to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disabilities.]
1. Ins. by s. 8, the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
Section 40. Organisation of village panchayats
The State shall take steps to organise village panchayats and endow them with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as units of self-government.
Section 41. Right to work, to education and to public assistance in certain cases
The State shall, within the limits of its economic capacity and development, make effective provision for securing the right to work, to education and to public assistance in cases of unemployment, old age, sickness and disablement, and in other cases of undeserved want.
Section 42. Provision for just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief
The State shall make provision for securing just and humane conditions of work and for maternity relief
Section 43. Living wage, etc., for workers
The State shall endeavour to secure, by suitable legislation or economic organisation or in any other way, to all workers, agricultural, industrial or otherwise, work, a living wage, conditions of work ensuring a decent standard of life and full enjoyment of leisure and social and cultural opportunities and, in particular, the State shall endeavour to promote cottage industries on an individual or co-operative basis in rural areas.
Section 43A. Participation of workers in management of industries
1[Participation of workers in management of industries.
The State shall take steps, by suitable legislation or in any other way, to secure the participation of workers in the management of undertakings, establishments or other organisations engaged in any industry.]
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act,1976, sec.9 (w.e.f.3-1-1977).
Section 44. Uniform civil code for the citizens
The State shall endeavour to secure for the citizens a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India.
Section 45. Provision for early childhood care and education to children below the age of six years
1[45. Provision for early childhood care and education to children below the age of six years.
The State shall endeavours to provide early childhood care and education for all children until they complete the age of six years.]
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Eighty-sixth Amendment) Act, 2002 for “45. Provision for free and compulsory education for children.- The State shall endeavour to provide, within a period of ten years from the commencement of this Constitution, for free and compulsory education for all children until they complete the age of fourteen years.”
Section 46. Promotion of educational and economic interests of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other weaker sections
The State shall promote with special care the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the people, and, in particular, of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, and shall protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation
Section 47. Duty of the State to raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living and to improve public health
The State shall regard the raising of the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its people and the improvement of public health as among its primary duties and, in particular, the State shall endeavour to bring about prohibition of the consumption except for medicinal purposes of intoxicating drinks and of drugs which are injurious to health.
Section 48. Organisation of agriculture and animal husbandry
The State shall endeavour to organise agriculture and animal husbandry on modern and scientific lines and shall, in particular, take steps for preserving and improving the breeds, and prohibiting the slaughter, of cows and calves and other milch and draught cattle
Section 48A. Protection and improvement of environment and safeguarding of forests and wild life
1[Protection and improvement of environment and safeguarding of forests and wild life.
The State shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wild life of the country.]
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976,sec. 10 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
Section 49. Protection of monuments and places and objects of national importance
It shall be the obligation of the State to protect every monument or place or object of artistic or historic interest, 1[declared by or under law made by Parliament] to be of national importance, from spoliation, disfigurement, destruction, removal, disposal or export, as the case may be.
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 27, for “declared by Parliament by law”.
Section 50. Separation of judiciary from executive
The State shall take steps to separate the judiciary from the executive in the public services of the State.
Section 51. Promotion of international peace and security
The State shall endeavour to- (a) promote international peace and security; (b) maintain just and honourable relations between nations; (c) foster respect for international law and treaty obligations in the dealings of organised peoples with one another; and (d) encourage settlement of international disputes by arbitration.
Section 51A. Fundamental Duties
1[PART IV-A
FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES
It shall be the duty of every citizens of India-
(a) To abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem;
(b) To cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom;
(c) To uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India;
(d) To defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so;
(e) To promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities; to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women;
(f) To value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture;
(g) To protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures;
(h) To develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform;
(i) To safeguard public property and to abjure violence;
(j) To strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and achievement.]
2[(k) who is a parent or guardian to provide opportunities for education to his child or, as the case may be, ward between the age of six and fourteen years]
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 11 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
2. Ins. By the Constitution (Eighty-sixth Amendment) Act, 2002.
Section 52. The President of India
There shall be a President of India.
Section 53. Executive power of the Union
(1) The executive power of the Union shall be vested in the President and shall be exercised by him either directly or through officers subordinate to him in accordance with this Constitution.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provision, the supreme command of the Defence Forces of the Union shall be vested in the President and the exercise thereof shall be regulated by law.
(3) Nothing in this article shall-
(a) Be deemed to transfer to the President any functions conferred by any existing law on the Government of any State or other authority; or
(b) Prevent Parliament from conferring by law functions on authorities other than the President.
Section 54. Election of President
The President shall be elected by the members of an electoral college consisting of-
(a) The elected members of both Houses of Parliament; and
(b) The elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of the States.
1[Explanation. In this article and in article 55, State includes the National Capital Territory of Delhi and the Union territory of Pondicherry.]
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Seventieth Amendment) Act, 1992, s. 2 (w.e.f. 1-6-1995).
Section 55. Manner of election of President
(1) As far as practicable, there shall be uniformity in the scale of representation of the different States at the election of the President.
(2) For the purpose of securing such uniformity among the States interest as well as parity between the States as a whole and the Union, the number of votes which each elected member of Parliament and of the Legislative Assembly of each State is entitled to cast at such election shall be determined in the following manner: -
(a) Every elected member of the Legislative Assembly of a State shall have as many votes as there are multiples of one thousand in the quotient obtained by dividing the population of the State by the total number of the elected members of the Assembly;
(b) If, after taking the said multiples of one thousand, the remainder is not less than five hundred, then the vote of each member referred to in sub-clause (a) shall be further increased by one;
(c) Each elected member of either House of Parliament shall have such number of votes as may be obtained by dividing the total number of votes assigned to the members of the Legislative Assemblies of the States under sub-clauses (a) and (b) by the total number of the elected members of both Houses of Parliament, fractions exceeding one-half being counted as one and other fractions being disregarded.
(3) The election of the President shall be held in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote and the voting at such election shall be by secret ballot.
1[Explanation. In this article, the expression “population” means the population as ascertained at the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published:
Provided that the reference in this Explanation to the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published shall, until the relevant figures for the first census taken after the year 2[2026] have been published, be construed as a reference to the 1971 census.]
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 12, for the Explanation (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
2. Subs. by the Constitution (Eighty-fourth Amendment) Act, 2001, sec. 2, for “2000” (w.e.f. 21-2-2002).
Section 56. Term of office of President
(1) The President shall hold office for a term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office:
Provided that-
(a) The President may, by writing under his hand addressed to the Vice-President, resign his office;
(b) The President may, for violation of the Constitution, be removed from office by impeachment in the manner provided in article 61;
(c) The President shall, notwithstanding the expiration of his term, continue to hold office until his successor enters upon his office.
(2) Any resignation addressed to the Vice-President under clause (a) of the proviso to clause (1) shall forthwith be communicated by him to the Speaker of the House of the People.
Section 57. Eligibility for re-election
A person who holds, or who has held, office as President shall, subject to the other provisions of this Constitution, be eligible for re-election to that office.
Section 58. Qualifications for election as President
(1) No person shall be eligible for election as President unless he-
(a) Is a citizen of India?
(b) Has completed the age of thirty-five years, and
(c) Is qualified for election as a member of the House of the People.
(2) A person shall not be eligible for election as President if he holds any office of profit under the Government of India or the Government of any State or under any local or other authority subject to the control of any of the said Governments.
Explanation. For the purposes of this article, a person shall not be deemed to hold any office of profit by reason only that he is the President or Vice-President of the Union or the Governor 1[***] of any State or is a Minister either for the Union or for any State.
1. The words “or Rajpramukh or Uparajpramukh” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch.
Section 59. Conditions of President’s office
(1) The President shall not be a member of either House of Parliament or of a House of the Legislature of any State, and if a member of either House of Parliament or of a House of the Legislature of any State be elected President, he shall be deemed to have vacated his seat in that House on the date on which he enters upon his office as President.
(2) The President shall not hold any other office of profit.
(3) The President shall be entitled without payment of rent to the use of his official residences and shall be also entitled to such emoluments, allowances and privileges as may be determined by Parliament by law and, until provision in that behalf is so made, such emoluments, allowances and privileges as are specified in the Second Schedule.
(4) The emoluments and allowances of the President shall not be diminished during his term of office.
Section 60. Oath or affirmation by the President
Every President and every person acting as President or discharging the functions of the President shall, before entering upon his office, make and subscribe in the presence of the Chief Justice of India or, in his absence, the senior-most Judge of the Supreme Court available, an oath or affirmation in the following form, that is to say-
“I, A.B., do (swear in the name of God/solemnly affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President (or discharge the functions of the President) of India and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and the law and that I will devote myself to the service and well-being of the people of India.”.
Section 61. Procedure for impeachment of the President
(1) When a President is to be impeached for violation of the Constitution, the charge shall be preferred by either House of Parliament.
(2) No such charge shall be preferred unless-
(a) The proposal to prefer such charge is contained in a resolution which has been moved after at least fourteen days’ notice in writing signed by not less than one-fourth of the total number of members of the House has been given of their intention to move the resolution, and
(b) Such resolution has been passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the total membership of the House.
(3) When a charge has been so preferred by either House of Parliament, the other House shall investigate the charge or cause the charge to be investigated and the President shall have the right to appear and to be represented at such investigation.
(4) If as a result of the investigation a resolution is passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the total membership of the House by which the charge was investigated or caused to be investigated, declaring that the charge preferred against the President has been sustained, such resolution shall have the effect of removing the President from his office as from the date on which the resoultion is so passed.
Section 62. Time of holding election to fill vacancy in the office of President and the term of office of person elected to fill casual vacancy
(1) An election to fill a vacancy caused by the expiration of the term of office of President shall be completed before the expiration of the term.
(2) An election to fill a vacancy in the office of President occurring by reason of his death, resignation or removal, or otherwise shall be held as soon as possible after, and in no case later than six months from, the date of occurrence of the vacancy; and the person elected to fill the vacancy shall, subject to the provisions of article 56, be entitled to hold office for the full term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office.
Section 63. The Vice-President of India
There shall be a Vice-President of India.
Section 64. The Vice-President to be ex officio Chairman of the Council of States
The Vice-President shall be ex officio Chairman of the Council of States and shall not hold any other office of profit:
Provided that during any period when the Vice-President acts as President or discharges the functions of the President under article 65, he shall not perform the duties of the office of Chairman of the Council of States and shall not be entitled to any salary or allowance payable to the Chairman of the Council of States under article 97.
Section 65. The Vice-President to act as President or to discharge his functions during casual vacancies in the office, or during the absence, of President
(1) In the event of the occurrence of any vacancy in the office of the President by reason of his death, resignation or removal, or otherwise, the Vice-President shall act as President until the date on which a new President elected in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter to fill such vacancy enters upon his office.
(2) When the President is unable to discharge his functions owing to absence, illness or any other cause, the Vice-President shall discharge his functions until the date on which the President resumes his duties.
(3) The Vice-President shall, during, and in respect of, the period while he is so acting as, or discharging the functions of, President, have all the powers and immunities of the President and be entitled to such emoluments, allowances and privileges as may be determined by Parliament by law and, until provision in that behalf is so made, such emoluments, allowances and privileges as are specified in the Second Schedule.
Section 66. Election of Vice-President
(1) The Vice-President shall be elected by the 1[members of an electoral college consisting of the members of both Houses of Parliament] in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote and the voting at such election shall be by secret ballot.
(2) The Vice-President shall not be a member of either House of Parliament or of a House of the Legislature of any State, and if a member of either House of Parliament or of a House of the Legislature of any State be elected Vice-President, he shall be deemed to have vacated his seat in that House on the date on which he enters upon his office as Vice-President.
(3) No person shall be eligible for election as Vice-President unless he-
(a) Is a citizen of India?
(b) Has completed the age of thirty-five years; and
(c) Is qualified for election as a member of the Council of States.
(4) A person shall not be eligible for election as Vice-President if he holds any office of profit under the Government of India or the Government of any State or under any local or other authority subject to the control of any of the said Governments.
Explanation. For the purposes of this article, a person shall not be deemed to hold any office of profit by reason only that he is the President or Vice-President of the Union or the Governor 2[***] of any State or is a Minister either for the Union or for any State.
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Eleventh Amendment) Act, 1961, s. 2, for “members of both Houses of Parliament assembled at a joint meeting”.
2. The words “or Rajpramukh or Uparajpramukh” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch.
Section 67. Term of office of Vice-President
The Vice-President shall hold office for a term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office:
Provided that-
(a) A Vice-President may, by writing under his hand addressed to the President, resign his office;
(b) A Vice-President may be removed from his office by a resolution of the Council of States passed by a majority of all the then members of the Council and agreed to by the House of the People; but no resolution for the purpose of this clause shall be moved unless at least fourteen days’ notice has been given of the intention to move the resolution;
(c) A Vice-President shall, notwithstanding the expiration of his term, continue to hold office until his successor enters upon his office.
Section 68. Time of holding election to fill vacancy in the office of Vice-President and the term of office of person elected to fill casual vacancy
(1) An election to fill a vacancy caused by the expiration of the term of office of Vice-President shall be completed before the expiration of the term.
(2) An election to fill a vacancy in the office of Vice-President occurring by reason of his death, resignation or removal, or otherwise shall be held as soon as possible after the occurrence of the vacancy, and the person elected to fill the vacancy shall, subject to the provisions of article 67, be entitled to hold office for the full term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office.
Section 69. Oath or affirmation by the Vice-President
Every Vice-President shall, before entering upon his office, make and subscribe before the President, or some person appointed in that behalf by him, an oath or affirmation in the following form, that is to say-
“I, A.B., do (swear in the name of God/solemnly affirm) that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established and that I will faithfully discharge the duty upon which I am about to enter.”.
Section 70. Discharge of President’s functions in other contingencies
Parliament may make such provision as it thinks fit for the discharge of the functions of the President in any contingency not provided for in this Chapter.
Section 71. Matters relating to, or connected with, the election of a President or Vice-President
1[71. Matters relating to, or connected with, the election of a President or Vice-President.
(1) All doubts and disputes arising out of or in connection with the election of a President or Vice-President shall be inquired into and decided by the Supreme Court whose decision shall be final.
(2) If the election of a person as President or Vice-President is declared void by the Supreme Court, acts done by him in the exercise and performance of the powers and duties of the office of President or Vice-President, as the case may be, on or before the date of the decision of the Supreme Court shall not be invalidated by reason of that declaration.
(3) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, Parliament may by law regulate any matter relating to or connected with the election of a President or Vice-President.
(4) The election of a person as President or Vice-President shall not be called in question on the ground of the existence of any vacancy for whatever reason among the members of the electoral college electing him.]
1. Art. 71 has been successively subs. by the Constitution (Thirty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1975, s. 2 (w.e.f. 10-8-1975) and the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s.10, to read as above (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
Section 72. Power of President to grant pardons, etc., and to suspend, remit or commute sentences in certain cases
(1) The President shall have the power to grant pardons, reprieves, respites or remissions of punishment or to suspend, remit or commute the sentence of any person convicted of any offence-
(a) In all cases where the punishment or sentence is by a Court Martial;
(b) In all cases where the punishment or sentence is for an offence against any law relating to a matter to which the executive power of the Union extends;
(c) In all cases where the sentence is a sentence of death.
(2) Nothing in sub-clause (a) of clause (1) shall affect the power conferred by law on any officer of the Armed Forces of the Union to suspend, remit or commute a sentence passed by a Court Martial.
(3) Nothing in sub-clause (c) of clause (1) shall affect the power to suspend, remit or commute a sentence of death exercisable by the Governor 1[***] of a State under any law for the time being in force.
1. The words “or Rajpramukh” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch.
Section 73. Extent of executive power of the Union
(1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the executive power of the Union shall extend-
(a) To the matters with respect to which Parliament has power to make laws; and
(b) To the exercise of such rights, authority and jurisdiction as are exercisable by the Government of India by virtue of any treaty or agreement: Provided that the executive power referred to in sub-clause (a) shall not, save as expressly provided in this Constitution or in any law made by Parliament, extend in any State 1[***] to matters with respect to which the Legislature of the State has also power to make laws.
(2) Until otherwise provided by Parliament, a State and any officer or authority of a State may, notwithstanding anything in this article, continue to exercise in matters with respect to which Parliament has power to make laws for that State such executive power or functions as the State or officer or authority thereof could exercise immediately before the commencement of this Constitution.
1. The words and letters “specified in Part A or Part B of the First Schedule” omitted by the Constitutuion (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 29 and Sch.
Section 74. Council of Ministers to aid and advise President
1[(1) There shall be a Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister at the head to aid and advise the President who shall, in the exercise of his functions, act in accordance with such advice:]
2[Provided that the President may require the Council of Ministers to reconsider such advice, either generally or otherwise, and the President shall act in accordance with the advice tendered after such reconsideration.]
(2) The question whether any, and if so what, advice was tendered by Ministers to the President shall not be inquired into in any court.
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 13, for cl.(1) (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
2. Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 11 (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
Section 75. Other provisions as to Ministers
(1) The Prime Minister shall be appointed by the President and the other Ministers shall be appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister.
(2) The Ministers shall hold office during the pleasure of the President.
(3) The Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the House of the People.
(4) Before a Minister enters upon his office, the President shall administer to him the oaths of office and of secrecy according to the forms set out for the purpose in the Third Schedule.
(5) A Minister who for any period of six consecutive months is not a member of either House of Parliament shall at the expiration of that period cease to be a Minister.
(6) The salaries and allowances of Ministers shall be such as Parliament may from time to time by law determine and, until Parliament so determines, shall be as specified in the Second Schedule.
Section 76. Attorney-General for India
(1) The President shall appoint a person who is qualified to be appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court to be Attorney-General for India.
(2) It shall be the duty of the Attorney-General to give advice to the Government of India upon such legal matters, and to perform such other duties of a legal character, as may from time to time be referred or assigned to him by the President, and to discharge the functions conferred on him by or under this Constitution or any other law for the time being in force.
(3) In the performance of his duties the Attorney-General shall have right of audience in all courts in the territory of India.
(4) The Attorney-General shall hold office during the pleasure of the President, and shall receive such remuneration as the President may determine.
Section 77. Conduct of business of the Government of India
(1) All executive action of the Government of India shall be expressed to be taken in the name of the President.
(2) Orders and other instruments made and executed in the name of the President shall be authenticated in such manner as may be specified in rules 1to be made by the President, and the validity of an order or instrument which is so authenticated shall not be called in question on the ground that it is not an order or instrument made or executed by the President.
(3) The President shall make rules for the more convenient transaction of the business of the Government of India, and for the allocation among Ministers of the said business.
2[* * * ]
1. See Notifn. No. S.O. 2297, dated the 3rd November, 1958, Gazette of India, Extraordinary, 1958, Pt.II, s. 3 (ii), p.1315, as amended from time to time.
2. Cl.(4) was ins. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 14 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977) and omitted by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 12 (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
Section 78. Duties of Prime Minister as respects the furnishing of information to the President, etc.
It shall be the duty of the Prime Minister-
(a) To communicate to the President all decisions of the Council of Ministers relating to the administration of the affairs of the Union and proposals for legislation;
(b) To furnish such information relating to the administration of the affairs of the Union and proposals for legislation as the President may call for; and
(c) If the President so requires, to submit for the consideration of the Council of Ministers any matter on which a decision has been taken by a Minister but which has not been considered by the Council.
Section 79. Constitution of Parliament
There shall be a Parliament for the Union which shall consist of the President and two Houses to be known respectively as the Council of States and the House of the People.
Section 80. Composition of the Council of States
(1) 1[2[***] The Council of States] shall consist of-
(a) Twelve members to be nominated by the President in accordance with the provisions of clause (3); and
(b) Not more than two hundred and thirty-eight representatives of the States 3[and of the Union territories].
(2) The allocation of seats in the Council of States to be filled by representatives of the States 3[and of the Union territories] shall be in accordance with the provisions in that behalf contained in the Fourth Schedule.
(3) The members to be nominated by the President under sub-clause (a) of clause (1) shall consist of persons having special knowledge or practical experience in respect of such matters as the following, namely: -
Literature, science, art and social service.
(4) The representatives of each State 4[***] in the Council of States shall be elected by the elected members of the Legislative Assembly of the State in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote.
(5) The representatives of the 5[Union territories] in the Council of States shall be chosen in such manner as Parliament may by law prescribe.
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Thirty-fifth Amendment) Act, 1974, s. 3, for “The Council of States” (w.e.f. 1-3-1975).
2. The words “Subject to the provisions of paragraph 4 of the Tenth Schedule,” omitted by the Constitution (Thirty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1975, s. 5 (w.e.f. 26-4-1975).
3. Added by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 3.
4. The words and letters “specified in Part A or Part B of the First Schedule” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 3.
5. Subs. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 3, for “States specified in Part C of the First Schedule”.
Section 81. Composition of the House of the People
1[81. Composition of the House of the People.
(1) Subject to the provisions of article 331 9[***],] the House of the People shall consist of-
(a) Not more than 2[five hundred and thirty members] chosen by direct election from territorial constituencies in the States, and
(b) Not more than 3[twenty members] to represent the Union territories, chosen in such manner as Parliament may by law provide.
(2) For the purposes of sub-clause (a) of clause (1), -
(a) There shall be allotted to each State a number of seats in the House of the People in such manner that the ratio between that number and the population of the State is, so far as practicable, the same for all States; and
(b) Each State shall be divided into territorial constituencies in such manner that the ratio between the population of each constituency and the number of seats allotted to it is, so far as practicable, the same throughout the State:
4[Provided that the provisions of sub-clause (a) of this clause shall not be applicable for the purpose of allotment of seats in the House of the People to any State so long as the population of that State does not exceed six millions.]
(3) In this article, the expression “population” means the population as ascertained at the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published:
5[Provided that the reference in this clause to the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published shall, until the relevant figures for the first census taken after the year 6[2026] have been published, 7[be construed, (i) for the purposes of sub-clause (a) of clause (2) and the proviso to that clause, as a reference to the 1971 census; and
(ii) for the purpose of sub-clause (b) of clause (2) as a reference to the 8[2001] census]]
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 4, for arts. 81 and 82.
2. Subs. by the Goa, Daman and Diu Reorganisation Act, 1987 (18 of 1987), s. 63, “five hundred and twenty-five members” (w.e.f. 30-5-1987).
3. Subs. by the Constitution (Thirty-first Amendment) Act, 1973, s. 2, for “twenty-five members”.
4. Ins. by s. 2, the Constitution (Thirty-first Amendment) Act, 1973
5. Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 15 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
6. Subs. by the Constitution (Eighty-fourth Amendment) Act, 2001, sec. 3, for “2000” (w.e.f. 21-2-2002).
7. Subs. by the Constitution (Eighty-fourth Amendment) Act, 2001, sec. 3, for “be construed as a reference to the 1971 census” (w.e.f. 21-2-2002).
8. Subs. by the Constitution (Eighty-Seventh Amendment) Act, 2003, for the words “1991”
9. The words and figure “and pargraph 4 of th Tenth Schedule” omitted by the Constitution (Thirty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1975, sec. 5 (w.e.f. 26-4-1975).
Section 82. Readjustment after each census
5[Readjustment after each census.
Upon the completion of each census, the allocation of seats in the House of the People to the States and the division of each State into territorial constituencies shall be readjusted by such authority and in such manner as Parliament may by law determine:
Provided that such readjustment shall not affect representation in the House of the People until the dissolution of the then existing House:]
1[Provided further that such readjustment shall take effect from such date as the President may, by order, specify and until such readjustment takes effect, any election to the House may be held on the basis of the territorial constituencies existing before such readjustment:
Provided also that until the relevant figures for the first census taken after the year 2[2026] have been published, it shall not be necessary to 3[readjust -
(i) the allocation of seats in the House of the People to the States as readjusted on the basis of the 1971 census; and
(ii) the division of each State into territory constituencies as may be readjusted on the basis of the 4[2001] census,
under this article]]
1. Ins. by s. 16, the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976.
2. Subs. by the Constitution (Eighty-fourth Amendment) Act, 2001, sec. 4, for “2000” (w.e.f. 21-2-2002).
3. Subs. by the Constitution (Eighty-fourth Amendment) Act, 2001, sec. 4, for certain words (w.e.f. 21-2-2002).
4. Subs. by the
Constitution (Eighty-Seventh Amendment) Act, 2003, for the words “1991”.
5. Subs. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec. 4, for article 82.
Section 83. Duration of Houses of Parliament
(1) The Council of States shall not be subject to dissolution, but as nearly as possible one-third of the members thereof shall retire as soon as may be on the expiration of every second year in accordance with the provisions made in that behalf by Parliament by law.
(2) The House of the People, unless sooner dissolved, shall continue for 1[five years] from the date appointed for its first meeting and no longer and the expiration of the said period of 1[five years] shall operate as a dissolution of the House:
Provided that the said period may, while a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation, be extended by Parliament by law for a period not exceeding one year at a time and not extending in any case beyond a period of six months after the Proclamation has ceased to operate.
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 13, for “six years” (w.e.f. 20-6-1979). The words “six years” were subs. for the original words “five years” by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s.17 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
Section 84. Qualification for membership of Parliament
A person shall not be qualified to be chosen to fill a seat in Parliament unless he-
1[(a) Is a citizen of India, and makes and subscribes before some person authorized in that behalf by the Election Commission an oath or affirmation according to the form set out for the purpose in the Third Schedule;]
(b) Is, in the case of a seat in the Council of States, not less than thirty years of age and, in the case of a seat in the House of the People, not less than twenty-five years of age; and
(c) Possesses such other qualifications as may be prescribed in that behalf by or under any law made by Parliament.
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Sixteenth Amendment) Act, 1963, s. 3 for cl. (a).
Section 85. Sessions of Parliament, prorogation and dissolution
1[85. Sessions of Parliament, prorogation and dissolution.
(1) The President shall from time to time summon each House of Parliament to meet at such time and place as he thinks fit, but six months shall not intervene between its last sitting in one session and the date appointed for its first sitting in the next session.
(2) The President may from time to time-
(a) Prorogue the House or either House;
(b) Dissolve the House of the People.]
1. Subs. by the Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951, s. 6, for art. 85. (w. e. f.18/6/1951)
Section 86. Right of President to address and send messages to Houses
(1) The President may address either House of Parliament or both Houses assembled together, and for that purpose require the attendance of members.
(2) The President may send messages to either House of Parliament, whether with respect to a Bill then pending in Parliament or otherwise, and a House to which any message is so sent shall with all convenient despatch consider any matter required by the message to be taken into consideration.
Section 87. Special address by the President
(1) At the commencement of 1[the first session after each general election to the House of the People and at the commencement of the first session of each year] the President shall address both Houses of Parliament assembled together and inform Parliament of the causes of its summons.
(2) Provision shall be made by the rules regulating the procedure of either House for the allotment of time for discussion of the matters referred to in such address 2[***].
1. Subs. by s. 7, the Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951, for “every session”.
2. The words “and for the precedence of such discussion over other business of the House” omitted by the Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951, s. 7.
Section 88. Rights of Ministers and Attorney-General as respects Houses
Every Minister and the Attorney-General of India shall have the right to speak in, and otherwise to take part in the proceedings of, either House, any joint sitting of the Houses, and any committee of Parliament of which he may be named a member, but shall not by virtue of this article be entitled to vote.
Section 89. The Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Council of States.
(1) The Vice-President of India shall be ex officio Chairman of the Council of States.
(2) The Council of States shall, as soon as may be, choose a member of the Council to be Deputy Chairman thereof and, so often as the office of Deputy Chairman becomes vacant, the Council shall choose another member to be Deputy Chairman thereof.
Section 90. Vacation and resignation of, and removal from, the office of Deputy Chairman.
A member holding office as Deputy Chairman of the Council of States-
(a) Shall vacate his office if he ceases to be a member of the Council;
(b) May at any time, by writing under his hand addressed to the Chairman, resign his office; and
(c) May be removed from his office by a resolution of the Council passed by a majority of all the then members of the Council:
Provided that no resolution for the purpose of clause (c) shall be moved unless at least fourteen days’ notice has been given of the intention to move the resolution.
Section 91. Power of the Deputy Chairman or other person to perform the duties of the office of, or to act as, Chairman.
(1) While the office of Chairman is vacant, or during any period when the Vice-President is acting as, or discharging the functions of, President, the duties of the office shall be performed by the Deputy Chairman, or, if the office of Deputy Chairman is also vacant, by such member of the Council of States as the President may appoint for the purpose.
(2) During the absence of the Chairman from any sitting of the Council of States the Deputy Chairman, or, if he is also absent, such person as may be determined by the rules of procedure of the Council, or, if no such person is present, such other person as may be determined by the Council, shall act as Chairman.
Section 92. The Chairman or the Deputy Chairman not to preside while a resolution for his removal from office is under consideration.
(1) At any sitting of the Council of States, while any resolution for the removal of the Vice-President from his office is under consideration, the Chairman, or while any resolution for the removal of the Deputy Chairman from his office is under consideration, the Deputy Chairman, shall not, though he is present, preside, and the provisions of clause (2) of article 91 shall apply in relation to every such sitting as they apply in relation to a sitting from which the Chairman, or, as the case may be, the Deputy Chairman, is absent.
(2) The Chairman shall have the right to speak in, and otherwise to take part in the proceedings of, the Council of States while any resolution for the removal of the Vice-President from his office is under consideration in the Council, but, notwithstanding anything in article 100, shall not be entitled to vote at all on such resolution or on any other matter during such proceedings.
Section 93. The Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of the People.
The House of the People shall, as soon as may be, choose two members of the House to be respectively Speaker and Deputy Speaker thereof and, so often as the office of Speaker or Deputy Speaker becomes vacant, the House shall choose another member to be Speaker or Deputy Speaker, as the case may be.
Section 94. Vacation and resignation of, and removal from, the offices of Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
A member holding office as Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the House of the People-
(a) Shall vacate his office if he ceases to be a member of the House of the People;
(b) May at any time, by writing under his hand addressed, if such member is the Speaker, to the Deputy Speaker, and if such member is the Deputy Speaker, to the Speaker, resign his office; and
(c) May be removed from his office by a resolution of the House of the People passed by a majority of all the then members of the House:
Provided that no resolution for the purpose of clause (c) shall be moved unless at least fourteen days’ notice has been given of the intention to move the resolution:
Provided further that, whenever the House of the People is dissolved, the Speaker shall not vacate his office until immediately before the first meeting of the House of the People after the dissolution.
Section 95. Power of the Deputy Speaker or other person to perform the duties of the office of, or to act as, Speaker
(1) While the office of Speaker is vacant, the duties of the office shall be performed by the Deputy Speaker or, if the office of Deputy Speaker is also vacant, by such member of the House of the People as the President may appoint for the purpose.
(2) During the absence of the Speaker from any sitting of the House of the People the Deputy Speaker or, if he is also absent, such person as may be determined by the rules of procedure of the House, or, if no such person is present, such other person as may be determined by the House, shall act as Speaker.
Section 96. The Speaker or the Deputy Speaker not to preside while a resolution for his removal from office is under consideration
(1) At any sitting of the House of the People, while any resolution for the removal of the Speaker from his office is under consideration, the Speaker, or while any resolution for the removal of the Deputy Speaker from his office is under consideration, the Deputy Speaker, shall not, though he is present, preside, and the provisions of clause (2) of article 95 shall apply in relation to every such sitting as they apply in relation to a sitting from which the Speaker, or, as the case may be, the Deputy Speaker, is absent.
(2) The Speaker shall have the right to speak in, and otherwise to take part in the proceedings of, the House of the People while any resolution for his removal from office is under consideration in the House and shall, notwithstanding anything in article 100, be entitled to vote only in the first instance on such resolution or on any other matter during such proceedings but not in the case of an equality of votes.
Section 97. Salaries and allowances of the Chairman and Deputy Chairman and the Speaker and Deputy Speaker
There shall be paid to the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of the Council of States, and to the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the House of the People, such salaries and allowances as may be respectively fixed by Parliament by law and, until provision in that behalf is so made, such salaries and allowances as are specified in the Second Schedule
Section 98. Secretariat of Parliament
(1) Each House of Parliament shall have a separate secretarial staff:
Provided that nothing in this clause shall be construed as preventing the creation of posts common to both Houses of Parliament.
(2) Parliament may by law regulate the recruitment, and the conditions of service of persons appointed, to the secretarial staff of either House of Parliament.
(3) Until provision is made by Parliament under clause (2), the President may, after consultation with the Speaker of the House of the People or the Chairman of the Council of States, as the case may be, make rules regulating the recruitment, and the conditions of service of persons appointed, to the secretarial staff of the House of the People or the Council of States, and any rules so made shall have effect subject to the provisions of any law made under the said clause.
Section 99. Oath or affirmation by members
Every member of either House of Parliament shall, before taking his seat, make and subscribe before the President, or some person appointed in that behalf by him, an oath or affirmation according to the form set out for the purpose in the Third Schedule.
Section 100. Voting in Houses, power of Houses to act notwithstanding vacancies and quorum
(1) Save as otherwise provided in this Constitution, all questions at any sitting of either House or joint sitting of the Houses shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members present and voting, other than the Speaker or person acting as Chairman or Speaker. The Chairman or Speaker, or person acting as such, shall not vote in the first instance, but shall have and exercise a casting vote in the case of an equality of votes.
(2) Either House of Parliament shall have power to act notwithstanding any vacancy in the membership thereof, and any proceedings in Parliament shall be valid notwithstanding that it is discovered subsequently that some person who was not entitled so to do sat or voted or otherwise took part in the proceedings.
(3) Until Parliament by law otherwise provides, the quorum to constitute a meeting of either House of Parliament shall be one-tenth of the total number of members of the House.
(4) If at any time during a meeting of a House there is no quorum, it shall be the duty of the Chairman or Speaker, or person acting as such, either to adjourn the House or to suspend the meeting until there is a quorum.
Section 101. Vacation of seats
(1) No person shall be a member of both Houses of Parliament and provision shall be made by Parliament by law for the vacation by a person who is chosen a member of both Houses of his seat in one House or the other.
(2) No person shall be a member both of Parliament and of a House of the Legislature of a State 1[***], and if a person is chosen a member both of Parliament and of a House of the Legislature of 2[a State], then, at the expiration of such period as may be specified in rules 3made by the President, that person’s seat in Parliament shall become vacant, unless he has previously resigned his seat in the Legislature of the State.
(3) If a member of either House of Parliament-
(a) Becomes subject to any of the disqualifications mentioned in 4[clause (1) or clause (2) of article 102], or
5[(b) Resigns his seat by writing under his hand addressed to the Chairman or the Speaker, as the case may be, and his resignation is accepted by the Chairman or the Speaker, as the case may be,] his seat shall thereupon become vacant:
6[Provided that in the case of any resignation referred to in sub-clause (b), if from information received or otherwise and after making such inquiry as he thinks fit, the Chairman or the Speaker, as the case may be, is satisfied that such resignation is not voluntary or genuine, he shall not accept such resignation.]
(4) If for a period of sixty days a member of either House of Parliament is without permission of the House absent from all meetings thereof, the House may declare his seat vacant: Provided that in computing the said period of sixty days no account shall be taken of any period during which the House is prorogued or is adjourned for more than four consecutive days.
1. The words and letters “specified in Part A or Part B of the First Schedule” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch.
2. Subs. by s. 29 and Sch., the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, for “such a State”.
3. See the Prohibition of Simultaneous Membership Rules, 1950, published with the Ministry of Law Notification No. F.46/50-C, dated the 26th January, 1950, Gazette of India, Extraordinary, p.678
4. Subs. by the Constitution (Fifty-second Amendment) Act, 1985, s. 2, for “clause (1) of article 102″ (w.e.f. 1-3-1985).
5. Subs. by the Constitution (Thirty-third Amendment) Act, 1974, s. 2, for sub-clause (b).
6. Ins. by s. 2, the Constitution (Thirty-third Amendment) Act, 1974.
Section 102. Disqualifications for membership
(1) A person shall be disqualified for being chosen as, and for being, a member of either House of Parliament-
(a) If he holds any office of profit under the Government of India or the Government of any State, other than an office declared by Parliament by law not to disqualify its holder;
(b) If he is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent court;
(c) If he is an undischarged insolvent;
(d) If he is not a citizen of India or has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of a foreign State, or is under any acknowledgment of allegiance or adherence to a foreign State;
(e) If he is so disqualified by or under any law made by Parliament.
1[Explanation. For the purposes of this clause] a person shall not be deemed to hold an office of profit under the Government of India or the Government of any State by reason only that he is a Minister either for the Union or for such State.
2[(2) A person shall be disqualified for being a member of either House of Parliament if he is so disqualified under the Tenth Schedule.]
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Fifty-second Amendment) Act, 1985, s. 3 for “(2) For the purposes of this article” (w.e.f. 1-3-1985).
2. Ins. by s. 3, ibid. (w.e.f. 1-3-1985).
Section 103. Decision on questions as to disqualifications of members
1[103. Decision on questions as to disqualifications of members.
(1) If any question arises as to whether a member of either House of Parliament has become subject to any of the disqualifications mentioned in clause (1) of article 102, the question shall be referred for the decision of the President and his decision shall be final.
(2) Before giving any decision on any such question, the President shall obtain the opinion of the Election Commission and shall act according to such opinion.]
1. Art. 103 has been successively subs. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 20 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977) and the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 14, to read as above (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
Section 104. Penalty for sitting and voting before making oath or affirmation under article 99 or when not qualified or when disqualified
If a person sits or votes as a member of either House of Parliament before he has complied with the requirements of article 99, or when he knows that he is not qualified or that he is disqualified for membership thereof, or that he is prohibited from so doing by the provisions of any law made by Parliament, he shall be liable in respect of each day on which he so sits or votes to a penalty of five hundred rupees to be recovered as a debt due to the Union.
Section 105. Powers, privileges, etc., of the Houses of Parliament and of the members and committees thereof
(1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution and to the rules and standing orders regulating the procedure of Parliament, there shall be freedom of speech in Parliament.
(2) No member of Parliament shall be liable to any proceedings in any court in respect of anything said or any vote given by him in Parliament or any committee thereof, and no person shall be so liable in respect of the publication by or under the authority of either House of Parliament of any report, paper, votes or proceedings.
(3) In other respects, the powers, privileges and immunities of each House of Parliament, and of the members and the committees of each House, shall be such as may from time to time be defined by Parliament by law, and, until so defined, 1[shall be those of that House and of its members and committees immediately before the coming into force of section 15 of the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978].
(4) The provisions of clauses (1), (2) and (3) shall apply in relation to persons who by virtue of this Constitution have the right to speak in, and otherwise to take part in the proceedings of, a House of Parliament or any committee thereof as they apply in relation to members of Parliament.
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 15, for certain words (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
Section 106. Salaries and allowances of members
Members of either House of Parliament shall be entitled to receive such salaries and allowances as may from time to time be determined by Parliament by law and, until provision in that respect is so made, allowances at such rates and upon such conditions as were immediately before the commencement of this Constitution applicable in the case of members of the Constituent Assembly of the Dominion of India
Section 107. Provisions as to introduction and passing of Bills
(1) Subject to the provisions of articles 109 and 117 with respect to Money Bills and other financial Bills, a Bill may originate in either House of Parliament.
(2) Subject to the provisions of articles 108 and 109, a Bill shall not be deemed to have been passed by the Houses of Parliament unless it has been agreed to by both Houses, either without amendment or with such amendments only as are agreed to by both Houses.
(3) A Bill pending in Parliament shall not lapse by reason of the prorogation of the Houses.
(4) A Bill pending in the Council of States which has not been passed by the House of the People shall not lapse on a dissolution of the House of the People.
(5) A Bill which is pending in the House of the People, or which having been passed by the House of the People is pending in the Council of States, shall, subject to the provisions of article 108, lapse on a dissolution of the House of the People.
Section 108. Joint sitting of both Houses in certain cases
(1) If after a Bill has been passed by one House and transmitted to the other House-
(a) The Bill is rejected by the other House; or
(b) The Houses have finally disagreed as to the amendments to be made in the Bill; or
(c) More than six months elapse from the date of the reception of the Bill by the other House without the Bill being passed by it, the President may, unless the Bill has elapsed by reason of a dissolution of the House of the People, notify to the Houses by message if they are sitting or by public notification if they are not sitting, his intention to summon them to meet in a joint sitting for the purpose of deliberating and voting on the Bill: Provided that nothing in this clause shall apply to a Money Bill.
(2) In reckoning any such period of six months as is referred to in clause (1), no account shall be taken of any period during which the House referred to in sub-clause (c) of that clause is prorogued or adjourned for more than four consecutive days.
(3) Where the President has under clause (1) notified his intention of summoning the Houses to meet in a joint sitting, neither House shall proceed further with the Bill, but the President may at any time after the date of his notification summon the Houses to meet in a joint sitting for the purpose specified in the notification and, if he does so, the Houses shall meet accordingly.
(4) If at the joint sitting of the two Houses the Bill, with such amendments, if any, as are agreed to in joint sitting, is passed by a majority of the total number of members of both Houses present and voting, it shall be deemed for the purposes of this Constitution to have been passed by both Houses:
Provided that at a joint sitting-
(a) If the Bill, having been passed by one House, has not been passed by the other House with amendments and returned to the House in which it originated, no amendment shall be proposed to the Bill other than such amendments (if any) as are made necessary by the delay in the passage of the Bill;
(b) If the Bill has been so passed and returned, only such amendments as aforesaid shall be proposed to the Bill and such other amendments as are relevant to the matters with respect to which the Houses have not agreed
and the decision of the person presiding as to the amendments which are admissible under this clause shall be final.
(5) A joint sitting may be held under this article and a Bill passed thereat, notwithstanding that a dissolution of the House of the People has intervened since the President notified his intention to summon the Houses to meet therein.
Section 109. Special procedure in respect of Money Bills
(1) A Money Bill shall not be introduced in the Council of States.
(2) After a Money Bill has been passed by the House of the People it shall be transmitted to the Council of States for its recommendations and the Council of States shall within a period of fourteen days from the date of its receipt of the Bill return the Bill to the House of the People with its recommendations and the House of the People may thereupon either accept or reject all or any of the recommendations of the Council of States.
(3) If the House of the People accepts any of the recommendations of the Council of States, the Money Bill shall be deemed to have been passed by both Houses with the amendments recommended by the Council of States and accepted by the House of the People.
(4) If the House of the People does not accept any of the recommendations of the Council of States, the Money Bill shall be deemed to have been passed by both Houses in the form in which it was passed by the House of the People without any of the amendments recommended by the Council of States.
(5) If a Money Bill passed by the House of the People and transmitted to the Council of States for its recommendations is not returned to the House of the People within the said period of fourteen days, it shall be deemed to have been passed by both Houses at the expiration of the said period in the form in which it was passed by the House of the People.
Section 110. Definition of “Money Bills”
(1) For the purposes of this Chapter, a Bill shall be deemed to be a Money Bill if it contains only provisions dealing with all or any of the following matters, namely: -
(a) The imposition, abolition, remission, alteration or regulation of any tax;
(b) The regulation of the borrowing of money or the giving of any guarantee by the Government of India, or the amendment of the law with respect to any financial obligations undertaken or to be undertaken by the Government of India;
(c) The custody of the Consolidated Fund or the Contingency Fund of India, the payment of moneys into or the withdrawal of moneys from any such Fund;
(d) The appropriation of moneys out of the Consolidated Fund of India;
(e) The declaring of any expenditure to be expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund of India or the increasing of the amount of any such expenditure;
(f) The receipt of money on account of the Consolidated Fund of India or the public account of India or the custody or issue of such money or the audit of the accounts of the Union or of a State; or
(g) Any matter incidental to any of the matters specified in sub-clauses (a) to (f).
(2) A Bill shall not be deemed to be a Money Bill by reason only that it provides for the imposition of fines or other pecuniary penalties, or for the demand or payment of fees for licences or fees for services rendered, or by reason that it provides for the imposition, abolition, remission, alteration or regulation of any tax by any local authority or body for local purposes.
(3) If any question arises whether a Bill is a Money Bill or not, the decision of the Speaker of the House of the People thereon shall be final.
(4) There shall be endorsed on every Money Bill when it is transmitted to the Council of States under article 109, and when it is presented to the President for assent under article 111, the certificate of the Speaker of the House of the People signed by him that it is a Money Bill.
Section 111. Assent to Bills
When a Bill has been passed by the Houses of Parliament, it shall be presented to the President, and the President shall declare either that he assents to the Bill, or that he withholds assent therefrom:
Provided that the President may, as soon as possible after the presentation to him of a Bill for assent, return the Bill if it is not a Money Bill to the Houses with a message requesting that they will reconsider the Bill or any specified provisions thereof and, in particular, will consider the desirability of introducing any such amendments as he may recommend in his message, and when a Bill is so returned, the Houses shall reconsider the Bill accordingly, and if the Bill is passed again by the Houses with or without amendment and presented to the President for assent, the President shall not withhold assent therefrom.
Section 112. Annual financial statement
(1) The President shall in respect of every financial year cause to be laid before both the Houses of Parliament a statement of the estimated receipts and expenditure of the Government of India for that year, in this Part referred to as the “annual financial statement”.
(2) The estimates of expenditure embodied in the annual financial statement shall show separately-
(a) The sums required to meet expenditure described by this Constitution as expenditure charged upon the Consolidated Fund of India; and
(b) The sums required to meet other expenditure proposed to be made from the Consolidated Fund of India, and shall distinguish expenditure on revenue account from other expenditure.
(3) The following expenditure shall be expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund of India-
(a) The emoluments and allowances of the President and other expenditure relating to his office;
(b) The salaries and allowances of the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of the Council of States and the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the House of the People;
(c) Debt charges for which the Government of India is liable including interest, sinking fund charges and redemption charges, and other expenditure relating to the raising of loans and the service and redemption of debt;
(d) (i) The salaries, allowances and pensions payable to or in respect of Judges of the Supreme Court;
(ii) The pensions payable to or in respect of Judges of the Federal Court;
(iii) The pensions payable to or in respect of Judges of any High Court which exercises jurisdiction in relation to any area included in the territory of India or which at any time before the commencement of this Constitution exercised jurisdiction in relation to any area included in 1[a Governor’s Province of the Dominion of India];
(e) The salary, allowances and pension payable to or in respect of the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India;
(f) Any sums required to satisfy any judgment, decree or award of any court or arbitral tribunal;
(g) Any other expenditure declared by this Constitution or by Parliament by law to be so charged.
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch., for “a Province corresponding to a State specified in Part A of the First Schedule”(w. e. f. 19/10/1956).
Section 113. Procedure in Parliament with respect to estimates
(1) So much of the estimates as relates to expenditure charged upon the Consolidated Fund of India shall not be submitted to the vote of Parliament, but nothing in this clause shall be construed as preventing the discussion in either House of Parliament of any of those estimates.
(2) So much of the said estimates as relates to other expenditure shall be submitted in the form of demands for grants to the House of the People, and the House of the People shall have power to assent, or to refuse to assent, to any demand, or to assent to any demand subject to a reduction of the amount specified therein.
(3) No demand for a grant shall be made except on the recommendation of the President.
Section 114. Appropriation Bills
(1) As soon as may be after the grants under article 113 have been made by the House of the People, there shall be introduced a Bill to provide for the appropriation out of the Consolidated Fund of India of all moneys required to meet-
(a) The grants so made by the House of the People; and
(b) The expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund of India but not exceeding in any case the amount shown in the statement previously laid before Parliament.
(2) No amendment shall be proposed to any such Bill in either House of Parliament which will have the effect of varying the amount or altering the destination of any grant so made or of varying the amount of any expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund of India, and the decision of the person presiding as to whether an amendment is inadmissible under this clause shall be final.
(3) Subject to the provisions of articles 115 and 116, no money shall be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund of India except under appropriation made by law passed in accordance with the provisions of this article.
Section 115. Supplementary, additional or excess grants
(1) The President shall-
(a) If the amount authorised by any law made in accordance with the provisions of article 114 to be expended for a particular service for the current financial year is found to be insufficient for the purposes of that year or when a need has arisen during the current financial year for supplementary or additional expenditure upon some new service not contemplated in the annual financial statement for that year, or
(b) If any money has been spent on any service during a financial year in excess of the amount granted for that service and for that year, cause to be laid before both the Houses of Parliament another statement showing the estimated amount of that expenditure or cause to be presented to the House of the People a demand for such excess, as the case any be.
(2) The provisions of articles 112, 113 and 114 shall have effect in relation to any such statement and expenditure or demand and also to any law to be made authorising the appropriation of moneys out of the Consolidated Fund of India to meet such expenditure or the grant in respect of such demand as they have effect in relation to the annual financial statement and the expenditure mentioned therein or to a demand for a grant and the law to be made for the authorisation of appropriation of moneys out of the Consolidated Fund of India to meet such expenditure or grant.
Section 116. Votes on account, votes of credit and exceptional grants
(1) Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this Chapter, the House of the People shall have power-
(a) To make any grant in advance in respect of the estimated expenditure for a part of any financial year pending the completion of the procedure prescribed in article 113 for the voting of such grant and the passing of the law in accordance with the provisions of article 114 in relation to that expenditure;
(b) To make a grant for meeting an unexpected demand upon the resources of India when on account of the magnitude or the indefinite character of the service the demand cannot be stated with the details ordinarily given in an annual financial statement;
(c) To make an exceptional grant which forms no part of the current service of any financial year; and Parliament shall have power to authorise by law the withdrawal of moneys from the Consolidated Fund of India for the purposes for which the said grants are made.
(2) The provisions of articles 113 and 114 shall have effect in relation to the making of any grant under clause (1) and to any law to be made under that clause as they have effect in relation to the making of a grant with regard to any expenditure mentioned in the annual financial statement and the law to be made for the authorisation of appropriation of moneys out of the Consolidated Fund of India to meet such expenditure.
Section 117. Specaal provisions as to financial Bills
(1) A Bill or amendment making provision for any of the matters specified in sub-clauses (a) to (f) of clause (1) of article 110 shall not be introduced or moved except on the recommendation of the President and a Bill making such provision shall not be introduced in the Council of States:
Provided that no recommendation shall be required under this clause for the moving of an amendment making provision for the reduction or abolition of any tax.
(2) A Bill or amendment shall not be deemed to make provision for any of the matters aforesaid by reason only that it provides for the imposition of fines or other pecuniary penalties, or for the demand or payment of fees for licences or fees for services rendered, or by reason that it provides for the imposition, abolition, remission, alteration or regulation of any tax by any local authority or body for local purposes.
(3) A Bill which, if enacted and brought into operation, would involve expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of India shall not be passed by either House of Parliament unless the President has recommended to that House the consideration of the Bill.
Section 118. Rules of procedure
(1) Each House of Parliament may make rules for regulating, subject to the provisions of this Constitution, its procedure and the conduct of its business.
(2) Until rules are made under clause (1), the rules of procedure and standing orders in force immediately before the commencement of this Constitution with respect to the Legislature of the Dominion of India shall have effect in relation to Parliament subject to such modifications and adaptations as may be made therein by the Chairman of the Council of States or the Speaker of the House of the People, as the case may be.
(3) The President, after consultation with the Chairman of the Council of States and the Speaker of the House of the People, may make rules as to the procedure with respect to joint sittings of, and communications between, the two Houses.
(4) At a joint sitting of the two Houses the Speaker of the House of the People, or in his absence such person as may be determined by rules of procedure made under clause (3), shall preside.
Section 119. Regulation by law of procedure in Parliament in relation to financial business
Parliament may, for the purpose of the timely completion of financial business, regulate by law the procedure of, and the conduct of business in, each House of Parliament in relation to any financial matter or to any Bill for the appropriation of moneys out of the Consolidated Fund of India, and, if and so far as any provision of any law so made is inconsistent with any rule made by a House of Parliament under clause (1) of article 118 or with any rule or standing order having effect in relation to Parliament under clause (2) of that article, such provision shall prevail.
Section 120. Language to be used in Parliament
(1) Notwithstanding anything in Part XVII, but subject to the provisions of article 348, business in Parliament shall be transacted in Hindi or in English:
Provided that the Chairman of the Council of States or Speaker of the House of the People, or person acting as such, as the case may be, may permit any member who cannot adequately express himself in Hindi or in English to address the House in his mother-tongue.
(2) Unless Parliament by law otherwise provides, this article shall, after the expiration of a period of fifteen years from the commencement of this Constitution, have effect as if the words “or in English” were omitted therefrom.
Section 121. Restriction on discussion in Parliament
No discussion shall take place in Parliament with respect to the conduct of any Judge of the Supreme Court or of a High Court in the discharge of his duties except upon a motion for presenting an address to the President praying for the removal of the Judge as hereinafter provided.
Section 122. Courts not to inquire into proceedings of Parliament
(1) The validity of any proceedings in Parliament shall not be called in question on the ground of any alleged irregularity of procedure.
(2) No officer or member of Parliament in whom powers are vested by or under this Constitution for regulating procedure or the conduct of business, or for maintaining order, in Parliament shall be subject to the jurisdiction of any court in respect of the exercise by him of those powers.
Section 123. Power of President to promulgate Ordinances during recess of Parliament
(1) If at any time, except when both Houses of Parliament are in session, the President is satisfied that circumstances exist which render it necessary for him to take immediate action, he may promulgate such Ordinances as the circumstances appear to him to require.
(2) An Ordinance promulgated under this article shall have the same force and effect as an Act of Parliament, but every such Ordinance-
(a) Shall be laid before both Houses of Parliament and shall cease to operate at the expiration of six weeks from the reassembly of Parliament, or, if before the expiration of that period resolutions disapproving it are passed by both Houses, upon the passing of the second of those resolutions; and
(b) May be withdrawn at any time by the President. Explanation.
Where the Houses of Parliament are summoned to reassemble on different dates, the period of six weeks shall be reckoned from the later of those dates for the purposes of this clause.
(3) If and so far as an Ordinance under this article makes any provision which Parliament would not under this Constitution be competent to enact, it shall be void.
1. Cl. (4) was ins. by the Constitution (Thirty-eighth Amendment) Act, 1975, s. 2 (retrospectively) and omitted by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 16 (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
Section 124. Establishment and constitution of Supreme Court
(1) There shall be a Supreme Court of India consisting of a Chief Justice of India and, until Parliament by law prescribes a larger number, of not more than seven1 other Judges.
(2) Every Judge of the Supreme Court shall be appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal after consultation with such of the Judges of the Supreme Court and of the High Courts in the States as the President may deem necessary for the purpose and shall hold office until he attains the age of sixty-five years:
Provided that in the case of appointment of a Judge other than the Chief Justice, the Chief Justice of India shall always be consulted:
Provided further that-
(a) A Judge may, by writing under his hand addressed to the President, resign his office;
(b) A Judge may be removed from his office in the manner provided in clause (4).
2[(2A) The age of a Judge of the Supreme Court shall be determined by such authority and in such manner as Parliament may by law provide.]
(3) A person shall not be qualified for appointment as a Judge of the Supreme Court unless he is a citizen of India and-
(a) Has been for at least five years a Judge of a High Court or of two or more such Courts in succession; or
(b) Has been for at least ten years an advocate of a High Court or of two or more such Courts in succession; or
(c) Is, in the opinion of the President, a distinguished jurist.
Explanation I. In this clause “High Court” means a High Court which exercises, or which at any time before the commencement of this Constitution exercised, jurisdiction in any part of the territory of India.
Explanation II. In computing for the purpose of this clause the period during which a person has been an advocate, any period during which a person has held judicial office not inferior to that of a district judge after he became an advocate shall be included.
(4) A Judge of the Supreme Court shall not be removed from his office except by an order of the President passed after an address by each House of Parliament supported by a majority of the total membership of that House and by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members of that House present and voting has been presented to the President in the same session for such removal on the ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity.
(5) Parliament may by law regulate the procedure for the presentation of an address and for the investigation and proof of the misbehaviour or incapacity of a Judge under clause (4).
(6) Every person appointed to be a Judge of the Supreme Court shall, before he enters upon his office, make and subscribe before the President, or some person appointed in that behalf by him, an oath or affirmation according to the form set out for the purpose in the Third Schedule.
(7) No person who has held office as a Judge of the Supreme court shall plead or act in any court or before any authority within the territory of India.
1. Now “twenty-five”, vide the Supreme Court (number of Judges) Amendment Act, 1986 (Act 22 of 1986).
2. Ins. by the Constitution (Fifteenth Amendment) Act, 1963, s. 2.
Section 125. Salaries, etc., of Judges
1[(1) There shall be paid to the Judges of the Supreme Court such salaries as may be determined by Parliament by law and, until provision in that behalf is so made, such salaries as are specified in the Second Schedule.]
(2) Every Judge shall be entitled to such privileges and allowances and to such rights in respect of leave of absence and pension as may from time to time be determined by or under law made by Parliament and, until so determined, to such privileges, allowances and rights as are specified in the Second Schedule:
Provided that neither the privileges nor the allowances of a Judge nor his rights in respect of leave of absence or pension shall be varied to his disadvantage after his appointment.
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Fifty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1986, s. 2, for cl. (1) (w.e.f. 1-4-1986).
Section 126. Appointment of acting Chief Justice
When the office of Chief Justice of India is vacant or when the Chief Justice is, by reason of absence or otherwise, unable to perform the duties of his office, the duties of the office shall be performed by such one of the other Judges of the Court as the President may appoint for the purpose.
Section 127. Appointment of ad hoc, Judges
(1) If at any time there should not be a quorum of the Judges of the Supreme Court available to hold or continue any session of the Court, the Chief Justice of India may, with the previous consent of the President and after consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court concerned, request in writing the attendance at the sittings of the Court, as an ad hoc Judge, for such period as may be necessary, of a Judge of a High Court duly qualified for appointment as a Judge of the Supreme Court to be designated by the Chief Justice of India.
(2) It shall be the duty of the Judge who has been so designated, in priority to other duties of his office, to attend the sittings of the Supreme Court at the time and for the period for which his attendance is required, and while so attending he shall have all the jurisdiction, powers and privileges, and shall discharge the duties, of a Judge of the Supreme Court.
Section 128. Attendance of retired Judges at sittings of the Supreme Court
Notwithstanding anything in this Chapter, the Chief Justice of India may at any time, with the previous consent of the President, request any person who has held the office of a Judge of the Supreme Court or of the Federal Court 1[or who has held the office of a Judge of a High Court and is duly qualified for appointment as a Judge of the Supreme Court] to sit and act as a Judge of the Supreme Court, and every such person so requested shall, while so sitting and acting, be entitled to such allowances as the President may by order determine and have all the jurisdiction, powers and privileges of, but shall not otherwise be deemed to be, a Judge of that Court:
Provided that nothing in this article shall be deemed to require any such person as aforesaid to sit and act as a Judge of that Court unless he consents so to do.
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Fifteenth Amendment) Act, 1963, s. 3.
Section 129. Supreme Court to be a court of record
The Supreme Court shall be a court of record and shall have all the powers of such a court including the power to punish for contempt of itself.
Section 130. Seat of Supreme Court
The Supreme Court shall sit in Delhi or in such other place or places, as the Chief Justice of India may, with the approval of the President, from time to time, appoint.
Section 131. Original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court
Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Supreme Court shall, to the exclusion of any other court, have original jurisdiction in any dispute-
(a) Between the Government of India and one or more States; or
(b) Between the Government of India and any State or States on one side and one or more other States on the other; or
(c) Between two or more States,
If and in so far as the dispute involves any question (whether of law or fact) on which the existence or extent of a legal right depends:
1[Provided that the said jurisdiction shall not extend to a dispute arising out of any treaty, agreement, covenant, engagement, sanad or other similar instrument which, having been entered into or executed before the commencement of this Constitution, continues in operation after such commencement, or which provides that the said jurisdiction shall not extend to such a dispute.]
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 5, for the proviso.
Section 131A. Exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in regard to questions as to constitutional validity of Central laws
1[131A. Exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in regard to questions as to constitutional validity of Central laws.
[Rep. by the Constitution (Forty-third Amendment) Act, 1977 sec. 4 (w.e.f. 13-4-1978).]]
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 23 (w.e.f. 1-2-1977).
Section 132. Appellate jurisdiction of Supreme Court in appeals from High Courts in certain cases
(1) An appeal shall lie to the Supreme Court from any judgment, decree or final order of a High Court in the territory of India, whether in a civil, criminal or other proceeding, 1[if the High Court certifies under article 134A] that the case involves a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of this Constitution.
2[* * *]
(3) Where such a certificate is given, 3[***] any party in the case may appeal to the Supreme Court on the ground that any such question as aforesaid has been wrongly decided 3[***].
Explanation. For the purposes of this article, the expression “final order” includes an order deciding an issue, which, if decided in favour of the appellant, would be sufficient for the final disposal of the case.
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 17, for “if the High Court certifies” (w.e.f. 1-8-1979).
2. Cl. (2) omitted by s. 17, the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978 (w.e.f. 1-8-1979).
3. Certain words omitted by s. 17, the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978 (w.e.f. 1-8-1979).
Section 133. Appellate jurisdiction of Supreme Court in appeals from High Courts in regard to civil matters
1[(1) An appeal shall lie to the Supreme Court from any judgment, decree or final order in a civil proceeding of a High Court in the territory of India 2[if the High Court certifies under article 134A-]
(a) That the case involves a substantial question of law of general importance; and
(b) That in the opinion of the High Court the said question needs to be decided by the Supreme Court.]
(2) Notwithstanding anything in article 132, any party appealing to the Supreme Court under clause (1) may urge as one of the grounds in such appeal that a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of this Constitution has been wrongly decided.
(3) Notwithstanding anything in this article, no appeal shall, unless Parliament by law otherwise provides, lie to the Supreme Court from the judgment, decree or final order of one Judge of a High Court.
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Thirtieth Amendment) Act, 1972, s. 2, for cl. (1) (w.e.f. 27-2-1973).
2. Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 18, for “if the High Court certifies-” (w.e.f. 1-8-1979).
Section 134. Appellate jurisdiction of Supreme Court in regard to criminal matters
(1) An appeal shall lie to the Supreme Court from any judgment, final order or sentence in a criminal proceeding of a High Court in the territory of India if the High Court-
(a) Has on appeal reversed an order of acquittal of an accused person and sentenced him to death; or
(b) Has withdrawn for trial before itself any case from any court subordinate to its authority and has in such trial convicted the accused person and sentenced him to death; or
(c) 1[certifies under article 134A] that the case is a fit one for appeal to the Supreme Court:
Provided that an appeal under sub-clause (c) shall lie subject to such provisions as may be made in that behalf under clause (1) of article 145 and to such conditions as the High Court may establish or require.
(2) Parliament may by law confer on the Supreme Court any further powers to entertain and hear appeals from any judgment, final order or sentence in a criminal proceeding of a High Court in the territory of India subject to such conditions and limitations as may be specified in such law.
1. Subs. by s. 19, the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, for “certifies” (w.e.f. 1-8-1979).
Section 134A. Certificate for appeal to the Supreme Court
1[134A. Certificate for appeal to the Supreme Court .
Every High Court, passing or making a judgment, decree, final order, or sentence, referred to in clause (1) of article 132 or clause (1) of article 133, or clause (1) of article 134, -
(a) May, if it deems fit so to do, on its own motion; and
(b) Shall, if an oral application is made, by or on behalf of the party aggrieved, immediately after the passing or making of such judgment, decree, final order or sentence,
Determine, as soon as may be after such passing or making, the question whether a certificate of the nature referred to in clause (1) of article 132, or clause (1) of article 133 or, as the case may be, sub-clause (c) of clause (1) of article 134, may be given in respect of that case.]
1. Ins. by s. 20, the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978 (w.e.f. 1-8-1979).
Section 135. Jurisdiction and powers of the Federal Court under existing law to be exercisable by the Supreme Court
Until Parliament by law otherwise provides, the Supreme Court shall also have jurisdiction and powers with respect to any matter to which the provisions of article 133 or article 134 do not apply if jurisdiction and powers in relation to that matter were exercisable by the Federal Court immediately before the commencement of this Constitution under any existing law.
Section 136. Special leave to appeal by the Supreme Court
(1) Notwithstanding anything in this Chapter, the Supreme Court may, in its discretion, grant special leave to appeal from any judgment, decree, determination, sentence or order in any cause or matter passed or made by any court or tribunal in the territory of India.
(2) Nothing in clause (1) shall apply to any judgment, determination, sentence or order passed or made by any court or tribunal constituted by or under any law relating to the Armed Forces.
Section 137. Review of judgments or orders by the Supreme Court
Subject to the provisions of any law made by Parliament or any rules made under article 145, the Supreme Court shall have power to review any judgment pronounced or order made by it.
Section 138. Enlargement of the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court
(1) The Supreme Court shall have such further jurisdiction and powers with respect to any of the matters in the Union List as Parliament may by law confer.
(2) The Supreme Court shall have such further jurisdiction and powers with respect to any matter as the Government of India and the Government of any State may by special agreement confer, if Parliament by law provides for the exercise of such jurisdiction and powers by the Supreme Court.
Section 139. Conferment on the Supreme Court of powers to issue certain writs
Parliament may by law confer on the Supreme Court power to issue directions, orders or writs, including writs in the nature of habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, quo warranto and certiorari, or any of them, for any purposes other than those mentioned in clause (2) of article 32.
Section 139A. Transfer of certain cases
1 [139A. Transfer of certain cases.
2 [(1) Where cases involving the same or substantially the same questions of law are pending before the Supreme Court and one or more High Courts or before two or more High Courts and the Supreme Court is satisfied on its own motion or on an application made by the Attorney-General of India or by a party to any such case that such questions are substantial questions of general importance, the Supreme Court may withdraw the case or cases pending before the High Court or the High Courts and dispose of all the cases itself:
Provided that the Supreme Court may after determining the said questions of law return any case so withdrawn together with a copy of its judgment on such questions to the High Court from which the case has been withdrawn, and the High Court shall on receipt thereof, proceed to dispose of the case in conformity with such judgment.]
(2) The Supreme Court may, if it deems it expedient so to do for the ends of justice, transfer any case, appeal or other proceedings pending before any High Court to any other High Court.]
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 24 (w.e.f. 1-2-1977).
2. Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 21, for cl. (1) (w.e.f. 1-8-1979).
Section 140. Ancillary powers of Supreme Court
Parliament may by law make provision for conferring upon the Supreme Court such supplemental powers not inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Constitution as may appear to be necessary or desirable for the purpose of enabling the Court more effectively to exercise the jurisdiction conferred upon it by or under this Constitution.
Section 141. Law declared by Supreme Court to be binding on all courts
The law declared by the Supreme Court shall be binding on all courts within the territory of India.
Section 142. Enforcement of decrees and orders of Supreme Court and orders as to discovery, etc.
(1) The Supreme Court in the exercise of its jurisdiction may pass such decree or make such order as is necessary for doing complete justice in any cause or matter pending before it, and any decree so passed or order so made shall be enforceable throughout the territory of India in such manner as may be prescribed by or under any law made by Parliament and, until provision in that behalf is so made, in such manner as the President may by order 1prescribe.
(2) Subject to the provisions of any law made in this behalf by Parliament, the Supreme Court shall, as respects the whole of the territory of India, have all and every power to make any order for the purpose of securing the attendance of any person, the discovery or production of any documents, or the investigation or punishment of any contempt of itself.
1. See the Supreme Court (Decrees and Orders) Enforcement Order, 1954 (C.O. 47).
Section 143. Power of President to consult Supreme Court.
(1) If at any time it appears to the President that a question of law or fact has arisen, or is likely to arise, which is of such a nature and of such public importance that it is expedient to obtain the opinion of the Supreme Court upon it, he may refer the question to that Court for consideration and the Court may, after such hearing as it thinks fit, report to the President its opinion thereon.
(2) The President may, notwithstanding anything in 1[***] the proviso to article 131, refer a dispute of the kind mentioned in the 2[said proviso] to the Supreme Court for opinion and the Supreme Court shall, after such hearing as it thinks fit, report to the President its opinion thereon.
1. The words, brackets and figure “clause (i) of” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch.
2. Subs. by s. 29 and Sch., the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, for “said clause”.
Section 144. Civil and judicial authorities to act in aid of the Supreme Court
All authorities, civil and judicial, in the territory of India shall act in aid of the Supreme Court.
Section 144A. Special provisions as to disposal of questions relating to constitutional validity of laws
1[144A. Special provisions as to disposal of questions relating to constitutional validity of laws.
[Rep. by the Constitution (Forty-third Amendment) Act, 1977, s. 5 (w.e.f. 13-4-1978).
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 25 (w.e.f. 1-2-1977).
Section 145. Rules of Court, etc.
(1) Subject to the provisions of any law made by Parliament, the Supreme Court may from time to time, with the approval of the President, make rules for regulating generally the practice and procedure of the Court including-
(a) Rules as to the persons practising before the Court;
(b) Rules as to the procedure for hearing appeals and other mattters pertaining to appeals including the time within which appeals to the Court are to be entered;
(c) Rules as to the proceedings in the Court for the enforcement of any of the rights conferred by Part III;
1 [(cc) Rules as to the proceedings in the Court under 2[article 139A];]
(d) Rules as to the entertainment of appeals under sub-clause (c) of clause (1) of article 134;
(e) Rules as to the conditions subject to which any judgment pronounced or order made by the Court may be reviewed and the procedure for such review including the time within which applications to the Court for such review are to be entered;
(f) Rules as to the costs of and incidental to any proceedings in the Court and as to the fees to be charged in respect of proceedings therein;
(g) Rules as to the granting of bail;
(h) Rules as to stay of proceedings;
(i) Rules providing for the summary determination of any appeal which appears to the Court to be frivolous or vexatious or brought for the purpose of delay;
(j) Rules as to the procedure for inquiries referred to in clause (1) of article 317.
(2) Subject to the 3 [provisions of 4 [***] clause (3)], rules made under this article may fix the minimum number of Judges who are to sit for any purpose, and may provide for the powers of single Judges and Division Courts.
(3) 5 [4 [***] The minimum number of Judges who are to sit for the purpose of deciding any case involving a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of this Constitution or for the purpose of hearing any reference under article 143 shall be five:
Provided that, where the Court hearing an appeal under any of the provisions of this Chapter other than article 132 consists of less than five Judges and in the course of the hearing of the appeal the Court is satisfied that the appeal involves a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of this Constitution the determination of which is necessary for the disposal of the appeal, such Court shall refer the question for opinion to a Court constituted as required by this clause for the purpose of deciding any case involving such a question and shall on receipt of the opinion dispose of the appeal in conformity with such opinion.
(4) No judgment shall be delivered by the Supreme Court save in open Court, and no report shall be made under article 143 save in accordance with an opinion also delivered in open Court.
(5) No judgment and no such opinion shall be delivered by the Supreme Court save with the concurrence of a majority of the Judges present at the hearing of the case, but nothing in this clause shall be deemed to prevent a Judge who does not concur from delivering a dissenting judgment or opinion.
1. Ins. by s. 26, the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976 (w.e.f. 1-2-1977).
2. Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-third Amendment) Act, 1977, s. 6, for “articles 131A and 139A” (w.e.f. 13-4-1978).
3. Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 26, for “provisions of clause (3)” (w.e.f. 1-2-1977).
4. Certain words omitted by the Constitution (Forty-third Amendment) Act, 1977, s. 6 (w.e.f. 13-4-1978).
5. Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 26, for “The minimum number” (w.e.f. 1-2-1977).
Section 146. Officers and servants and the expenses of the Supreme Court
(1) Appointments of officers and servants of the Supreme Court shall be made by the Chief Justice of India or such other Judge or officer of the Court as he may direct:
Provided that the President may by rule require that in such cases as may be specified in the rule, no person not already attached to the Court shall be appointed to any office connected with the Court, save after consultation with the Union Public Service Commission.
(2) Subject to the provisions of any law made by Parliament, the conditions of service of officers and servants of the Supreme Court shall be such as may be prescribed by rules made by the Chief Justice of India or by some other Judge or officer of the Court authorised by the Chief Justice of India to make rules for the purpose:
Provided that the rules made under this clause shall, so far as they relate to salaries, allowances, leave or pensions, require the approval of the President.
(3) The administrative expenses of the Supreme Court, including all salaries, allowances and pensions payable to or in respect of the officers and servants of the Court, shall be charged upon the Consolidated Fund of India, and any fees or other moneys taken by the Court shall form part of that Fund.
Section 147. Interpretation
In this Chapter and in Chapter V of Part VI, references to any substantial question of law as to the interpretation of this Constitution shall be construed as including references to any substantial question of law as to the interpretation of the Government of India Act, 1935 (including any enactment amending or supplementing that Act), or of any Order in Council or order made thereunder, or of the Indian Independence Act, 1947, or of any order made thereunder.
Section 148. Comptroller and Auditor-General of India
(1) There shall be a Comptroller and Auditor-General of India who shall be appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal and shall only be removed from office in like manner and on the like grounds as a Judge of the Supreme Court.
(2) Every person appointed to be the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India shall, before he enters upon his office, make and subscribe before the President, or some person appointed in that behalf by him, an oath or affirmation according to the form set out for the purpose in the Third Schedule.
(3) The salary and other conditions of service of the Comptroller and Auditor-General shall be such as may be determined by Parliament by law and, until they are so determined, shall be as specified in the Second Schedule:
Provided that neither the salary of a Comptroller and Auditor-General nor his rights in respect of leave of absence, pension or age of retirement shall be varied to his disadvantage after his appointment.
(4) The Comptroller and Auditor-General shall not be eligible for further office either under the Government of India or under the Government of any State after he has ceased to hold his office.
(5) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution and of any law made by Parliament, the conditions of service of persons serving in the Indian Audit and Accounts Department and the administrative powers of the Comptroller and Auditor-General shall be such as may be prescribed by rules made by the President after consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor-General.
(6) The administrative expenses of the office of the Comptroller and Auditor-General, including all salaries, allowances and pensions payable to or in respect of persons serving in that office, shall be charged upon the Consolidated Fund of India.
Section 149. Duties and powers of the Comptroller and Auditor-General
The Comptroller and Auditor-General shall perform such duties and exercise such powers in relation to the accounts of the Union and of the States and of any other authority or body as may be prescribed by or under any law made by Parliament and, until provision in that behalf is so made, shall perform such duties and exercise such powers in relation to the accounts of the Union and of the States as were conferred on or exercisable by the Auditor-General of India immediately before the commencement of this Constitution in relation to the accounts of the Dominion of India and of the Provinces respectively.
Section 150. Form of accounts of the Union and of the States
1[150. Form of accounts of the Union and of the States.
The accounts of the Union and of the States shall be kept in such form as the President may, 2[on the advice of] the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India, prescribe.]
1. Subs. by s. 27, the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, for art. 150 (w.e.f. 1-4-1977).
2. Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 22, for “after consultation with” (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
Section 151. Audit reports
(1) The reports of the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India relating to the accounts of the Union shall be submitted to the President, who shall cause them to be laid before each House of Parliament.
(2) The reports of the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India relating to the accounts of a State shall be submitted to the Governor 1[***] of the State, who shall cause them to be laid before the Legislature of the State.
1. The words “or Rajpramukh” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch.
Section 152. Definition
Part VI The State 1[***] Chapter I General
In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires, the expression “State” does not include the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
Section 153. Governors of States
There shall be a Governor for each State:
1[Provided that nothing in this article shall prevent the appointment of the same person as Governor for two or more States.]
1. Added by s. 6, the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956
Section 154. Executive power of State
(1) The executive power of the State shall be vested in the Governor and shall be exercised by him either directly or through officers subordinate to him in accordance with this Constitution.
(2) Nothing in this article shall-
(a) Be deemed to transfer to the Governor any functions conferred by any existing law on any other authority; or
(b) Prevent Parliament or the Legislature of the State from conferring by law functions on any authority subordinate to the Governor.
Section 155. Appointment of Governor
The Governor of a State shall be appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal.
Section 156. Term of office of Governor
(1) The Governor shall hold office during the pleasure of the President.
(2) The Governor may, by writing under his hand addressed to the President, resign his office.
(3) Subject to the foregoing provisions of this article, a Governor shall hold office for a term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office:
Provided that a Governor shall, notwithstanding the expiration of his term, continue to hold office until his successor enters upon his office.
Section 157. Qualifications for appointment as Governor
No person shall be eligible for appointment as Governor unless he is a citizen of India and has completed the age of thirty-five years.
Section 158. Conditions of Governor’s office
(1) The Governor shall not be a member of either House of Parliament or of a House of the Legislature of any State specified in the First Schedule, and if a member of either House of Parliament or of a House of the Legislature of any such State be appointed Governor, he shall be deemed to have vacated his seat in that House on the date on which he enters upon his office as Governor.
(2) The Governor shall not hold any other office of profit.
(3) The Governor shall be entitled without payment of rent to the use of his official residences and shall be also entitled to such emoluments, allowances and privileges as may be determined by Parliament by law and, until provision in that behalf is so made, such emoluments, allowances and privileges as are specified in the Second Schedule.
1[(3A) Where the same person is appointed as Governor of two or more States, the emoluments and allowances payable to the Governor shall be allocated among the States in such proportion as the President may by order determine.]
(4) The emoluments and allowances of the Governor shall not be diminished during his term of office.
1. Ins. by s. 7, the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956.
Section 159. Oath or affirmation by the Governor
Every Governor and every person discharging the functions of the Governor shall, before entering upon his office, make and subscribe in the presence of the Chief Justice of the High Court exercising jurisdiction in relation to the State, or, in his absence, the senior most Judge of that Court available, an oath or affirmation in the following form, that is to say-
“I, A. B., do (swear in the name of God/solemnly affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of Governor (or discharge the functions of the Governor) of ………….(name of the State) and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and the law and that I will devote myself to the service and well-being of the people of …..(name of the State).”
Section 160. Discharge of the functions of the Governor in certain contingencies
The President may make such provision as he thinks fit for the discharge of the functions of the Governor of a State in any contingency not provided for in this Chapter
Section 161. Power of Governor to grant pardons, etc., and to suspend, remit or commute sentences in certain cases
The Governor of a State shall have the power to grant pardons, reprieves, respites or remissions of punishment or to suspend, remit or commute the sentence of any person convicted of any offence against any law relating to a matter to which the executive power of the State extends.
Section 162. Extent of executive power of State
Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the executive power of a State shall extend to the matters with respect to which the Legislature of the State has power to make laws:
Provided that in any matter with respect to which the Legislature of a State and Parliament have power to make laws, the executive power of the State shall be subject to, and limited by, the executive power expressly conferred by this Constitution or by any law made by Parliament upon the Union or authorities thereof.
Section 163. Council of Ministers to aid and advise Governor
(1) There shall be a Council of Ministers with the Chief Minister at the head to aid and advise the Governor in the exercise of his functions, except in so far as he is by or under this Constitution required to exercise his functions or any of them in his discretion.
(2) If any question arises whether any matter is or is not a matter as respects which the Governor is by or under this Constitution required to act in his discretion, the decision of the Governor in his discretion shall be final, and the validity of anything done by the Governor shall not be called in question on the ground that he ought or ought not to have acted in his discretion.
(3) The question whether any, and if so what, advice was tendered by Ministers to the Governor shall not be inquired into in any court.
Section 164. Other provisions as to Ministers
(1) The Chief Minister shall be appointed by the Governor and the other Ministers shall be appointed by the Governor on the advice of the Chief Minster, and the Ministers shall hold office during the pleasure of the Governor:
Provided that in the States of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa, there shall be a Minister in charge of tribal welfare who may in addition be in charge of the welfare of the Scheduled Castes and backward classes or any other work.
1(1A) The total number of Ministers, including the Chief Minister, in the Council of Ministers in a State shall not exceed fifteen per cent of the total number of members of the Legislative Assembly of the State.
Provided that the number of Ministers, including the Chief Minister in a State shall not be less than twelve:
Provided further that where the total number of Ministers Including the Chief MInister in the Council of Ministers in any State at the commencement of the Constitution (Ninety-first Amendment) Act, 2003 exceeds the said fifteen per cent or the number specified in the first proviso, as the case may be, then the total number of Ministers in that State shall be brought in conformity with the provisions of this clause within six months from such date as the President may by public notification appoint.
(1B) A member of the Legislative Assembly of a State or either House of the Legislature of a State having Legislative Council belonging to any political party who is disqualified for being a member of that house under paragraph 2 of the Tenth Schedule shall also be disqualified to be appointed as a Minister under clause (1) for duration of the period commencing from the date of his disqualification till the date on which the term of his office as such member would expire or where he contests any election to the Legislative Assembly of a State or either House of the Legislature of a State having Legislative Council, as the case may be, before the expiry of such period, till the date on which he is declared elected, whichever is earlier.]
(2) The Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the Legislative Assembly of the State.
(3) Before a Minister enters upon his office, the Governor shall administer to him the oaths of office and of secrecy according to the forms set out for the purpose in the Third Schedule.
(4) A Minister who for any period of six consecutive months is not a member of the Legislature of the State shall at the expiration of that period cease to be a Minister.
(5) The salaries and allowances of Ministers shall be such as the Legislature of the State may from time to time by law determine and, until the Legislature of the State so determines, shall be as specified in the Second Schedule.
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Ninety-first Amendmen) Act, 2003, sec.3 (w.e.f.1/1/2004).
Section 165. Advocate-General for the State
(1) The Governor of each State shall appoint a person who is qualified to be appointed a Judge of a High Court to be Advocate-General for the State.
(2) It shall be the duty of the Advocate-General to give advice to the Government of the State upon such legal matters, and to perform such other duties of a legal character, as may from time to time be referred or assigned to him by the Governor, and to discharge the functions conferred on him by or under this Constitution or any other law for the time being in force.
(3) The Advocate-General shall hold office during the pleasure of the Governor, and shall receive such remuneration as the Governor may determine.
Section 166. Conduct of business of the Government of a State.
(1) All executive action of the Government of a State shall be expressed to be taken in the name of the Governor.
(2) Orders and other instruments made and executed in the name of the Governor shall be authenticated in such manner as may be specified in rules to be made by the Governor, and the validity of an order or instrument which is so authenticated shall not be called in question on the ground that it is not an order or instrument made or executed by the Governor.
(3) The Governor shall make rules for the more convenient transaction of the business of the Government of the State, and for the allocation among Ministers of the said business in so far as it is not business with respect to which the Governor is by or under this Constitution required to act in his discretion.
1[* * *]
1. Cl. (4) was ins. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 28 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977) and omitted by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 23 (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
Section 167. Duties of Chief Minister as respects the furnishing of information to Governor, etc.
It shall be the duty of the Chief Minister of each State-
(a) To communicate to the Governor of the State all decisions of the Council of Ministers relating to the administration of the affairs of the State and proposals for legislation;
(b) To furnish such information relating to the administration of the affairs of the State and proposals for legislation as the Governor may call for; and
(c) If the Governor so requires, to submit for the consideration of the Council of Ministers any matter on which a decision has been taken by a Minister but which has not been considered by the Council.
Section 168. Constitution of Legislatures in States.
(1) For every State there shall be a Legislature which shall consist of the Governor, and-
(a) In the States of 1[***] Bihar, 2[***] 3[4[***] 5[Maharashtra], 6[Karnataka] and 7[***] 8[and Uttar Pradesh, two Houses;
(b) In other States, one House.
(2) Where there are two Houses of the Legislature of a State, one shall be known as the Legislative Council and the other as the Legislative
Assembly, and where there is only one House, it shall be known as the Legislative Assembly.
1. The words “Andhra Pradesh,” omitted by the Andhra Pradesh Legislatve Council Abolition) Act, 1985 (34 of 1985), s. 4 (w.e.f. 1-6-1985).
2. The word “Bombay” omitted by the Bombay Reorganisation Act, 1960 (11 of 1960), s. 20 (w.e.f. 1-5-1960).
3. No date has been appointed under s.8(2) of the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, for the insertion of the words “Madhaya Pradesh” in this sub-clause.
4. The words “Tamil Nadu,” omitted by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Council (Abolition) Act, 1986 (40 of 1986), s. 4 (w.e.f. 1-11-1986).
5. Ins. by the Bombay Reorganisation Act, 1960 (11 of 1960), s. 20 (w.e.f. 1-5-1960).
6. Subs. by the Mysore State (Alteration of Name) Act, 1973 (31 of 1973), s. 4, for “Mysore” (w.e.f. 1-11-1973), which was inserted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 8 (1).
7. The word “Punjab”, omitted by the Punjab Legislative Council (Abolition) Act 1969 (46 of 1969), sec.4 (w.e.f.7/1/1970).
8. Subs. by the West Bengal Legislative Council (Abolition) Act, 1969 (20 of 1969), sec.4, for “Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal” (w.e.f. 1/8/1969).
Section 169. Abolition or creation of Legislative Councils in States
(1) Notwithstanding anything in article 168, Parliament may by law provide for the abolition of the Legislative Council of a State having such a Council or for the creation of such a Council in a State having no such Council, if the Legislative Assembly of the State passes a resolution to that effect by a majority of the total membership of the Assembly and by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members of the Assembly present and voting.
(2) Any law referred to in clause (1) shall contain such provisions for the amendment of this Constitution as may be necessary to give effect to the provisions of the law and may also contain such supplemental, incidental and consequential provisions as Parliament may deem necessary.
(3) No such law as aforesaid shall be deemed to be an amendment of this Constitution for the purposes of article 368.
Section 170. Composition of the Legislative Assemblies
1[170. Composition of the Legislative Assemblies.
(1) Subject to the provisions of article 333, the Legislative Assembly of each State shall consist of not more than five hundred, and not less than sixty, members chosen by direct election from territorial constituencies in the State.
(2) For the purposes of clause (1), each State shall be divided into territorial constituencies in such manner that the ratio between the population of each constituency and the number of seats allotted to it shall, so far as practicable, be the same throughout the State.
2[Explanation. In this clause, the expression “population” means the population as ascertained at the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published:
Provided that the reference in this Explanation to the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published shall, until the relevant figures for the first census taken after the year 3[2026] have been published, be construed as a reference to the 4[2001] census.]
(3) Upon the completion of each census, the total number of seats in the Legislative Assembly of each State and the division of each State into territorial constituencies shall be readjusted by such authority and in such manner as Parliament may by law determine:
Provided that such readjustment shall not affect representation in the Legislative Assembly until the dissolution of the then existing Assembly:]
5[Provided further that such readjustment shall take effect from such date as the President may, by order, specify and until such readjustment takes effect, any election to the Legislative Assembly may be held on the basis of the territorial constituencies existing before such readjustment:
Provided also that until the relevant figures for the first census taken after the year 3[2026] have been published, it shall not be necessary to 6[readjust-
(i) the total number of seats in the Legislative Assembly of each State as readkisted pm the basis of the 1971 census; and
(ii) the division of such State into territorial constituencies as may be readjusted ion the basis of the 7[2001] census,
under this clause.]]
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 9, for art. 170.
2. Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 29, for the Explanation (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
3. Subs. by the Constitution (Eighty-fourth Amendment) act, 2001, sec.5, for “2000” (w.e.f. 21/2/2002).
4. Subs. by the Constitution (Eighty-fourth Amendment) act, 2001, sec.5, for “1971” (w.e.f. 21/2/2002) and again subs. by the Constitution (Eighty- seventh Amendment) Act, 2003,for ‘1991’ (w.e.f. 22/6/2003).
5. Ins. by s. 29, the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
6. Subs. by the Constitution (Eighty-fourth Amendment) Act, 2001, sec. 5, for “2000” (w.e.f. 21-2-2002).
7. Subs. by the Constitution (Eighty-Seventh Amendment) Act, 2003, for ‘1991’ (w.e.f. 22/6/2003).
Section 171. Composition of the Legislative Councils
(1) The total number of members in the Legislative Council of a State having such a Council shall not exceed 1[one third] of the total number of members in the Legislative Assembly of that State:
Provided that the total number of members in the Legislative Council of a State shall in no case be less than forty.
(2) Until Parliament by law otherwise provides, the composition of the Legislative Council of a State shall be as provided in clause (3).
(3) Of the total number of members of the Legislative Council of a State-
(a) As nearly as may be, one-third shall be elected by electorates consisting of members of municipalities, district boards and such other local authorities in the State as Parliament may by law specify;
(b) As nearly as may be, one-twelfth shall be elected by electorates consisting of persons residing in the State who have been for at least three years graduates of any university in the territory of India or have been for at least three years in possession of qualifications prescribed by or under any law made by Parliament as equivalent to that of a graduate of any such university;
(c) As nearly as may be, one-twelfth shall be elected by electorates consisting of persons who have been for at least three years engaged in teaching in such educational institutions within the State, not lower in standard than that of a secondary school, as may be prescribed by or under any law made by Parliament;
(d) As nearly as may be, one-third shall be elected by the members of the Legislative Assembly of the State from amongst persons who are not members of the Assembly;
(e) The remainder shall be nominated by the Governor in accordance with the provisions of clause (5).
(4) The members to be elected under sub-clauses (a), (b) and (c) of clause (3) shall be chosen in such territorial constituencies as may be prescribed by or under any law made by Parliament, and the elections under the said sub-clauses and under sub-clause (d) of the said clause shall be held in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote.
(5) The members to be nominated by the Governor under sub-clause (e) of clause (3) shall consist of persons having special knowledge or practical experience in respect of such matters as the following, namely: -
Literature, science, art, co-operative movement and social service.
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act,1956, sec.10, for “one-fourth”.
Section 172. Duration of State Legislatures
(1) Every Legislative Assembly of every State, unless sooner dissolved, shall continue for 1[five years] from the date appointed for its first meeting and no longer and the expiration of the said period of 1[five years] shall operate as a dissolution of the Assembly:
Provided that the said period may, while a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation, be extended by Parliament by law for a period not exceeding one year at a time and not extending in any case beyond a period of six months after the Proclamation has ceased to operate.
(2) he Legislative Council of a State shall not be subject to dissolution, but as nearly as possible one-third of the members thereof shall retire as soon as may be on the expiration of every second year in accordance with the provisions made in that behalf by Parliament by law.
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 24, for “six years” (w.e.f. 6-9-1979). The words “six years” were subs. for the original words “five years” by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 30 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
Section 173. Qualification for membership of the State Legislature
A person shall not be qualified to be chosen to fill a seat in the Legislature of a State unless he-
1[(a) Is a citizen of India, and makes and subscribes before some person authorised in that behalf by the Election Commission an oath or affirmation according to the form set out for the purpose in the Third Schedule;]
(b) Is, in the case of a seat in the Legislative Assembly, not less than twenty-five years of age and, in the case of a seat in the Legislative Council, not less than thirty years of age; and
(c) Possesses such other qualifications as may be prescribed in that behalf by or under any law made by Parliament.
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Sixteenth Amendment) Act, 1963, s. 4, for cl.(a).
Section 174. Sessions of the State Legislature, prorogation and dissolution
1[174. Sessions of the State Legislature, prorogation and dissolution.
(1) The Governor shall from time to time summon the House or each House of the Legislature of the State to meet at such time and place as he thinks fit, but six months shall not intervene between its last sitting in one session and the date appointed for its first sitting in the next session.
(2) The Governor may from time to time-
(a) Prorogue the House or either House;
(b) Dissolve the Legislative Assembly.]
1. Subs. by the Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951, s. 8, for art. 174.
Section 175. Right of Governor to address and send messages to the House or Houses
(1) The Governor may address the Legislative Assembly or, in the case of a State having a Legislative Council, either House of the Legislature of the State, or both Houses assembled together, and may for that purpose require the attendance of members.
(2) The Governor may send messages to the House or Houses of the Legislature of the State, whether with respect to a Bill then pending in the Legislature or otherwise, and a House to which any message is so sent shall with all convenient despatch consider any matter required by the message to be taken into consideration.
Section 176. Special address by the Governor
(1) At the commencement of 1[the first session after each general election to the Legislative Assembly and at the commencement of the first session of each year], the Governor shall address the Legislative Assembly or, in the case of a State having a Legislative Council, both Houses assembled together and inform the Legislature of the causes of its summons.
(2) Provision shall be made by the rules regulating the procedure of the House or either House for the allotment of time for discussion of the matters referred to in such address 2[***].
1. Subs. by s. 9, the Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951, for “every session”.
2. The words “and for the precedence of such discussion over other business of the House” omitted by s. 9, the Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951.
Section 177. Rights of Ministers and Advocate-General as respects the Houses
Every Minister and the Advocate-General for a State shall have the right to speak in, and otherwise to take part in the proceedings of, the Legislative Assembly of the State or, in the case of a State having a Legislative Council, both Houses, and to speak in, and otherwise to take part in the proceedings of, any committee of the Legislature of which he may be named a member, but shall not, by virtue of this article, be entitled to vote.
Section 178. The Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
Every Legislative Assembly of a State shall, as soon as may be, choose two members of the Assembly to be respectively Speaker and Deputy Speaker thereof and, so often as the office of Speaker or Deputy Speaker becomes vacant, the Assembly shall choose another member to be Speaker or Deputy Speaker, as the case may be.
Section 179. Vacation and resignation of, and removal from, the offices of Speaker and Deputy Speaker
A member holding office as Speaker or Deputy Speaker of an Assembly-
(a) Shall vacate his office if he ceases to be a member of the Assembly;
(b) May at any time by writing under his hand addressed, if such member is the Speaker, to the Deputy Speaker, and if such member is the Deputy Speaker, to the Speaker, resign his office; and
(c) May be removed from his office by a resolution of the Assembly passed by a majority of all the then members of the Assembly:
Provided that no resolution for the purpose of clause (c) shall be moved unless at least fourteen days’ notice has been given of the intention to move the resolution:
Provided further that, whenever the Assembly is dissolved, the Speaker shall not vacate his office until immediately before the first meeting of the Assembly after the dissolution.
Section 180. Power of the Deputy Speaker or other person to perform the duties of the office of, or to act as, Speaker
(1) While the office of Speaker is vacant, the duties of the office shall be performed by the Deputy Speaker or, if the office of Deputy Speaker is also vacant, by such member of the Assembly as the Governor may appoint for the purpose.
(2) During the absence of the Speaker from any sitting of the Assembly the Deputy Speaker or, if he is also absent, such person as may be determined by the rules of procedure of the Assembly, or, if no such person is present, such other person as may be determined by the Assembly, shall act as Speaker
Section 181. The Speaker or the Deputy Speaker not to preside while a resolution for his removal from office is under consideration
(1) At any sitting of the Legislative Assembly, while any resolution for the removal of the Speaker from his office is under consideration, the Speaker, or while any resolution for the removal of the Deputy Speaker from his office is under consideration, the Deputy Speaker, shall not, though he is present, preside, and the provisions of clause (2) of article 180 shall apply in relation to every such sitting as they apply in relation to a sitting from which the Speaker or, as the case may be, the Deputy Speaker, is absent.
(2) The Speaker shall have the right to speak in, and otherwise to take part in the proceedings of, the Legislative Assembly while any resolution for his removal from office is under consideration in the Assembly and shall, notwithstanding anything in article 189, be entitled to vote only in the first instance on such resolution or on any other matter during such proceedings but not in the case of an equality of votes.
Section 182. The Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council
The Legislative Council of every State having such Council shall, as soon as may be, choose two members of the Council to be respectively Chairman and Deputy Chairman thereof and, so often as the office of Chairman or Deputy Chairman becomes vacant, the Council shall choose another member to be Chairman or Deputy Chairman, as the case may be.
Section 183. Vacation and resignation of, and removal from, the offices of Chairman and Deputy Chairman
A member holding office as Chairman or Deputy Chairman of a Legislative Council-
(a) Shall vacate his office if he ceases to be a member of the Council;
(b) May at any time by writing under his hand addressed, if such member is the Chairman, to the Deputy Chairman, and if such member is the Deputy Chairman, to the Chairman, resign his office; and
(c) May be removed from his office by a resolution of the Council passed by a majority of all the then members of the Council:
Provided that no resolution for the purpose of clause (c) shall be moved unless at least fourteen days’ notice has been given of the intention to move the resolution.
Section 184. Power of the Deputy Chairman or other person to perform the duties of the office of, or to act as, Chairman
(1) While the office of Chairman is vacant, the duties of the office shall be performed by the Deputy Chairman or, if the office of Deputy Chairman is also vacant, by such member of the Council as the Governor may appoint for the purpose.
(2) During the absence of the Chairman from any sitting of the Council the Deputy Chairman or, if he is also absent, such person as may be determined by the rules of procedure of the Council, or, if no such person is present, such other person as may be determined by the Council, shall act as Chairman.
Section 185. The Chairman or the Deputy Chairman not to preside while a resolution for his removal from office is under consideration
(1) At any sitting of the Legislative Council, while any resolution for the removal of the Chairman from his office is under consideration, the Chairman, or while any resolution for the removal of the Deputy Chairman from his office is under consideration, the Deputy Chairman, shall not, though he is present, preside, and the provisions of clause (2) of article 184 shall apply in relation to every such sitting as they apply in relation to a sitting from which the Chairman or, as the case may be, the Deputy Chairman is absent.
(2) The Chairman shall have the right to speak in, and otherwise to take part in the proceedings of, the Legislative Council while any resolution for his removal from office is under consideration in the Council and shall, notwithstanding anything in article 189, be entitled to vote only in the first instance on such resolution or on any other matter during such proceedings but not in the case of an equality of votes.
Section 186. Salaries and allowances of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker and the Chairman and Deputy Chairman
There shall be paid to the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, and to the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council, such salaries and allowances as may be respectively fixed by the Legislature of the State by law and, until provision in that behalf is so made, such salaries and allowances as are specified in the Second Schedule
Section 187. Secretariat of State Legislature
(1) The House or each House of the Legislature of a State shall have a separate secretarial staff:
Provided that nothing in this clause shall, in the case of the Legislature of a State having a Legislative Council, be construed as preventing the creation of posts common to both Houses of such Legislature.
(2) The Legislature of a State may by law regulate the recruitment, and the conditions of service of persons appointed, to the secretarial staff of the House or Houses of the Legislature of the State.
(3) Until provision is made by the Legislature of the State under clause (2), the Governor may, after consultation with the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly or the Chairman of the Legislative Council, as the case may be, make rules regulating the recruitment, and the conditions of service of persons appointed, to the secretarial staff of the Assembly or the Council, and any rules so made shall have effect subject to the provisions of any law made under the said clause.
Section 188. Oath or affirmation by members
Every member of the Legislative Assembly or the Legislative Council of a State shall, before taking his seat, make and subscribe before the Governor, or some person appointed in that behalf by him, an oath or affirmation according to the form set out for the purpose in the Third Schedule.
Section 189. Voting in Houses, power of Houses to act notwithstanding vacancies and quorum
(1) Save as otherwise provided in this Constitution, all questions at any sitting of a House of the Legislature of a State shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members present and voting, other than the Speaker or Chairman, or person acting as such.
The Speaker or Chairman, or person acting as such, shall not vote in the first instance, but shall have and exercise a casting vote in the case of an equality of votes.
(2) A House of the Legislature of a State shall have power to act notwithstanding any vacancy in the membership thereof, and any proceedings in the Legislature of a State shall be valid notwithstanding that it is discovered subsequently that some person who was not entitled so to do sat or voted or otherwise took part in the proceedings.
(3) Until the Legislature of the State by law otherwise provides, the quorum to constitute a meeting of a House of the Legislature of a State shall be ten members or one-tenth of the total number of members of the House, whichever is greater.
(4) If at any time during a meeting of the Legislative Assembly or the Legislative Council of a State there is no quorum, it shall be the duty of the Speaker or Chairman, or person acting as such, either to adjourn the House or to suspend the meeting until there is a quorum.
Section 190. Vacation of seats
(1) No person shall be a member of both Houses of the Legislature of a State and provision shall be made by the Legislature of the State by law for the vacation by a person who is chosen a member of both Houses of his seat in one house or the other.
(2) No person shall be a member of the Legislatures of two or more States specified in the First Schedule and if a person is chosen a member of the Legislatures of two or more such States, then, at the expiration of such period as may be specified in rules 1made by the President, that person’s seat in the Legislatures of all such States shall become vacant, unless he has previously resigned his seat in the Legislatures of all but one of the States.
(3) If a member of a House of the Legislature of a State.
(a) Becomes a subject to any of the disqualifications mentioned in 2[clause (1) or clause (2) of article 191]; or
3[(b) Resigns his seat by writing under his hand addressed to the speaker or the Chairman, as the case may be, and his resignation is accepted by the Speaker or the Chairman, as the case may be,]
His seat shall thereupon become vacant:
4[Provided that in the case of any resignation referred to in sub-clause (b), if from information received or otherwise and after making such inquiry as he thinks fit, the Speaker or the Chairman, as the case may be, is satisfied that such resignation is not voluntary or genuine, he shall not accept such resignation.]
(4) If for a period of sixty days a member of a House of the Legislature of a State is without permission of the House absent from all meetings thereof, the House may declare his seat vacant:
Provided that in computing the said period of sixty days no account shall be taken of any period during which the House is prorogued or is adjourned for more than four consecutive days.
1. See the Prohibition of Simultaneous Membership Rules, 1950, published with the Ministry of Law Notification No. F.46/50-C, dated the 26th January, 1950, Gazette of India, Extraordinary, p.678
Section 191. Disqualifications for membership.
(1) A person shall be disqualifed for being chosen as, and for being, a member of the Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council of a State-
(a) If he holds any office of profit under the Government of India or the Government of any State specified in the First Schedule, other than an office declared by the Legislature of the State by law not to disqualify its holder;
(b) If he is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent court;
(c) If he is an undischarged insolvent;
(d) If he is not a citizen of India, or has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of a foreign State, or is under any acknowledgment of allegiance or adherence to a foreign State;
(e) If he is so disqualified by or under any law made by Parliament.
1[Explanation.- For the purposes of this clause], a person shall not be deemed to hold an office of profit under the Government of India or the Government of any State specified in the First Schedule by reason only that he is a Minister either for the Union or for such State.
2[(2) A person shall be disqualified for being a member of the Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council of a State if he is so disqualified under the Tenth Schedule.]
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Fifty-second Amendment) Act, 1985, s. 5, for “(2) For the purposes of this article” (w.e.f. 1-3-1985).
2. Ins. by s. 5, the Constitution (Fifty-second Amendment) Act, 1985 (w.e.f. 1-3-1985).
Section 192. Decision on questions as to disqualifications of members.
1[192. Decision on questions as to disqualifications of members.
(1) If any question arises as to whether a member of a House of the Legislature of a State has become subject to any of the disqualifications mentioned in clause (1) of article 191, the question shall be referred for the decision of the Governor and his decision shall be final.
(2) Before giving any decision on any such question, the Governor shall obtain the opinion of the Election Commission and shall act according to such opinion.]
1. Art. 192 has been successively subs. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 33 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977) and the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 25 to read as above (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
Section 193. Penalty for sitting and voting before making oath or affirmation under article 188 or when not qualified or when disqualified.
If a person sits or votes as a member of the Legislative Assembly or the Legislative Council of a State before he has complied with the requirements of article 188, or when he knows that he is not qualified or that he is disqualified for membership thereof, or that he is prohibited from so doing by the provisions of any law made by Parliament or the Legislature of the State, he shall be liable in respect of each day on which he so sits or votes to a penalty of five hundred rupees to be recovered as a debt due to the State.
Section 194. Powers, privileges, etc., of the Houses of Legislatures and of the members and committees thereof.
(1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution and to the rules and standing orders regulating the procedure of the Legislature, there shall be freedom of speech in the Legislature of every State.
(2) No member of the Legislature of a State shall be liable to any proceedings in any court in respect of anything said or any vote given by him in the Legislature or any committee thereof, and no person shall be so liable in respect of the publication by or under the authority of a House of such a Legislature of any report, paper, votes or proceedings.
(3) In other respects, the powers, privileges and immunities of a House of the Legislature of a State, and of the members and the committees of a House of such Legislature, shall be such as may from time to time be defined by the Legislature by law, and, until so defined,1[shall be those of that House and of its members and committees immediately before the coming into force of section 26 of the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978].
(4) The provisions of clauses (1), (2) and (3) shall apply in relation to persons who by virtue of this Constitution have the right to speak in, and otherwise to take part in the proceedings of, a House of the Legislature of a State or any committee thereof as they apply in relation to members of that Legislature.
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 26, for certain words (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
Section 195. Salaries and allowances of members.
Members of the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council of a State shall be entitled to receive such salaries and allowances as may from time to time be determined, by the Legislature of the State by law and, until provision in that respect is so made, salaries and allowances at such rates and upon such conditions as were immediately before the commencement of this Constitution applicable in the case of members of the Legislative Assembly of the corresponding Province.
Section 196. Provisions as to introduction and passing of Bills.
(1) Subject to the provisions of articles 198 and 207 with respect to Money Bills and other financial Bills, a Bill may originate in either House of the Legislature of a State which has a Legislative Council.
(2) Subject to the provisions of articles 197 and articles 198 , a Bill shall not be deemed to have been passed by the Houses of the Legislature of a State having a Legislative Council unless it has been agreed to by both Houses, either without amemdment or with such amendments only as are agreed to by both Houses.
(3) A Bill pending in the Legislature of a State shall not lapse by reason of the prorogation of the House or Houses thereof.
(4) A Bill pending in the Legislative Council of a State which has not been passed by the Legislative Assembly shall not lapse on a dissolution of the Assembly.
(5) A Bill which is pending in the Legislative Assembly of a State, or which having been passed by the Legislative Assembly is pending in the Legislative Council, shall lapse on a dissolution of the Assembly.
Section 197. Restriction on powers of Legislative Council as to Bills other than Money Bills.
(1) If after a Bill has been passed by the Legislative Assembly of a State having a Legislative Council and transmitted to the Legislative Council-
(a) The Bill is rejected by the Council; or
(b) More than three months elapse from the date on which the Bill is laid before the Council without the Bill being passed by it; or
(c) The Bill is passed by the Council with amendments to which the Legislative Assembly does not agree;
The Legislative Assembly may, subject to the rules regulating its procedure, pass the Bill again in the same or in any subsequent session with or without such amendments, if any, as have been made, suggested or agreed to by the Legislative Council and then transmit the Bill as so passed to the Legislative Council.
(2) If after a Bill has been so passed for the second time by the Legislative Assembly and transmitted to the Legislative Council-
(a) The Bill is rejected by the Council; or
(b) More than one month elapses from the date on which the Bill is laid before the Council without the Bill being passed by it; or
(c) The Bill is passed by the Council with amendments to which the Legislative Assembly does not agree;
The Bill shall be deemed to have been passed by the Houses of the Legislature of the State in the form in which it was passed by the Legislative Assembly for the second time with such amendments, if any, as have been made or suggested by the Legislative Council and agreed to by the Legislative Assembly.
(3) Nothing in this article shall apply to a Money Bill.
Section 198. Special procedure in respect of Money Bills.
(1) A Money Bill shall not be introduced in a Legislative Council.
(2) After a Money Bill has been passed by the Legislative Assembly of a State having a Legislative Council, it shall be transmitted to the Legislative Council for its recommendations, and the Legislative Council shall within a period of fourteen days from the date of its receipt of the Bill return the Bill to the Legislative Assembly with its recommendations, and the Legislative Assembly may thereupon either accept or reject all or any of the recommendations of the Legislative Council.
(3) If the legislative Assembly accepts any of the recommendations of the Legislative Council, the Money Bill shall be deemed to have been passed by both Houses with the amendments recommended by the Legislative Council and accepted by the Legislative Assembly.
(4) If the Legislative Assembly does not accept any of the recommendations of the Legislative Council, the Money Bill shall be deemed to have been passed by both Houses in the form in which it was passed by the Legislative Assembly without any of the amendments recommended by the Legislative Council.
(5) If a Money Bill passed by the Legislative Assembly and transmitted to the Legislative Council for its recommendations is not returned to the Legislative Assembly within the said period of fourteen days, it shall be deemed to have been passed by both Houses at the expiration of the said period in the form in which it was passed by the Legislative Assembly.
Section 199. Definition of “Money Bills”.
(1) For the purposes of this Chapter, a Bill shall be deemed to be a Money Bill if it contains only provisions dealing with all or any of the following matters, namely: -
(a) The imposition, abolition, remission, alteration or regulation of any tax;
(b) The regulation of the borrowing of money or the giving of any gurantee by the State, or the amendment of the law with respect to any financial obligations undertaken or to be undertaken by the State;
(c) The custody of the Consolidated Fund or the Contingency Fund of the State, the payment of moneys into or the withdrawal of moneys from any such Fund;
(d) The appropriation of moneys out of the Consolidated Fund of the State;
(e) The declaring of any expenditure to be expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund of the State, or the increasing of the amount of any such expenditure;
(f) The receipt of money on account of the Consolidated Fund of the State or the public account of the State or the custody or issue of such money; or
(g) Any matter incidental to any of the matters specified in sub-clauses (a) to (f).
(2) A Bill shall not be deemed to be a Money Bill by reason only that it provides for the imposition of fines or other pecuniary penalties, or for the demand or payment of fees for licences or fees for services rendered, or by reason that it provides for the imposition, abolition, remission, alteration or regulation of any tax by any local authority or body for local purposes.
(3) If any question arises whether a Bill introduced in the Legislature of a State which has a Legislative Council is a Money Bill or not, the decision of the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of such State thereon shall be final.
(4) There shall be endorsed on every Money Bill when it is transmitted to the Legislative Council under article 198, and when it is presented to the Governor for assent under article 200, the certificate of the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly signed by him that it is a Money Bill.
Section 200. Assent to Bills.
When a Bill has been passed by the Legislative Assembly of a State or, in the case of a State having a Legislative Council, has been passed by both Houses of the Legislature of the State, it shall be presented to the Governor and the Governor shall declare either that he assents to the Bill or that he withholds assent therefrom or that he reserves the Bill for the consideration of the President:
Provided that the Governor may, as soon as possible after the presentation to him of the Bill for assent, return the Bill if it is not a Money Bill together with a message requesting that the House or Houses will reconsider the Bill or any specified provisions thereof and, in particular, will consider the desirability of introducing any such amendments as he may recommend in his message and, when a Bill is so returned, the House or Houses shall reconsider the Bill accordingly, and if the Bill is passed again by the House or Houses with or without amendment and presented to the Governor for assent, the Governor shall not withhold assent therefrom:
Provided further that the Governor shall not assent to, but shall reserve for the consideration of the President, any Bill which in the opinion of the Governor would, if it became law, so derogate from the powers of the High Court as to endanger the position which that Court is by this Constitution designed to fill.
Section 201. Bills reserved for consideration.
When a Bill is reserved by a Governor for the consideration of the President, the President shall declare either that he assents to the Bill or that he withholds assent therefrom:
Provided that, where the Bill is not a Money Bill, the President may direct the Governor to return the Bill to the House or, as the case may be, the Houses of the Legislature of the State together with such a message as is mentioned in the first proviso to article 200 and, when a Bill is so returned, the House or Houses shall reconsider it accordingly within a period of six months from the date of receipt of such message and, if it is again passed by the House or Houses with or without amendment, it shall be presented again to the President for his consideration.
Section 202. Annual financial statement.
(1) The Governor shall in respect of every financial year cause to be laid before the House or Houses of the Legislature of the State a statement of the estimated receipts and expenditure of the State for that year, in this Part referred to as the “annual financial statement”.
(2) The estimates of expenditure embodied in the annual financial statement shall show separately-
(a) The sums required to meet expenditure described by this Constitution as expenditure charged upon the Consolidated Fund of the State; and
(b) The sums required to meet other expenditure proposed to be made from the Consolidated Fund of the State;
And shall distinguish expenditure on revenue account from other expenditure.
(3) The following expenditure shall be expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund of each State-
(a) The emoluments and allowances of the Governor and other expenditure relating to his office;
(b) The salaries and allowances of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and, in the case of a State having a Legislative Council, also of the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council;
(c) Debt charges for which the State is liable including interest, sinking fund charges and redemption charges, and other expenditure relating to the raising of loans and the service and redemption of debt;
(d) Expenditure in respect of the salaries and allowances of Judges of any High Court;
(e) Any sums required to satisfy any judgment, decree or award of any court or arbitral tribunal;
(f) Any other expenditure declared by this Constitution, or by the Legislature of the State by law, to be so charged.
Section 203. Procedure in Legislature with respect to estimates.
(1) So much of the estimates as relates to expenditure charged upon the Consolidated Fund of a State shall not be submitted to the vote of the Legislative Assembly, but nothing in this clause shall be construed as preventing the discussion in the Legislature of any of those estimates.
(2) So much of the said estimates as relates to other expenditure shall be submitted in the form of demands for grants to the Legislative Assembly, and the Legislative Assembly shall have power to assent, or to refuse to assent, to any demand, or to assent to any demand subject to a reduction of the amount specified therein.
(3) No demand for a grant shall be made except on the recommendation of the Governor.
Section 204. Appropriation Bills.
(1) As soon as may be after the grants under article 203 have been made by the Assembly, there shall be introduced a Bill to provide for the appropriation out of the Consolidated Fund of the State of all moneys required to meet-
(a) The grants so made by the Assembly; and
(b) The expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund of the State but not exceeding in any case the amount shown in the statement previously laid before the House or Houses.
(2) No amendment shall be proposed to any such Bill in the House or either House of the Legislature of the State which will have the effect of varying the amount or altering the destination of any grant so made or of varying the amount of any expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund of the State, and the decision of the person presiding as to whether an amendment is inadmissible under this clause shall be final.
(3) Subject to the provisions of article 205 and 206, no money shall be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund of the State except under appropriation made by law passed in accordance with the provisions of this article.
Section 205. Supplementary additional or excess grants.
(1) The Governor shall-
(a) If the amount authorised by any law made in accordance with the provisions of article 204 to be expended for a particular service for the current financial year is found to be insufficient for the purposes of that year or when a need has arisen during the current financial year for supplementary or additional expenditure upon some new service not contemplated in the annual financial statement for that year, or
(b) If any money has been spent on any service during a financial year in excess of the amount granted for that service and for that year,
cause to be laid before the House or the Houses of the Legislature of the State another statement showing the estimated amount of that expenditure or cause to be presented to the Legislative assembly of the State a demand for such excess, as the case may be.
(2) The provisions of articles 202, 203 and 204 shall have effect in relation to any such statement and expenditure or demand and also to any law to be made authorising the appropriation of moneys out of the Consolidated Fund of the State to meet such expenditure or the grant in respect of such demand as they have effect in relation to the annual financial statement and the expenditure mentioned therein or to a demand for a grant and the law to be made for the authorisation of appropriation of moneys out of the Consolidated Fund of the State to meet such expenditure or grant.
Section 206. Votes on account, votes of credit and exceptional grants.
(1) Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this Chapter, the Legislative Assembly of a State shall have power-
(a) To make any grant in advance in respect of the estimated expenditure for a part of any financial year pending the completion of the procedure prescribed in article 203 for the voting of such grant and the passing of the law in accordance with the provisions of article 204 in relation to that expenditure;
(b) To make a grant for meeting an unexpected demand upon the resources of the State when on account of the magnitude or the indefinite character of the service the demand cannot be stated with the details ordinarily given in an annual financial statement;
(c) To make an exceptional grant which forms no part of the current service of any financial year;
And the Legislature of the State shall have power to authorise by law the withdrawal of moneys from the Consolidated Fund of the State for the purposes for which the said grants are made.
(2) The provisions of articles 203 and 204 shall have effect in relation to the making of any grant under clause (1) and to any law to be made under that clause as they have effect in relation to the making of a grant with regard to any expenditure mentioned in the annual financial statement and the law to be made for the authorisation of appropriation of moneys out of the Consolidated Fund of the State to meet such expenditure.
Section 207. Special provisions as to financial Bills.
(1) A Bill or amendment making provision for any of the matters specified in sub-clauses (a) to (f) of clause (1) of article 199 shall not be introduced or moved except on the recommendation of the Governor, and a Bill making such provision shall not be introduced in a Legislative Council:
Provided that no recommendation shall be required under this clause for the moving of an amendment making provision for the reduction or abolition of any tax.
(2) A Bill or amendment shall not be deemed to make provision for any of the matters aforesaid by reason only that it provides for the imposition of fines or other pecuniary penalties, or for the demand or payment of fees for licences or fees for services rendered, or by reason that it provides for the imposition, abolition, remission, alteration or regulation of any tax by any local authority or body for local purposes.
(3) A Bill which, if enacted and brought into operation, would involve expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of a State shall not be passed by a House of the Legislature of the State unless the Governor has recommended to that House the consideration of the Bill.
Section 208. Rules of procedure.
(1) A House of the Legislature of a State may make rules for regulating, subject to the provisions of this Constitution, its procedure and the conduct of its business.
(2) Until rules are made under clause (1), the rules of procedure and standing orders in force immediately before the commencement of this Constitution with respect to the Legislature for the corresponding Province shall have effect in relation to the Legislature of the State subject to such modifications and adaptations as may be made therein by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, or the Chairman of the Legislative Council, as the case may be.
(3) In a State having a Legislative Council the Governor, after consultation with the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and the Chairman of the Legislative Council, may make rules as to the procedure with respect to communications between the two Houses.
Section 209. Regulation by law of procedure in the Legislature of the State in relation to financial business.
The Legislature of a State may, for the purpose of the timely completion of financial business, regulate by law the procedure of, and the conduct of business in, the House or Houses of the Legislature of the State in relation to any financial matter or to any Bill for the appropriation of moneys out of the Consolidated Fund of the State, and, if and so far as any provision of any law so made is inconsistent with any rule made by the House or either House of the Legislature of the State under clause (1) of article 208 or with any rule or standing order having effect in relation to the Legislature of the State under clause (2) of that article, such provision shall prevail.
Section 210. Language to be used in the Legislature.
(1) Notwithstanding anything in Part XVII, but subject to the provisions of article 348, business in the Legislature of a State shall be transacted in the official language or languages of the State or in Hindi or in English:
Provided that the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly or Chairman of the Legislative Council, or person acting as such, as the case may be, may permit any member who cannot adequately express himself in any of the languages aforesaid to address the House in his mother-tongue.
(2) Unless the Legislature of the State by law otherwise provides, this article shall, after the expiration of a period of fifteen years from the commencement of this Constitution, have effect as if the words “or in English” were omitted therefrom:
1[Provided that in relation to the 2[Legislatures of the States of Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura] this clause shall have effect as if for the words “fifteen years” occurring therein, the words “twenty-five years” were substituted:]
3[Provided further that in relation to the 4[Legislatures of the States of 5[Arunachal Pradesh, Goa and Mizoram]], this clause shall have effect as if for the words “fifteen years” occurring therein, the words “forty years” were substituted.]
1. Ins. by the State of Himachal Pradesh Act, 1970 (53 of 1970), s. 46 (w.e.f. 25-1-1971).
2. Subs. by the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971 (81 of 1971), s. 71, for “Legislature of the State of Himachal Pradesh” (w.e.f. 21-1-1972).
3. Ins. by the State of Mizoram Act, 1986 (34 of 1986), s. 39 (w.e.f. 20-2-1987).
4. `Subs. by the State of Arunachal Pradesh Act, 1986 (69 of 1986), s. 42, for “Legislature of the State of Mizoram” (w.e.f. 20-2-1987).
5. Subs. by the Goa, Daman and Diu (Reorganisation) Act, 1987 (18 of 1987), s. 63, for “Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram” (w.e.f. 30-5-1987).
Section 211. Restriction on discussion in the Legislature.
No discussion shall take place in the Legislature of a State with respect to the conduct of any Judge of the Supreme Court or of a High Court in the discharge of his duties.
Section 212. Courts not to inquire into proceedings of the Legislature.
(1) The validity of any proceedings in the Legislature of a State shall not be called in question on the ground of any alleged irregularity of procedure.
(2) No officer or member of the Legislature of a State in whom powers are vested by or under this Constitution for regulating procedure or the conduct of business, or for maintaining order, in the Legislature shall be subject to the jurisdiction of any court in respect of the exercise by him of those powers.
Section 213. Power of Governor to promulgate Ordinances during recess of Legislature.
(1) If at any time, except when the Legislative Assembly of a State is in session, or where there is a Legislative Council in a State, except when both Houses of the Legislature are in session, the Governor is satisfied that circumstances exist which render it necessary for him to take immediate action, he may promulgate such Ordinances as the circumstances appear to him to require:
Provided that the Governor shall not, without instructions from the President, promulgate any such Ordinance if-
(a) A Bill containing the same provisions would under this Constitution have required the previous sanction of the President for the introduction thereof into the Legislature; or
(b) He would have deemed it necessary to reserve a Bill containing the same provisions for the consideration of the President; or
(c) An Act of the Legislature of the State containing the same provisions would under this Constitution have been invalid unless, having been reserved for the consideration of the President, it had received the assent of the President.
(2) An Ordinance promulgated under this article shall have the same force and effect as an Act of the Legislature of the State assented to by the Governor, but every such Ordinance-
(a) Shall be laid before the Legislative Assembly of the State, or where there is a Legislative Council in the State, before both the Houses, and shall cease to operate at the expiration of six weeks from the reassembly of the Legislature, or if before the expiration of that period a resolution disapproving it is passed by the Legislative Assembly and agreed to by the Legislative Council, if any, upon the passing of the resolution or, as the case may be, on the resolution being agreed to by the Council; and
(b) May be withdrawn at any time by the Governor.
Explanation. Where the Houses of the Legislature of a State having a Legislative Council are summoned to reassemble on different dates, the period of six weeks shall be reckoned from the later of those dates for the purposes of this clause.
(3) If and so far as an Ordinance under this article makes any provision which would not be valid if enacted in an Act of the Legislature of the State assented to by the Governor, it shall be void:
Provided that, for the purposes of the provisions of this Constitution relating to the effect of an Act of the Legislature of a State which is repugnant to an Act of Parliament or an existing law with respect to a matter enumerated in the Concurrent List, an Ordinance promulgated under this article in pursuance of instructions from the President shall be deemed to be an Act of the Legislature of the State which has been reserved for the consideration of the President and assented to by him.
1. Cl. (4) was ins. by the Constitution (Thirty-eighth Amendment) Act, 1975, s. 3 (retrospectively) and omitted by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 27 (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
Section 214. High Courts for States.
1[***] There shall be a High Court for each State.
2[***]
1. The brackets and figure “(1)” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch.
2. Cls. (2) and (3) omitted by s. 29 and Sch., the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956
Section 215. High Courts to be courts of record
Every High Court shall be a court of record and shall have all the powers of such a court including the power to punish for contempt of itself.
Section 216. Constitution of High Courts
Every High Court shall consist of a Chief Justice and such other Judges as the President may from time to time deem it necessary to appoint.
1[***]
1. Proviso omitted by s. 11, the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956.
Section 217. Appointment and conditions of the office of a Judge of a High Court
(1) Every Judge of a High Court shall be appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal after consultation with the Chief Justice of India, the Governor of the State, and, in the case of appointment of a Judge other than the Chief Justice, the Chief Justice of the High Court, and 1[shall hold office, in the case of an additional or acting Judge, as provided in article 224, and in any other case, until he attains the age of 2[sixty-two years]]:
Provided that-
(a) A Judge may, by writing under his hand addressed to the President, resign his office;
(b) A Judge may be removed from his office by the President in the manner provided in clause (4) of article 124 for the removal of a Judge of the Supreme Court;
(c) The office of a Judge shall be vacated by his being appointed by the President to be a Judge of the Supreme Court or by his being transferred by the President to any other High Court within the territory of India.
(2) A person shall not be qualified for appointment as a Judge of a High Court unless he is a citizen of India and-
(a) Has for at least ten years held a judicial office in the territory of India; or
(b) Has for at least ten years been an advocate of a High Court 3[***] or of two or more such Courts in succession; 4[***]
Explanation. For the purposes of this clause-
5[(a) In computing the period during which a person has held judicial office in the territory of India, there shall be included any period, after he has held any judicial office, during which the person has been an advocate of a High Court or has held the office of a member of a tribunal or any post, under the Union or a State, requiring special knowledge of law;]
6[(aa)] In computing the period during which a person has been an advocate of a High Court, there shall be included any period during which the person 7[has held judicial office or the office of a member of a tribunal or any post, under the Union or a State, requiring special knowledge of law] after he became an advocate;
(b) In computing the period during which a person has held judicial office in the territory of India or been an advocate of a High Court, there shall be included any period before the commencement of this Constitution during which he has held judicial office in any area which was comprised before the fifteenth day of August, 1947, within India as defined by the Government of India Act, 1935, or has been an advocate of any High Court in any such area, as the case may be.
8[(3) If any question arises as to the age of a Judge of a High Court, the question shall be decided by the President after consultation with the Chief Justice of India and the decision of the President shall be final.]
1. Subs. by s. 12, ibid., for “shall hold office until he attains the age of sixty years”.
2. Subs. by the Constitution (Fifteenth Amendment) Act, 1963, s. 4, for “sixty years”.
3. The words “in any State specified in the First Schedule” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch.
4. The word “or” and sub-clause (c) were ins. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 36 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977) and omitted by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 28 (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
5. Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 28 (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
6. Cl. (a) re-lettered as cl. (aa) by s. 28, the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978. (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
7. Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 36, for “has held judicial office” (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
8. Ins. by the Constitution (Fifteenth Amendment) Act, 1963, s. 4 (with retrospective effect).
Section 218. Application of certain provisions relating to Supreme Court to High Courts
The provisions of clauses (4) and (5) of article 124 shall apply in relation to a High Court as they apply in relation to the Supreme Court with the substitution of references to the High Court for references to the Supreme Court.
Section 219. Oath or affirmation by Judges of High Courts
Every person appointed to be a Judge of a High Court 1[***] shall, before he enters upon his office, make and subscribe before the Governor of the State, or some person appointed in that behalf by him, an oath or affirmation according to the form set out for the purpose in the Third Schedule.
1. The words “in a State” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch.
Section 220. Restriction on practice after being a permanent Judge
1[220. Restriction on practice after being a permanent Judge.
No person who, after the commencement of this Constitution, has held office as a permanent Judge of a High Court shall plead or act in any court or before any authority in India except the Supreme Court and the other High Courts.
Explanation. In this article, the expression “High Court” does not include a High Court for a State specified in Part B of the First Schedule as it existed before the commencement2 of the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956.]
1. Subs. by s. 13, the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, for art. 220.
2. 1st November, 1956.
Section 221. Salaries, etc., of Judges
1[(1) There shall be paid to the Judges of each High Court such salaries as may be determined by Parliament by law and, until provision in that behalf is so made, such salaries as are specified in the Second Schedule.]
(2) Every Judge shall be entitled to such allowances and to such rights in respect of leave of absence and pension as may from time to time be determined by or under law made by Parliament and, until so determined, to such allowances and rights as are specified in the Second Schedule:
Provided that neither the allowances of a Judge nor his rights in respect of leave of absence or pension shall be varied to his disadvantage after his appointment.
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Fifty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1986, s. 3, for cl. (1) (w.e.f. 1-4-1986).
Section 222. Transfer of a Judge from one High Court to another
(1) The President may, after consultation with the Chief Justice of India, transfer a Judge from one High Court to any other High Court 1[***].
2[(2) When a Judge has been or is so transferred, he shall, during the period he serves, after the commencement of the Constitution (Fifteenth Amendment) Act, 1963, as a Judge of the other High Court, be entitled to receive in addition to his salary such compensatory allowance as may be determined by Parliament by law and, until so determined, such compensatory allowance as the President may by order fix.]
1. The words “within the territory of India” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 14.
2. Ins. by the Constitution (Fifteenth Amendment) Act, 1963, s. 5. Original Cl. (2) was omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 14.
Section 223. Appointment of acting Chief Justice
When the office of Chief Justice of a High Court is vacant or when any such Chief Justice is, by reason of absence or otherwise, unable to perform the duties of his office, the duties of the office shall be performed by such one of the other Judges of the Court as the President may appoint for the purpose.
Section 224. Appointment of additional and acting Judges
1[224. Appointment of additional and acting Judges.
(1) If by reason of any temporary increase in the business of a High Court or by reason of arrears of work therein, it appears to the President that the number of the Judges of that Court should be for the time being increased, the President may appoint duly qualified persons to be additional Judges of the Court for such period not exceeding two years as he may specify.
(2) When any Judge of a High Court other than the Chief Justice is by reason of absence or for any other reason unable to perform the duties of his office or is appointed to act temporarily as Chief Justice, the President may appoint a duly qualified person to act as a Judge of that Court until the permanent Judge has resumed his duties.
(3) No person appointed as an additional or acting Judge of a High Court shall hold office after attaining the age of 2[sixty-two years].]
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 15, for art. 224.
2. Subs. by the Constitution (Fifteenth Amendment) Act, 1963, s. 6, for “sixty years”.
Section 224A. Appointment of retired Judges at sittings of High Courts
1[224A. Appointment of retired Judges at sittings of High Courts.
Notwithstanding anything in this Chapter, the Chief Justice of a High Court for any State may at any time, with the previous consent of the President, request any person who has held the office of a Judge of that Court or of any other High Court to sit and act as a Judge of the High Court for that State, and every such person so requested shall, while so sitting and acting, be entitled to such allowances as the President may by order determine and have all the jurisdiction, powers and privileges of, but shall not otherwise be deemed to be, a Judge of that High Court:
Provided that nothing in this article shall be deemed to require any such person as aforesaid to sit and act as a Judge of that High Court unless he consents so to do.]
1. Ins. by s. 7, the Constitution (Fifteenth Amendment) Act, 1963.
Section 225. Jurisdiction of existing High Courts
Subject to the provisions of this Constitution and to the provisions of any law of the appropriate Legislature made by virtue of powers conferred on that Legislature by this Constitution, the jurisdiction of, and the law administered in, any existing High Court, and the respective powers of the Judges thereof in relation to the administration of justice in the Court, including any power to make rules of Court and to regulate the sittings of the Court and of members thereof sitting alone or in Division Courts, shall be the same as immediately before the commencement of this Constitution:
1[Provided that any restriction to which the exercise of original jurisdiction by any of the High Courts with respect to any matter concerning the revenue or concerning any act ordered or done in the collection thereof was subject immediately before the commencement of this Constitution shall no longer apply to the exercise of such jurisdiction.]
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 29 (w.e.f. 20-6-1979). Original proviso was omitted by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 37 (w.e.f. 1-2-1977).
Section 226. Power of High Courts to issue certain writs
1[226. Power of High Courts to issue certain writs.
(1) Notwithstanding anything in article 32 2[***] every High Court shall have power, throughout the territories in relation to which it exercises jurisdiction, to issue to any person or authority, including in appropriate cases, any Government, within those territories directions, orders or writs, including 3[writs in the nature of habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, quo warranto and certiorari, or any of them, for the enforcement of any of the rights conferred by Part III and for any other purpose.]
(2) The power conferred by clause (1) to issue directions, orders or writs to any Government, authority or person may also be exercised by any High Court exercising jurisdiction in relation to the territories within which the cause of action, wholly or in part, arises for the exercise of such power, notwithstanding that the seat of such Government or authority or the residence of such person is not within those territories.
4[(3) Where any party against whom an interim order, whether by way of injunction or stay or in any other manner, is made on, or in any proceedings relating to, a petition under clause (1), without-
(a) Furnishing to such party copies of such petition and all documents in support of the plea for such interim order; and
Section 226A. Constitutional validity of Central laws not to be considered in proceedings under article 226
1[226A. Constitutional validity of Central laws not to be considered in proceedings under article 226.]
Rep. by the Constitution (Forty-third Amendment) Act, 1977, s. 8 (w.e.f. 13-4-1978).
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 39 (w.e.f. 1-2-1977).
Section 227. Power of superintendence over all courts by the High Court
1[(1) Every High Court shall have superintendence over all courts and tribunals throughout the territories in relation to which it exercises jurisdiction.]
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provision, the High Court may-
(a) Call for returns from such courts;
(b) Make and issue general rules and prescribe forms for regulating the practice and proceedings of such courts; and
(c) Prescribe forms in which books, entries and accounts shall be kept by the officers of any such courts.
(3) The High Court may also settle tables of fees to be allowed to the sheriff and all clerks and officers of such courts and to attorneys, advocates and pleaders practising therein:
Provided that any rules made, forms prescribed or tables settled under clause (2) or clause (3) shall not be inconsistent with the provision of any law for the time being in force, and shall require the previous approval of the Governor.
Section 228. Transfer of certain cases to High Court
If the High Court is satisfied that a case pending in a court subordinate to it involves a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of this Constitution the determination of which is necessary for the disposal of the case, 1[it shall withdraw the case and 2*** may-]
(a) Either dispose of the case itself, or
(b) Determine the said question of law and return the case to the court from which the case has been so withdrawn together with a copy of its judgment on such question, and the said court shall on receipt thereof proceed to dispose of the case in conformity with such judgment.
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 41, for “it shall withdraw the case and may-” (w.e.f. 1-2-1977)
2. The words, figures and letter “subject to the provisions of article 131A, “omitted by the Constitution (Forty-third Amendment) Act, 1977, s.9 (w.e.f. 13-4-1978).
Section 228A. Special provisions as to disposal of questions relating to constitutional validity of State laws
1228A. Special provisions as to disposal of questions relating to constitutional validity of State laws.
Rep. by the Constitution (Forty-third Amendment) Act, 1977, s. 10 (w.e.f. 13-4-1978).
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 42 (w.e.f. 1-2-1977).
Section 229. Officers and servants and the expenses of High Courts.
(1) Appointments of officers and servants of a High Court shall be made by the Chief Justice of the Court or such other Judge or officer of the Court as he may direct:
Provided that the Governor of the State 1[***] may by rule require that in such cases as may be specified in the rule no person not already attached to the Court shall be appointed to any office connected with the Court save after consultation with the State Public Service Commission.
(2) Subject to the provisions of any law made by the Legislature of the State, the conditions of service of officers and servants of a High Court shall be such as may be prescribed by rules made by the Chief Justice of the Court or by some other Judge or officer of the Court authorised by the Chief Justice to make rules for the purpose:
Provided that the rules made under this clause shall, so far as they relate to salaries, allowances, leave or pensions, require the approval of the Governor of the State 1[***].
(3) The administrative expenses of a High Court, including all salaries, allowances and pensions payable to or in respect of the officers and servants of the Court, shall be charged upon the Consolidated Fund of the State, and any fees or other moneys taken by the Court shall form part of that Fund.
1. The words “in which the High Court has its principal seat” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch.
Section 230. Extension of jurisdiction of High Courts to Union territories.
1[230. Extension of jurisdiction of High Courts to Union territories.
(1) Parliament may by law extend the jurisdiction of a High Court to, or exclude the jurisdiction of a High Court from, any Union territory.
(2) Where the High Court of a State exercises jurisdiction in relation to a Union territory,-
(a) Nothing in this Constitution shall be construed as empowering the Legislature of the State to increase, restrict or abolish that jurisdiction; and
(b) The reference in article 227 to the Governor shall, in relation to any rules, forms or tables for subordinate courts in that territory, be construed as a reference to the President.
1. Subs. by s. 16, the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, for arts. 230, 231 and 232.
Section 231. Establishment of a common High Court for two or more States.
(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the preceding provisions of this Chapter, Parliament may by law establish a common High Court for two or more States or for two or more States and a Union territory.
(2) In relation to any such High Court, -
(a) The reference in article 217 to the Governor of the State shall be construed as a reference to the Governors of all the States in relation to which the High Court exercises jurisdiction;
(b) The reference in article 227 to the Governor shall, in relation to any rules, forms or tables for subordinate courts, be construed as a reference to the Governor of the State in which the subordinate courts are situate; and
(c) The references in article 219 and 229 to the State shall be construed as a reference to the State in which the High Court has its principal seat:
Provided that if such principal seat is in a Union territory, the references in article 219 and 229 to the Governor, Public Service Commission, Legislature and Consolidated Fund of the State shall be construed respectively as references to the President, Union Public Service Commission, Parliament and Consolidated Fund of India.]
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec. 16, for article 230.
Section 232. Omitted
Omitted vide Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956
Section 233. Appointment of district judges.
(1) Appointments of persons to be, and the posting and promotion of, district judges in any State shall be made by the Governor of the State in consultation with the High Court exercising jurisdiction in relation to such State.
(2) A person not already in the service of the Union or of the State shall only be eligible to be appointed a district judge if he has been for not less than seven years an advocate or a pleader and is recommended by the High Court for appointment.
Section 233A. Validation of appointments of, and judgments, etc., delivered by, certain district judges.
1[233A. Validation of appointments of, and judgments, etc., delivered by, certain district judges.
Notwithstanding any judgment, decree or order of any court, -
(a) (i) No appointment of any person already in the judicial service of a State or of any person who has been for not less than seven years an advocate or a pleader, to be a district judge in that State, and
(ii) No posting, promotion or transfer of any such person as a district judge,
Made at any time before the commencement of the Constitution (Twentieth Amendment) Act, 1966, otherwise than in accordance with the provisions of article 233 or article 235 shall be deemed to be illegal or void or ever to have become illegal or void by reason only of the fact that such appointment, posting, promotion or transfer was not made in accordance with the said provisions;
(b) No jurisdiction exercised, no judgment, decree, sentence or order passed or made, and no other act or proceeding done or taken, before the commencement of the Constitution (Twentieth Amendment) Act, 1966 by, or before, any person appointed, posted, promoted or transferred as a district judge in any State otherwise than in accordance with the provisions of article 233 or article 235 shall be deemed to be illegal or invalid or ever to have become illegal or invalid by reason only of the fact that such appointment, posting, promotion or transfer was not made in accordance with the said provisions.]
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Twentieth Amendment) Act, 1966, s. 2.
Section 234. Recruitment of persons other than district judges to the judicial service.
Appointments of persons other than district judges to the judicial service of a State shall be made by the Governor of the State in accordance with rules made by him in that behalf after consultation with the State Public Service Commission and with the High Court exercising jurisdiction in relation to such State.
Section 235. Control over subordinate courts.
The control over district courts and courts subordinate thereto including the posting and promotion of, and the grant of leave to, persons belonging to the judicial service of a State and holding any post inferior to the post of district judge shall be vested in the High Court, but nothing in this article shall be construed as taking away from any such person any right of appeal which he may have under the law regulating the conditions of his service or as authorising the High Court to deal with him otherwise than in accordance with the conditions of his service prescribed under such law
Section 236. Interpretation.
In this Chapter-
(a) The expression “district judge” includes judge of a city civil court, additional district judge, joint district judge, assistant district judge, chief judge of a small cause court, chief presidency magistrate, additional chief presidency magistrate, session’s judge, additional sessions judge and assistant sessions Judge;
(b) The expression “judicial service” means a service consisting exclusively of persons intended to fill the post of district judge and other civil judicial posts inferior to the post of district judge.
Section 237. Application of the provisions of this Chapter to certain class or classes of magistrates.
The Governor may by public notification direct that the foregoing provisions of this Chapter and any rules made thereunder shall with effect from such date as may be fixed by him in that behalf apply in relation to any class or classes of magistrates in the State as they apply in relation to persons appointed to the judicial service of the State subject to such exceptions and modifications as may be specified in the notification.
Section 238. Repealed.
[The States in Part B of the First Schedule]. Rep. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch.
Section 239. Administration of Union territories.
1 [239. Administration of Union territories.
(1) Save as otherwise provided by Parliament by law, every Union territory shall be administered by the President acting, to such extent as he thinks fit, through an administrator to be appointed by him with such designation as he may specify.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in Part VI, the President may appoint the Governor of a State as the administrator of an adjoining Union territory, and where a Governor is so appointed, he shall exercise his functions as such administrator independently of his Council of Ministers.
2. Subs. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec. 17, for art. 239.
Section 239A. Creation of local Legislatures or Council of Ministers or both for certain Union territories.
1[239A. Creation of local Legislatures or Council of Ministers or both for certain Union territories.
(1) Parliament may by law create 2[for the Union territory of Pondicherry]-
(a) A body, whether elected or partly nominated and partly elected, to function as a Legislature for the Union territory, or
(b) A Council of Ministers,
Or both with such constitution, powers and functions, in each case, as may be specified in the law.
(2) Any such law as is referred to in clause (1) shall not be deemed to be an amendment of this Constitution for the purposes of article 368 notwithstanding that it contains any provision which amends or has the effect of amending this Constitution.]
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Fourteenth Amendment) Act, 1962, s. 4.
2. Subs. by the Goa, Daman and Diu Reoranisation Act, 1987 (18 of 1987), s. 63, for “for any of the Union territories of Goa, Daman and Diu and Pondicherry” (w.e.f. 30-5-1987).
Section 239AA. Special provisions with respect to Delhi.
1[239AA. Special provisions with respect to Delhi.
(1) As from the date of commencement of the Constitution (Sixty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1991, the Union territory of Delhi shall be called the National Capital Territory of Delhi (hereafter in this Part referred to as the National Capital Territory) and the administrator thereof appointed under article 239 shall be designated as the Lieutenant Governor.
(2) (a) There shall be a Legislative Assembly for the National Capital Territory and the seats in such Assembly shall be filled by members chosen by direct election from territorial constituencies in the National Capital Territory.
(b) The total number of seats in the Legislative Assembly, the number of seats reserved for Scheduled Castes, the division of the National Capital Territory into territorial constituencies (including the basis for such division) and all other matters relating to the functioning of the Legislative Assembly shall be regulated by law made by Parliament.
(c) The provisions of articles 324 to 327 and 329 shall apply in relation to the National Capital Territory, Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory and the members thereof as they apply, in relation to a State, the Legislative Assembly of a State and the members thereof respectively; and any reference in articles 326 and 329 to “appropriate Legislature” shall be deemed to be a reference to Parliament.
(3) (a) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Legislative Assembly shall have power to make laws for the whole or any part of the National Capital Territory with respect to any of the matters enumerated in the State List or in the Concurrent List in so far as any such matter is applicable to Union territories except matters with respect to Entries 1, 2 and 18 of the State List and Entries 64, 65 and 66 of that List in so far as they relate to the said Entries 1, 2, and 18.
(b) Nothing in sub-clause (a) shall derogate from the powers of Parliament under this Constitution to make laws with respect to any matter for a Union territory or any part thereof.
(c) If any provision of a law made by the Legislative Assembly with respect to any matter is repugnant to any provision of a law made by Parliament with respect to that matter, whether passed before or after the law made by the Legislative Assembly, or of an earlier law, other than a law made by the Legislative Assembly, then, in either case, the law made by Parliament, or, as the case may be, such earlier law, shall prevail and the law made by the Legislative Assembly shall, to the extent of the repugnancy, be void:
Provided that if any such law made by the Legislative Assembly has been reserved for the consideration of the President and has received his assent, such law shall prevail in the National Capital Territory:
Provided further that nothing in this sub-clause shall prevent Parliament from enacting at any time any law with respect to the same matter including a law adding to, amending, varying or repealing the law so made by the Legislative Assembly.
(4) There shall be a Council of Ministers consisting of not more than ten per cent. of the total number of members in the Legislative Assembly, with the Chief Minister at the head to aid and advise the Lieutenant Governor in the exercise of his functions in relation to matters with respect to which the Legislative Assembly has power to make laws, except in so far as he is, by or under any law, required to act in his discretion:
Provided that in the case of difference of opinion between the Lieutenant Governor and his Ministers on any matter, the Lieutenant Governor shall refer it to the President for decision and act according to the decision given thereon by the President and pending such decision it shall be competent for the Lieutenant Governor in any case where the matter, in his opinion, is so urgent that it is necessary for him to take immediate action, to take such action or to give such direction in the matter as he deems necessary.
(5) The Chief Minister shall be appointed by the President and the other Ministers shall be appointed by the President on the advice of the Chief Minister and the Ministers shall hold office during the pleasure of the President.
(6) The Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the Legislative Assembly.
2[(7) (a)] Parliament may, by law, make provisions for giving effect to, or supplementing the provisions contained in the foregoing clauses and for all matters incidental or consequential thereto.
3[(b) Any such law as is referred to in sub-clause (a) shall not be deemed to be an amendment of this Constitution for the purposes of article 368 notwithstanding that it contains any provision which amends or has the effect of amending, this Constitution.]
(8) The provisions of article 239B shall, so far as may be, apply in relation to the National Capital Territory, the Lieutenant Governor and the Legislative Assembly, as they apply in relation to the Union territory of Pondicherry, the administrator and its Legislature, respectively; and any reference in that article to “clause (1) of article 239A” shall be deemed to be a reference to this article or article 239AB, as the case may be.
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Sixty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1991, s. 2 (w.e.f. 1-2-1992).
2. Subs. by the Constitution (Seventieth Amendment) Act, 1992, s.3, for “(7)” (w.e.f. 21-12-1991).
3. Ins. by s. 3, the Constitution (Seventieth Amendment) Act, 1992, (w.e.f. 21-12-1991).
Section 239AB. Provision in case of failure of constitutional machinery
If the President, on receipt of a report from the Lieutenant Governor or otherwise, is satisfied-
(a) That a situation has arisen in which the administration of the National Capital Territory cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of article 239AA or of any law made in pursuance of that article; or
(b) That for the proper administration of the National Capital Territory it is necessary or expedient so to do,
The President may by order suspend the operation of any provision of article 239AA or of all or any of the provisions of any law made in pursuance of that article for such period and subject to such conditions as may be specified in such law and make such incidental and consequential provisions as may appear to him to be necessary or expedient for administering the National Capital Territory in accordance with the provisions of article 239 and article 239AA.]
Section 239B. Power of administrator to promulgate Ordinances during recess of Legislature
1[239B. Power of administrator to promulgate Ordinances during recess of Legislature.
(1) If at any time, except when the Legislature of 2the Union territory of 3[Pondicherry] is in session, the administrator thereof is satisfied that circumstances exist which render it necessary for him to take immediate action, he may promulgate such Ordinances as the circumstances appear to him to require:
Provided that no such Ordinance shall be promulgated by the administrator except after obtaining instructions from the President in that behalf:
Provided further that whenever the said Legislature is dissolved, or its functioning remains suspended on account of any action taken under any such law as is referred to in clause (1) of article 239A, the administrator shall not promulgate any Ordinance during the period of such dissolution or suspension.
(2) An Ordinance promulgated under this article in pursuance of instructions from the President shall be deemed to be an Act of the Legislature of the Union territory which has been duly enacted after complying with the provisions in that behalf contained in any such law as is referred to in clause (1) of article 239A, but every such Ordinance-
(a) Shall be laid before the Legislature of the Union territory and shall cease to operate at the expiration of six weeks from the reassembly of the Legislature or if, before the expiration of that period, a resolution disapproving it is passed by the Legislature, upon the passing of the resolution; and
(b) May be withdrawn at any time by the administrator after obtaining instructions from the President in that behalf.
(3) If and so far as an Ordinance under this article makes any provision which would not be valid if enacted in an Act of the Legislature of the Union territory made after complying with the provisions in that behalf contained in any such law as is referred to in clause (1) of article 239A, it shall be void.]
4[* * * *]
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Twenty-seventh Amendment) Act, 1971, sec. 3 (w.e.f. 30-12-1971).
2. Subs. by the Goa, Daman and Diu Reorganisation Act, 1987 (18 of 1987), s. 63, for “a Union territory referred to in clause (1) of article 239A” (w.e.f. 30-5-1987).
3. Subs. by the Pondicherry (Alteration of Name) Act, 2006 (44 of 2006), sec. 4, for “Pondicherry” (w.e.f. 1-10-2006).
4. Cl. (4) was ins by the Constitution (Thirty-eighth Amendment) Act, 1975, s. 4 (retrospectively) and omitted by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 32 (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
Section 240. Power of President to make regulations for certain Union territories
1[240. Power of President to make regulations for certain Union territories.
(1) The President may make regulations for the peace, progress and good government of the Union territory of-
(a) The Andaman and Nicobar Islands;
2[(b) Lakshadweep;]
3[(c) Dadra and Nagar Haveli;]
4[(d) Daman and Diu;]
5[(e)6 Pondicherry:]
7[* * * * *]
8[* * * * *]
9[Provided that when any body is created under article 239A to function as a Legislature for the 10[Union territory of 11[Pondicherry]], the President shall not make any regulation for the peace, progress and good government of that Union territory with effect from the date appointed for the first meeting of the Legislature:]
12[Provided further that whenever the body functioning as a Legislature for the Union territory of 11[Pondicherry] is dissolved, or the functioning of that body as such Legislature remains suspended on account of any action taken under any such law as is referred to in clause (1) of article 239A, the President may, during the period of such dissolution or suspension, make regulations for the peace, progress and good government of that Union territory.]
(2) Any regulation so made may repeal or amend any Act made by Parliament or 13[any other law] which is for the time being applicable to the Union territory and, when promulgated by the President, shall have the same force and effect as an Act of Parliament which applies to that territory.]
1. Subs. by the Laccadive, Minicoy and Aminidivi Islands Alteration of Name) Act, 1973 (34 of 1973), s. 4, for entry (b) (w.e.f. 1-11-1973).
2. Ins. by the Constitution (Tenth Amendment) Act, 1961, s. 3.
3. Subs. by the Goa, Daman and Diu Reorganisation Act, 1987 (18 of 1987), s. 63, for entry (d) (w.e.f. 30-5-1987). Entry (d) was ins. by the Constitution (Twelfth Amendment) Act, 1962, s. 3.
4. Ins. by the Constitution (Fourteenth Amendment) Act, 1962, ss. 5 and 7 (w.e.f. 16-8-1962).
5. The entry (f) relating to Mizoram omitted by the State of Mizoram Act, 1986 (34 of 1986), s. 39 (w.e.f. 20-2-1987).
6. The entry (g) relating to Arunachal Pradesh omitted by the State of Arunachal Pradesh Act, 1986 (69 of 1986), s. 42 (w.e.f. 20-2-1987).
7. Ins. by the Constitution (Fourteenth Amendment) Act, 1962, s. 5.
8. Subs. by the Constitution (Twenty-seventh Amendment) Act, 1971, s. 4, for “Union territory of Goa, Daman and Diu or Pondicherry” (w.e.f. 15-2-1972).
9. Subs. by the Goa, Daman and Diu Reorganisation Act, 1987 (18 of 1987), s. 63, for “Goa, Daman and Diu or Pondicherry” (w.e.f. 30-5-1987).
10. Ins. by the Constitution (Twenty-seventh Amendment) Act, 1971, s. 4 (w.e.f. 15-2-1972).
11. Subs. by the Constitution (Twenty-seventh Amendment) Act, 1971, s. 4 (w.e.f. 15-2-1972).
12. Subs. by the Constitution (Twenty Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec. 17, for art. 240.
13. Subs. by the Constitution (Twenty-seventh Amendment) Act, 1971, sec. 4, for “any existing law” (w.e.f. 15-2-1972).
Section 241. High Courts for Union territories
(1) Parliament may by law constitute a High Court for a 1[Union territory] or declare any court in any 2[such territory] to be a High Court for all or any of the purposes of this Constitution.
(2) The provisions of Chapter V of Part VI shall apply in relation to every High Court referred to in clause (1) as they apply in relation to a High Court referred to in article 214 subject to such modifications or exceptions as Parliament may by law provide.
3[(3) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution and to the provisions of any law of the appropriate Legislature made by virtue of powers conferred on that Legislature by or under this Constitution, every High Court exercising jurisdiction immediately before the commencement of the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, in relation to any Union territory shall continue to exercise such jurisdiction in relation to that territory after such commencement.
(4) Nothing in this article derogates from the power of Parliament to extend or exclude the jurisdiction of a High Court for a State to, or from, any Union territory or part thereof.]
1. Subs. by s. 29 and Sch., the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, for “State specified in Part C of the First Schedule
2. Subs. by s. 29 and Sch., the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, for “such State”.
3. Subs. by s. 29 and Sch., the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, for cls. (3) and (4).
Section 242. Coorg
Rep. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch.
Section 243. Definitions
1243. Definitions.
In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires, -
(a) “District” means a district in a State;
(b) “Gram Sabha” means a body consisting of persons registered in the electoral rolls relating to a village comprised within the area of Panchayat at the village level;
(c) “Intermediate level” means a level between the village and district levels specified by the Governor of a State by public notification to be the intermediate level for the purposes of this Part;
(d) “Panchayat” means an institution (by whatever name called) of self-government constituted under article 243B, for the rural areas;
(e) “Panchayat area” means the territorial area of a Panchayat;
(f) “Population” means the population as ascertained at the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published;
(g) “Village” means a village specified by the Governor by public notification to be a village for the purposes of this Part and includes a group of villages so specified.
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Seventy-third Amendment) Act, 1992, s. 2 (w.e.f. 24-4-1993).
Section 243A. Gram Sabha
1[243A. Gram Sabha. —A Gram Sabha may exercise such powers and perform such functions at the village level as the Legislature of a State may, by law, provide.]
1. Ins. by the Constitution ( seventy- third Amendment) Act, 1992 (w. e. f 24-4-1993). Earlier part ix dealing with territories in part D of the first schedule was replealed by the constitution ( seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec.29 and sch.
Section 243B. Constitution of Panchayats
1243B. Constitution of Panchayats
(1) There shall be constituted in every State, Panchayats at the village, intermediate and district levels in accordance with the provisions of this Part.
(2) Notwithstanding anything in clause (1), Panchayats at the intermediate level may not be constituted in a State having a population not exceeding twenty lakhs.
1. Ins. by the Constitution ( seventy- third Amendment) Act, 1992 (w. e. f 24-4-1993). Earlier part ix dealing with territories in part D of the first schedule was replealed by the constitution ( seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec.29 and sch.
Section 243C. Composition of Panchayats
1[243C. Composition of Panchayats. —(1) Subject to the provisions of this Part, the Legislature of a State may, by law, make provisions with respect to the composition of Panchayats:
Provided that the ratio between the population of the territorial area of a Panchayat at any level and the number of seats in such Panchayat to be filled by election shall, so far as practicable, be the same throughout the State.
(2) All the seats in a Panchayat shall be filled by persons chosen by direct election from territorial constituencies in the Panchayat area and, for this purpose, each Panchayat area shall be divided into territorial constituencies in such manner that the ratio between the population of each constituency and the number of seats allotted to it shall, so far as practicable, be the same throughout the Panchayat area.
(3) The Legislature of a State may, by law, provide for the representation—
(a) of the Chairpersons of the Panchayats at the village level, in the Panchayats at the intermediate level or, in the case of a State not having Panchayats at the intermediate level, in the Panchayats at the district level;
(b) of the Chairpersons of the Panchayats at the intermediate level, in the Panchayats at the district level;
(c) of the members of the House of the People and the members of the Legislative Assembly of the State representing constituencies which comprise wholly or partly a Panchayat area at a level other than the village level, in such Panchayat;
(d) of the members of the Council of States and the members of the Legislative Council of the State, where they are registered as electors within—
(i) a Panchayat area at the intermediate level, in Panchayat at the intermediate level;
(ii) a Panchayat area at the district level, in Panchayat at the district level.
(4) The Chairperson of a Panchayat and other members of a Panchayat whether or not chosen by direct election from territorial constituencies in the Panchayat area shall have the right to vote in the meetings of the Panchayats.
(5) The Chairperson of—
(a) Panchayat at the village level shall be elected in such manner as the Legislature of a State may, by law, provide; and
(b) a Panchayat at the intermediate level or district level, shall be elected by, and from amongst, the elected members thereof.]
1. Ins. by the Constitution ( seventy- third Amendment) Act, 1992 (w. e. f 24-4-1993). Earlier part ix dealing with territories in part D of the first schedule was replealed by the constitution ( seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec.29 and sch.
Section 243D. Reservation of seats
1[243D. Reservation of seats. —(1) Seats shall be reserved for—
(a) the Scheduled Castes; and
(b) the Scheduled Tribes,
in every Panchayat and the number of seats so reserved shall bear, as nearly as may be, the same proportion to the total number of seats to be filled by direct election in that Panchayat as the population of the Scheduled Castes in that Panchayat area or of the Scheduled Tribes in that Panchayat area bears to the total population of that area and such seats may be allotted by rotation to different constituencies in a Panchayat.
(2) Not less than one-third of the total number of seats reserved under clause (1) shall be reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes or, as the case may be, the Scheduled Tribes.
(3) Not less than one-third (including the number of seats reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes) of the total number of seats to be filled by direct election in every Panchayat shall be reserved for women and such seats may be allotted by rotation to different constituencies in a Panchayat.
(4) The offices of the Chairpersons in the Panchayats at the village or any other level shall be reserved for the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and women in such manner as the Legislature of a State may, by law, provide:
Provided that the number of offices of Chairpersons reserved for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in the Panchayats at each level in any State shall bear, as nearly as may be, the same proportion to the total number of such offices in the Panchayats at each level as the population of the Scheduled Castes in the State or of the Scheduled Tribes in the State bears to the total population of the State:
Provided further that not less than one-third of the total number of offices of Chairpersons in the Panchayats at each level shall be reserved for women:
Provided also that the number of offices reserved under this clause shall be allotted by rotation to different Panchayats at each level.
(5) The reservation of seats under clauses (1) and (2) and the reservation of offices of Chairpersons (other than the reservation for women) under clause (4) shall cease to have effect on the expiration of the period specified in article 334.
(6) Nothing in this Part shall prevent the Legislature of a State from making any provision for reservation of seats in any Panchayat or offices of Chairpersons in the Panchayats at any level in favour of backward class of citizens.]
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1. Ins. by the Constitution ( seventy- third Amendment) Act, 1992 (w. e. f 24-4-1993). Earlier part ix dealing with territories in part D of the first schedule was replealed by the constitution ( seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec.29 and sch.
Section 243E. Duration of Panchayats, etc.
1[243E. Duration of Panchayats, etc. —(1) Every Panchayat, unless sooner dissolved under any law for the time being in force, shall continue for five years from the date appointed for its first meeting and no longer.
(2) No amendment of any law for the time being in force shall have the effect of causing dissolution of a Panchayat at any level, which is functioning immediately before such amendment, till the expiration of its duration specified in clause (1).
(3) An election to constitute a Panchayat shall be completed—
(a) before the expiry of its duration specified in clause (1);
(b) before the expiration of a period of six months from the date of its dissolution:
Provided that where the remainder of the period for which the dissolved Panchayat would have continued is less than six months, it shall not be necessary to hold any election under this clause for constituting the Panchayat for such period.
(4) A Panchayat constituted upon the dissolution of a Panchayat before the expiration of its duration shall continue only for the remainder of the period for which the dissolved Panchayat would have continued under clause (1) had it not been so dissolved.
———-
1. Ins. by the Constitution ( seventy- third Amendment) Act, 1992 (w. e. f 24-4-1993). Earlier part ix dealing with territories in part D of the first schedule was replealed by the constitution ( seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec.29 and sch.
Section 243F. Disqualifications for membership
1[243F. Disqualifications for membership
(1) A person shall be disqualified for being chosen as, and for being, a member of a Panchayat—
(a) if he is so disqualified by or under any law for the time being in force for the purposes of elections to the Legislature of the State concerned:
Provided that no person shall be disqualified on the ground that be is less than twenty-five years of age, if he has attained the age of twenty-one years;
(b) if he is so disqualified by or under any law made by the Legislature of the State.
(2) If any question arises as to whether a member of a Panchayat has become subject to any of the disqualifications mentioned in clause (1), the question shall be referred for the decision of such authority and in such manner as the Legislature of a State may, by law, provide.]
1. Ins. by the Constitution ( seventy- third Amendment) Act, 1992 (w. e. f 24-4-1993). Earlier part ix dealing with territories in part D of the first schedule was replealed by the constitution ( seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec.29 and sch.
Section 243G. Powers, authority and responsibilities of Panchayat
1[243G. Powers, authority and responsibilities of Panchayat. —
Subject to the provisions of this Constitution the Legislature of a State may, by law, endow the Panchayats with such powers and authority and may be necessary to enable them to function as institutions of self-government and such law may contain provisions for the devolution of powers and responsibilities upon Panchayats, at the appropriate level, subject to such conditions as may be specified therein, with respect to—
(a) the preparation of plans for economic development and social justice;
(b) the implementation of schemes for economic development and social justice as may be entrusted to them including those in relation to the matters listed in the Eleventh Schedule.]
1. Ins. by the Constitution ( seventy- third Amendment) Act, 1992 (w. e. f 24-4-1993). Earlier part ix dealing with territories in part D of the first schedule was replealed by the constitution ( seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec.29 and sch.
Section 243H. Powers to impose taxes by, and Funds of, the Panchayats
1[243H. Powers to impose taxes by, and Funds of, the Panchayats.
The Legislature of a State may, by law,—
(a) authorise a Panchayat to levy, collect and appropriate such taxes, duties, tolls and fees in accordance with such procedure and subject to such limits;
(b) assign to a Panchayat such taxes, duties, tolls and fees levied and collected by the State Government for such purposes and subject to such conditions and limits;
(c) provide for making such grants-in-aid to the Panchayats from the Consolidated Fund of the State; and
(d) provide for constitution of such Funds for crediting all moneys received, respectively, by or on behalf of the Panchayats and also for the withdrawal of such moneys therefrom, as may be specified in the law.]
1. Ins. by the Constitution ( seventy- third Amendment) Act, 1992 (w. e. f 24-4-1993). Earlier part ix dealing with territories in part D of the first schedule was replealed by the constitution ( seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec.29 and sch.
Section 243-I. Constitution of Finance Commission to review financial position
1[243-I. Constitution of Finance Commission to review financial position.
(1) The Governor of a State shall, as soon as may be within one year from the commencement of the Constitution (Seventy-third Amendment) Act, 1992, and thereafter at the expiration of every fifth year, constitute a Finance Commission to review the financial position of the Panchayats and to make recommendations to the Governor as to—
(a) the principles which should govern—
(i) the distribution between the State and the Panchayats of the net proceeds of the taxes, duties, tolls and fees leviable by the State, which may be divided between them under this Part and the allocation between the Panchayats at all levels of their respective shares of such proceeds;
(ii) the determination of the taxes, duties, tolls and fees which may be assigned to, or appropriated by, the Panchayats;
(iii) the grants-in-aid to the Panchayats from the Consolidated Fund of the State;
(b) the measures needed to improve the financial position of the Panchayats;
(c) any other matter referred to the Finance Commission by the Governor in the interests of sound finance of the Panchayats.
(2) The Legislature of a State may, by law, provide for the composition of the Commission, the qualifications which shall be requisite for appointment as members thereof and the manner in which they shall be selected.
(3) The Commission shall determine their procedure and shall have such powers in the performance of their functions as the Legislature of the State may, by law, confer on them.
(4) The Governor shall cause every recommendation made by the Commission under this article together with an explanatory memorandum as to the action taken thereon to be laid before the Legislature of the State.]
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1. Ins. by the Constitution ( seventy- third Amendment) Act, 1992 (w. e. f 24-4-1993). Earlier part ix dealing with territories in part D of the first schedule was replealed by the constitution ( seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec.29 and sch.
Section 243J. Audit of accounts of Panchayats
1[243J. Audit of accounts of Panchayats. —The Legislature of a State may, by law, make provisions with respect to the maintenance of accounts by the Panchayats and the auditing of such accounts.]
———-
1. Ins. by the Constitution ( seventy- third Amendment) Act, 1992 (w. e. f 24-4-1993). Earlier part ix dealing with territories in part D of the first schedule was replealed by the constitution ( seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec.29 and sch.
Section 243K. Elections to the Panchayats
1[243K. Elections to the Panchayats. —The superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for, and the conduct of, all elections to the Panchayats shall be vested in a State Election
Commission consisting of a State Election Commissioner to be appointed by the Governor.
(2) Subject to the provisions of any law made by the Legislature of a State the conditions of service and tenure of office of the State Election Commissioner shall be such as the Governor may by rule determine:
Provided that the State Election Commissioner shall not be removed from his office except in like manner and on the like ground as a Judge of a High Court and the conditions of service of the State Election Commissioner shall not be varied to his disadvantage after his appointment.
(3) The Governor of a State shall, when so requested by the State Election Commission, make available to the State Election Commission such staff as may be necessary for the discharge of the functions conferred on the State Election Commission by clause (1).
(4) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Legislature of a State may, by law, make provision with respect to all matters relating to, or in connection with, elections to the Panchayats.]
———-
1. Ins. by the Constitution ( seventy- third Amendment) Act, 1992 (w. e. f 24-4-1993). Earlier part ix dealing with territories in part D of the first schedule was replealed by the constitution (seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec.29 and sch.
Section 243L. Application to Union territories.
1[243L. Application to Union territories. —The provisions of this Part shall apply to the Union territories and shall, in their application to a Union territory, have effect as if the references to the Governor of a State were references to the Administrator of the Union territory appointed under 239 and references to the Legislature or the Legislative Assembly of a State were references, in relation to a Union territory having a Legislative Assembly, to that Legislative Assembly:
Provided that the President may, by public notification, direct that the provisions of this Part shall apply to any Union territory or part thereof subject to such exceptions and modifications as he may specify in the notification.]
———-
1. Ins. by the Constitution ( seventy- third Amendment) Act, 1992 (w. e. f 24-4-1993). Earlier part ix dealing with territories in part D of the first schedule was replealed by the constitution ( seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec.29 and sch.
Section 243M. Part not to apply to certain areas
1[243M. Part not to apply to certain areas. —(1) Nothing in this Part shall apply to the Scheduled Areas referred to in clause (1), and the tribal areas referred to in clause (2), of article 244.
(2) Nothing in this Part shall apply to—
(a) the States of Nagaland , Meghalaya and Mizoram;
(b) the hill areas in the State of Manipur for which District Councils exist under any law for the time being in force.
(3) Nothing in this Part—
(a) relating to Panchayats at the district level shall apply to the hill areas of the District of Darjeeling in the State of West Bengal for which Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council exists under any law for the time being in force;
(b) shall be construed to affect the functions and powers of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council constituted under such law.
2 [(3A) Nothing in article 243D, relating to reservation of seats for the Scheduled Castes, shall apply to the State of Arunachal Pradesh.]
(4) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution—
(a) the Legislature of a State referred to in sub-clause (a) of clause (2)
may, by law, extend this Part to that State, except the areas, if any,
referred to in clause (1), if the Legislative Assembly of that State passes a resolution to that effect by a majority of the total membership of that House and by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members of that House present and voting;
(b) Parliament may, by law, extend the provisions of this Part to the Scheduled Areas and the tribal areas referred to in clause (1) subject to such exceptions and modifications as may be specified in such law, and no such law shall be deemed to be an amendment of this Constitution for the purposes of article 368.]
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1. Ins. by the Constitution ( seventy- third Amendment) Act, 1992 (w. e. f 24-4-1993). Earlier part ix dealing with territories in part D of the first schedule was replealed by the constitution ( seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec.29 and sch.
2. Ins. by the Constitution (Eighty-third Amendment) Act, 2000, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 8-9-2000).
Section 243N. Continuance of existing laws and Panchayats
1[243N. Continuance of existing laws and Panchayats. —
Notwithstanding anything in this Part, any provision of any law relating to Panchayats in force in a State immediately before commencement of the Constitution (Seventy-third Amendment) Act, 1992, which is inconsistent with the provisions of this Part, shall continue to be in force until amended or repealed by a competent Legislature or other competent authority or until the expiration of one year from such commencement whichever is earlier:
Provided that all the Panchayats existing immediately before such commencement shall continue till the expiration of their duration, unless sooner dissolved by a resolution passed to that effect by the Legislative Assembly of that State or, in the case of a State having a Legislative Council, by each House of the Legislature of that State.]
———-
1. Ins. by the Constitution ( seventy- third Amendment) Act, 1992 (w. e. f 24-4-1993). Earlier part ix dealing with territories in part D of the first schedule was replealed by the constitution ( seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec.29 and sch.
Section 243-O. Bar to interference by courts in electoral matters
1243-O. Bar to interference by courts in electoral matters.
Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, -
(a) The validity of any law relating to the delimitation of constituencies or the allotment of seats to such constituencies, made or purporting to be made under article 243K, shall not be called in question in any court;
(b) No election to any Panchayat shall be called in question except by an election petition presented to such authority and in such manner as is provided for by or under any law made by the Legislature of a State.]
1. Ins. by the Constitution ( seventy- third Amendment) Act, 1992 (w. e. f 24-4-1993). Earlier part ix dealing with territories in part D of the first schedule was replealed by the constitution ( seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec.29 and sch.
Section 243P. Definitions
*243P. Definitions.
In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires, -
(a) “Committee” means a Committee constituted under article 243S;
(b) “District” means a district in a State;
(c) “Metropolitan area” means an area having a population of ten lakhs or more, comprised in one or more districts and consisting of two or more Municipalities or Panchayats or other contiguous areas, specified by the Governor by public notification to be a Metropolitan area for the purposes of this Part;
(d) “Municipal area” means the territorial area of a Municipality as is notified by the Governor;
(e) “Municipality” means an institution of self-government constituted under article 243Q;
(f) “Panchayat” means a Panchayat constituted under article 243B;
(g) “Population” means the population as ascertained at the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published.
* Ins. by the Constitution (Seventy-fourth Amendment) Act, 1992, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 1-6-1993).
Section 243Q. Constitution of Municipalities
*[243Q. Constitution of Municipalities.—(1) There shall be constituted in every State,—
(a) a Nagar Panchayat (by whatever name called) for a transitional area, that is to say, an area in transition from a rural area to an urban area.
(b) a Municipal Council for a smaller urban area; and
(c) a Municipal Corporation for a larger urban area,
in accordance with the provisions of this Part:
Provided that a Municipality under this clause may not be constituted in such urban area or part thereof as the Governor may, having regard to the size of the area and the municipal services being provided or proposed to be provided by an industrial establishment in that area and such other factors as he may deem fit, by public notification, specify to be an industrial township.
(2) In this article, ‘a transitional area’, ‘a smaller urban area’ or ‘a larger urban area’ means such area as the Governor may, having regard to the population of the area, the density of the population therein, the revenue generated for local administration, the percentage of employment in non-agricultural activities, the economic importance or such other factors as he may deem fit, specify by public notification for the purposes of this Part.]
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* Ins. by the Constitution (Seventy-fourth Amendment) Act, 1992, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 1-6-1993).
Section 243R. Composition of Municipalities
*[243R. Composition of Municipalities.—
(1) Save as provided in clause (2), all the seats in a Municipality shall be filled by persons chosen by direct election from the territorial constituencies in the Municipal area and for this purpose each Municipal area shall be divided into territorial constituencies to be known as wards.
(2) The Legislature of a State may, by law, provide—
(a) for the representation in a Municipality of—
(i) persons having special knowledge or experience in Municipal administration;
(ii) the members of the House of the People and the members of the Legislative Assembly of the State representing constituencies which comprise wholly or partly the Municipal area;
(iii) the members of the Council of States and the members of the Legislative Council of the State registered as electors within the Municipal area;
(iv) the Chairpersons of the Committees constituted under clause (5) of article 243S:
Provided that the persons referred to in paragraph (i) shall not have the right to vote in the meetings of the Municipality;
(b) the manner of election of the Chairperson of a Municipality.
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* Ins. by the Constitution (Seventy-fourth Amendment) Act, 1992, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 1-6-1993).
Section 243S. Constitution and composition of Wards Committees, etc.
1[243S. Constitution and composition of Wards Committees, etc.—(1) There shall be constituted Wards Committees, consisting of one or more Wards, within the territorial area of a Municipality having a population of three lakhs or more.
(2) The Legislature of a State may, by law, make provision with respect to—
(a) the composition and the territorial area of a Wards Committee;
(b) the manner in which the seats in a Wards Committee shall be filled.
(3) A member of a Municipality representing a ward within the territorial area of the Wards Committee shall be a member of that Committee.
(4) Where a Wards Committee consists of—
(a) one ward, the member representing that ward in the Municipality; or
(b) two or more wards, one of the members representing such wards in the Municipality elected by the members of the Wards Committee,
shall be the Chairperson of that Committee.
(5) Nothing in this article shall be deemed to prevent the Legislature of a State from making any provision for the Constitution of Committees in addition to the Wards Committees.]
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* Ins. by the Constitution (Seventy-fourth Amendment) Act, 1992, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 1-6-1993).
Section 243T. Reservation of seats.
1[243T. Reservation of seats.—(1) Seats shall be reserved for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in every Municipality and the number of seats so reserved shall bear, as nearly as may be, the same proportion to the total number of seats to be filled by direct election in that Municipality as the population of the Scheduled Castes in the Municipal area or of the Scheduled Tribes in the Municipal area bears to the total population of that area and such seats may be allotted by rotation to different constituencies in a Municipality.
(2) Not less than one-third of the total number of seats reserved under clause (1) shall be reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes or, as the case may be, the Scheduled Tribes.
(3) Not less than one-third (including the number of seats reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes) of the total number of seats to be filled by direct election in every Municipality shall be reserved for women and such seats may be allotted by rotation to different constituencies in a Municipality.
(4) The offices of Chairpersons in the Municipalities shall be reserved for the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and women in such manner as the Legislature of a State may, by law, provide.
(5) The reservation of seats under clauses (1) and (2) and the reservation of offices of Chairpersons (other than the reservation for women) under clause (4) shall cease to have effect on the expiration of the period specified in article 334.
(6) Nothing in this Part shall prevent the Legislature of a State from making any provision for reservation of seats in any Municipality or offices of Chairpersons in the Municipalities in favour of backward class of citizens.]
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* Ins. by the Constitution (Seventy-fourth Amendment) Act, 1992, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 1-6-1993).
Section 243U. Duration of Municipalities, etc.
*[243U. Duration of Municipalities, etc.—
(1) Every Municipality, unless sooner dissolved under any law for the time being in force, shall continue for five years from the date appointed for its first meeting and no longer:
Provided that a Municipality shall be given a reasonable opportunity of being heard before its dissolution.
(2) No amendment of any law for the time being in force shall have the effect of causing dissolution of a Municipality at any level, which is functioning immediately before such amendment, till the expiration of its duration specified in clause (1).
(3) An election to constitute a Municipality shall be completed,—
(a) before the expiry of its duration specified in clause (1);
(b) before the expiration of a period of six months from the date of its dissolution:
Provided that where the remainder of the period for which the dissolved Municipality would have continued is less than six months, it shall not be necessary to hold any election under this clause for constituting the Municipality for such period.
(4) A Municipality constituted upon the dissolution of a Municipality before the expiration of its duration shall continue only for the remainder of the period for which the dissolved Municipality would have continued under clause (1) had it not been so dissolved.
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* Ins. by the Constitution (Seventy-fourth Amendment) Act, 1992, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 1-6-1993).
Section 243V. Disqualifications for membership
*[243V. Disqualifications for membership.—(1) A person shall be disqualified for being chosen as, and for being a member of a Municipality—
(a) if he is so disqualified by or under any law for the time being in force for the purposes of elections to the Legislature of the State concerned:
Provided that no person shall be disqualified on the ground that he is less than twenty-five years of age, if he has attained the age, of twenty-one years;
(b) if he is so disqualified by or under any law made by the Legislature of the State.
(2) If any question arises as to whether a member of a Municipality has become subject to any of the disqualifications mentioned in clause (1), the question shall be referred for the decision of such authority and in such manner as the Legislature of a State may, by law, provide.]
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* Ins. by the Constitution (Seventy-fourth Amendment) Act, 1992, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 1-6-1993).
Section 243W. Powers, authority and responsibilities of Municipalities
*[243W. Powers, authority and responsibilities of Municipalities, etc.—Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Legislature of a State may, by law, endow—
(a) the Municipalities with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as institutions of self-government and such law may contain provisions for the devolution of powers and responsibilities upon Municipalities, subject to such conditions as may be specified therein, with respect to—
(i) the preparation of plans for economic development and social justice;
(ii) the performance of functions and the implementation of schemes as may be entrusted to them including those in relation to the matters listed in the Twelfth Schedule;
(b) the Committees with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to carry out the responsibilities conferred upon them including those in relation to the matters listed in the Twelfth Schedule.]
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* Ins. by the Constitution (Seventy-fourth Amendment) Act, 1992, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 1-6-1993).
Section 243X. Power to impose taxes by, and Funds of, the Municipalities
*[243X. Power to impose taxes by, and Funds of, the Municipalities.—The Legislature of a State may, by law—
(a) authorise a Municipality to levy, collect and appropriate such taxes, duties, tolls and fees in accordance with such procedure and subject to such limits;
(b) assign to a Municipality such taxes, duties, tolls and fees levied and collected by the State-Government for such purposes and subject to such conditions and limits;
(c) provide for making, such grants-in-aid to the Municipalities from the Consolidated Fund of the State; and
(d) provide for constitution of such Funds for crediting all moneys received respectively, by or on behalf of the Municipalities and also for the withdrawal of such moneys therefrom,as may be specified in the law.]
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* Ins. by the Constitution (Seventy-fourth Amendment) Act, 1992, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 1-6-1993).
Section 243Y. Finance Commission
*[**243Y. Finance Commission.—(1) The Finance Commission constituted under article 243-I shall also review the financial position of the Municipalities and make recommendations to the Governor as to—
(a) the principles which should govern—
(i) the distribution between the State and the Municipalities of the net proceeds of the taxes, duties, tolls and fees leviable by the State, which may be divided between them under this Part and the allocation between the Municipalities at all levels of their respective shares of such proceeds;
(ii) the determination of the taxes, duties, tolls and fees which may be assigned to, or appropriated by, the Municipalities;
(iii) the grants-in-aid to the Municipalities from the Consolidated Fund of the State;
(b) the measures needed to improve the financial position of the Municipalities;
(c) any other matter referred to the Finance Commission by the Governor in the interests of sound finance of the Municipalities.
(2) The Governor shall cause every recommendation made by the Commission under this article together with an explanatory memorandum as to the action taken thereon to be laid before the Legislature of the State.]
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* Ins. by the Constitution (Seventy-fourth Amendment) Act, 1992, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 1-6-1993).
** In its application to the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, in clause (1) of Article 243Y, for the word “Governor”, at both the places, the word “President” shall be substituted. (Vide S.O. 615 (E), dated 21st May, 2004, published in the Gazette of India, Extra., Pt. II, Sec. 3(ii), dated 21st May, 2004).
Section 243Z. Audit of accounts of Municipalities.
*[243Z. Audit of accounts of Municipalities.—The Legislature of a State may, by law, make provisions with respect to the maintenance of accounts by the Municipalities and the auditing of such accounts.]
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* Ins. by the Constitution (Seventy-fourth Amendment) Act, 1992, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 1-6-1993).
Section 243ZA. Elections to the Municipalities.
*[243ZA. Elections to the Municipalities.—(1) The superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for, and the conduct of, all elections to the Municipalities shall be vested in the State Election Commission referred to in article 243K.
(2) Subject to provisions of this Constitution, the Legislature of a State may, by law, make provision with respect to all matters relating to, or in connection with, elections to the Municipalities.]
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* Ins. by the Constitution (Seventy-fourth Amendment) Act, 1992, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 1-6-1993).
Section 243ZB. Application to Union territories.
*[243ZB. Application to Union territories.—The provisions of this Part shall apply to the Union territories and shall, in their application to a Union territory, have effect as if the references to the Governor of a State were references to the Administrator of the Union territory appointed under article 239 and references to the Legislature or the Legislative Assembly of a State were references in relation to a Union territory having a Legislative Assembly, to that Legislative Assembly:
Provided that the President may, by public notification, direct that the provisions of this Part shall apply to any Union territory or part thereof subject to such exceptions and modifications as he may specify in the notification.]
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* Ins. by the Constitution (Seventy-fourth Amendment) Act, 1992, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 1-6-1993).
Section 243ZC. Part not to apply to certain areas
*[243ZC. Part not to apply to certain areas.—(1) Nothing in this Part shall apply to the Scheduled Areas referred to in Clause (1), and the tribal areas referred to in clause (2), of article 244.
(2) Nothing in this part shall be construed to affect the functions and powers of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council constituted under any law for the time being in force for the hill areas of the district of Darjeeling in the State of West Bengal.
(3) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, Parliament may, by law, extend the provisions of this Part to the Scheduled Areas and the Tribal Areas referred to in clause (1) subject to such exceptions and modifications as may be specified in such law, and no such law shall be deemed to be an amendment of this Constitution for the purposes of article 368.]
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* Ins. by the Constitution (Seventy-fourth Amendment) Act, 1992, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 1-6-1993).
Section 243ZD. Committee for district planning
1[243ZD. Committee for district planning.
(1) There shall be constituted in every State at the district level a District Planning Committee to consolidate the plans prepared by the Panchayats and the Municipalities in the district and to prepare a draft development plan for the district as a whole.
(2) The Legislature of a State may, by law, make provision with respect to-
(a) The composition of the District Planning Committees;
(b) The manner in which the seats in such Committees shall be filled:
Provided that not less than four-fifths of the total number of members of such Committee shall be elected by, and from amongst, the elected members of the Panchayat at the district level and of the Municipalities in the district in proportion to the ratio between the population of the rural areas and of the urban areas in the district;
(c) The functions relating to district planning, which may be assigned to such Committees;
(d) The manner in which the Chairpersons of such Committees shall be chosen.
(3) Every District Planning Committee shall, in preparing the draft development plan, -
(a) Have regard to-
(i) Matters of common interest between the Panchayats and the Municipalities including spatial planning, sharing of water and other physical and natural resources, the integrated development of infrastructure and environmental conservation;
(ii) The extent and type of available resources whether financial or otherwise;
(b) Consult such institutions and organisations as the Governor may, by order, specify.
(4) The Chairperson of every District Planning Committee shall forward the development plan, as recommended by such Committee, to the Government of the State.
1. The provisions of article 243ZD shall not apply to the National Capital Territory of Delhi, vide S.O. 1125(E), dated 12-11-2001.
Section 243ZE. Committee for Metropolitan planning
*[**243ZE. Committee for Metropolitan planning.
(1) There shall be constituted in every Metropolitan area a Metropolitan Planning Committee to prepare a draft development plan for the Metropolitan area as a whole.
(2) The Legislature of a State may, by law, make provision with respect to-
(a) The composition of the Metropolitan Planning Committees;
(b) The manner in which the seats in such Committees shall be filled:
Provided that not less than two-thirds of the members of such Committee shall be elected by, and from amongst, the elected members of the Municipalities and Chairpersons of the Panchayats in the Metropolitan area in proportion to the ratio between the population of the Municipalities and of the Panchayats in that area;
(c) The representation in such Committees of the Government of India and the Government of the State and of such organisations and institutions as may be deemed necessary for carrying out the functions assigned to such Committees;
(d) The functions relating to planning and coordination for the Metropolitan area, which may be assigned to such Committees;
(e) The manner in which the Chairpersons of such Committees shall be chosen.
(3) Every Metropolitan Planning Committee shall, in preparing the draft development plan, -
(a) Have regard to-
(i) The plans prepared by the Municipalities and the Panchayats in the Metropolitan area;
(ii) Matters of common interest between the Municipalities and the Panchayats, including coordinated spatial planning of the area, sharing of water and other physical and natural resources, the integrated development of infrastructure and environmental conservation;
(iii) The overall objectives and priorities set by the Government of India and the Government of the State;
(iv) The extent and nature of investments likely to be made in the Metropolitan area by agencies of the Government of India and of the Government of the State and other available resources whether financial or otherwise;
(b) Consult such institutions and organisations as the Governor may, by order, specify.
(4) The Chairperson of every Metropolitan Planning Committee shall forward the development plan, as recommended by such Committee, to the Government of the State.
* Ins. by the Constitution (Seventy-fourth Amendment) Act, 1992, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 1-6-1993).
** The provisions of article 243ZE shall not apply to the National Capital Territory of Delhi, vide S.O. 1125(E), dated 12-11-2001.
Section 243ZF. Continuance of existing laws and municipalities
*[243ZF. Continuance of existing laws and municipalities.—
Notwithstanding anything in this Part, any provision of any law relating to Municipalities in force in a State immediately before the commencement of the Constitution (Seventy-fourth Amendment) Act, 1992, which is inconsistent with the provisions of this Part, shall continue to be in force until amended or repealed by a competent Legislature or other competent authority or until the expiration of one year from such commencement, whichever is earlier:
Provided that all the Municipalities existing immediately before such commencement shall continue till the expiration of their duration, unless sooner dissolved by a resolution passed to that effect by the Legislative Assembly of that State or, in the case of a State having a Legislative Council, by each House of the Legislature of that State.]
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* Ins. by the Constitution (Seventy-fourth Amendment) Act, 1992, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 1-6-1993).
Section 243ZG. Bar to interference by courts in electoral
*[243ZG. Bar to interference by courts in electoral matters.—
Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution,—
(a) the validity of any law relating to the delimitation of constituencies or the allotment of seats to such constituencies, made or purporting to be made under article 243ZF shall not be called in question in any court;
(b) no election to any Municipality shall be called in question except by an election petition presented to such authority and in such manner as is provided for by or under any law made by the Legislature of a State.]
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*Ins. by the Constitution (Seventy-fourth Amendment) Act, 1992, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 1-6-1993).
Section 244. Administration of Scheduled Areas and Tribal Areas.
(1) The provisions of the Fifth Schedule shall apply to the administration and control of the Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes in any State 1[***] other than 2[the States of Assam 3[, 4[Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram]]].
(2) The provisions of the Sixth Schedule shall apply to the administration of the tribal areas in 2[the States of Assam, 3[, 5[Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram]]].
1. The words and letters “specified in Part A or Part B of the First Schedule” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch.
2. Subs. by the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971 (81 of 1971), s. 71, for “the State of Assam” (w.e.f. 21-1-1972).
3. Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1984, s. 2, for “and Meghalaya” (w.e.f. 1-4-1985).
4. Subs. by the State of Mizoram Act, 1986 (34 of 1986), s. 39, for “Meghalaya and Tripura” (w.e.f. 20-2-1987).
5. Subs. by s. 39, ibid., for “Meghalaya and Tripura and the Union territory of Mizoram” (w.e.f. 20-2-1987).
Section 244A. Formation of an autonomous State comprising certain tribal areas in Assam and creation of local Legislature or Council of Ministers or both therefor.
1[244A. Formation of an autonomous State comprising certain tribal areas in Assam and creation of local Legislature or Council of Ministers or both therefor.
(1) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, Parliament may, by law, form within the State of Assam an autonomous State comprising (whether wholly or in part) all or any of the tribal areas specified in 2[Part I] of the table appended to paragraph 20 of the Sixth Schedule and create therefor-
(a) A body, whether elected or partly nominated and partly elected, to function as a Legislature for the autonomous State, or
(b) A Council of Ministers,
Or both with such constitution, powers and functions, in each case, as may be specified in the law.
(2) Any such law as is referred to in clause (1) may, in particular, -
(a) Specify the matters enumerated in the State List or the Concurrent List with respect to which the Legislature of the autonomous State shall have power to make laws for the whole or any part thereof, whether to the exclusion of the Legislature of the State of Assam or otherwise;
(b) Define the matters with respect to which the executive power of the autonomous State shall extend;
(c) Provide that any tax levied by the State of Assam shall be assigned to the autonomous State in so far as the proceeds thereof are attributable to the autonomous State;
(d) Provide that any reference to a State in any article of this Constitution shall be construed as including a reference to the autonomous State; and
(e) Make such supplemental, incidental and consequential provisions as may be deemed necessary.
(3) An amendment of any such law as aforesaid in so far as such amendment relates to any of the matters specified in sub-clause (a) or sub-clause (b) of clause (2) shall have no effect unless the amendment is passed in each House of Parliament by not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting.
(4) Any such law as is referred to in this article shall not be deemed to be an amendment of this Constitution for the purposes of article 368 notwithstanding that it contains any provision which amends or has the effect of amending this Constitution.]
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Twenty-second Amendment) Act, 1969, s. 2.
2. Subs. by the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971 (81 of 1971), s. 71, for “Part A” (w.e.f. 21-1-1972)
Section 245. Extent of laws made by Parliament and by the Legislatures of States.
(1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, Parliament may make laws for the whole or any part of the territory of India, and the Legislature of a State may make laws for the whole or any part of the State.
(2) No law made by Parliament shall be deemed to be invalid on the ground that it would have extra-territorial operation.
Section 246. Subject-matter of laws made by Parliament and by the Legislatures of States.
(1) Notwithstanding anything in clauses (2) and (3), Parliament has exclusive power to make laws with respect to any of the matters enumerated in List I in the Seventh Schedule (in this Constitution referred to as the “Union List”).
(2) Notwithstanding anything in clause (3), Parliament, and, subject to clause (1), the Legislature of any State 1[***] also, have power to make laws with respect to any of the matters enumerated in List III in the Seventh Schedule (in this Constitution referred to as the “Concurrent List”).
(3) Subject to clauses (1) and (2), the Legislature of any State 1[***] has exclusive power to make laws for such State or any part thereof with respect to any of the matters enumerated in List II in the Seventh Schedule (in this Constitution referred to as the “State List”).
(4) Parliament has power to make laws with respect to any matter for any part of the territory of India not included 2[in a State] notwithstanding that such matter is a matter enumerated in the State List.
1. The words and letters “specified in Part A or Part B of the First Schedule” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch.
2. Subs. by s. 29 and Sch., the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, for “in Part A or Part B of the First Schedule”.
Section 247. Power of Parliament to provide for the establishment of certain additional courts.
Notwithstanding anything in this Chapter, Parliament may by law provide for the establishment of any additional courts for the better administration of laws made by Parliament or of any existing laws with respect to a matter enumerated in the Union List.
Section 248. Residuary powers of legislation.
(1) Parliament has exclusive power to make any law with respect to any matter not enumerated in the Concurrent List or State List.
(2) Such power shall include the power of making any law imposing a tax not mentioned in either of those Lists.
Section 249. Power of Parliament to legislate with respect to a matter in the State List in the national interest.
(1) Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this Chapter, if the Council of States has declared by resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting that it is necessary or expedient in the national interest that Parliament should make laws with respect to any matter enumerated in the State List specified in the resolution, it shall be lawful for Parliament to make laws for the whole or any part of the territory of India with respect to that matter while the resolution remains in force.
(2) A resolution passed under clause (1) shall remain in force for such period not exceeding one year as may be specified therein:
Provided that, if and so often as a resolution approving the continuance in force of any such resolution is passed in the manner provided in clause (1), such resolution shall continue in force for a further period of one year from the date on which under this clause it would otherwise have ceased to be in force.
(3) A law made by Parliament which Parliament would not but for the passing of a resolution under clause (1) have been competent to make shall, to the extent of the incompetency, cease to have effect on the expiration of a period of six months after the resolution has ceased to be in force, except as respects things done or omitted to be done before the expiration of the said period.
Section 250. Power of Parliament to legislate with respect to any matter in the State List if a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation.
(1) Notwithstanding anything in this Chapter, Parliament shall, while a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation, have power to make laws for the whole or any part of the territory of India with respect to any of the matters enumerated in the State List.
(2) A law made by Parliament which Parliament would not but for the issue of a Proclamation of Emergency have been competent to make shall, to the extent of the incompetency, cease to have effect on the expiration of a period of six months after the Proclamation has ceased to operate, except as respects things done or omitted to be done before the expiration of the said period.
Section 251. Inconsistency between laws made by Parliament under articles 249 and 250 and laws made by the Legislatures of States.
Nothing in articles 249 and 250 shall restrict the power of the Legislature of a State to make any law which under this Constitution it has power to make, but if any provision of a law made by the Legislature of a State is repugnant to any provision of a law made by Parliament which Parliament has under either of the said articles power to make, the law made by Parliament, whether passed before or after the law made by the Legislature of the State, shall prevail, and the law made by the Legislature of the State shall to the extent of the repugnancy, but so long only as the law made by Parliament continues to have effect, be inoperative.
Section 252. Power of Parliament to legislate for two or more States by consent and adoption of such legislation by any other State.
(1) If it appears to the Legislatures of two or more States to be desirable that any of the matters with respect to which Parliament has no power to make laws for the States except as provided in articles 249 and 250 should be regulated in such States by Parliament by law, and if resolutions to that effect are passed by all the Houses of the Legislatures of those States, it shall be lawful for Parliament to pass an Act for regulating that matter accordingly, and any Act so passed shall apply to such States and to any other State by which it is adopted afterwards by resolution passed in that behalf by the House or, where there are two Houses, by each of the Houses of the Legislature of that State.
(2) Any Act so passed by Parliament may be amended or repealed by an Act of Parliament passed or adopted in like manner but shall not, as respects any State to which it applies, be amended or repealed by an Act of the Legislature of that State.
Section 253. Legislation for giving effect to international agreements.
Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this Chapter, Parliament has power to make any law for the whole or any part of the territory of India for implementing any treaty, agreement or convention with any other country or countries or any decision made at any international conference, association or other body.
Section 254. Inconsistency between laws made by Parliament and laws made by the Legislatures of States.
(1) If any provision of a law made by the Legislature of a State is repugnant to any provision of a law made by Parliament which Parliament is competent to enact, or to any provision of an existing law with respect to one of the matters enumerated in the Concurrent List, then, subject to the provisions of clause (2), the law made by Parliament, whether passed before or after the law made by the Legislature of such State, or, as the case may be, the existing law, shall prevail and the law made by the Legislature of the State shall, to the extent of the repugnancy, be void.
(2) Where a law made by the Legislature of a State 1[***] with respect to one of the matters enumerated in the Concurrent List contains any provision repugnant to the provisions of an earlier law made by Parliament or an existing law with respect to that matter, then, the law so made by the Legislature of such State shall, if it has been reserved for the consideration of the President and has received his assent, prevail in that State:
Provided that nothing in this clause shall prevent Parliament from enacting at any time any law with respect to the same matter including a law adding to, amending, varying or repealing the law so made by the Legislature of the State.
1. The words and letters “specified in Part A or Part B of the First Schedule” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch.
Section 255. Requirements as to recommendations and previous sanctions to be regarded as matters of procedure only.
No Act of Parliament or of the Legislature of a State 1[***], and no provision in any such Act, shall be invalid by reason only that some recommendation or previous sanction required by this Constitution was not given, if assent to that Act was given-
(a) Where the recommendation required was that of the Governor, either by the Governor or by the President;
(b) Where the recommendation required was that of the Rajpramukh, either by the Rajpramukh or by the President;
(c) Where the recommendation or previous sanction required was that of the President, by the President.
1. The words and letters “specified in Part A or Part B of the First Schedule” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch.
Section 256. Obligation of States and the Union.
The executive power of every State shall be so exercised as to ensure compliance with the laws made by Parliament and any existing laws which apply in that State, and the executive power of the Union shall extend to the giving of such directions to a State as may appear to the Government of India to be necessary for that purpose.
Section 257. Control of the Union over States in certain cases.
(1) The executive power of every State shall be so exercised as not to impede or prejudice the exercise of the executive power of the Union, and the executive power of the Union shall extend to the giving of such directions to a State as may appear to the Government of India to be necessary for that purpose.
(2) The executive power of the Union shall also extend to the giving of directions to a State as to the construction and maintenance of means of communication declared in the direction to be of national or military importance:
Provided that nothing in this clause shall be taken as restricting the power of Parliament to declare highways or waterways to be national highways or national waterways or the power of the Union with respect to the highways or waterways so declared or the power of the Union to construct and maintain means of communication as part of its functions with respect to naval, military and air force works.
(3) The executive power of the Union shall also extend to the giving of directions to a State as to the measures to be taken for the protection of the railways within the State.
(4) Where in carrying out any direction given to a State under clause (2) as to the construction or maintenance of any means of communication or under clause (3) as to the measures to be taken for the protection of any railway, costs have been incurred in excess of those which would have been incurred in the discharge of the normal duties of the State if such direction had not been given, there shall be paid by the Government of India to the State such sum as may be agreed, or, in default of agreement, as may be determined by an arbitrator appointed by the Chief Justice of India, in respect of the extra costs so incurred by the State.
Section 257A. Assistance to States by deployment of armed forces or other forces of the Union.
1[257A. Assistance to States by deployment of armed forces or other forces of the Union.
Rep. by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 33 (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 43 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
Section 258. Power of the Union to confer powers, etc., on States in certain cases.
(1) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, the President may, with the consent of the Government of a State, entrust either conditionally or unconditionally to that Government or to its officer’s functions in relation to any matter to which the executive power of the Union extends.
(2) A law made by Parliament which applies in any State may, notwithstanding that it relates to a matter with respect to which the Legislature of the State has no power to make laws, confer powers and impose duties, or authorise the conferring of powers and the imposition of duties, upon the State or officers and authorities thereof.
(3) Where by virtue of this article powers and duties have been conferred or imposed upon a State or officers or authorities thereof, there shall be paid by the Government of India to the State such sum as may be agreed, or, in default of agreement, as may be determined by an arbitrator appointed by the Chief Justice of India, in respect of any extra costs of administration incurred by the State in connection with the exercise of those powers and duties.
Section 258A. Power of the States to entrust functions to the Union.
1[ 258A. Power of the States to entrust functions to the Union.
Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, the Governor of a State may, with the consent of the Government of India, entrust either conditionally or unconditionally to that Government or to its officers functions in relation to any matter to which the executive power of the State extends.]
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Seventh Amentment) Act, 1956, sec. 18.
Section 259. Armed Forces in States in Part B of the First Schedule.
Rep. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch.
Section 260. Jurisdiction of the Union in relation to territories outside India.
The Government of India may by agreement with the Government of any territory not being part of the territory of India undertake any executive, legislative or judicial functions vested in the Government of such territory, but every such agreement shall be subject to, and governed by, any law relating to the exercise of foreign jurisdiction for the time being in force
Section 261. Public acts, records and judicial proceedings.
(1) Full faith and credit shall be given throughout the territory of India to public acts, records and judicial proceedings of the Union and of every State.
(2) The manner in which and the conditions under which the acts, records and proceedings referred to in clause (1) shall be proved and the effect thereof determined shall be as provided by law made by Parliament.
(3) Final judgments or orders delivered or passed by civil courts in any part of the territory of India shall be capable of execution anywhere within that territory according to law.
Section 262. Adjudication of disputes relating to waters of inter-State rivers or river valleys.
(1) Parliament may by law provide for the adjudication of any dispute or complaint with respect to the use, distribution or control of the waters of, or in, any inter-State river or river valley.
(2) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, Parliament may by law provide that neither the Supreme Court nor any other court shall exercise jurisdiction in respect of any such dispute or complaint as is referred to in clause (1).
Section 263. Provisions with respect to an inter-State Council.
If at any time it appears to the President that the public interests would be served by the establishment of a Council charged with the duty of-
(a) Inquiring into and advising upon disputes which may have arisen between States;
(b) Investigating and discussing subjects in which some or all of the States, or the Union and one or more of the States, have a common interest; or
(c) Making recommendations upon any such subject and, in particular, recommendations for the better co-ordination of policy and action with respect to that subject,
It shall be lawful for the President by order to establish such a Council, and to define the nature of the duties to be performed by it and its organisation and procedure.
Section 264. Interpretation.
1[264. Interpretation.
In this Part, “Finance Commission” means a Finance Commission constituted under article 280.]
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec. 29 and Sch., for art. 264.
Section 265. Taxes not to be imposed save by authority of law.—
No tax shall be levied or collected except by authority of law.
Section 266. Consolidated Funds and public accounts of India and of the States.—
(1) Subject to the provisions of article 267 and to the provisions of this Chapter with respect to the assignment of the whole or part of the net proceeds of certain taxes and duties to States, all revenues received by the Government of India, all loans raised by that Government by the issue of treasury bills, loans or ways and means advances and all moneys received by that Government in repayment of loans shall form one consolidated fund to be entitled “the Consolidated Fund of India”, and all revenues received by the Government of a State, all loans raised by that Government by the issue of treasury bills, loans or ways and means advances and all moneys received by that Government in repayment of loans shall form one consolidated fund to be entitled “the Consolidated Fund of the State”.
(2) All other public moneys received by or on behalf of the Government of India or the Government of a State shall be credited to the public account of India or the public account of the State, as the case may be.
(3) No moneys out of the Consolidated Fund of India or the Consolidated Fund of a State shall be appropriated except in accordance with law and for the purposes and in the manner provided in this Constitution.
Section 267. Contingency Fund.—
(1) Parliament may by law establish a Contingency Fund in the nature of an imprest to be entitled “the Contingency Fund of India” into which shall be paid from time to time such sums as may be determined by such law, and the said Fund shall be placed at the disposal of the President to enable advances to be made by him out of such Fund for the purposes of meeting unforeseen expenditure pending authorisation of such expenditure by Parliament by law under article 115 or article 116.
(2) The Legislature of a State may by law establish a Contingency Fund in the nature of an imprest to be entitled “the Contingency Fund of the State” into which shall be paid from time to time such sums as may be determined by such law, and the said Fund shall be placed at the disposal of the Governor 1[***] of the State to enable advances to be made by him out of such Fund for the purposes of meeting unforeseen expenditure pending authorisation of such expenditure by the Legislature of the State by law under article 205 or article 206.
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1. The words “or Rajpramukh” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec. 29 and Sch.
Section 268. Duties levied by the Union but collected and appropriated by the States.
(1) Such stamp duties and such duties of excise on medicinal and toilet preparations as are mentioned in the Union List shall be levied by the Government of India but shall be collected-
(a) In the case where such duties are leviable within any 1[Union territory], by the Government of India, and
(b) In other cases, by the States within which such duties are respectively leviable.
(2) The proceeds in any financial year of any such duty leviable within any State shall not form part of the Consolidated Fund of India, but shall be assigned to that State.
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec. 29 and sch., for “State specified in Part C of the First Schedule”.
Section 268A. Service tax levied by Union and collected and appropriated by the Union and the States.
1[268A. Service tax levied by Union and collected and appropriated by the Union and the States.
(1) Taxes on service shall be levied by the Government of India and such tax shall be collected and appropriated by the Government of India and the States in the manner provided in clause (2)
(2) The proceeds in any financial year of any such tax levied in accordance with the provisions of clause (1) shall be -
(a) collected by the Government of India and the States;
(b) Appropriated by the Government of India and the States,
in accordance with such principles collection and appropriation as may be formulated by Parliament by law.]
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Eighty-eighth Amendment) Act, 2003, sec. 3.
Section 269. Taxes levied and collected by the Union but assigned to the States.
1[(1) Taxes on the sale or purchase of goods and taxes on the consignment of goods shall be levied and collected by the Government of India but shall be assigned and shall be deemed to have been assigned to the States on or after the 1st day of April, 1996 in the manner provided in clause (2).
Explanation-For the purposes of this clause, -
(a) The expression “taxes on the sale or purchase of goods” shall mean taxes on sale or purchase of goods other than newspapers, where such sale or purchase takes place in the course of inter-State trade or commerce;
(b) The expression “taxes on the consignment of goods” shall mean taxes on the consignment of goods (whether the consignment is to the person making it or to any other person), where such consignment takes place in the course of inter-State trade or commerce;
(2) The net proceeds in any financial year of any such tax, except in so far as those proceeds represent proceeds attributable to Union territories, shall not form part of the Consolidated Fund of India, but shall be assigned to the State within which that tax is leviable in that year, and shall be distributed among those States in accordance with such principles of distribution as may be formulated by Parliament by law.]
2[(3) Parliament may by law formulate principles for determining when a 3[sale or purchase of, or consignment of, goods] takes place in the course of inter-State trade or
1. Subs. By the Constitution (Eightieth Amendment) Act, 2000, s.2 for cl. (1) & (2) (w.e.f. 9.6.2000)
2. Ins. by the Constitution (Sixth Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 3.
3. Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1982, s. 2, for “sale or purchase of goods”.
Section 270. Taxes levied and distributed between the Union and the States
1[(1) All taxes and duties referred to in the Union List, except the duties and taxes referred to in 2[articles 268 and 269] respectively, surcharge on taxes and duties referred to in article 271 and any cess levied for specific purposes under any law made by Parliament shall be levied and collected by the Government of India and shall be distributed between the Union and the States in the manner provided in clause (2).
(2) Such percentage, as may be prescribed, of the net proceeds of any such tax or duty in any financial year shall not form part of the Consolidated Fund of India, but shall be assigned to the States within which that tax or duty is leviable in that year, and shall be distributed among those States in such manner and from such time as may be prescribed in the manner provided in clause (3).
(3) In this article, “Prescribed” means -
(i) Until a Finance Commission has been constituted, prescribed by the President by order, and
(ii) After a Finance Commission has been constituted, prescribed by the President by order after considering the recommendations of the Finance Commission.’]
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Eightieth Amendment) act, 2000, s.3 (w.e.f. 9.6.2000)
2. Subs. by the Constitution (Eighty-eighth Amendment) Act, 2003, sec. 3.
Section 271. Surcharge on certain duties and taxes for purposes of the Union.
Notwithstanding anything in articles 269 and 270, Parliament may at any time increase any of the duties or taxes referred to in those articles by a surcharge for purposes of the Union and the whole proceeds of any such surcharge shall form part of the Consolidated Fund of India.
Section 272. Taxes which are levied and collected by the Union and may be distributed between the Union and the State
1[272. Taxes which are levied and collected by the Union and may be distributed between the Union and the State.
Rep. by the Constitution (Eightieth Amendment) Act, 2000, sec. 4 (w.e.f. 9-6-2000).]
1. The Union duties of excise including additional duties and any other tax or duty collected and distributed by Central Government as grants-in-aid to States after 1-4-1996 and before 9-6-2000 shall be deemed to be distributed as if before 1-4-1996.
Section 273. Grants in lieu of export duty on jute and jute products.
(1) There shall be charged on the Consolidated Fund of India in each year as grants-in-aid of the revenues of the States of Assam, Bihar, Orissa and West Bengal, in lieu of assignment of any share of the net proceeds in each year of export duty on jute and jute products to those States, such sums as may be prescribed.
(2) The sums so prescribed shall continue to be charged on the Consolidated Fund of India so long as any export duty on jute or jute products continues to be levied by the Government of India or until the expiration of ten years from the commencement of this Constitution whichever is earlier.
(3) In this article, the expression “prescribed” has the same meaning as in article 270.
Section 274. Prior recommendation of President required to Bills affecting taxation in which States are interested.
(1) No Bill or amendment which imposes or varies any tax or duty in which States are interested, or which varies the meaning of the expression “agricultural income” as defined for the purposes of the enactments relating to Indian income-tax, or which affects the principles on which under any of the foregoing provisions of this Chapter moneys are or may be distributable to States, or which imposes any such surcharge for the purposes of the Union as is mentioned in the foregoing provisions of this Chapter, shall be introduced or moved in either House of Parliament except on the recommendation of the President.
(2) In this article, the expression “tax or duty in which States are interested” means-
(a) A tax or duty the whole or part of the net proceeds whereof are assigned to any State; or
(b) A tax or duty by reference to the net proceeds whereof sums are for the time being payable out of the Consolidated Fund of India to any State.
Section 275. Grants from the Union to certain States.
(1) Such sums as Parliament may by law provide shall be charged on the Consolidated Fund of India in each year as grants-in-aid of the revenues of such States as Parliament may determine to be in need of assistance, and different sums may be fixed for different States:
Provided that there shall be paid out of the Consolidated Fund of India as grants-in-aid of the revenues of a State such capital and recurring sums as may be necessary to enable that State to meet the costs of such schemes of development as may be undertaken by the State with the approval of the Government of India for the purpose of promoting the welfare of the Scheduled Tribes in that State or raising the level of administration of the Scheduled Areas therein to that of the administration of the rest of the areas of that State:
Provided further that there shall be paid out of the Consolidated Fund of India as grants-in-aid of the revenues of the State of Assam sums, capital and recurring, equivalent to-
(a) The average excess of expenditure over the revenues during the two years immediately preceeding the commencement of this Constitution in respect of the administration of the tribal areas specified in 1[Part I] of the Table appended to paragraph 20 of the Sixth Schedule; and
(b) The costs of such schemes of development as may be undertaken by that State with the approval of the Government of India for the purpose of raising the level of administration of the said areas to that of the administration of the rest of the areas of that State.
2[(1A) On and from the formation of the autonomous State under article 244A, -
(i) Any sums payable under clause (a) of the second proviso to clause (1) shall, if the autonomous State comprises all the tribal areas referred to therein, be paid to the autonomous State, and, if the autonomous State comprises only some of those tribal areas, be apportioned between the State of Assam and the autonomous State as the President may, by order, specify;
(ii) There shall be paid out of the Consolidated Fund of India as grants-in-aid of the revenues of the autonomous State sums, capital and recurring, equivalent to the costs of such schemes of development as may be undertaken by the autonomous State with the approval of the Government of India for the purpose of raising the level of administration of that State to that of the administration of the rest of the State of Assam.]
(2) Until provision is made by Parliament under clause (1), the powers conferred on Parliament under that clause shall be exercisable by the President by order and any order made by the President under this clause shall have effect subject to any provision so made by Parliament:
Provided that after a Finance Commission has been constituted no order shall be made under this clause by the President except after considering the recommendations of the Finance Commission.
1. Subs. by the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971 (81 of 1971), s. 71, for “Part A” (w.e.f. 21-1-1972).
2. Ins. by the Constitution (Twenty-second Amendment) Act, 1969, s. 3.
Section 276. Taxes on professions, trades, callings and employments.
(1) Notwithstanding anything in article 246, no law of the Legislature of a State relating to taxes for the benefit of the State or of a municipality, district board, local board or other local authority therein in respect of professions, trades, callings or employments shall be invalid on the ground that it relates to a tax on income.
(2) The total amount payable in respect of any one person to the State or to any one municipality, district board, local board or other local authority in the State by way of taxes on professions, trades, callings and employments shall not exceed 1[two thousand and five hundred rupees] per annum.
2[* * * * *]
(3) The power of the Legislature of a State to make laws as aforesaid with respect to taxes on professions, trades, callings and employments shall not be construed as limiting in any way the power of Parliament to make laws with respect to taxes on income accruing from or arising out of professions, trades, callings and employments.
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Sixtieth Amendment) Act, 1988, s. 2, for “two hundred and fifty rupees”.
2. Proviso omitted by s. 2, the Constitution (Sixtieth Amendment) Act, 1988.
Section 277. Savings.
Any taxes, duties, cesses or fees which, immediately before the commencement of this Constitution, were being lawfully levied by the Government of any State or by any municipality or other local authority or body for the purposes of the State, municipality, district or other local area may, notwithstanding that those taxes, duties, cesses or fees are mentioned in the Union List, continue to be levied and to be applied to the same purposes until provision to the contrary is made by Parliament by law.
Section 278. Agreement with States in Part B of the First Schedule with regard to certain financial matters.
Rep. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch.
Section 279. Calculation of “net proceeds”, etc.
(1) In the foregoing provisions of this Chapter, “net proceeds” means in relation to any tax or duty the proceeds thereof reduced by the cost of collection, and for the purposes of those provisions the net proceeds of any tax or duty, or of any part of any tax or duty, in or attributable to any area shall be ascertained and certified by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India, whose certificate shall be final.
(2) Subject as aforesaid, and to any other express provision of this Chapter, a law made by Parliament or an order of the President may, in any case where under this Part the proceeds of any duty or tax are, or may be, assigned to any State, provide for the manner in which the proceeds are to be calculated, for the time from or at which and the manner in which any payments are to be made, for the making of adjustments between one financial year and another, and for any other incidental or ancillary matters.
Section 280. Finance Commission.
(1) The President shall, within two years from the commencement of this Constitution and thereafter at the expiration of every fifth year or at such earlier time as the President considers necessary, by order constitute a Finance Commission which shall consist of a Chairman and four other members to be appointed by the President.
(2) Parliament may by law determine the qualifications, which shall be requisite for appointment as members of the Commission and the manner in which they shall be selected.
(3) It shall be the duty of the Commission to make recommendations to the President as to-
(a) The distribution between the Union and the States of the net proceeds of taxes which are to be, or may be, divided between them under this Chapter and the allocation between the States of the respective shares of such proceeds;
(b) The principles which should govern the grants-in-aid of the revenues of the States out of the Consolidated Fund of India;
1[(bb) The measures needed to augment the Consolidated Fund of a State to supplement the resources of the Panchayats in the State on the basis of the recommendations made by the Finance Commission of the State;]
2[(c) The measures needed to augment the Consolidated Fund of a State to supplement the resources of the Municipalities in the State on the basis of the recommendations made by the Finance Commission of the State;]
3[(d)] Any other matter referred to the Commission by the President in the interests of sound finance.
(4) The Commission shall determine their procedure and shall have such powers in the performance of their functions as Parliament may by law confer on them.
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Seventy-third Amendment) Act, 1992, s. 3 (w.e.f. 24-4-1993).
2. Ins. by the Constitution (Seventy-fourth Amendment) Act, 1992, s. 3 (w.e.f. 1-6-1993).
3. Sub-cl. (c) re-lettered as sub-cl. (d) by s. 3, the Constitution (Seventy-fourth Amendment) Act, 1992, (w.e.f. 1-6-1993).
Section 281. Recommendations of the Finance Commission.
The President shall cause every recommendation made by the Finance Commission under the provisions of this Constitution together with an explanatory memorandum as to the action taken thereon to be laid before each House of Parliament.
Miscellaneous Financial Provisions
Section 282. Expenditure defrayable by the Union or a State out of its revenues.
The Union or a State may make any grants for any public purpose, notwithstanding that the purpose is not one with respect to which Parliament or the Legislature of the State, as the case may be.
Section 283. Custody, etc., of Consolidated Funds, Contingency Funds and moneys credited to the public accounts.
(1) The custody of the Consolidated Fund of India and the Contingency Fund of India, the payment of moneys into such Funds, the withdrawal of moneys therefrom, the custody of public moneys other than those credited to such Funds received by or on behalf of the Government of India, their payment into the public account of India and the withdrawal of moneys from such account and all other matters connected with or ancillary to matters aforesaid shall be regulated by law made by Parliament, and, until provision in that behalf is so made, shall be regulated by rules made by the President.
(2) The custody of the Consolidated Fund of a State and the Contingency Fund of a State, the payment of moneys into such Funds, the withdrawal of moneys therefrom, the custody of public moneys other than those credited to such Funds received by or on behalf of the Government of the State, their payment into the public account of the State and the withdrawal of moneys from such account and all other matters connected with or ancillary to matters aforesaid shall be regulated by law made by the Legislature of the State, and, until provision in that behalf is so made, shall be regulated by rules made by the Governor 1[***] of the State.
1. The words “or Rajpramukh” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch.
Section 284. Custody of suitors’ deposits and other moneys received by public servants and courts.
All moneys received by or deposited with-
(a) Any officer employed in connection with the affairs of the Union or of a State in his capacity as such, other than revenues or public moneys raised or received by the Government of India or the Government of the State, as the case may be, or
(b) Any court within the territory of India to the credit of any cause, matter, account or persons,
Shall be paid into the public account of India or the public account of State, as the case may be.
Section 285. Exemption of property of the Union from State taxation.
(1) The property of the Union shall, save in so far as Parliament may by law otherwise provide, be exempt from all taxes imposed by a State or by any authority within a State.
(2) Nothing in clause (1) shall, until Parliament by law otherwise provides, prevent any authority within a State from levying any tax on any property of the Union to which such property was immediately before the commencement of this Constitution liable or treated as liable, so long as that tax continues to be levied in that State.
Section 286. Restrictions as to imposition of tax on the sale or purchase of goods.
(1) No law of a State shall impose, or authorise the imposition of, a tax on the sale or purchase of goods where such sale or purchase takes place-
(a) Outside the State; or
(b) In the course of the import of the goods into, or export of the goods out of, the territory of India.
1[* * * * *]
2[(2) Parliament may by law formulate principles for determining when a sale or purchase of goods takes place in any of the ways mentioned in clause (1).
3[(3) Any law of a State shall, in so for as it imposes, or authorises the imposition of, -
(a) A tax on the sale or purchase of goods declared by Parliament by law to be of special importance in inter-State trade or commerce; or
(b) A tax on the sale or purchase of goods, being a tax of the nature referred to in sub-clause (b), sub-clause (c) or sub-clause (d) of clause (29A) of article 366,
Be subject to such restrictions and conditions in regard to the system of levy, rates and other incidents of the tax as Parliament may by law specify.]]
1. Explanation to clause (1) omitted by the Constitution (Sixth Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 4.
2. Subs. by s. 4, the Constitution (Sixth Amendment) Act, 1956, for cls. (2) and (3).
3. Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1982, s. 3, for cl. (3).
Section 287. Exemption from taxes on electricity.
Save in so far as Parliament may by law otherwise provide, no law of a State shall impose, or authorise the imposition of, a tax on the consumption or sale of electricity (whether produced by a Government or other persons) which is-
(a) Consumed by the Government of India, or sold to the Government of India for consumption by that Government; or
(b) Consumed in the construction, maintenance or operation of any railway by the Government of India or a railway company operating that railway, or sold to that Government or any such railway company for consumption in the construction, maintenance or operation of any railway,
And any such law imposing, or authorising the imposition of, a tax on the sale of electricity shall secure that the price of electricity sold to the Government of India for consumption by that Government, or to any such railway company as aforesaid for consumption in the construction, maintenance or operation of any railway, shall be less by the amount of the tax than the price charged to other consumers of a substantial quantity of electricity.
Section 288. Exemption from taxation by States in respect of water or electricity in certain cases.
(1) Save in so far as the President may by order otherwise provide, no law of a State in force immediately before the commencement of this Constitution shall impose, or authorise the imposition of, a tax in respect of any water or electricity stored, generated, consumed, distributed or sold by any authority established by any existing law or any law made by Parliament for regulating or developing any inter-State river or river-valley.
Explanation. The expression “law of a State in force” in this clause shall include a law of a State passed or made before the commencement of this Constitution and not previously repealed, notwithstanding that it or parts of it may not be then in operation either at all or in particular areas.
(2) The Legislature of a State may by law impose, or authorise the imposition of, any such tax as is mentioned in clause (1), but no such law shall have any effect unless it has, after having been reserved for the consideration of the President, received his assent; and if any such law provides for the fixation of the rates and other incidents of such tax by means of rules or orders to be made under the law by any authority, the law shall provide for the previous consent of the President being obtained to the making of any such rule or order.
Section 289. Exemption of property and income of a State from Union taxation.
(1) The property and income of a State shall be exempt from Union taxation.
(2) Nothing in clause (1) shall prevent the Union from imposing, or authorising the imposition of, any tax to such extent, if any, as Parliament may by law provide in respect of a trade or business of any kind carried on by, or on behalf of, the Government of a State, or any operations connected therewith, or any property used or occupied for the purposes of such trade or business, or any income accruing or arising in connection therewith.
(3) Nothing in clause (2) shall apply to any trade or business, or to any class of trade or business, which Parliament may by law declare to be incidental to the ordinary function.
Section 290. Adjustment in respect of certain expenses and pensions.
Where under the provisions of this Constitution the expenses of any court or Commission, or the pension payable to or in respect of a person who has served before the commencement of this Constitution under the Crown in India or after such commencement in connection with the affairs of the Union or of a State, are charged on the Consolidated Fund of India or the Consolidated Fund of a State, then, if-
(a) In the case of a charge on the Consolidated Fund of India, the court or Commission serves any of the separate needs of a State, or the person has served wholly or in part in connection with the affairs of a State; or
(b) In the case of a charge on the Consolidated Fund of a State, the court or Commission serves any of the separate needs of the Union or another State, or the person has served wholly or in part in connection with the affairs of the Union or another State,
There shall be charged on and paid out of the Consolidated Fund of the State or, as the case may be, the Consolidated Fund of India or the Consolidated Fund of the other State, such contribution in respect of the expenses or pension as may be agreed, or as may in default of agreement be determined by an arbitrator to be appointed by the Chief Justice of India.
Section 290A. Annual payment to certain Devaswom Funds.
1[290A. Annual payment to certain Devaswom Funds.
A sum of forty-six lakhs and fifty thousand rupees shall be charged on, and paid out of, the Consolidated Fund of the State of Kerala every year to the Travancore Devaswom Fund; and a sum of thirteen lakhs and fifty thousand rupees shall be charged on, and paid out of, the Consolidated Fund of the State of 2[Tamil Nadu] every year to the Devaswom Fund established in that State for the maintenance of Hindu temples and shrines in the territories transferred to that State on the 1st day of November, 1956, from the State of Travancore-Cochin].
1. Ins. by by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec. 19.
2. Subs. by the Madras State (Alteration of Name) Act, 1968 (53 of 1968), s. 4, for “Madras” (w.e.f. 14-1-1969).
Section 291. Privy purse sums of Rulers.
Rep. by the Constitution (Twenty-sixth Amendment) Act, 197l, s. 2.
Section 292. Borrowing by the Government of India.
The executive power of the Union extends to borrowing upon the security of the Consolidated Fund of India within such limits, if any, as may from time to time be fixed by Parliament by law and to the giving of guarantees within such limits, if any, as may be so fixed.
Section 293. Borrowing by States.
(1) Subject to the provisions of this article, the executive power of a State extends to borrowing within the territory of India upon the security of the Consolidated Fund of the State within such limits, if any, as may from time to time be fixed by the Legislature of such State by law and to the giving of guarantees within such limits, if any, as may be so fixed.
(2) The Government of India may, subject to such conditions as may be laid down by or under any law made by Parliament, make loans to any State or, so long as any limits fixed under article 292 are not exceeded, give guarantees in respect of loans raised by any State, and any sums required for the purpose of making such loans shall be charged on the Consolidated Fund of India.
(3) A State may not without the consent of the Government of India raise any loan if there is still outstanding any part of a loan which has been made to the State by the Government of India or by its predecessor Government, or in respect of which a guarantee has been given by the Government of India or by its predecessor Government.
(4) A consent under clause (3) may be granted subject to such conditions, if any, as the Government of India may think fit to impose.
Section 294. Succession to property, assets, rights, liabilities and obligations in certain cases.
As from the commencement of this Constitution-
(a) All property and assets which immediately before such commencement were vested in His Majesty for the purposes of the Government of the Dominion of India and all property and assets which immediately before such commencement were vested in His Majesty for the purposes of the Government of each Governor’s Province shall vest respectively in the Union and the corresponding State, and
(b) All rights, liabilities and obligations of the Government of the Dominion of India and of the Government of each Governor’s Province, whether arising out of any contract or otherwise, shall be the rights, liabilities and obligations respectively of the Government of India and the Government of each corresponding State,
Subject to any adjustment made or to be made by reason of the creation before the commencement of this Constitution of the Dominion of Pakistan or of the Provinces of West Bengal, East Bengal, West Punjab and East Punjab.
Section 295. Succession to property, assets, rights, liabilities and obligations in other cases.
(1) As from the commencement of this Constitution-
(a) All property and assets which immediately before such commencement were vested in any Indian State corresponding to a State specified in Part B of the First Schedule shall vest in the Union, if the purposes for which such property and assets were held immediately before such commencement will thereafter be purposes of the Union relating to any of the matters enumerated in the Union List, and
(b) All rights, liabilities and obligations of the Government of any Indian State corresponding to a State specified in Part B of the First Schedule, whether arising out of any contract or otherwise, shall be the rights, liabilities and obligations of the Government of India, if the purposes for which such rights were acquired or liabilities or obligations were incurred before such commencement will thereafter be purposes of the Government of India relating to any of the matters enumerated in the Union List,
Subject to any agreement entered into in that behalf by the Government of India with the Government of that State.
(2) Subject as aforesaid, the Government of each State specified in Part B of the First Schedule shall, as from the commencement of this Constitution, be the successor of the Government of the corresponding Indian State as regards all property and assets and all rights, liabilities and obligations, whether arising out of any contract or otherwise, other than those referred to in clause (1).
Section 296. Property accruing by escheat or lapse or as bona vacantia.
Subject as hereinafter provided, any property in the territory of India which, if this Constitution had not come into operation, would have accrued to His Majesty or, as the case may be, to the Ruler of an Indian State by escheat or lapse, or as bona vacantia for want of a rightful owner, shall, if it is property situate in a State, vest in such State, and shall, in any other case, vest in the Union:
Provided that any property which at the date when it would have so accrued to His Majesty or to the Ruler of an Indian State was in the possession or under the control of the Government of India or the Government of a State shall, according as the purposes for which it was then used or held were purposes of the Union or of a State, vest in the Union or in that State.
Explanation. In this article, the expressions “Ruler” and “Indian State” have the same meanings as in article 363.
Section 297. Things of value within territorial waters or continental shelf and resources of the exclusive economic zone to vest in the Union.
1[297. Things of value within territorial waters or continental shelf and resources of the exclusive economic zone to vest in the Union.
(1) All lands, minerals and other things of value underlying the ocean within the territorial waters, or the continental shelf, or the exclusive economic zone, of India shall vest in the Union and be held for the purposes of the Union.
(2) All other resources of the exclusive economic zone of India shall also vest in the Union and be held for the purposes of the Union.
(3) The limits of the territorial waters, the continental shelf, the exclusive economic zone, and other maritime zones, of India shall be such as may be specified, from time to time, by or under any law made by Parliament.]
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Fortieth Amendment) Act, 1976, sec. 2 for art. 297 (w.e.f. 27-5-1976)
Section 298. Power to carry on trade, etc.
1[298. Power to carry on trade, etc.
The executive power of the Union and of each State shall extend to the carrying on of any trade or business and to the acquisition, holding and disposal of property and the making of contracts for any purpose:
Provided that-
(a) The said executive power of the Union shall, in so far as such trade or business or such purpose is not one with respect to which Parliament may make laws, be subject in each State to legislation by the State; and
(b) The said executive power of each State shall, in so far as such trade or business or such purpose is not one with respect to which the State Legislature may make laws, be subject to legislation by Parliament.]
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec. 20 for art. 298.
Section 299. Contracts.
(1) All contracts made in the exercise of the executive power of the Union or of a State shall be expressed to be made by the President, or by the Governor 1[***] of the State, as the case may be, and all such contracts and all assurances of property made in the exercise of that power shall be executed on behalf of the President or the Governor 1[***] by such persons and in such manner as he may direct or authorise.
(2) Neither the President nor the Governor 2[***] shall be personally liable in respect of any contract or assurance made or executed for the purposes of this Constitution, or for the purposes of any enactment relating to the Government of India heretofore in force, nor shall any person making or executing any such contract or assurance on behalf of any of them be personally liable in respect thereof.
1. The words “or the Rajpramukh” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec. 29 and Sch.
2. The words “nor the Rajpramukh” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec. 29 and Sch.
Section 300. Suits and proceedings.
(1) The Government of India may sue or be sued by the name of the Union of India and the Government of a State may sue or be sued by the name of the State and may, subject to any provisions which may be made by Act of Parliament or of the Legislature of such State enacted by virtue of powers conferred by this Constitution, sue or be sued in relation to their respective affairs in the like cases as the Dominion of India and the corresponding Provinces or the corresponding Indian States might have sued or been sued if this Constitution had not been enacted.
(2) If at the commencement of this Constitution-
(a) Any legal proceedings are pending to which the Dominion of India is a party, the Union of India shall be deemed to be substituted for the Dominion in those proceedings; and
(b) Any legal proceedings are pending to which a Province or an Indian State is a party, the corresponding State shall be deemed to be substituted for the Province or the Indian State in those proceedings.
Section 300A. Persons not to be deprived of property save by authority of law.
1[Chapter IV Right to Property
No person shall be deprived of his property save by authority of law.]
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, sec. 34 (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
Section 301. Freedom of trade, commerce and intercourse
Subject to the other provisions of this Part, trade, commerce and intercourse throughout the territory of India shall be free.
Section 302. Power of Parliament to impose restrictions on trade, commerce and intercourse.
Parliament may by law impose such restrictions on the freedom of trade, commerce or intercourse between one State and another or within any part of the territory of India as may be required in the public interest.
Section 303. Restrictions on the legislative powers of the Union and of the States with regard to trade and commerce
(1) Notwithstanding anything in article 302, neither Parliament nor the Legislature of a State shall have power to make any law giving, or authorising the giving of, any preference to one State over another, or making, or authorising the making of, any discrimination between one State and another, by virtue of any entry relating to trade and commerce in any of the Lists in the Seventh Schedule.
(2) Nothing in clause (1) shall prevent Parliament from making any law giving, or authorising the giving of, any preference or making, or authorising the making of, any discrimination if it is declared by such law that it is necessary to do so for the purpose of dealing with a situation arising from scarcity of goods in any part of the territory of India.
Section 304. Restrictions on trade, commerce and intercourse among States
Notwithstanding anything in article 301 or article 303, the Legislature of a State may by law-
(a) Impose on goods imported from other States 1[or the Union territories] any tax to which similar goods manufactured or produced in that State are subject, so, however, as not to discriminate between goods so imported and goods so manufactured or produced; and
(b) Impose such reasonable restrictions on the freedom of trade, commerce or intercourse with or within that State as may be required in the public interests:
Provided that no Bill or amendment for the purposes of clause (b) shall be introduced or moved in the Legislature of a State without the previous sanction of the President.
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec. 29.
Section 305. Saving of existing laws and laws providing for State monopolies
1[305. Saving of existing laws and laws providing for State monopolies.
Nothing in articles 301 and 303 shall affect the provisions of any existing law except in so far as the President may by order otherwise direct; and nothing in article 301 shall affect the operation of any law made before the commencement of the Constitution (Fourth Amendment) Act, 1955, in so far as it relates to, or prevent Parliament or the Legislature of a State from making any law relating to, any such matter as is referred to in sub-clause (ii) of clause (6) of article 19.]
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Fourth Amendment) Act, 1955, sec. 4 for art. 305.
Section 306. Power of certain States in Part B of the First Schedule to impose restrictions on trade and commerce
Rep. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch.
Section 307. Appointment of authority for carrying out the purposes of articles 301 to 304
Parliament may by law appoint such authority as it considers appropriate for carrying out the purposes of articles 301, 302, 303 and 304, and confer on the authority so appointed such powers and such duties as it thinks necessary.
Section 308. Interpretation
In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires, the expression “State” 1[does not include the State of Jammu and Kashmir].
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch. for “means a State specified in Part A or Part B of the First Schedule”.
Section 309. Recruitment and conditions of service of persons serving the Union or a State
Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, Acts of the appropriate Legislature may regulate the recruitment, and conditions of service of persons appointed, to public services and posts in connection with the affairs of the Union or of any State:
Provided that it shall be competent for the President or such person as he may direct in the case of services and posts in connection with the affairs of the Union, and for the Governor 1[***] of a State or such person as he may direct in the case of services and posts in connection with the affairs of the State, to make rules regulating the recruitment, and the conditions of service of persons appointed, to such services and posts until provision in that behalf is made by or under an Act of the appropriate Legislature under this article, and any rules so made shall have effect subject to the provisions of any such Act.
1. The words “or Rajpramukh” omitted by s. 29 and Sch., the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956.
Section 310. Tenure of office of persons serving the Union or a State
(1) Except as expressly provided by this Constitution, every person who is a member of a defence service or of a civil service of the Union or of an all-India service or holds any post connected with defence or any civil post under the Union holds office during the pleasure of the President, and every person who is a member of a civil service of a State or holds any civil post under a State holds office during the pleasure of the Governor 1[***] of the State.
(2) Notwithstanding that a person holding a civil post under the Union or a State holds office during the pleasure of the President or, as the case may be, of the Governor 2[***] of the State, any contract under which a person, not being a member of a defence service or of an all-India service or of a civil service of the Union or a State, is appointed under this Constitution to hold such a post may, if the President or the Governor 3[***], as the case may be, deems it necessary in order to secure the services of a person having special qualifications, provide for the payment to him of compensation, if before the expiration of an agreed period that post is abolished or he is, for reasons not connected with any misconduct on his part, required to vacate that post.
1. The words “or, as the case may be, the Rajpramukh” omitted by s. 29 and Sch., the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956.
2. The words “or Rajpramukh” omitted by s. 29 and Sch. the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956.
3. The words “or the Rajpramukh” omitted by s. 29 and Sch., the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956.
Section 311. Dismissal, removal or reduction in rank of persons employed in civil capacities under the Union or a State
(1) No person who is a member of a civil service of the Union or an all-India service or a civil service of a State or holds a civil post under the Union or a State shall be dismissed or removed by an authority subordinate to that by which he was appointed.
1[(2) No such person as aforesaid shall be dismissed or removed or reduced in rank except after an inquiry in which he has been informed of the charges against him and given a reasonable opportunity of being heard in respect of those charges 2[***]:
3[Provided that where it is proposed after such inquiry, to impose upon him any such penalty, such penalty may be imposed on the basis of the evidence adduced during such inquiry and it shall not be necessary to give such person any opportunity of making representation on the penalty proposed:
Provided further that this clause shall not apply-]
(a) Where a person is dismissed or removed or reduced in rank on the ground of conduct which has led to his conviction on a criminal charge; or
(b) Where the authority empowered to dismiss or remove a person or to reduce him in rank is satisfied that for some reason, to be recorded by that authority in writing, it is not reasonably practicable to hold such inquiry; or
(c) Where the President or the Governor, as the case may be, is satisfied that in the interest of the security of the State it is not expedient to hold such inquiry.
(3) If, in respect of any such person as aforesaid, a question arises whether it is reasonably practicable to hold such inquiry as is referred to in clause (2), the decision thereon of the authority empowered to dismiss or remove such person or to reduce him in rank shall be final.]
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Fifteenth Amendment) Act, 1963, s. 10, for cls. (2) and (3).
2. Certain words omitted by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 44 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
3. Subs. by s. 44, the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, for certain words (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
Section 312. All-India services
(1) Notwithstanding anything in 1[Chapter VI of Part VI or Part XI], if the Council of States has declared by resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting that it is necessary or expedient in the national interest so to do, Parliament may by law provide for the creation of one or more all India services 2[(including an all-India judicial service)] common to the Union and the States, and, subject to the other provisions of this Chapter, regulate the recruitment, and the conditions of service of persons appointed, to any such service.
(2) The services known at the commencement of this Constitution as the Indian Administrative Service and the Indian Police Service shall be deemed to be services created by Parliament under this article.
2[(3) The all-India judicial service referred to in clause (1) shall not include any post inferior to that of a district judge as defined in article 236.
(4) The law providing for the creation of the all-India judicial service aforesaid may contain such provisions for the amendment of Chapter VI of Part VI as may be necessary for giving effect to the provisions of that law and no such law shall be deemed to be an amendment of this Constitution for the purposes of article 368.]
1. Subs. by s. 45, the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, for “Part-XI” (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
2. Ins. by s. 45, the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
Section 312A. Power of Parliament to vary or revoke conditions of service of officers of certain services
1[312A. Power of Parliament to vary or revoke conditions of service of officers of certain services.
(1) Parliament may by law-
(a) Vary or revoke, whether prospectively or retrospectively, the conditions of services as respects remuneration, leave and pension and the rights as respects disciplinary matters of persons who, having been appointed by the Secretary of State or Secretary of State in Council to a civil service of the Crown in India before the commencement of this Constitution, continue on and after the commencement of the Constitution (Twenty-eighth Amendment) Act, 1972, to serve under the Government of India or of a State in any service or post;
(b) Vary or revoke, whether prospectively or retrospectively, the conditions of service as respects pension of persons who, having been appointed by the Secretary of State or Secretary of State in Council to a civil service of the Crown in India before the commencement of this Constitution, retired or otherwise ceased to be in service at any time before the commencement of the Constitution (Twenty-eighth Amendment) Act, 1972:
Provided that in the case of any such person who is holding or has held the office of the Chief Justice or other Judge of the Supreme Court or a High Court, the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India, the Chairman or other member of the Union or a State Public Service Commission or the Chief Election Commissioner, nothing in sub-clause (a) or sub-clause (b) shall be construed as empowering Parliament to vary or revoke, after his appointment to such post, the conditions of his service to his disadvantage except in so far as such conditions of service are applicable to him by reason of his being a person appointed by the Secretary of State or Secretary of State in Council to a civil service of the Crown in India.
(2) Except to the extent provided for by Parliament by law under this article, nothing in this article shall affect the power of any Legislature or other authority under any other provision of this Constitution to regulate the conditions of service of persons referred to in clause (1).
(3) Neither the Supreme Court nor any other court shall have jurisdiction in-
(a) Any dispute arising out of any provision of, or any endorsement on, any covenant, agreement or other similar instrument which was entered into or executed by any person referred to in clause (1), or arising out of any letter issued to such person, in relation to his appointment to any civil service of the Crown in India or his continuance in service under the Government of the Dominion of India or a Province thereof;
(b) Any dispute in respect of any right, liability or obligation under article 314 as originally enacted.
(4) The provisions of this article shall have effect notwithstanding anything in article 314 as originally enacted or in any other provision of this Constitution.]
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Twenty-eighth Amendment) Act, 1972, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 29-8-1972).
Section 313. Transitional provisions
Until other provision is made in this behalf under this Constitution, all the laws in force immediately before the commencement of this Constitution and applicable to any public service or any post which continues to exist after the commencement of this Constitution, as an all-India service or as service or post under the Union or a State shall continue in force so far as consistent with the provisions of this Constitution.
Section 314. Provision for protection of existing officers of certain services
Rep. by the Constitution (Twenty-eighth Amendment) Act, 1972, s. 3 (w.e.f. 29-8-1972).
Section 315. Public Service Commissions for the Union and for the States
(1) Subject to the provisions of this article, there shall be a Public Service Commission for the Union and a Public Service Commission for each State.
(2) Two or more States may agree that there shall be one Public Service Commission for that group of States, and if a resolution to that effect is passed by the House or, where there are two Houses, by each House of the Legislature of each of those States, Parliament may by law provide for the appointment of a Joint State Public Service Commission (referred to in this Chapter as Joint Commission) to serve the needs of those States.
(3) Any such law as aforesaid may contain such incidental and consequential provisions as may be necessary or desirable for giving effect to the purposes of the law.
(4) The Public Service Commission for the Union, if requested so to do by the Governor 1[***] of a State, may, with the approval of the President, agree to serve all or any of the needs of the State.
(5) References in this Constitution to the Union Public Service Commission or a State Public Service Commission shall, unless the context otherwise requires, be construed as references to the Commission serving the needs of the Union or, as the case may be, the State as respects the particular matter in question.
1. The words “or Rajpramukh” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch.
Section 316. Appointment and term of office of members
(1) The Chairman and other members of a Public Service Commission shall be appointed, in the case of the Union Commission or a Joint Commission, by the President, and in the case of a State Commission, by the Governor 1[***] of the State:
Provided that as nearly as may be one-half of the members of every Public Service Commission shall be persons who at the dates of their respective appointments have held office for at least ten years either under the Government of India or under the Government of a State, and in computing the said period of ten years any period before the commencement of this Constitution during which a person has held office under the Crown in India or under the Government of an Indian State shall be included.
2[(1A) If the office of the Chairman of the Commission becomes vacant or if any such Chairman is by reason of absence or for any other reason unable to perform the duties of his office, those duties shall, until some person appointed under clause (1) to the vacant office has entered on the duties thereof or, as the case may be, until the Chairman has resumed his duties, be performed by such one of the other members of the Commission as the President, in the case of the Union Commission or a Joint Commission, and the Governor of the State in the case of a State Commission, may appoint for the purpose.]
(2) A member of a Public Service Commission shall hold office for a term of six years from the date on which he enters upon his office or until he attains, in the case of the Union Commission, the age of sixty-five years, and in the case of a State Commission or a Joint Commission, the age of 3[sixty-two years], whichever is earlier:
Provided that-
(a) A member of a Public Service Commission may, by writing under his hand addressed, in the case of the Union Commission or a Joint Commission, to the President, and in the case of a State Commission, to the Governor 3[***] of the State, resign his office;
(b) A member of a Public Service Commission may be removed from his office in the manner provided in clause (1) or clause (3) of article 317.
(3) A person who holds office as a member of a Public Service Commission shall, on the expiration of his term of office, be ineligible for re-appointment to that office.
1. The words “or Rajpramukh” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch.
2. Ins. by the Constitution (Fifteenth Amendment) Act, 1963, s. 11.
3. Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-first Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 2, for “sixty years”.
Section 317. Removal and suspension of a member of a Public Service Commission
(1) Subject to the provisions of clause (3), the Chairman or any other member of a Public Service Commission shall only be removed from his office by order of the President on the ground of misbehaviour after the Supreme Court, on reference being made to it by the President, has, on inquiry held in accordance with the procedure prescribed in that behalf under article 145, reported that the Chairman or such other member, as the case may be, ought on any such ground to be removed.
(2) The President, in the case of the Union Commission or a Joint Commission, and the Governor 1[***] in the case of a State Commission, may suspend from office the Chairman or any other member of the Commission in respect of whom a reference has been made to the Supreme Court under clause (1) until the President has passed orders on receipt of the report of the Supreme Court on such reference.
(3) Notwithstanding anything in clause (1), the President may by order remove from office the Chairman or any other member of a Public Service Commission if the Chairman or such other member, as the case may be, -
(a) Is adjudged an insolvent; or
(b) Engages during his term of office in any paid employment outside the duties of his office; or
(c) Is, in the opinion of the President, unfit to continue in office by reason of infirmity of mind or body.
(4) If the Chairman or any other member of a Public Service Commission is or becomes in any way concerned or interested in any contract or agreement made by or on behalf of the Government of India or the Government of a State or participates in any way in the profit thereof or in any benefit or emolument arising therefrom otherwise than as a member and in common with the other members of an incorporated company, he shall, for the purposes of clause (1), be deemed to be guilty of misbehaviour.
1. The words “or Rajpramukh” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec. 29 and sch.
Section 318. Power to make regulations as to conditions of service of members and staff of the Commission
In the case of the Union Commission or a Joint Commission, the President and, in the case of a State Commission, the Governor 1[****] of the State may by regulations-
(a) Determine the number of members of the Commission and their conditions of service; and
(b) Make provision with respect to the number of members of the staff of the Commission and their conditions of service:
Provided that the conditions of service of a member of a Public Service Commission shall not be varied to his disadvantage after his appointment.
1. The word “or Rapramukh” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec. 29 and sch.
Section 319. Prohibition as to the holding of offices by members of Commission on ceasing to be such members
On ceasing to hold office-
(a) The Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission shall be ineligible for further employment either under the Government of India or under the Government of a State;
(b) The Chairman of a State Public Service Commission shall be eligible for appointment as the Chairman or any other member of the Union Public Service Commission or as the Chairman of any other State Public Service Commission, but not for any other employment either under the Government of India or under the Government of a State;
(c) A member other than the Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission shall be eligible for appointment as the Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission or as the Chairman of a State Public Service Commission, but not for any other employment either under the Government of India or under the Government of a State;
(d) A member other than the Chairman of a State Public Service Commission shall be eligible for appointment as the Chairman or any other member of the Union Public Service Commission or as the Chairman of that or any other State Public Service Commission, but not for any other employment either under the Government of India or under the Government of a State.
Section 320. Functions of Public Service Commissions
(1) It shall be the duty of the Union and the State Public Service Commissions to conduct examinations for appointments to the services of the Union and the services of the State respectively.
(2) It shall also be the duty of the Union Public Service Commission, if requested by any two or more States so to do, to assist those States in framing and operating schemes of joint recruitment for any services for which candidates possessing special qualifications are required.
(3) The Union Public Service Commission or the State Public Service Commission, as the case may be, shall be consulted-
(a) On all matters relating to methods of recruitment to civil services and for civil posts;
(b) On the principles to be followed in making appointments to civil services and posts and in making promotions and transfers from one service to another and on the suitability of candidates for such appointments, promotions or transfers;
(c) On all disciplinary matters affecting a person serving under the Government of India or the Government of a State in a civil capacity, including memorials or petitions relating to such matters;
(d) On any claim by or in respect of a person who is serving or has served under the Government of India or the Government of a State or under the Crown in India or under the Government of an Indian State, in a civil capacity, that any costs incurred by him in defending legal proceedings instituted against him in respect of acts done or purporting to be done in the execution of his duty should be paid out of the Consolidated Fund of India, or, as the case may be, out of the Consolidated Fund of the State;
(e) On any claim for the award of a pension in respect of injuries sustained by a person while serving under the Government of India or the Government of a State or under the Crown in India or under the Government of an Indian State, in a civil capacity, and any question as to the amount of any such award,
And it shall be the duty of a Public Service Commission to advise on any matter so referred to them and on any other matter which the President, or, as the case may be, the Governor 1[***] of the State, may refer to them:
Provided that the President as respects the all-India services and also as respects other services and posts in connection with the affairs of the Union, and the Governor 2[***], as respects other services and posts in connection with the affairs of a State, may make regulations specifying the matters in which either generally, or in any particular class of case or in any particular circumstances, it shall not be necessary for a Public Service Commission to be consulted.
(4) Nothing in clause (3) shall require a Public Service Commission to be consulted as respects the manner in which any provision referred to in clause (4) of article 16 may be made or as respects the manner in which effect may be given to the provisions of article 335.
(5) All regulations made under the proviso to clause (3) by the President or the Governor 1[***] of a State shall be laid for not less than fourteen days before each House of Parliament or the House or each House of the Legislature of the State, as the case may be, as soon as possible after they are made, and shall be subject to such modifications, whether by way of repeal or amendment, as both Houses of Parliament or the House or both Houses of the Legislature of the State may make during the session in which they are so laid.
1. The words “or Rajpramukh” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch.
2. The words “or Rajpramukh, as the case may be” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch.
Section 321. Power to extend functions of Public Service Commissions
An Act made by Parliament or, as the case may be, the Legislature of a State may provide for the exercise of additional functions by the Union Public Service Commission or the State Public Service Commission as respects the services of the Union or the State and also as respects the services of any local authority or other body corporate constituted by law or of any public institution.
Section 322. Expenses of Public Service Commissions
The expenses of the Union or a State Public Service Commission, including any salaries, allowances and pensions payable to or in respect of the members or staff of the Commission, shall be charged on the Consolidated Fund of India or, as the case may be, the Consolidated Fund of the State.
Section 323. Reports of Public Service Commissions
(1) It shall be the duty of the Union Commission to present annually to the President a report as to the work done by the Commission and on receipt of such report the President shall cause a copy thereof together with a memorandum explaining, as respects the cases, if any, where the advice of the Commission was not accepted, the reasons for such non-acceptance to be laid before each House of Parliament.
(2) It shall be the duty of a State Commission to present annually to the Governor 1[***] of the State a report as to the work done by the Commission, and it shall be the duty of a Joint Commission to present annually to the Governor 1[***] of each of the States the needs of which are served by the Joint Commission a report as to the work done by the Commission in relation to that State, and in either case the Governor 2[***], shall, on receipt of such report, cause a copy thereof together with a memorandum explaining, as respects the cases, if any, where the advice of the Commission was not accepted, the reasons for such non-acceptance to be laid before the Legislature of the State.
1. The words “or Rajpramukh” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch.
2. The words “or Rajpramukh, as the case may be” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch.
Section 323A. Administrative tribunals
1[PART XIVA TRIBUNALS
(1) Parliament may, by law, provide for the adjudication or trial by administrative tribunals of disputes and complaints with respect to recruitment and conditions of service of persons appointed to public services and posts in connection with the affairs of the Union or of any State or of any local or other authority within the territory of India or under the control of the Government of India or of any corporation owned or controlled by the Government.
(2) A law made under clause (1) may-
(a) Provide for the establishment of an administrative tribunal for the Union and a separate administrative tribunal for each State or for two or more States;
(b) Specify the jurisdiction, powers (including the power to punish for contempt) and authority, which may be exercised by each of the said tribunals;
(c) Provide for the procedure (including provisions as to limitation and rules of evidence) to be followed by the said tribunals;
(d) Exclude the jurisdiction of all courts, except the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court under article 136, with respect to the disputes or complaints referred to in clause (1);
(e) Provide for the transfer to each such administrative tribunal of any cases pending before any court or other authority immediately before the establishment of such tribunal as would have been within the jurisdiction of such tribunal if the causes of action on which such suits or proceedings are based had arisen after such establishment;
(f) Repeal or amend any order made by the President under clause (3) of article 371D;
(g) Contain such supplemental, incidental and consequential provisions (including provisions as to fees) as Parliament may deem necessary for the effective functioning of, and for the speedy disposal of cases by, and the enforcement of the orders of, such tribunals.
(3) The provisions of this article shall have effect notwithstanding anything in any other provision of this Constitution or in any other law for the time being in force.
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 46 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
Section 323B. Tribunals for other matters
*[323B. Tribunals for other matters.—(1) The appropriate Legislature may, by law, provide for the adjudication or trial by tribunals of any disputes, complaints, or offences with respect to all or any of the matters specified in clause (2) with respect to which such Legislature has power to make laws.
(2) The matters referred to in clause (1) are the following, namely:—
(a) levy, assessment, collection and enforcement of any tax;
(b) foreign exchange, import and export across customs frontiers;
(c) industrial and labour disputes;
(d) land reforms by way of acquisition by the State of any estate as defined in article 31A or of any rights therein or the extinguishment or modification of any such rights or by way of ceiling on agricultural land or in any other way;
(e) ceiling on urban property;
(f) elections to either House of Parliament or the House or either House of the Legislature of a State, but excluding the matters referred to in article 329 and article 329A;
(g) production, procurement, supply and distribution of foodstuffs (including edible oilseeds and oils) and such other goods as the President may, by public notification, declare to be essential goods for the purpose of this article and control of prices of such goods;
1[(h) rent, its regulation and control and tenancy issues including the rights, title and interest of landlords and tenants,]
2[(i)] offences against laws with respect to any of the matters specified in sub-clauses (a) to 3[(h)] and fees in respect of any of those matters;
2[(j)] any matter incidental to any of the matters specified in sub-clauses (a) to 4[(i)].
(3) A law made under clause (1) may—
(a) provide for the establishment of a hierarchy of tribunals;
(b) specify the jurisdiction, powers (including the power to punish for contempt) and authority which may be exercised by each of the said tribunals;
(c) provide for the procedure (including provisions as to limitation and rules of evidence) to be followed by the said tribunals;
(d) exclude the jurisdiction of all courts except the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court under article 136 with respect to all or any of the matters falling within the jurisdiction of the said tribunals;
(e) provide for the transfer to each such tribunal of any cases pending before any court or any other authority immediately before the establishment of such tribunal as would have been within the jurisdiction of such tribunal if the causes of action on which such suits or proceedings are based had arisen after such establishment;
(f) contain such supplemental, incidental and consequential provisions (including provisions as to fees) as the appropriate Legislature may deem necessary for the effective functioning of, and for the speedy disposal of cases by, and the enforcement of the orders of, such tribunals.
(4) The provisions of this article shall have effect notwithstanding anything in any other provision of this Constitution or in any other law for the time being in force.
Explanation.—In this article, “appropriate Legislature”, in relation to any matter, means Parliament or, as the case may be, a State Legislature competent to make laws with respect to such matter in accordance with the provisions of Part XI.]
* Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, sec. 46 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Seventy-fifth Amendment) Act, 1993, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 15.5.1994).
2. Sub-clauses (h) and (i) relettered as sub-clause (i) and (j) by the Constitution (Seventy-fifth Amendment) Act, 1993, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 15-5-1994)
3. Subs. by the Constitution (Seventy-fifth Amendment) Act, 1993 sec. 2 for “(g) ” w.e.f. from 15-5-1994.
4. Subs. by the Constitution (Seventy-fifth Amendment) Act, 1993 sec. 2 for “(h) ” w.e.f. from 15-5-1994.
Section 324. Superintendence, direction and control of elections to be vested in an Election Commission
(1) The superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of the electoral rolls for, and the conduct of, all elections to Parliament and to the Legislature of every State and of elections to the offices of President and Vice-President held under this Constitution 1[***] shall be vested in a Commission (referred to in this Constitution as the Election Commission).
(2) The Election Commission shall consist of the Chief Election Commissioner and such number of other Election Commissioners, if any, as the President may from time to time fix and the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners shall, subject to the provisions of any law made in that behalf by Parliament, be made by the President.
(3) When any other Election Commissioner is so appointed the Chief Election Commissioner shall act as the Chairman of the Election Commission.
(4) Before each general election to the House of the People and to the Legislative Assembly of each State, and before the first general election and thereafter before each biennial election to the Legislative Council of each State having such Council, the President may also appoint after consultation with the Election Commission such Regional Commissioners as he may consider necessary to assist the Election Commission in the performance of the functions conferred on the Commission by clause (1).
(5) Subject to the provisions of any law made by Parliament, the conditions of service and tenure of office of the Election Commissioners and the Regional Commissioners shall be such as the President may by rule determine:
Provided that the Chief Election Commissioner shall not be removed from his office except in like manner and on the like grounds as a Judge of the Supreme Court and the conditions of service of the Chief Election Commissioner shall not be varied to his disadvantage after his appointment:
Provided further that any other Election Commissioner or a Regional Commissioner shall not be removed from office except on the recommendation of the Chief Election Commissioner.
(6) The President, or the Governor 2[***] of a State, shall, when so requested by the Election Commission, make available to the Election Commission or to a Regional Commissioner such staff as may be necessary for the discharge of the functions conferred on the Election Commission by clause (1).
1. The words “including the appointment of election tribunals for the decision of doubts and disputes arising out of or in connection with elections to Parliament and to the Legislatures of States” omitted by the Constitution (Nineteenth Amendment) Act, 1966, s. 2.
2. The words “or Rajpramukh” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s.29 and Sch.
Section 325. No person to be ineligible for inclusion in, or to claim to be included in a special, electoral roll on grounds of religion, race, caste or sex
There shall be one general electoral roll for every territorial constituency for election to either House of Parliament or to the House or either House of the Legislature of a State and no person shall be ineligible for inclusion in any such roll or claim to be included in any special electoral roll for any such constituency on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex or any of them.
Section 326. Elections to the House of the People and to the Legislative Assemblies of States to be on the basis of adult suffrage
The elections to the House of the People and to the Legislative Assembly of every State shall be on the basis of adult suffrage; that is to say, every person who is a citizen of India and who is not less than 1[eighteen years] of age on such date as may be fixed in that behalf by or under any law made by the appropriate Legislature and is not otherwise disqualified under this Constitution or any law made by the appropriate Legislature on the ground of non-residence, unsoundness of mind, crime or corrupt or illegal practice, shall be entitled to be registered as a voter at any such election.
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Sixty-first Amendment) Act, 1988, s. 2, for “twenty-one years”.
Section 327. Power of Parliament to make provision with respect to elections to Legislatures
Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, Parliament may from time to time by law make provision with respect to all matters relating to, or in connection with, elections to either House of Parliament or to the House or either House of the Legislature of a State including the preparation of electoral rolls, the delimitation of constituencies and all other matters necessary for securing the due constitution of such House or Houses.
Section 328. Power of Legislature of a State to make provision with respect to elections to such Legislature
Subject to the provisions of this Constitution and in so far as provision in that behalf is not made by Parliament, the Legislature of a State may from time to time by law make provision with respect to all matters relating to, or in connection with, the elections to the House or either House of the Legislature of the State including the preparation of electoral rolls and all other matters necessary for securing the due constitution of such House or Houses.
Section 329. Bar to interference by courts in electoral matters
1[Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution 2[***]-]
(a) The validity of any law relating to the delimitation of constituencies or the allotment of seats to such constituencies, made or purporting to be made under article 327 or article 328, shall not be called in question in any court;
(b) No election to either House of Parliament or to the House or either House of the Legislature of a State shall be called in question except by an election petition presented to such authority and in such manner as may be provided for by or under any law made by the appropriate Legislature.
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Thirty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1975, s. 3, for certain words.
2. he words, figures and letter “but subject to the provisions of article 329A” omitted by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 35 (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
Section 329A. Special provision as to elections to Parliament in the case of Prime Minister and Speaker
1[329A. Special provision as to elections to Parliament in the case of Prime Minister and Speaker.
Rep. by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 36 (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
1. Ins.by the Constitution (Thirty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1975, sec. 4.
Section 330. Reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the House of the People
(1) Seats shall be reserved in the House of the People for-
(a) The Scheduled Castes;
1[(b) The Scheduled Tribes except the Scheduled Tribes in the autonomous districts of Assam; and]
(c) The Scheduled Tribes in the autonomous districts of Assam.
(2) The number of seats reserved in any State 2[or Union territory] for the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes under clause (1) shall bear, as nearly as may be, the same proportion to the total number of seats allotted to that State 7[or Union territory] in the House of the People as the population of the Scheduled Castes in the State 2[or Union territory] or of the Scheduled Tribes in the State 2[or Union territory] or part of the State 7[or Union territory], as the case may be, in respect of which seats are so reserved, bears to the total population of the State 2[or Union territory].
3[(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in clause (2), the number of seats reserved in the House of the People for the Scheduled Tribes in the autonomous districts of Assam shall bear to the total number of seats allotted to that State a proportion not less than the population of the Scheduled Tribes in the said autonomous districts bears to the total population of the State.]
4[Explanation. In this article and in article 332, the expression “population” means the population as ascertained at the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published:
Provided that the reference in this Explanation to the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published shall, until the relevant figures for the first census taken after the year 5[2026] have been published, be construed as a reference to the 6[2001] census.]
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Fifty-first Amendment) Act, 1984, s. 2, for sub-clause (b) (w.e.f. 16-6-1986).
2. Ins. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch.
3. Ins. by the Constitution (Thirty-first Amendment) Act, 1973, s. 3. (w.e.f. 17-10-1973)
4. Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 47 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
5. Subs. by the Constitution (Eighty-fourth Amendment) Act, 2001, sec. 6, for “2000” (w.e.f. 21-2-2002).
6. Subs. by the Constitution (Eighty-fourth Amendment) Act, 2001, sec. 6, for “1971” w.e.f. 21-2-2002 and ahain subs. by the Constitution (Eighty-seventh Amendment) Act, 2003, for ‘1991’ w.e.f. 22-6-2003.
7. Ins. by the Constitution (Thirty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1975, sec. 4.
Section 331. Representation of the Anglo-Indian Community in the House of the People
Notwithstanding anything in article 81, the President may, if he is of opinion that the Anglo-Indian community is not adequately represented in the House of the People, nominate not more than two members of that community to the House of the People.
Section 332. Reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Legislative Assemblies of the States
(1) Seats shall be reserved for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, 1[except the Scheduled Tribes in the autonomous districts of Assam], in the Legislative Assembly of every State 2[***].
(2) Seats shall be reserved also for the autonomous districts in the Legislative Assembly of the State of Assam.
(3) The number of seats reserved for the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes in the Legislative Assembly of any State under clause (1) shall bear, as nearly as may be, the same proportion to the total number of seats in the Assembly as the population of the Scheduled Castes in the State or of the Scheduled Tribes in the State or part of the State, as the case may be, in respect of which seats are so reserved bears to the total population of the State.
3[(3A) Notwithstanding anything contained in clause (3), until the taking effect, under article 170, of the re-adjustment, on the basis of the first census after the year 7[2026], of the number of seats in the Legislative Assemblies of the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland, the seats which shall be reserved for the Scheduled Tribes in the Legislative Assembly of any such State shall be—
(a) if all the seats in the Legislative Assembly of such State in existence on the date of coming into force of the Constitution (Fifty-seventh Amendment) Act, 1987 (hereafter in this clause referred to as the existing Assembly) are held by members of the Scheduled Tribes, all the seats except one;
(b) in any other case, such number of seats as bears to the total number of seats, a proportion not less than the number (as on the said date) of members belonging to the Scheduled Tribes in the existing Assembly bears to the total number of seats in existing Assembly.]
5[(3B) Notwithstanding anything contained in clause (3), until the re-adjustment, under article 170, takes effect on the basis of the first census after the year 6[2026], of the number of seats in the Legislative Assembly of the State of Tripura, the seats which shall be, such number of seats as bears to the total number of seats, a proportion not less than the number, as on the date of coming into force of the Constitution (Seventy-second Amendment) Act, 1992, of members belonging to the Scheduled Tribes in the Legislative Assembly in existence on the said date bears to the total number of seats in that Assembly.]
(4) The number of seats reserved for an autonomous district in the Legislative Assembly of the State of Assam shall bear to the total number of seats in that Assembly a proportion not less than the population of the district bears to the total population of the State.
(5) The constituencies for the seats reserved for any autonomous district of Assam shall not comprise any area outside that district 7[***].
(6) No person who is not a member of a Scheduled Tribe of any autonomous district of the State of Assam shall be eligible for election to the Legislative Assembly of the State from any constituency of that district 7[***]:
8[Provided that for elections to the Legislative Assembly of the State of Assam, the representation of the Scheduled Tribes and non-Scheduled Tribes in the constituencies included in the Bodoland Territorial Areas District, so notified, and existing prior to the constitution of the Bodoland Territorial Areas District, shall be maintained.]
—————————–
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Fifty-first Amendment) Act, 1984, sec. 3, for certain words (w.e.f. 16-6-1986).
2. The words and letters “specified in Part A or Part B of the First Schedule” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec. 29 and Sch.
3. Ins. by the Constitution (Fifty-seventh Amendment) Act, 1987, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 21-9-1987).
4. Subs. by the Constitution (Eighty-fourth Amendment) Act, 2001, sec. 7, for “2000” (w.e.f. 21-2-2002).
5. Ins. by the Constitution (Seventy-second Amendment) Act, 1992, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 5-12-1992).
6. Subs. by the Constitution (Eighty-fourth Amendment) Act, 2001, sec. 7, for “2000” (w.e.f. 21-2-2002).
7. Certain words omitted by the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971 (81 of 1971), sec. 71(i) (w.e.f. 21-1-1972).
8. Ins. by the Constitution (Ninetieth Amendment) Act, 2003, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 28-9-2003).
Section 333. Representation of the Anglo-Indian community in the Legislative Assemblies of the States
Notwithstanding anything in article 170, the Governor 1[***] of a State may, if he is of opinion that the Anglo-Indian community needs representation in the Legislative Assembly of the State and is not adequately represented therein, 2[nominate one member of that community to the Assembly.]
1. The words “or Rajpramukh” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch.
2. Subs. by the Constitution (Twenty-third Amendment) Act, 1969, s. 4, for “nominate such number of members of the community to the Assembly as he considers appropriate”.
Section 334. Reservation of seats and special representation to cease after sixty years
334. Reservation of seats and special representation to cease after 1[sixty years].
Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this Part, the provisions of this Constitution relating to-
(a) The reservation of seats for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in the House of the People and in the Legislative Assemblies of the States; and
(b) The representation of the Anglo-Indian community in the House of the People and in the Legislative Assemblies of the States by nomination,
Shall cease to have effect on the expiration of a period of 1[sixty years] from the commencement of this Constitution:
Provided that nothing in this article shall affect any representation in the House of the People or in the Legislative Assembly of a State until the dissolution of the then existing House or Assembly, as the case may be.
1. Successively subs by the Constitution (Sixty-second Amendment) Act, 1989, s.2 for the words ‘forty years’ (w.e.f. 20.12.1989) and by the Constitution (Seventy-ninth Amendment) Act 1999, s.2 for the words ‘fifty years’(w.e.f. 25.1.2000)
Section 335. Claims of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to services and posts
The claims of the members of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes shall be taken into consideration, consistently with the maintenance of efficiency of administration, in the making of appointments to services and posts in connection with the affairs of the Union or of a State.
1[Provided that nothing in this article shall prevent in making of any provision in favour of the members of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for relaxation in qualifying marks in any examination or lowering the standards of evaluation, for reservation in matters of promotion to any class or classes of services or posts in connection with the affairs of the Union or the State].
1. Ins. By the Constitution (Eighty-second Amendment), sec. 2 (w.e.f. 8-9-2000).
Section 336. Special provision for Anglo-Indian community in certain services
(1) During the first two years after the commencement of this Constitution, appointments of members of the Anglo-Indian community to posts in the railway, customs, postal and telegraph services of the Union shall be made on the same basis as immediately before the fifteenth day of August, 1947.
During every succeeding period of two years, the number of posts reserved for the members of the said community in the said services shall, as nearly as possible, be less by ten per cent. than the numbers so reserved during the immediately preceding period of two years:
Provided that at the end of ten years from the commencement of this Constitution all such reservations shall cease.
(2) Nothing in clause (1) shall bar the appointment of members of the Anglo-Indian community to posts other than, or in addition to, those reserved for the community under that clause if such members are found qualified for appointment on merit as compared with the members of other communities.
Section 337. Special provision with respect to educational grants for the benefit of Anglo-Indian community
During the first three financial years after the commencement of this Constitution, the same grants, if any, shall be made by the Union and by each State 1[***] for the benefit of the Anglo-Indian community in respect of education as were made in the financial year ending on the thirty-first day of March, 1948.
During every succeeding period of three years the grants may be less by ten per cent. than those for the immediately preceding period of three years:
Provided that at the end of ten years from the commencement of this Constitution such grants, to the extent to which they are a special concession to the Anglo-Indian community, shall cease:
Provided further that no educational institution shall be entitled to receive any grant under this article unless at least forty per cent. of the annual admissions therein are made available to members of communities other than the Anglo-Indian community.
1. The words and letters “specified in Part A or Part B of the First Schedule” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch.
Section 338. National Commission for Scheduled Castes
338. 1[National Commission for Scheduled Castes.]
2[3[(1) There shall be a Commission for the Scheduled Castes to be known as the National Commission for the Scheduled Castes.
(2) Subject to the provisions of any law made in this behalf by Parliament, the Commission shall consist of a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and three other Members and the conditions of service and tenure of office of the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and other Members so appointed shall be such as the President may by rule determine.]
(3) The Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and other Members of the Commission shall be appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal.
(4) The Commission shall have the power to regulate its own procedure.
(5) It shall be the duty of the Commission-
(a) To investigate and monitor all matters relating to the safeguards provided for the Scheduled Castes 4[* * *] under this Constitution or under any other law for the time being in force or under any order of the Government and to evaluate the working of such safeguards;
(b) To inquire into specific complaints with respect to the deprivation of rights and safeguards of the Scheduled Castes 4[* * *];
(c) To participate and advise on the planning process of socio-economic development of the Scheduled Castes 4[* * *] and to evaluate the progress of their development under the Union and any State;
(d) To present to the President, annually and at such other times as the Commission may deem fit, reports upon the working of those safeguards;
(e) To make in such reports recommendations as to the measures that should be taken by the Union or any State for the effective implementation of those safeguards and other measures for the protection, welfare and socio-economic development of the Scheduled Castes 4[* * *]; and
(f) To discharge such other functions in relation to the protection, welfare, development, and advancement of the Scheduled Castes 4[* * *] as the President may, subject to the provisions of any law made by Parliament, by rule specify.
(6) The President shall cause all such reports to be laid before each House of Parliament along with a memorandum explaining the action taken or proposed to be taken on the recommendations relating to the Union and the reasons for the non-acceptance, if any, of any of such recommendations.
(7) Where any such report, or any part thereof, relates to any matter with which any State Government is concerned, a copy of such report shall be forwarded to the Governor of the State who shall cause it to be laid before the Legislature of the State along with a memorandum explaining the action taken or proposed to be taken on the recommendations relating to the State and the reasons for the non-acceptance, if any, of any of such recommendations.
(8) The Commission shall, while investigating any matter referred to in sub-clause (a) or inquiring into any complaint referred to in sub-clause (b) of clause (5), have all the powers of a civil court trying a suit and in particular in respect of the following matters, namely: -
(a) Summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person from any part of India and examining him on oath;
(b) Requiring the discovery and production of any document;
(c) Receiving evidence on affidavits;
(d) Requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any court or office;
(e) Issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses and documents;
(f) Any other matter which the President may, by rule, determine.
(9) The Union and every State Government shall consult the Commission on all major policy matters affecting Scheduled Castes 4[* * *].]
5[(10)] In this article, references to the Scheduled Castes 4[* * *] shall be construed as including references to such other backward classes as the President may, on receipt of the report of a Commission appointed under clause (1) of article 340, by order specify and also to the Anglo-Indian community.
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Sixty-fifth Amendment) Act, 1990, sec. 2, (w.e.f. 22-3-1992) and again subs. by the Constitution (Eighty-ninth Amendment) Act, 2003, sec. 2 for the marginal heading “National Commission for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribles” (w.e.f. 19-2-2004).
2. Subs. by the Constitution (Sixty-fifth Amendment) Act, 1990, sec. 2 for clauses (1) and (2) (w.e.f. 22-3-1992).
3. Subs. by the Constitution (Eighty-ninth Amendment) Act, 2003, s. 2 for clauses (1) and (2) (w.e.f. 19-2-2004).
4. The words “and Scheduled Tribes” omitted by the Constitution (Eighty-ninth Amendment) Act, 2003, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 19-2-2004).
5. Clause (3) renumbered as clause (10) by the Constitution (Sixty-fifth Amendment) Act, 1990, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 22-3-1992).
Section 338A. National Commission for Scheduled Tribes
1[338A. National Commission for Scheduled Tribes
(1) There shall be a Commission for the Scheduled Tribes to be known as Commission the National Commission for the Scheduled Tribes.
(2) Subject to the provisions of any law made in this behalf by Parliament, the Commission shall consist of a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and three other Members and the conditions of service and tenure of office of the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and other Members so appointed shall be such as the President may by rule determine.
(3) The Chairperson. Vice-Chairperson and other Members of the Commission shall be appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal.
(4) The Commission shall have the power to regulate its own procedure.
(5) It shall be the duty of the Commission-
(a) to investigate and monitor all matters relating to the safeguards provided for the Scheduled Tribes under this Constitution or under any other law for the time being in force or under any order of the Government and to evaluate the working of such safeguards;
(b) to inquire into specific complaints with respect to the deprivation of rights and safeguards of the Scheduled Tribes;
(c) to participate and advise on the planning process of socio-economic development of the Scheduled Tribes and to evaluate the progress of their development under the Union and any State;
(d) to present to the President, annually and at such other times as the Commission may deem fit, reports upon the working of those safeguards;
(e) to make in such reports recommendations as to the measures that should be taken by the Union or any State for the effective implementation of those safeguards and other measures for the protection, welfare .and socio-economic development of the Scheduled Tribes; and
(f) to discharge such other functions in relation to the protection, welfare and development and advancement of the Scheduled Tribes as the President may, subject to the provisions of any law made by Parliament, by rule specify.
(6) The President shall cause all such reports to be laid before each House of Parliament along with a memorandum explaining the action taken or proposed to be taken on the recommendations relating to the Union and the reasons for the non-acceptance, if any, of any of such recommendations.
(7) Where any such report, or any part thereof, relates to any matter with which any State Government is concerned, a copy of such report shall be forwarded to the Governor of the State who shall cause it to be laid before the Legislature of the State along with a memorandum explaining the action taken or proposed to be taken on the recommendations relating to the State and the reasons for the non-acceptance, if any, of any of such recommendations.
(8) The Commission shall, while investigating any matter referred to in sub-clause (a) or inquiring into any complaint referred to in sub-clause (b) of clause (5), have all the powers of a civil court trying a suit and in particular in respect of the following matters, namely:-
(a) summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person from any part of India and examining him on oath;
(b) requiring the discovery and production of any document;
(c) receiving evidence on affidavits;
(d) requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any court or office;
(e) issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses and documents;
(f) any other matter which the President may, by rule, determine.
(9) The Union and every State Government shall consult the Commission on all major policy matters affecting Scheduled Tribes.”.
1. Inserted by Constitution (Eighty-Ninth amendment) Act, 2003, sec. 3 (w.e.f. 19-2-2004).
Section 339. Control of the Union over the administration of Scheduled Areas and the welfare of Scheduled Tribes
(1) The President may at any time and shall, at the expiration of ten years from the commencement of this Constitution by order appoint a Commission to report on the administration of the Scheduled Areas and the welfare of the Scheduled Tribes in the States 1[***].
The order may define the composition, powers and procedure of the Commission and may contain such incidental or ancillary provisions, as the President may consider necessary or desirable.
(2) The executive power of the Union shall extend to the giving of directions to 2[a State] as to the drawing up and execution of schemes specified in the direction to be essential for the welfare of the Scheduled Tribes in the State.
1. The words and letters “specified in Part A and Part B of the First Schedule” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch.
2. Subs. by s. 29 and Sch., the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956., for “any such State”.
Section 340. Appointment of a Commission to investigate the conditions of backward classes
(1) The President may by order appoint a Commission consisting of such persons as he thinks fit to investigate the conditions of socially and educationally backward classes within the territory of India and the difficulties under which they labour and to make recommendations as to the steps that should be taken by the Union or any State to remove such difficulties and to improve their condition and as to the grants that should be made for the purpose by the Union or any State and the conditions subject to which such grants should be made, and the order appointing such Commission shall define the procedure to be followed by the Commission.
(2) A Commission so appointed shall investigate the matters referred to them and present to the President a report setting out the facts as found by them and making such recommendations as they think proper.
(3) The President shall cause a copy of the report so presented together with a memorandum explaining the action taken thereon to be laid before each House of Parliament.
Section 341. Scheduled Castes
(1) The President 1[may with respect to any State 2[or Union territory], and where it is a State 3[***], after consultation with the Governor 4[***] thereof,] by public notification5, specify the castes, races or tribes or parts of or groups within castes, races or tribes which shall for the purposes of this Constitution be deemed to be Scheduled Castes in relation to that State 2[or Union territory, as the case may be].
(2) Parliament may by law include in or exclude from the list of Scheduled Castes specified in a notification issued under clause (1) any caste, race or tribe or part of or group within any caste, race or tribe, but save as aforesaid a notification issued under the said clause shall not be varied by any subsequent notification.
1. Subs. by the Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951, s. 10, for “may, after consultation with the Governor or Rajpramukh of a State”.
2. Ins. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch.
3. The words and letters “specified in Part A or Part B of the First Schedule” omitted by s. 29 and Sch., ibid.
4. The words “or Rajpramukh” omitted by s. 29 and Sch., ibid.
5. See the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 (C.O. 19), the Constitution (cheduled Castes) (Union Territories) Order, 1951 (C.O. 32), the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Castes Order, 1956 (C.O.52), the Constitution (Dadra and Nagar Haveli) Scheduled Castes Order, 1962 (C.O. 64), the Constitution
(Pondicherry) Scheduled Castes Order, 1964 (C.O. 68), the Constitution (Goa, Daman and Diu) Scheduled Castes Order, 1968 (C.O. 81) and the Constitution (Sikkim) Scheduled Castes Order, 1978 (C.O. 110).
Section 342. Scheduled Tribes
(1) The President 1[may with respect to any State 2[or Union territory], and where it is a State 3[***], after consultation with the Governor 4[***] thereof,] by public notification 5, specify the tribes or tribal communities or part of or groups within tribes or tribal communities which shall for the purposes of this Constitution be deemed to be Scheduled Tribes in relation to that State 6[or Union territory, as the case may be].
(2) Parliament may by law include in or exclude from the list of Scheduled Tribes specified in a notification issued under clause (1) any tribe or tribal community or part of or group within any tribe or tribal community, but save as aforesaid a notification issued under the said clause shall not be varied by any subsequent notification.
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch.
2. Subs. by the Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951, s. 11, for “may, after consultation with the Governor or Rajpramukh of a State,”.
3. The words and letters “specified in Part A or Part B of the First Schedule” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch.
4. The words “or Rajpramukh” omitted by s. 29 and Sch., ibid.
5. See the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950 (C.O.22), the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) (Union Territories) Order, 1951 (C.O.33), the Constitution (Andaman and Nicobar Islands) Scheduled Tribes Order, 1959 (C.O.58), the Constitution (Dadra and Nagar Haveli) Scheduled Tribes Order, 1962 (C.O.65), the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) (Uttar Pradesh) Order, 1967 (C.O.78), the Constitution (Goa, Daman and Diu) Scheduled Tribes Order, 1968 (C.O.82), the Constitution (Nagaland) Scheduled Tribes Order, 1970 (C.O.88) and the Constitution (Sikkim) Scheduled Tribes Order, 1978 (C.O.111).
6. Ins. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec. 29 and Sch.
Section 343. Official language of the Union
(1) The official language of the Union shall be Hindi in Devanagari script.
The form of numerals to be used for the official purposes of the Union shall be the international form of Indian numerals.
(2) Notwithstanding anything in clause (1), for a period of fifteen years from the commencement of this Constitution, the English language shall continue to be used for all the official purposes of the Union for which it was being used immediately before such commencement:
Provided that the President may, during the said period, by order 1 authorise the use of the Hindi language in addition to the English language and of the Devanagari form of numerals in addition to the international form of Indian numerals for any of the official purposes of the Union.
(3) Notwithstanding anything in this article, Parliament may by law provide for the use, after the said period of fifteen years, of—
(a) the English language, or
(b) the Devanagari form of numerals,
for such purposes as may be specified in the law.
1. See C.O. 41.
Section 344. Commission and Committee of Parliament on official language
(1) The President shall, at the expiration of five years from the commencement of this Constitution and thereafter at the expiration of ten years from such commencement, by order constitute a Commission which shall consist of a Chairman and such other members representing the different languages specified in the Eighth Schedule as the President may appoint, and the order shall define the procedure to be followed by the Commission.
(2) It shall be the duty of the Commission to make recommendations to the President as to-
(a) The progressive use of the Hindi language for the official purposes of the Union;
(b) Restrictions on the use of the English language for all or any of the official purposes of the Union;
(c) The language to be used for all or any of the purposes mentioned in article 348;
(d) The form of numerals to be used for any one or more specified purposes of the Union;
(e) Any other matter referred to the Commission by the President as regards the official language of the Union and the language for communication between the Union and a State or between one State and another and their use.
(3) In making their recommendations under clause (2), the Commission shall have due regard to the industrial, cultural and scientific advancement of India, and the just claims and the interests of persons belonging to the non-Hindi speaking areas in regard to the public services.
(4) There shall be constituted a Committee consisting of thirty members, of whom twenty shall be members of the House of the People and ten shall be members of the Council of States to be elected respectively by the members of the House of the People and the members of the Council of States in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote.
(5) It shall be the duty of the Committee to examine the recommendations of the Commission constituted under clause (1) and to report to the President their opinion thereon.
(6) Notwithstanding anything in article 343, the President may, after consideration of the report referred to in clause (5), issue directions in accordance with the whole or any part of that report.
Section 345. Official language or languages of a State
Subject to the provisions of articles 346 and 347, the Legislature of a State may by law adopt any one or more of the languages in use in the State or Hindi as the language or languages to be used for all or any of the official purposes of that State:
Provided that, until the Legislature of the State otherwise provides by law, the English language shall continue to be used for those official purposes within the State for which it was being used immediately before the commencement of this Constitution.
Section 346. Official language for communication between one State and another or between a State and the Union
The language for the time being authorised for use in the Union for official purposes shall be the official language for communication between one State and another State and between a State and the Union:
Provided that if two or more States agree that the Hindi language should be the official language for communication between such States, that language may be used for such communication.
Section 347. Special provision relating to language spoken by a section of the population of a State
On a demand being made in that behalf the President may, if he is satisfied that a substantial proportion of the population of a State desire the use of any language spoken by them to be recognised by that State, direct that such language shall also be officially recognised throughout that State or any part thereof for such purpose as he may specify.
Section 348. Language to be used in the Supreme Court and in the High Courts and for Acts, Bills, etc
(1) Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this Part, until Parliament by law otherwise provides-
(a) All proceedings in the Supreme Court and in every High Court,
(b) The authoritative texts-
(i) Of all Bills to be introduced or amendments thereto to be moved in either House of Parliament or in the House or either House of the Legislature of a State,
(ii) Of all Acts passed by Parliament or the Legislature of a State and of all Ordinances promulgated by the President or the Governor 1[***] of a State, and
(iii) Of all orders, rules, regulations and bye-laws issued under this Constitution or under any law made by Parliament or the Legislature of a State,
Shall be in the English language.
(2) Notwithstanding anything in sub-clause (a) of clause (1), the Governor 1[***] of a State may, with the previous consent of the President, authorise the use of the Hindi language, or any other language used for any official purposes of the State, in proceedings in the High Court having its principal seat in that State:
Provided that nothing in this clause shall apply to any judgment, decree or order passed or made by such High Court.
(3) Notwithstanding anything in sub-clause (b) of clause (1), where the Legislature of a State has prescribed any language other than the English language for use in Bills introduced in, or Acts passed by, the Legislature of the State or in Ordinances promulgated by the Governor 1[***] of the State or in any order, rule, regulation or bye-law referred to in paragraph (iii) of that sub-clause, a translation of the same in the English language published under the authority of the Governor 1[***] of the State in the Official Gazette of that State shall be deemed to be the authoritative text thereof in the English language under this article.
1. The words “or Rajpramukh” omitted by s. 29 and Sch., by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956.
Section 349. Special procedure for enactment of certain laws relating to language
During the period of fifteen years from the commencement of this Constitution, no Bill or amendment making provision for the language to be used for any of the purposes mentioned in clause (1) of article 348 shall be introduced or moved in either House of Parliament without the previous sanction of the President, and the President shall not give his sanction to the introduction of any such Bill or the moving of any such amendment except after he has taken into consideration the recommendations of the Commission constituted under clause (1) of article 344 and the report of the Committee constituted under clause (4) of that article.
Section 350. Language to be used in representations for redress of grievances
Every person shall be entitled to submit a representation for the redress of any grievance to any officer or authority of the Union or a State in any of the languages used in the Union or in the State, as the case may be.
Section 350A. Facilities for instruction in mother-tongue at primary stage
1[350A. Facilities for instruction in mother-tongue at primary stage.
It shall be the endeavour of every State and of every local authority within the State to provide adequate facilities for instruction in the mother-tongue at the primary stage of education to children belonging to linguistic minority groups; and the President may issue such directions to any State as he considers necessary or proper for securing the provision of such facilities.
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec. 21.
Section 350B. Special Officer for linguistic minorities
(1) There shall be a Special Officer for linguistic minorities to be appointed by the President.
(2) It shall be the duty of the Special Officer to investigate all matters relating to the safeguards provided for linguistic minorities under this Constitution and report to the President upon those matters at such intervals as the President may direct, and the President shall cause all such reports to be laid before each House of Parliament, and sent to the Governments of the States concerned.]
Section 351. Directive for development of the Hindi language
It shall be the duty of the Union to promote the spread of the Hindi language, to develop it so that it may serve as a medium of expression for all the elements of the composite culture of India and to secure its enrichment by assimilating without interfering with its genius, the forms, style and expressions used in Hindustani and in the other languages of India specified in the Eighth Schedule, and by drawing, wherever necessary or desirable, for its vocabulary, primarily on Sanskrit and secondarily on other languages.
Section 352. Proclamation of Emergency
(1) If the President is satisfied that a grave emergency exists whereby the security of India or of any part of the territory thereof is threatened, whether by war or external aggression or 1[armed rebellion], he may, by Proclamation, make a declaration to that effect 2[in respect of the whole of India or of such part of the territory thereof as may be specified in the Proclamation].
3[Explanation. A Proclamation of Emergency declaring that the security of India or any part of the territory thereof is threatened by war or by external aggression or by armed rebellion may be made before the actual occurrence of war or of any such aggression or rebellion, if the President is satisfied that there is imminent danger thereof.]
4[(2) A Proclamation issued under clause (1) may be varied or revoked by a subsequent Proclamation.
(3) The President shall not issue a Proclamation under clause (1) or a Proclamation varying such Proclamation unless the decision of the Union Cabinet (that is to say, the Council consisting of the Prime Minister and other Ministers of Cabinet rank appointed under article 75) that such a Proclamation may be issued has been communicated to him in writing.
(4) Every Proclamation issued under this article shall be laid before each House of Parliament and shall, except where it is a Proclamation revoking a previous Proclamation, cease to operate at the expiration of one month unless before the expiration of that period it has been approved by resolutions of both Houses of Parliament:
Provided that if any such Proclamation (not being a Proclamation revoking a previous Proclamation) is issued at a time when the House of the People has been dissolved, or the dissolution of the House of the People takes place during the period of one month referred to in this clause, and if a resolution approving the Proclamation has been passed by the Council of States, but no resolution with respect to such Proclamation has been passed by the House of the People before the expiration of that period the Proclamation shall cease to operate at the expiration of thirty days from the date on which the House of the People first sits after its reconstitution, unless before the expiration of the said period of thirty days a resolution approving the Proclamation has been also passed by the House of the People.
(5) A Proclamation so approved shall, unless revoked, cease to operate on the expiration of a period of six months from the date of the passing of the second of the resolutions approving the Proclamation under clause (4):
Provided that if and so often as a resolution approving the continuance in force of such a Proclamation is passed by both Houses of Parliament the Proclamation shall, unless revoked, continue in force for a further period of six months from the date on which it would otherwise have ceased to operate under this clause:
Provided further that if the dissolution of the House of the People takes place during any such period of six months and a resolution approving the continuance in force of such Proclamation has been passed by the Council of States but no resolution with respect to the continuance in force of such Proclamation has been passed by the House of the People during the said period, the Proclamation shall cease to operate at the expiration of thirty days from the date on which the House of the People first sits after its reconstitution unless before the expiration of the said period of thirty days, a resolution approving the continuance in force of the Proclamation has been also passed by the House of the People.
(6) For the purposes of clauses (4) and (5), a resolution may be passed by either House of Parliament only by a majority of the total membership of that House and by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the Members of that House present and voting.
(7) Notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing clauses, the President shall revoke a Proclamation issued under clause (1) or a Proclamation varying such Proclamation if the House of the People passes a resolution disapproving, or, as the case may be, disapproving the continuance in force of, such Proclamation.
(8) Where a notice in writing signed by not less than one-tenth of the total number of members of the House of the People has been given, of their intention to move a resolution for disapproving, or, as the case may be, for disapproving the continuance in force of, a Proclamation issued under clause (1) or a Proclamation varying such Proclamation, -
(a) To the Speaker, if the House is in session; or
(b) To the President, if the House is not in session,
A special sitting of the House shall be held within fourteen days from the date on which such notice is received by the Speaker, or, as the case may be, by the President, for the purpose of considering such resolution.]
5[6(9)] The power conferred on the President by this article shall include the power to issue different Proclamations on different grounds, being war or external aggression or 1[armed rebellion] or imminent danger of war or external aggression or 7[armed rebellion], whether or not there is a Proclamation already issued by the President under clause (1) and such Proclamation is in operation.
8[* * * *]
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 37, for “internal disturbance”(w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
2. Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 48 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
3. Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 37 (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
4. Subs. by s. 37, the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, for cls. (2), (2A) and (3) (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
5. Ins. by the Constitution (Thirty-eighth Amendment) Act, 1975, s. 5 (retrospectively).
6. Cl. (4) renumbered as cl.(9) by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 37 (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
7. Cl. (5) omitted by s. 37, the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978 (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
8. Clause (5) omitted by the Constitution (Fourty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, sec. 37 (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
Section 353. Effect of Proclamation of Emergency
While a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation, then-
(a) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, the executive power of the Union shall extend to the giving of directions to any State as to the manner in which the executive power thereof is to be exercised;
(b) The power of Parliament to make laws with respect to any matter shall include power to make laws conferring powers and imposing duties, or authorising the conferring of powers and the imposition of duties, upon the Union or officers and authorities of the Union as respects that matter, notwithstanding that it is one which is not enumerated in the Union List:
1[Provided that where a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation only in any part of the territory of India, -
(i) The executive power of the Union to give directions under clause (a), and
(ii) The power of Parliament to make laws under clause (b),
Shall also extend to any State other than a State in which or in any part of which the Proclamation of Emergency is in operation if and in so far as the security of India or any part of the territory thereof is threatened by activities in or in relation to the part of the territory of India in which the Proclamation of Emergency is in operation.]
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 49 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
Section 354. Application of provisions relating to distribution of revenues while a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation
(1) The President may, while a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation, by order direct that all or any of the provisions of articles 268 to 279 shall for such period, not extending in any case beyond the expiration of the financial year in which such Proclamation ceases to operate, as may be specified in the order, have effect subject to such exceptions or modifications as he thinks fit.
(2) Every order made under clause (1) shall, as soon as may be after it is made, be laid before each House of Parliament.
Section 355. Duty of the Union to protect States against external aggression and internal disturbance
It shall be the duty of the Union to protect every State against external aggression and internal disturbance and to ensure that the government of every State is carried on in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.
Section 356. Provisions in case of failure of constitutional machinery in States
(1) If the President, on receipt of a report from the Governor 1[***] of a State or otherwise, is satisfied that a situation has arisen in which the Government of the State cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution, the President may by Proclamation-
(a) Assume to himself all or any of the functions of the Government of the State and all or any of the powers vested in or exercisable by the Governor 1[***] or any body or authority in the State other than the Legislature of the State;
(b) Declare that the powers of the Legislature of the State shall be exercisable by or under the authority of Parliament;
(c) Make such incidental and consequential provisions as appear to the President to be necessary or desirable for giving effect to the objects of the Proclamation, including provisions for suspending in whole or in part the operation of any provisions of this Constitution relating to any body or authority in the State:
Provided that nothing in this clause shall authorise the President to assume to himself any of the powers vested in or exercisable by a High Court, or to suspend in whole or in part the operation of any provision of this Constitution relating to High Courts.
(2) Any such Proclamation may be revoked or varied by a subsequent Proclamation.
(3) Every Proclamation under this article shall be laid before each House of Parliament and shall, except where it is a Proclamation revoking a previous Proclamation, cease to operate at the expiration of two months unless before the expiration of that period it has been approved by resolutions of both Houses of Parliament:
Provided that if any such Proclamation (not being a Proclamation revoking a previous Proclamation) is issued at a time when the House of the People is dissolved or the dissolution of the House of the People takes place during the period of two months referred to in this clause, and if a resolution approving the Proclamation has been passed by the Council of States, but no resolution with respect to such Proclamation has been passed by the House of the People before the expiration of that period, the Proclamation shall cease to operate at the expiration of thirty days from the date on which the House of the People first sits after its reconstitution unless before the expiration of the said period of thirty days a resolution approving the Proclamation has been also passed by the House of the People.
(4) A Proclamation so approved shall, unless revoked, cease to operate on the expiration of a period of 3[six months from the date of issue of the Proclamation]:
Provided that if and so often as a resolution approving the continuance in force of such a Proclamation is passed by both Houses of Parliament, the Proclamation shall, unless revoked, continue in force for a further period of 4[six months] from the date on which under this clause it would otherwise have ceased to operate, but no such Proclamation shall in any case remain in force for more than three years:
Provided further that if the dissolution of the House of the People takes place during any such period of 4[six months] and a resolution approving the continuance in force of such Proclamation has been passed by the Council of States, but no resolution with respect to the continuance in force of such Proclamation has been passed by the House of the People during the said period, the Proclamation shall cease to operate at the expiration of thirty days from the date on which the House of the People first sits after its reconstitution unless before the expiration of the said period of thirty days a resolution approving the continuance in force of the Proclamation has been also passed by the House of the People:
5[Provided also that in the case of the Proclamation issued under clause (1) on the 11th day of May, 1987 with respect to the State of Punjab, the reference in the first proviso to this clause to “three years” shall be construed as a reference to 6[five years].]
7[(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in clause (4), a resolution with respect to the continuance in force of a Proclamation approved under clause (3) for any period beyond the expiration of one year from the date of issue of such Proclamation shall not be passed by either House of Parliament unless-
(a) A Proclamation of Emergency is in operation, in the whole of India or, as the case may be, in the whole or any part of the State, at the time of the passing of such resolution, and
(b) The Election Commission certifies that the continuance in force of the Proclamation approved under clause (3) during the period specified in such resolution is necessary on account of difficulties in holding general elections to the Legislative Assembly of the State concerned:]
8[Provided that nothing in this clause shall apply to the Proclamation issued under clause (1) on the 11th day of May, 1987 with respect to the State of Punjab.]
1. The words “or Rajpramukh” omitted by s. 29 and Sch., the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956.
2. The words “or Rajpramukh, as the case may be” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch.
3. Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 38, for “one year from the date of the passing of the second of the resolutions approving the Proclamation under clause (3)” (w.e.f. 20-6-1979). The words “one year” were subs. for the original words “six months” by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 50 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
4. Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 38, for “one year” (w.e.f. 20-6-1979). The words “one year” were subs. for the original words “six months” by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 50 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
5. Ins. by the Constitution (Sixty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1990, s. 2.
6. Successively subs. by the Constitution (Sixty-seventh Amendment) Act, 1990, s. 2 and the Constitution (Sixty-eighth Amendment) Act, 1991, s. 2 to read as above.
7. Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 38, for cl.(5) (w.e.f. 20-6-1979). Cl. (5) was ins. by the Constitution (Thirty-eighth Amendment) Act, 1975, s. 6 (retrospectively).
8. Subs by the Constitution (Fifty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1988, sec. 2 and omited by the Constitution (Sixty-third Amendment) Act, 1989, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 6-1-1990) and again Ins. by the Constitution (Sixty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1990, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 16-4-1990).
Section 357. Exercise of legislative powers under Proclamation issued under article 356
(1) Where by a Proclamation issued under clause (1) of article 356, it has been declared that the powers of the Legislature of the State shall be exercisable by or under the authority of Parliament, it shall be competent-
(a) For Parliament to confer on the President the power of the Legislature of the State to make laws, and to authorise the President to delegate, subject to such conditions as he may think fit to impose, the power so conferred to any other authority to be specified by him in that behalf;
(b) For Parliament, or for the President or other authority in whom such power to make laws is vested under sub-clause (a), to make laws conferring powers and imposing duties, or authorising the conferring of powers and the imposition of duties, upon the Union or officers and authorities thereof;
(c) For the President to authorise when the House of the People is not in session expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of the State pending the sanction of such expenditure by Parliament.
1[(2) Any law made in exercise of the power of the Legislature of the State by Parliament or the President or other authority referred to in sub-clause (a) of clause (1) which Parliament or the President or such other authority would not, but for the issue of a Proclamation under article 356, have been competent to make shall, after the Proclamation has ceased to operate, continue in force until altered or repealed or amended by a competent Legislature or other authority.]
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 51, for cl. (2) (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
Section 358. Suspension of provisions of article 19 during emergencies
1[(1)] 2[While a Proclamation of Emergency declaring that the security of India or any part of the territory thereof is threatened by war or by external aggression is in operation], nothing in article 19 shall restrict the power of the State as defined in Part III to make any law or to take any executive action which the State would but for the provisions contained in that Part be competent to make or to take, but any law so made shall, to the extent of the incompetency, cease to have effect as soon as the Proclamation ceases to operate, except as respects things done or omitted to be done before the law so ceases to have effect:
3[Provided that 4[where such Proclamation of Emergency] is in operation only in any part of the territory of India, any such law may be made, or any such executive action may be taken, under this article in relation to or in any State or Union territory in which or in any part of which the Proclamation of Emergency is not in operation, if and in so far as the security of India or any part of the territory thereof is threatened by activities in or in relation to the part of the territory of India in which the Proclamation of Emergency is in operation.]
5[(2) Nothing in clause (1) shall apply-
(a) To any law which does not contain a recital to the effect that such law is in relation to the Proclamation of Emergency in operation when it is made; or
(b) To any executive action taken otherwise than under a law containing such a recital.]
1. Art. 358 renumbered as cl. (1) thereof by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 39 (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
2. Subs. by s. 39, the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, for “While a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation” (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
3. Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 52 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
4. Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 39, for “where a Proclamation of Emergency” (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
5. Ins. by s. 39, the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
Section 359. Suspension of the enforcement of the rights conferred by Part III during emergencies
(1) Where a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation, the President may by order delcare that the right to move any court for the enforcement of such of 1[the rights conferred by Part III (except articles 20 and 21)] as may be mentioned in the order and all proceedings pending in any court for the enforcement of the rights so mentioned shall remain suspended for the period during which the Proclamation is in force or for such shorter period as may be specified in the order.
2[(1A) While an order made under clause (1) mentioning any of 1[of the rights conferred by Part III (except articles 20 and 21)] is in operation, nothing in that Part conferring those rights shall restrict the power of the State as defined in the said Part to make any law or to take any executive action which the State would but for the provisions contained in that Part be competent to make or to take, but any law so made shall, to the extent of the incompetency, cease to have effect as soon as the order aforesaid ceases to operate, except as respects things done or omitted to be done before the law so ceases to have effect:]
3[Provided that where a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation only in any part of the territory of India, any such law may be made, or any such executive action may be taken, under this article in relation to or in any State or Union territory in which or in any part of which the Proclamation of Emergency is not in operation, if and in so far as the security of India or any part of the territory thereof is threatened by activities in or in relation to the part of the territory of India in which the Proclamation of Emergency is in operation.]
4[(1B) Nothing in clause (1A) shall apply-
(a) To any law which does not contain a recital to the effect that such law is in relation to the Proclamation of Emergency in operation when it is made; or
(b) To any executive action taken otherwise than under a law containing such a recital.]
(2) An order made as aforesaid may extend to the whole or any part of the territory of India:
3[Provided that where a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation only in a part of the territory of India, any such order shall not extend to any other part of the territory of India unless the President, being satisfied that the security of India or any part of the territory thereof is threatened by activities in or in relation to the part of the territory of India in which the Proclamation of Emergency is in operation, considers such extension to be necessary.]
(3) Every order made under clause (1) shall, as soon as may be after it is made, be laid before each House of Parliament.
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 40, for “the rights conferred by Part III” (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
2. Ins. by the Constitution (Thirty-eighth Amendment) Act, 1975, s. 7, (retrospectively).
3. Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 53 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
4. Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 40 (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
Section 359A. Application of this Part to the State of Punjab
1[359A. Application of this Part to the State of Punjab.
Rep. by the Constitution (Sixty-third Amendment) Act, 1989, s. 3 (w.e.f. 6-1-1990).]
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 40 (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
Section 360. Provisions as to financial emergency
(1) If the President is satisfied that a situation has arisen whereby the financial stability or credit of India or of any part of the territory thereof is threatened, he may by a Proclamation make a declaration to that effect.
1[(2) A Proclamation issued under clause (1)-
(a) May be revoked or varied by a subsequent Proclamation;
(b) Shall be laid before each House of Parliament;
(c) Shall cease to operate at the expiration of two months, unless before the expiration of that period it has been approved by resolutions of both Houses of Parliament:
Provided that if any such Proclamation is issued at a time when the House of the People has been dissolved or the dissolution of the House of the People takes place during the period of two months referred to in sub-clause (c), and if a resolution approving the Proclamation has been passed by the Council of States, but no resolution with respect to such Proclamation has been passed by the House of the People before the expiration of that period, the Proclamation shall cease to operate at the expiration of thirty days from the date on which the House of the People first sits after its reconstitution unless before the expiration of the said period of thirty days a resolution approving the Proclamation has been also passed by the House of the People.]
(3) During the period any such Proclamation as is mentioned in clause (1) is in operation, the executive authority of the Union shall extend to the giving of directions to any State to observe such canons of financial propriety as may be specified in the directions, and to the giving of such other directions as the President may deem necessary and adequate for the purpose.
(4) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution-
(a) Any such direction may include-
(i) A provision requiring the reduction of salaries and allowances of all or any class of persons serving in connection with the affairs of a State;
(ii) A provision requiring all Money Bills or other Bills to which the provisions of article 207 apply to be reserved for the consideration of the President after they are passed by the Legislature of the State;
(b) It shall be competent for the President during the period any Proclamation issued under this article is in operation to issue directions for the reduction of salaries and allowances of all or any class of persons serving in connection with the affairs of the Union including the Judges of the Supreme Court and the High Courts.
2[* * * * *]
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 41, for cl.(2) (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
2. Cl. (5) was ins. by the Constitution (Thirty-eighth Amendment) Act, 1975, s. 8 (retrospectively) and omitted by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 41 (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
Section 361. Protection of President and Governors and Rajpramukhs
(1) The President, or the Governor or Rajpramukh of a State, shall not be answerable to any court for the exercise and performance of the powers and duties of his office or for any act done or purporting to be done by him in the exercise and performance of those powers and duties:
Provided that the conduct of the President may be brought under review by any court, tribunal or body appointed or designated by either House of Parliament for the investigation of a charge under article 61:
Provided further that nothing in this clause shall be construed as restricting the right of any person to bring appropriate proceedings against the Government of India or the Government of a State.
(2) No criminal proceedings whatsoever shall be instituted or continued against the President, or the Governor 1[***] of a State, in any court during his term of office.
(3) No process for the arrest or imprisonment of the President, or the Governor 1[***] of a State, shall issue from any court during his term of office.
(4) No civil proceedings in which relief is claimed against the President, or the Governor 1[***] of a State, shall be instituted during his term of office in any court in respect of any act done or purporting to be done by him in his personal capacity, whether before or after he entered upon his office as President, or as Governor 1[***] of such State, until the expiration of two months next after notice in writing has been delivered to the President or the Governor 2[***], as the case may be, or left at his office stating the nature of the proceedings, the cause of action therefor, the name, description and place of residence of the party by whom such proceedings are to be instituted and the relief which he claims.
1. The words “or Rajpramukh” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch.
2. The words “or the Rajpramukh” omitted by s. 29 and Sch., the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956
Section 361A. Protection of publication of proceedings of Parliament and State Legislatures
1[361A. Protection of publication of proceedings of Parliament and State Legislatures.
(1) No person shall be liable to any proceedings, civil or criminal, in any court in respect of the publication in a newspaper of a substantially true report of any proceedings of either House of Parliament or the Legislative Assembly, or, as the case may be, either House of the Legislature, of a State, unless the publication is proved to have been made with malice:
Provided that nothing in this clause shall apply to the publication of any report of the proceedings of a secret sitting of either House of Parliament or the Legislative Assembly, or, as the case may be, either House of the Legislature, of a State.
(2) Clause (1) shall apply in relation to reports or matters broadcast by means of wireless telegraphy as part of any programme or service provided by means of a broadcasting station as it applies in relation to reports or matters published in a newspaper.
Explanation. In this article, “newspaper” includes a news agency report containing material for publication in a newspaper.]
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 42 (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
Section 361B. Disqualification for the appointment on remunerative political post
1[361B. Disqualification for the appointment on remunerative political post.
A member of a House belonging to an political party who is qualified for being a member of House under paragraph 2 of the Tenth Schedule shall also be disqualified to hold any remunerative political post for duration of the period commencing from the date of his disqualification till the date on which the term of his office as such member would expire or till the date on which he contests an election to a House and is declared elected, whichever is earlier.
Explanation:
For the purpose of this article:-
(a) The expression “House” has the meaning assigned to it in clause (a) of paragraph 1 of the Tenth Schedule;
(b) The expression “remunerative political post” means any office:-
(i) Under the Government of India or the Government of a State where the salary or remuneoration for such office is paid out of the public revenue of the Government of India or the Government of the State, as the case may be;or
(ii) Under the body, whether incorporated or not, which is wholly or partially owned by the Government of India or the Government of a State and the salary or remuneration by the such office is paid by such body,
except where such salary or remuneration paid is compensatory in nature.]
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Ninty-first Amendment) Act, 2003, s. 4 (w.e.f. 1-1-2004).
Section 362. Rights and privileges of Rulers of Indian States
Rep. by the Constitution (Twenty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1971, s. 2.
Section 363. Bar to interference by courts in disputes arising out of certain treaties, agreements, etc.
(1) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution but subject to the provisions of article 143, neither the Supreme Court nor any other court shall have jurisdiction in any dispute arising out of any provision of a treaty, agreement, covenant, engagement, sanad or other similar instrument which was entered into or executed before the commencement of this Constitution by any Ruler of an Indian State and to which the Government of the Dominion of India or any of its predecessor Governments was a party and which has or has been continued in operation after such commencement, or in any dispute in respect of any right accruing under or any liability or obligation arising out of any of the provisions of this Constitution relating to any such treaty, agreement, covenant, engagement, sanad or other similar instrument.
(2) In this article-
(a) “Indian State” means any territory recognised before the commencement of this Constitution by His Majesty or the Government of the Dominion of India as being such a State; and
(b) “Ruler” includes the Prince, Chief or other person recognised before such commencement by His Majesty or the Government of the Dominion of India as the Ruler of any Indian State.
Section 363A. Recognition granted to Rulers of Indian States to cease and privy purses to be abolished
1[363A. Recognition granted to Rulers of Indian States to cease and privy purses to be abolished.
Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution or in any law for the time being in force-
(a) The Prince, Chief or other person who, at any time before the commencement of the Constitution (Twenty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1971, was recognised by the President as the Ruler of an Indian State or any person who, at any time before such commencement, was recognised by the President as the successor of such ruler shall, on and from such commencement, cease to be recognised as such Ruler or the successor of such Ruler;
(b) On and from the commencement of the Constitution (Twenty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1971, privy purse is abolished and all rights, liabilities and obligations in respect of privy purse are extinguished and accordingly the Ruler or, as the case may be, the successor of such Ruler, referred to in clause (a) or any other person shall not be paid any sum as privy purse.]
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Twenty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1971, s. 3. (w.e.f. 28-12-1971).
Section 364. Special provisions as to major ports and aerodromes
(1) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, the President may by public notification direct that as from such date as may be specified in the notification-
(a) Any law made by Parliament or by the Legislature of a State shall not apply to any major port or aerodrome or shall apply thereto subject to such exceptions or modifications as may be specified in the notification, or
(b) Any existing law shall cease to have effect in any major port or aerodrome except as respects things done or omitted to be done before the said date, or shall in its application to such port or aerodrome have effect subject to such exceptions or modifications as may be specified in the notification.
(2) In this article-
(a) “Major port” means a port declared to be a major port by or under any law made by Parliament or any existing law and includes all areas for the time being included within the limits of such port;
(b) “Aerodrome” means aerodrome as defined for the purposes of the enactments relating to airways, aircraft and air navigation.
Section 365. Effect of failure to comply with, or to give effect to, directions given by the Union
Where any State has failed to comply with, or to give effect to, any directions given in the exercise of the executive power of the Union under any of the provisions of this Constitution, it shall be lawful for the President to hold that a situation has arisen in which the Government of the State cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.
Section 366. Definitions
In this Constitution, unless the context otherwise requires, the following expressions have the meanings hereby respectively assigned to them, that is to say-
(1) “Agricultural income” means agricultural income as defined for the purposes of the enactments relating to Indian income-tax;
(2) “An Anglo-Indian” means a person whose father or any of whose other male progenitors in the male line is or was of European descent but who is domiciled within the territory of India and is or was born within such territory of parents habitually resident therein and not established there for temporary purposes only;
(3) “Article” means an article of this Constitution;
(4) “Borrow” includes the raising of money by the grant of annuities, and “loan” shall be construed accordingly;
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(5) “Clause” means a clause of the article in which the expression occurs;
(6) “Corporation tax” means any tax on income, so far as that tax is payable by companies and is a tax in the case of which the following conditions are fulfilled: -
(a) That it is not chargeable in respect of agricultural income;
(b) That no deduction in respect of the tax paid the by companies is, by any enactments which may apply to the tax, authorised to be made from dividends payable by the companies to individuals;
(c) That no provision exists for taking the tax so paid into account in computing for the purposes of Indian income-tax the total income of individuals receiving such dividends, or in computing the Indian income-tax payable by, or refundable to, such individuals;
(7) “Corresponding Province”, “corresponding Indian State” or “corresponding State” means in cases of doubt such Province, Indian State or State as may be determined by the President to be the corresponding Province, the corresponding Indian State or the corresponding State, as the case may be, for the particular purpose in question;
(8) “Debt” includes any liability in respect of any obligation to repay capital sums by way of annuities and any liability under any guarantee, and “debt charges” shall be construed accordingly;
(9) “Estate duty” means a duty to be assessed on or by reference to the principal value, ascertained in accordance with such rules as may be prescribed by or under laws made by Parliament or the legislature of a State relating to the duty, of all property passing upon death or deemed, under the provisions of the said laws, so to pass;
(10) “Existing law” means any law, Ordinance, order, bye-law, rule or regulation passed or made before the commencement of this Constitution by any Legislature, authority or person having power to make such a law, Ordinance, order, bye-law, rule or regulation;
(11) “Federal Court” means the Federal Court constituted under the Government of India Act, 1935;
(12) “Goods” includes all materials, commodities, and articles;
(13) “Guarantee” includes any obligation undertaken before the commencement of this Constitution to make payments in the event of the profits of an undertaking falling short of a specified amount;
(14) “High Court” means any Court, which is deemed for the purposes of this Constitution to be a High Court for any State and includes-
(a) Any Court in the territory of India constituted or reconstituted under this Constitution as a High Court, and
(b) Any other Court in the territory of India which may be declared by Parliament by law to be a High Court for all or any of the purposes of this Constitution;
(15) “Indian State” means any territory, which the Government of the Dominion of India recognised as such a State;
(16) “Part” means a Part of this Constitution;
(17) “Pension” means a pension, whether contributory or not, of any kind whatsoever payable to or in respect of any person, and includes retired pay so payable; a gratuity so payable and any sum or sums so payable by way of the return, with or without interest thereon or any other addition thereto, of subscriptions to a provident fund;
(18) “Proclamation of Emergency” means a Proclamation issued under clause (1) of article 352;
(19) “Public notification” means a notification in the Gazette of India, or, as the case may be, the Official Gazette of a State;
(20) “Railway” does not include-
(a) A tramway wholly within a municipal area, or
(b) Any other line of communication wholly situates in one State and declared by Parliament by law not to be a railway;
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3[(22) “Ruler” means the Prince, Chief of other person who, at any time before the commencement of the Constitution (Twenty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1971, was recognised by the President as the Ruler of an Indian State or any person who, at any time before such commencement, was recognised by the President as the successor of such Ruler;]
(23) “Schedule” means a Schedule to this Constitution;
(24) “Scheduled Castes” means such castes, races or tribes or parts of or groups within such castes, races or tribes as are deemed under article 341 to be Scheduled Castes for the purposes of this Constitution;
(25) “Scheduled Tribes” means such tribes or tribal communities or parts of or groups within such tribes or tribal communities as are deemed under article 342 to be Scheduled Tribes for the purposes of this Constitution;
(26) “Securities” includes stock;
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(27) “Sub-clause” means a sub-clause of the clause in which the expression occurs;
(28) “Taxation” includes the imposition of any tax or impost, whether general or local or special, and “tax” shall be construed accordingly;
(29) “Tax on income” includes a tax in the nature of an excess profits tax;
5[(29A) “Tax on the sale or purchase of goods” includes-
(a) A tax on the transfer, otherwise than in pursuance of a contract, of property in any goods for cash, deferred payment or other valuable consideration;
(b) A tax on the transfer of property in goods (whether as goods or in some other form) involved in the execution of a works contract;
(c) A tax on the delivery of goods on hire-purchase or any system of payment by instalments;
(d) A tax on the transfer of the right to use any goods for any purpose (whether or not for a specified period) for cash, deferred payment or other valuable consideration;
(e) A tax on the supply of goods by any unincorporated association or body of persons to a member thereof for cash, deferred payment or other valuable consideration;
(f) A tax on the supply, by way of or as part of any service or in any other manner whatsoever, of goods, being food or any other article for human consumption or any drink (whether or not intoxicating), where such supply or service, is for cash, deferred payment or other valuable consideration,
And such transfer, delivery or supply of any goods shall be deemed to be a sale of those goods by the person making the transfer, delivery or supply and a purchase of those goods by the person to whom such transfer, delivery or supply is made;]
6[(30) “Union territory” means any Union territory specified in the First Schedule and includes any other territory comprised within the territory of India but not specified in that Schedule.]
1. Cl. (4A) was ins. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 54 (w.e.f. 1-2-1977) and omitted by the Constitution (Forty-third Amendment) Act, 1977, s. 11 (w.e.f. 13-4-1978).
2. Cl. (21) omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch.
3. Subs. by the Constitution (Twenty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1971, s. 4, for cl. (22).
4. Cl. (26A) was ins. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 54 (w.e.f. 1-2-1977) and omitted by the Constitution (Forty-third Amendment) Act, 1977, s. 11 (w.e.f. 13-4-1978).
5. Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1982, s. 4.
6. Subs. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch., for cl. (30).
Section 367. Interpretation.
(1) Unless the context otherwise requires, the General Clauses Act, 1897, shall, subject to any adaptations and modifications that may be made therein under article 372, apply for the interpretation of this Constitution as it applies for the interpretation of an Act of the Legislature of the Dominion of India.
(2) Any reference in this Constitution to Acts or laws of, or made by, Parliament, or to Acts or laws of, or made by, the Legislature of a State 1[***], shall be construed as including a reference to an Ordinance made by the President or, to an Ordinance made by a Governor 2[***], as the case may be.
(3) For the purposes of this Constitution “foreign State” means any State other than India:
Provided that, subject to the provisions of any law made by Parliament, the President may by 3order declare any State not to be a foreign State for such purposes as may be specified in the order.
1. The words and letters “specified in Part A or Part B of the First Schedule” omitted by s. 29 and Sch., the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956.
2. The words “or Rajpramukh” omitted by s. 29 and Sch., the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956.
3. See the Constitution (Declaration as to Foreign States) Order, 1950 (C.O. 2).
Section 368. Power of Parliament to amend the Constitution and procedure therefor
368 1[Power of Parliament to amend the Constitution and procedure therefor.]
2[(1) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, Parliament may in exercise of its constituent power amend by way of addition, variation or repeal any provision of this Constitution in accordance with the procedure laid down in this article.]
3[(2)] An amendment of this Constitution may be initiated only by the introduction of a Bill for the purpose in either House of Parliament, and when the Bill is passed in each House by a majority of the total membership of that House and by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members of that House present and voting, 4[it, shall be presented to the President who shall give his assent to the Bill and thereupon] the Constitution shall stand amended in accordance with the terms of the Bill:
Provided that if such amendment seeks to make any change in-
(a) Article 54, article 55, article 73, article 162 or article 241, or
(b) Chapter IV of Part V, Chapter V of Part VI, or Chapter I of Part XI, or
(c) Any of the Lists in the Seventh Schedule, or
(d) The representation of States in Parliament, or
(e) The provisions of this article, the amendment shall also require to be ratified by the Legislatures of not less than one-half of the States 5[***] by resolutions to that effect passed by those Legislatures before the Bill making provision for such amendment is presented to the President for assent.
6[(3) Nothing in article 13 shall apply to any amendment made under this article.]
7[(4) No amendment of this Constitution (including the provisions of Part III) made or purporting to have been made under this article [whether before or after the commencement of section 55 of the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976] shall be called in question in any court on any ground.
(5) For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that there shall be no limitation whatever on the constituent power of Parliament to amend by way of addition, variation or repeal the provisions of this Constitution under this article.]
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Twenty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1971, s. 3, for “Procedure for amendment of the Constitution.”.
2. Ins. by s. 3. the Constitution (Twenty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1971.
3. Art. 368 renumbered as cl.(2) by s. 3, the Constitution (Twenty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1971.
4. Subs. by s. 3, ibid., for “it shall be presented to the President for his assent and upon such assent being given to the Bill”.
5. The words and letters “specified in Parts A and B of the First Schedule” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch.
6. Ins. by the Constitution (Twenty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1971, s. 3.
7. Cls. (4) and (5) were ins. in article 368 by s. 55 of the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976. This section has been declared invalid by the Supreme Court in Minerva Mills Ltd. and Others Vs. Union of India and Others (1980) 2 S.C.C. 591.
Section 369. Temporary power to Parliament to make laws with respect to certain matters in the State List as if they were matters in the Concurrent List
1[Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions.]
Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, Parliament shall, during a period of five years from the commencement of this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to the following matters as if they were enumerated in the Concurrent List, namely: -
(a) Trade and commerce within a State in, and the production, supply and distribution of, cotton and woollen textiles, raw cotton (including ginned cotton and unginned cotton or kapas), cotton seed, paper (including newsprint), food-stuffs (including edible oilseeds and oil), cattle fodder (including oil-cakes and other concentrates), coal (including coke and derivatives of coal), iron, steel and mica;
(b) Offences against laws with respect to any of the matters mentioned in clause (a), jurisdiction and powers of all courts except the Supreme Court with respect to any of those matters, and fees in respect of any of those matters but not including fees taken in any court;
But any law made by Parliament, which Parliament would not but for the provisions of this article have been competent to make, shall, to the extent of the incompetency, cease to have effect on the expiration of the said period, except as respects things done or omitted to be done before the expiration thereof.
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Thirteenth Amendment) Act, 1962, s. 2. for “TEMPORARY, TRANSITIONAL AND SPECIAL PROVISIONS” (w.e.f. 1-12-1963).
Section 370. Temporary provisions with respect to the State of Jammu and Kashmir
1[370. Temporary provisions with respect to the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
(1) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, -
(a) The provisions of article 238 shall not apply in relation to the State of Jammu and Kashmir;
(b) The power of Parliament to make laws for the said State shall be limited to-
(i) Those matters in the Union List and the Concurrent List which, in consultation with the Government of the State, are declared by the President to correspond to matters specified in the Instrument of Accession governing the accession of the State to the Dominion of India as the matters with respect to which the Dominion Legislature may make laws for that State; and
(ii) Such other matters in the said Lists as, with the concurrence of the Government of the State, the President may by order specify.
Explanation. For the purposes of this article, the Government of the State means the person for the time being recognised by the President as the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir acting on the advice of the Council of Ministers for the time being in office under the Maharaja’s Proclamation dated the fifth day of March, 1948;
(c) The provisions of article 1 and of this article shall apply in relation to that State;
(d) Such of the other provisions of this Constitution shall apply in relation to that State subject to such exceptions and modifications as the President may by order 1specify:
Provided that no such order, which relates to the matters specified in the Instrument of Accession of the State referred to in paragraph (i) of sub-clause (b) shall be issued except in consultation with the Government of the State:
Provided further that no such order, which relates to matters other than those referred to in the last preceding proviso shall be issued except with the concurrence of that Government.
(2) If the concurrence of the Government of the State referred to in paragraph (ii) of sub-clause (b) of clause (1) or in the second proviso to sub-clause (d) of that clause be given before the Constituent Assembly for the purpose of framing the Constitution of the State is convened, it shall be placed before such Assembly for such decision as it may take thereon.
(3) Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this article, the President may, by public notification, declare that this article shall cease to be operative or shall be operative only with such exceptions and modifications and from such date as he may specify:
Provided that the recommendation of the Constituent Assembly of the State referred to in clause (2) shall be necessary before the President issues such a notification.]
1. In exercise of the powers conferred by this article the President, on the recommendation of the Constituent Assembly of the State of Jammu and Kashmir, declared that, as from the 17th day of November, 1952, the said article 370 shall be operative with the modification that for the Explanation in clause (1) thereof, the following Explanation is substituted namely:-
Explanation-
For the purposes of this article, the Government of the State means the person for the time being recognised by the President on the recommendation of the Legislative Assembly of the State as the “Sadar-i-Rayasat of Jammu and Kashmir, acting on the advice of the Council of Ministers of the State for the time being in office.”
Section 371. Special provision with respect to the States of Maharashtra and Gujarat.
1[371. Special provision with respect to the States of 2[***] Maharashtra and Gujarat.
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(2) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, the President may by order made with respect to 4the State of Maharashtra or Gujarat], provide for any special responsibility of the Governor for-
(a) The establishment of separate development boards for Vidarbha, Marathwada, 5[and the rest of Maharashtra or, as the case may be,] Saurashtra, Kutch and the rest of Gujarat with the provision that a report on the working of each of these boards will be placed each year before the State Legislative Assembly;
(b) The equitable allocation of funds for developmental expenditure over the said areas, subject to the requirements of the State as a whole; and
(c) An equitable arrangement providing adequate facilities for technical education and vocational training, and adequate opportunities for employment in services under the control of the State Government, in respect of all the said areas, subject to the requirements of the State as a whole.]
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 22. for art. 371.
2. The words “Andhra Pradesh,” omitted by the Constitution (Thirty-second Amendment) Act, 1973, s. 2 (w.e.f. 1-7-1974).
3. Cl. (1) omitted by s. 2, the Constitution (Thirty-second Amendment) Act, 1973 (w.e.f. 1-7-1974).
4. Subs. by the Bombay Reorganisation Act, 1960 (11 of 1960), s. 85, for “the State of Bombay” (w.e.f. 1-5-1960).
5. Subs. by s. 85, the Bombay Reorganisation Act, 1960 (11 of 1960), for “the rest of Maharashtra,” (w.e.f. 1-5-1960).
Section 371A. Special provision with respect to the State of Nagaland
1[371A. Special provision with respect to the State of Nagaland.
(1) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, -
(a) No Act of Parliament in respect of-
(i) Religious or social practices of the Nagas,
(ii) Naga customary law and procedure,
(iii) Administration of civil and criminal justice involving decisions according to Naga customary law,
(iv) Ownership and transfer of land and its resources,
Shall apply to the State of Nagaland unless the Legislative Assembly of Nagaland by a resolution so decides;
(b) The Governor of Nagaland shall have special responsibility with respect to law and order in the State of Nagaland for so long as in his opinion internal disturbances occurring in the Naga Hills-Tuensang Area immediately before the formation of that State continue therein or in any part thereof and in the discharge of his functions in relation thereto the Governor shall, after consulting the Council of Ministers, exercise his individual judgment as to the action to be taken:
Provided that if any question arises whether any matter is or is not a matter as respects which the Governor is under this sub-clause required to act in the exercise of his individual judgment, the decision of the Governor in his discretion shall be final, and the validity of anything done by the Governor shall not be called in question on the ground that he ought or ought not to have acted in the exercise of his individual judgment:
Provided further that if the President on receipt of a report from the Governor or otherwise is satisfied that it is no longer necessary for the Governor to have special responsibility with respect to law and order in the State of Nagaland, he may by order direct that the Governor shall cease to have such responsibility with effect from such date as may be specified in the order;
(c) In making his recommendation with respect to any demand for a grant, the Governor of Nagaland shall ensure that any money provided by the Government of India out of the Consolidated Fund of India for any specific service or purpose is included in the demand for a grant relating to that service or purpose and not in any other demand;
(d) As from such date as the Governor of Nagaland may by public notification in this behalf specify, there shall be established a regional council for the Tuensang district consisting of thirty-five members and the Governor shall in his discretion make rules providing for-
(i) The composition of the regional council and the manner in which the members of the regional council shall be chosen:
Provided that the Deputy Commissioner of the Tuensang district shall be the Chairman ex officio of the regional council and the Vice-Chairman of the regional council shall be elected by the members thereof from amongst themselves;
(ii) The qualifications for being chosen as, and for being, members of the regional council;
(iii) The term of office of, and the salaries and allowances, if any, to be paid to members of, the regional council;
(iv) The procedure and conduct of business of the regional council;
(v) The appointment of officers and staff of the regional council and their conditions of services; and
(vi) Any other matter in respect of which it is necessary to make rules for the constitution and proper functioning of the regional council.
(2) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, for a period of ten years from the date of the formation of the State of Nagaland or for such further period as the Governor may, on the recommendation of the regional council, by public notification specify in this behalf, -
(a) The administration of the Tuensang district shall be carried on by the Governor;
(b) Where any money is provided by the Government of India to the Government of Nagaland to meet the requirements of the State of Nagaland as a whole, the Governor shall in his discretion arrange for an equitable allocation of that money between the Tuensang district and the rest of the State;
(c) No Act of the Legislature of Nagaland shall apply to Tuensang district unless the Governor, on the recommendation of the regional council, by public notification so directs and the Governor in giving such direction with respect to any such Act may direct that the Act shall in its application to the Tuensang district or any part thereof have effect subject to such exceptions or modifications as the Governor may specify on the recommendation of the regional council:
Provided that any direction given under this sub-clause may be given so as to have retrospective effect;
(d) The Governor may make regulations for the peace, progress and good government of the Tuensang district and any regulations so made may repeal or amend with retrospective effect, if necessary, any Act of Parliament or any other law which is for the time being applicable to that district;
(e) (i) One of the members representing the Tuensang district in the Legislative Assembly of Nagaland shall be appointed Minister for Tuensang affairs by the Governor on the advice of the Chief Minister and the Chief Minister in tendering his advice shall act on the recommendation of the majority of the members as aforesaid2;
(ii) The Minister for Tuensang affairs shall deal with, and have direct access to the Governor on, all matters relating to the Tuensang district but he shall keep the Chief Minister informed about the same;
(f) Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this clause, the final decision on all matters relating to the Tuensang district shall be made by the Governor in his discretion;
(g) In articles 54 and 55 and clause (4) of article 80, references to the elected members of the Legislative Assembly of a State or to each such member shall include references to the members or member of the Legislative Assembly of Nagaland elected by the regional council established under this article;
(h) In article 170-
(i) Clause (1) shall, in relation to the Legislative Assembly of Nagaland, have effect as if for the word “sixty”, the word “forty-six” had been substituted;
(ii) In the said clause, the reference to direct election from territorial constituencies in the State shall include election by the members of the regional council established under this article;
(iii) In clauses (2) and (3), references to territorial constituencies shall mean references to territorial constituencies in the Kohima and Mokokchung districts.
(3) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to any of the foregoing provisions of this article, the President may by order do anything (including any adaptation or modification of any other article) which appears to him to be necessary for the purpose of removing that difficulty:
Provided that no such order shall be made after the expiration of three years from the date of the formation of the State of Nagaland.
Explanation. In this article, the Kohima, Mokokchung and Tuensang districts shall have the same meanings as in the State of Nagaland Act, 1962.]
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Thirteenth Amendment) Act, 1962, s. 2 (w.e.f. 1-12-1963).
2. Paragraph 2 of the Constitution (Removal of Difficulties) order No. X provides (w.e.f. 1-12-1963) that article 371A of the Constitution of India shall have effect as if the following proviso were added to paragraph (i) of sub.clause (e) of clause (2) thereof, namely: – “Provided that the Governor may, on the advice of the Chief Minister, appoint any person as Minister for Tuensang affairs to act as such until such time as persons are chosen in accordance with law to fill the seats allocated to the Tuensang district in the Legislative Assembly of Nagaland.”.
Section 371B. Special provision with respect to the State of Assam.
1[371B. Special provision with respect to the State of Assam.
Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, the President may, by order made with respect to the State of Assam, provide for the constitution and functions of a committee of the Legislative Assembly of the State consisting of members of that Assembly elected from the tribal areas specified in 2[Part I] of the table appended to paragraph 20 of the Sixth Schedule and such number of other members of that Assembly as may be specified in the order and for the modifications to be made in the rules of procedure of that Assembly for the constitution and proper functioning of such committee.]
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Twenty-second Amendment) Act, 1969, s. 4 (w.e.f. 25-9-1979).
2. Subs. by the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971 (81 of 1971), s. 71, for “Part A” (w.e.f. 21-1-1972).
Section 371C. Special provision with respect to the State of Manipur
1[371C. Special provision with respect to the State of Manipur.
(1) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, the President may, by order made with respect to the State of Manipur, provide for the constitution and functions of a committee of the Legislative Assembly of the State consisting of members of that Assembly elected from the Hill Areas of that State, for the modifications to be made in the rules of business of the Government and in the rules of procedure of the Legislative Assembly of the State and for any special responsibility of the Governor in order to secure the proper functioning of such committee.
(2) The Governor shall annually, or whenever so required by the President, make a report to the President regarding the administration of the Hill Areas in the State of Manipur and the executive power of the Union shall extend to the giving of directions to the State as to the administration of the said areas.
Explanation. In this article, the expression “Hill Areas” means such areas as the President may, by order, declare to be Hill areas.]
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Twenty-seventh Amendment) Act, 1971, s. 5 (w.e.f. 15-2-1972).
Section 371D. Special provisions with respect to the State of Andhra Pradesh
1[371D. Special provisions with respect to the State of Andhra Pradesh.
(1) The President may by order made with respect to the State of Andhra Pradesh provide, having regard to the requirements of the State as a whole, for equitable opportunities and facilities for the people belonging to different parts of the State, in the matter of public employment and in the matter of education, and different provisions may be made for various parts of the State.
(2) An order made under clause (1) may, in particular, -
(a) Require the State Government to organise any class or classes of posts in a civil service of, or any class or classes of civil posts under, the State into different local cadres for different parts of the State and allot in accordance with such principles and procedure as may be specified in the order the persons holding such posts to the local cadres so organised;
(b) Specify any part or parts of the State, which shall be regarded as the local area-
(i) For direct recruitment to posts in any local cadre (whether organised in pursuance of an order under this article or constituted otherwise) under the State Government;
(ii) For direct recruitment to posts in any cadre under any local authority within the State; and
(iii) For the purposes of admission to any University within the State or to any other educational institution which is subject to the control of the State Government;
(c) Specify the extent to which, the manner in which and the conditions subject to which, preference or reservation shall be given or made-
(i) In the matter of direct recruitment to posts in any such cadre referred to in sub-clause (b) as may be specified in this behalf in the order;
(ii) In the matter of admission to any such University or other educational institution referred to in sub-clause (b) as may be specified in this behalf in the order,
To or in favour of candidates who have resided or studied for any period specified in the order in the local area in respect of such cadre, University or other educational institution, as the case may be.
(3) The President may, by order, provide for the constitution of an Administrative Tribunal for the State of Andhra Pradesh to exercise such jurisdiction, powers and authority [including any jurisdiction, power and authority which immediately before the commencement of the Constitution (Thirty-second Amendment) Act, 1973, was exercisable by any court (other than the Supreme Court) or by any tribunal or other authority] as may be specified in the order with respect to the following matters, namely:-
(a) Appointment, allotment or promotion to such class or classes of posts in any civil service of the State, or to such class or classes of civil posts under the State, or to such class or classes of posts under the control of any local authority within the State, as may be specified in the order;
(b) Seniority of persons appointed, allotted or promoted to such class or classes of posts in any civil service of the State, or to such class or classes of civil posts under the State, or to such class or classes of posts under the control of any local authority within the State, as may be specified in the order;
(c) Such other conditions of service of persons appointed, allotted or promoted to such class or classes of posts in any civil service of the State or to such class or classes of civil posts under the State or to such class or classes of posts under the control of any local authority within the State, as may be specified in the order.
(4) An order made under clause (3) may-
(a) Authorise the Administrative Tribunal to receive representations for the redress of grievances relating to any matter within its jurisdiction as the President may specify in the order and to make such orders thereon as the Administrative Tribunal deems fit;
(b) Contain such provisions with respect to the powers and authorities and procedure of the Administrative Tribunal (including provisions with respect to the powers of the Administrative Tribunal to punish for contempt of itself) as the President may deem necessary;
(c) Provide for the transfer to the Administrative Tribunal of such classes of proceedings, being proceedings relating to matters within its jurisdiction and pending before any court (other than the Supreme Court) or tribunal or other authority immediately before the commencement of such order, as may be specified in the order;
(d) Contain such supplemental, incidental and consequential provisions (including provisions as to fees and as to limitation, evidence or for the application of any law for the time being in force subject to any exceptions or modifications) as the President may deem necessary.
(5) The order of the Administrative Tribunal finally disposing of any case shall become effective upon its confirmation by the State Government or on the expiry of three months from the date on which the order is made, whichever is earlier:
Provided that the State Government may, by special order made in writing and for reasons to be specified therein, modify or annul any order of the Administrative Tribunal before it becomes effective and in such a case, the order of the Administrative Tribunal shall have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be.
(6) Every special order made by the State Government under the proviso to clause (5) shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before both Houses of the State Legislature.
(7) The High Court for the State shall not have any powers of superintendence over the Administrative Tribunal and no court (other than the Supreme Court) or tribunal shall exercise any jurisdiction, power or authority in respect of any matter subject to the jurisdiction, power or authority of, or in relation to, the Administrative Tribunal.
(8) If the President is satisfied that the continued existence of the Administrative Tribunal is not necessary, the President may by order abolish the Administrative Tribunal and make such provisions in such order as he may deem fit for the transfer and disposal of cases pending before the Tribunal immediately before such abolition.
(9) Notwithstanding any judgment, decree or order of any court, tribunal or other authority, -
(a) No appointment, posting, promotion or transfer of any person-
(i) Made before the 1st day of November, 1956, to any post under the Government of, or any local authority within, the State of Hyderabad as it existed before that date; or
(ii) Made before the commencement of the Constitution (Thirty-second Amendment) Act, 1973, to any post under the Government of, or any local or other authority within, the State of Andhra Pradesh; and
(b) No action taken or thing done by or before any person referred to in sub-clause (a),
Shall be deemed to be illegal or void or ever to have become illegal or void merely on the ground that the appointment, posting, promotion or transfer of such person was not made in accordance with any law, then in force, providing for any requirement as to residence within the State of Hyderabad or, as the case may be, within any part of the State of Andhra Pradesh, in respect of such appointment, posting, promotion or transfer.
(10) The provisions of this article and of any order made by the President thereunder shall have effect notwithstanding anything in any other provision of this Constitution or in any other law for the time being in force.]
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Thirty-second Amendment) Act, 1973, s. 3 (w.e.f. 1-7-1974).
Section 371E. Establishment of Central University in Andhra Pradesh
1[371E. Establishment of Central University in Andhra Pradesh.
Parliament may by law provide for the establishment of a University in the State of Andhra Pradesh.]
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Thirty-second Amendment) Act, 1973, s. 3 (w.e.f. 1-7-1974).
Section 371F. Special provisions with respect to the State of Sikkim
1[371F. Special provisions with respect to the State of Sikkim.
Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, -
(a) The Legislative Assembly of the State of Sikkim shall consist of not less than thirty members;
(b) As from the date of commencement of the Constitution (Thirty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1975 (hereafter in this article referred to as the appointed day)-
(i) The Assembly for Sikkim formed as a result of the elections held in Sikkim in April, 1974 with thirty-two members elected in the said elections (hereinafter referred to as the sitting members) shall be deemed to be the Legislative Assembly of the State of Sikkim duly constituted under this Constitution;
(ii) The sitting members shall be deemed to be the members of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Sikkim duly elected under this Constitution; and
(iii) The said Legislative Assembly of the State of Sikkim shall exercise the powers and perform the functions of the Legislative Assembly of a State under this Constitution;
(c) In the case of the Assembly deemed to be the Legislative Assembly of the State of Sikkim under clause (b) , the references to the period of 2[five years], in clause (1) of article shall be construed as references to a period of 3[four years] and the said period of 3[four years] shall be deemed to commence from the appointed day;
(d) Until other provisions are made by Parliament by law, there shall be allotted to the State of Sikkim one seat in the House of the People and the State of Sikkim shall form one parliamentary constituency to be called the parliamentary constituency for Sikkim;
(e) The representative of the State of Sikkim in the House of the People in existence on the appointed day shall be elected by the members of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Sikkim;
(f) Parliament may, for the purpose of protecting the rights and interests of the different sections of the population of Sikkim make provision for the number of seats in the Legislative Assembly of the State of Sikkim which may be filled by candidates belonging to such sections and for the delimitation of the assembly constituencies from which candidates belonging to such sections alone may stand for election to the Legislative Assembly of the State of Sikkim;
(g) The Governor of Sikkim shall have special responsibility for peace and for an equitable arrangement for ensuring the social and economic advancement of different sections of the population of Sikkim and in the discharge of his special responsibility under this clause, the Governor of Sikkim shall, subject to such directions as the President may, from time to time, deem fit to issue, act in his discretion;
(h) All property and assets (whether within or outside the territories comprised in the State of Sikkim) which immediately before the appointed day were vested in the Government of Sikkim or in any other authority or in any person for the purposes of the Government of Sikkim shall, as from the appointed day, vest in the Government of the State of Sikkim;
(i) The High Court functioning as such immediately before the appointed day in the territories comprised in the State of Sikkim shall, on and from the appointed day, be deemed to be the High Court for the State of Sikkim;
(j) All courts of civil, criminal and revenue jurisdiction, all authorities and all officers, judicial, executive and ministerial, throughout the territory of the State of Sikkim shall continue on and from the appointed day to exercise their respective functions subject to the provisions of this Constitution;
(k) All laws in force immediately before the appointed day in the territories comprised in the State of Sikkim or any part thereof shall continue to be in force therein until amended or repealed by a competent Legislature or other competent authority;
(l) For the purpose of facilitating the application of any such law as is referred to in clause (k) in relation to the administration of the State of Sikkim and for the purpose of bringing the provisions of any such law into accord with the provisions of this Constitution, the President may, within two years from the appointed day, by order, make such adaptations and modifications of the law, whether by way of repeal or amendment, as may be necessary or expedient, and thereupon, every such law shall have effect subject to the adaptations and modifications so made, and any such adaptation or modification shall not be questioned in any court of law;
(m) Neither the Supreme Court nor any other court shall have jurisdiction in respect of any dispute or other matter arising out of any treaty, agreement, engagement or other similar instrument relating to Sikkim which was entered into or executed before the appointed day and to which the Government of India or any of its predecessor Governments was a party, but nothing in this clause shall be construed to derogate from the provisions of article 143;
(n) The President may, by public notification, extend with such restrictions or modifications as he thinks fit to the State of Sikkim any enactment, which is in force in a State in India at the date of the notification;
(o) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to any of the foregoing provisions of this article, the President may, by 4order, do anything (including any adaptation or modification of any other article) which appears to him to be necessary for the purpose of removing that difficulty:
Provided that no such order shall be made after the expiry of two years from the appointed day;
(p) All things done and all actions taken in or in relation to the State of Sikkim or the territories comprised therein during the period commencing on the appointed day and ending immediately before the date on which the Constitution (Thirty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1975, receives the assent of the President shall, in so far as they are in conformity with the provisions of this Constitution as amended by the Constitution (Thirty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1975, be deemed for all purposes to have been validly done or taken under this Constitution as so amended.]
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Fourty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 43, for “six years” (w.e.f. 6-9-1979). The words “six years” were subs. for the original words “five years” by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 56 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
2. Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s.43, for “five years” (w.e.f. 6-9-1979). The words “five years” were subs. for the original words “four years” by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 56 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
3. Ins. by the Constitution (Thirty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1975, s. 3 (w.e.f. 26-4-1975).
4. See the Constitution (Removal of Difficulties) Order XI (C.O. 99).
Section 371G. Special provision with respect to the State of Mizoram
1[371G. Special provision with respect to the State of Mizoram.
Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, -
(a) No Act of Parliament in respect of-
(i) Religious or social practices of the Mizos,
(ii) Mizo customary law and procedure,
(iii) Administration of civil and criminal justice involving decisions according to Mizo customary law,
(iv) Ownership and transfer of land,
Shall apply to the State of Mizoram unless the Legislative Assembly of the State of Mizoram by a resolution so decides:
Provided that nothing in this clause shall apply to any Central Act in force in the Union territory of Mizoram immediately before the commencement of the Constitution (Fifty-third Amendment) Act, 1986;
(b) The Legislative Assembly of the State of Mizoram shall consist of not less than forty members.]
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Fifty-third Amendment) Act, 1986, s. 2 (w.e.f. 20-2-1987).
Section 371H. Special provision with respect to the State of Arunachal Pradesh
1[371H. Special provision with respect to the State of Arunachal Pradesh.
Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, -
(a) The Governor of Arunachal Pradesh shall have special responsibility with respect to law and order in the State of Arunachal Pradesh and in the discharge of his functions in relation thereto, the Governor shall, after consulting the Council of Ministers, exercise his individual judgment as to the action to be taken:
Provided that if any question arises whether any matter is or is not a matter as respects which the Governor is under this clause required to act in the exercise of his individual judgment, the decision of the Governor in his discretion shall be final, and the validity of anything done by the Governor shall not be called in question on the ground that he ought or ought not to have acted in the exercise of his individual judgment:
Provided further that if the President on receipt of a report from the Governor or otherwise is satisfied that it is no longer necessary for the Governor to have special responsibility with respect to law and order in the State of Arunachal Pradesh, he may by order direct that the Governor shall cease to have such responsibility with effect from such date as may be specified in the order;
(b) The Legislative Assembly of the State of Arunachal Pradesh shall consist of not less than thirty members.]
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Fifty-fifth Amendment) Act, 1986, s. 2 (w.e.f. 20-2-1987).
Section 371-I. Special provision with respect to the State of Goa
1[371-I. Special provision with respect to the State of Goa.
Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, the Legislative Assembly of the State of Goa shall consist of not less than thirty members.]
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Fifty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1987, s. 2 (w.e.f. 30-5-1987).
Section 372. Continuance in force of existing laws and their adaptation
(1) Notwithstanding the repeal by this Constitution of the enactments referred to in article 395 but subject to the other provisions of this Constitution, all the law in force in the territory of India immediately before the commencement of this Constitution shall continue in force therein until altered or repealed or amended by a competent Legislature or other competent authority.
(2) For the purpose of brining the provisions of any law in force in the territory of India into accord with the provisions of this Constitution, the President may by order1 make such adaptations and modifications of such law, whether by way of repeal or amendment, as may be necessary or expedient, and provide that the law shall, as from such date as may be specified in the order, have effect subject to the adaptations and modifications so made, and any such adaptation or modification shall not be questioned in any court of law.
(3) Nothing in clause (2) shall be deemed-
(a) To empower the President to make any adaptation or modification of any law after the expiration of 2[three years] from the commencement of this Constitution; or
(b) To prevent any competent Legislature or other competent authority from repealing or amending any law adapted or modified by the President under the said clause.
Explanation I. The expression “law in force” in this article shall include a law passed or made by a Legislature or other competent authority in the territory of India before the commencement of this Constitution and not previously repealed, notwithstanding that it or parts of it may not be then in operation either at all or in particular areas.
Explanation II. Any law passed or made by a Legislature or other competent authority in the territory of India which immediately before the commencement of this Constitution had extra-territorial effect as well as effect in the territory of India shall, subject to any such adaptations and modifications as aforesaid, continue to have such extra-territorial effect.
Explanation III. Nothing in this article shall be construed as continuing any temporary law in force beyond the date fixed for its expiration or the date on which it would have expired if this Constitution had not come into force.
Explanation IV. An Ordinance promulgated by the Governor of a Province under section 88 of the Government of India Act, 1935, and in force immediately before the commencement of this Constitution shall, unless withdrawn by the Governor of the corresponding State earlier, cease to operate at the expiration of six weeks from the first meeting after such commencement of the Legislative Assembly of that State functioning under clause (1) of article 382, and nothing in this article shall be construed as continuing any such Ordinance in force beyond the said period.
1. See the Adaptation of Laws Order, 1950, dated the 26th January, 1950, Gazette of India, Extraordinary, p.449, as amended by Notification No. S.R.O. 115, dated the 5th June, 1950, Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, p.51, Notification No. S.R.O. 870, dated the 4th November, 1950, Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, p.903, Notification No. S.R.O. 508, dated the 4th April, 1951, Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, p.287, Notification No. S.R.O. 1140B, dated the 2nd July, 1952, Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, p.616/I; and the Adaptation of the Travancore-Cochin Land Acquisition Laws Order, 1952, dated the 20th November, 1952, Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, section 3, p.923.
2. Subs. by the Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951, s. 12, for “two years”.
Section 372A. Power of the President to adapt laws
1[372A. Power of the President to adapt laws.
(1) For the purposes of bringing the provisions of any law in force in India or in any part thereof, immediately before the commencement of the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, into accord with the provisions of this Constitution as amended by that Act, the President may by order made before the first day of November, 1957, make such adaptations and modifications of the law, whether by way of repeal or amendment, as may be necessary or expedient, and provide that the law shall, as from such date as may be specified in the order, have effect subject to the adaptations and modifications so made, and any such adaptation or modification shall not be questioned in any court of law.
(2) Nothing in clause (1) shall be deemed to prevent a competent Legislature or other competent authority from repealing or amending any law adapted or modified by the President under the said clause.]
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 23.
Section 373. Power of President to make order in respect of persons under preventive detention in certain cases
Until provision is made by Parliament under clause (7) of article 22, or until the expiration of one year from the commencement of this Constitution, whichever is earlier, the said article shall have effect as if for any reference to Parliament in clauses (4) and (7) thereof there were substituted a reference to the President and for any reference to any law made by Parliament in those clauses there were substituted a reference to an order made by the President.
Section 374. Provisions as to Judges of the Federal Court and proceedings pending in the Federal Court or before His Majesty in Council
(1) The Judges of the Federal Court holding office immediately before the commencement of this Constitution shall, unless they have elected otherwise, become on such commencement the Judges of the Supreme Court and shall thereupon be entitled to such salaries and allowances and to such rights in respect of leave of absence and pension as are provided for under article 125 in respect of the Judges of the Supreme Court.
(2) All suits, appeals and proceedings, civil or criminal, pending in the Federal Court at the commencement of this Constitution shall stand removed to the Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine the same, and the judgments and orders of the Federal Court delivered or made before the commencement of this Constitution shall have the same force and effect as if they had been delivered or made by the Supreme Court.
(3) Nothing in this Constitution shall operate to invalidate the exercise of jurisdiction by His Majesty in Council to dispose of appeals and petitions from, or in respect of, any judgment, decree or order of any court within the territory of India in so far as the exercise of such jurisdiction is authorised by law, and any order of His Majesty in Council made on any such appeal or petition after the commencement of this Constitution shall for all purposes have effect as if it were an order or decree made by the Supreme Court in the exercise of the jurisdiction conferred on such Court by this Constitution.
(4) On and from the commencement of this Constitution the jurisdiction of the authority functioning as the Privy Council in a State specified in Part B of the First Schedule to entertain and dispose of appeals and petitions from or in respect of any judgment, decree or order of any court within that State shall cease, and all appeals and other proceedings pending before the said authority at such commencement shall be transferred to, and disposed of by, the Supreme Court.
(5) Further provision may be made by Parliament by law to give effect to the provisons of this article.
Section 375. Courts, authorities and officers to continue to function subject to the provisions of the Constitution
All courts of civil, criminal and revenue jurisdiction, all authorities and all officers, judicial, executive and ministerial, throughout the territory of India, shall continue to exercise their respective functions subject to the provisions of this Constitution.
Section 376. Provisions as to Judges of High Courts
(1) Notwithstanding anything in clause (2) of article 217, the Judges of a High Court in any Province holding office immediately before the commencement of this Constitution shall, unless they have elected otherwise, become on such commencement the Judges of the High Court in the corresponding State, and shall thereupon be entitled to such salaries and allowances and to such rights in respect of leave of absence and pension as are provided for under article 221 in respect of the Judges of such High Court. 1[Any such Judge shall, notwithstanding that he is not a citizen of India, be eligible for appointment as Chief Justice of such High Court, or as Chief Justice or other Judge of any other High Court.]
(2) The Judges of a High Court in any Indian State corresponding to any State specified in Part B of the First Schedule holding office immediately before the commencement of this Constitution shall, unless they have elected otherwise, become on such commencement the Judges of the High Court in the State so specified and shall, notwithstanding anything in clauses (1) and (2) of article 217 but subject to the proviso to clause (1) of that article, continue to hold office until the expiration of such period as the President may by order determine.
(3) In this article, the expression “Judge” does not include an acting Judge or an additional Judge.
1. Added by the Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951, s. 13.
Section 377. Provisions as to Comptroller and Auditor-General of India
The Auditor-General of India holding office immediately before the commencement of this Constitution shall, unless he has elected otherwise, become on such commencement the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India and shall thereupon be entitled to such salaries and to such rights in respect of leave of absence and pension as are provided for under clause (3) of article 148 in respect of the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India and be entitled to continue to hold office until the expiration of his term of office as determined under the provisions which were applicable to him immediately before such commencement.
Section 378. Provisions as to Public Service Commissions
(1) The members of the Public Service Commission for the Dominion of India holding office immediately before the commencement of this Constitution shall, unless they have elected otherwise, become on such commencement the members of the Public Service Commission for the Union and shall, notwithstanding anything in clauses (1) and (2) of article 316 but subject to the proviso to clause (2) of that article, continue to hold office until the expiration of their term of office as determined under the rules which were applicable immediately before such commencement to such members.
(2) The Members of a Public Service Commission of a Province or of a Public Service Commission serving the needs of a group of Provinces holding office immediately before the commencement of this Constitution shall, unless they have elected otherwise, become on such commencement the members of the Public Service Commission for the corresponding State or the members of the Joint State Public Service Commission serving the needs of the corresponding States, as the case may be, and shall, notwithstanding anything in clauses (1) and (2) of article 316 but subject to the proviso to clause (2) of that article, continue to hold office until the expiration of their term of office as determined under the rules which were applicable immediately before such commencement to such members.
Section 378A. Special provision as to duration of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly
1[378A. Special provision as to duration of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly.
Notwithstanding anything contained in article 172, the Legislative Assembly of the State of Andhra Pradesh as constituted under the provisions of sections 28 and 29 of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, shall, unless sooner dissolved, continue for a period of five years from the date referred to in the said section 29 and no logner and the expiration of the said period shall operate as a dissolution of that Legislative Assembly.]
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 24.
Section 379-391. Repealed
Rep. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch.
Section 392. Power of the President to remove difficulties
(1) The President may, for the purpose of removing any difficulties, particularly in relation to the transition from the provisions of the Government of India Act, 1935, to the provisions of this Constitution, by order direct that this Constitution shall, during such period as may be specified in the order, have effect subject to such adaptations, whether by way of modification, addition or omission, as he may deem to be necessary or expedient:
Provided that no such order shall be made after the first meeting of Parliament duly constituted under Chapter II of Part V.
(2) Every order made under clause (1) shall be laid before Parliament.
(3) The powers conferred on the President by this article, by article 324, by clause (3) of article 367 and by article 391 shall, before the commencement of this Constitution, be exercisable by the Governor-General of the Dominion of India.
Section 393. Short title
This Constitution may be called the Constitution of India.
Section 394. Commencement
This article and articles 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 60, 324, 366, 367, 379, 380, 388, 391, 392 and 393 shall come into force at once, and the remaining provisons of this Constitution shall come into force on the twenty-sixth day of January, 1950, which day is referred to in this Constitution as the commencement of this Constitution.
Section 394A. Authoritative text in the Hindi language
1[394A. Authoritative text in the Hindi language.
(1) The President shall cause to be published under his authority, -
(a) The translation of this Constitution in the Hindi langauge, signed by the members of the Constituent Assembly, with such modifications as may be necessary to bring it in conformity with the language, style and terminology adopted in the authoritative texts of Central Acts in the Hindi language, and incorporating therein all the amendments of this Constitution made before such publication; and
(b) The translation in the Hindi language of every amendment of this Constitution made in the English language.
(2) The translation of this Constitution and of every amendment thereof published under clause (1) shall be construed to have the same meaning as the original thereof and if any difficulty arises in so construing any part of such translation, the President shall cause the same to be revised suitably.
(3) The translation of this Constitution and of every amendment thereof published under this article shall be deemed to be, for all purposes, the authoritative text thereof in the Hindi language.]
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Fifty-eighth Amendment) Act, 1987, s. 3 (w.e.f. 9-12-1987).
Section 395. Repeals
The Indian Independence Act, 1947, and the Government of India Act, 1935, together with all enactments amending or supplementing the latter Act, but not including the Abolition of Privy Council Jurisdiction Act, 1949, are hereby repealed.
Section 396. FIRST SCHEDULE
1[FIRST SCHEDULE
[Articles 1 and 4]
- The States
Name |
Territories |
1.Andhra Pradesh |
2[The territories specified in sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Andhra State Act, 1953, sub-section (1) of section 3 of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, the First Schedule to the Andhra Pradesh and Madras (Alteration of Boundaries) Act, 1959, and the Schedule to the Andhra Pradesh and Mysore (Transfer of Territory) Act, 1968, but excluding the territories specified in the Second Schedule to the Andhra Pradesh and Madras (Alteration of Boundaries) Act, 1959.] |
2. Assam |
The territories which immediately before the commencement of this Constitution were comprised in the Province of Assam, the Khasi States and the Assam Tribal Areas, but excluding the territories specified in the Schedule to the Assam (Alteration of Boundaries) Act, 1951 3[and the territories specified in sub-section (1) of section 3 of the State of Nagaland Act, 1962] 4[and the territories specified in sections 5, 6 and 7 of the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971]. |
3. Bihar |
5[The territories which immediately before the commencement of this Constitution were either comprised in the Province of Bihar or were being administered as if they formed part of that Province and the territories specified in clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Bihar and Uttar Pradesh (Alteration of Boundaries) Act, 1968 but excluding the territories specified in sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Bihar and West Bengal (Tansfer of Territories) Act, 1956, and the territories specified in clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 3 of the first mentioned Act.] 28and the territories specified in section 3 of The Bihar Reorganisation Act, 2000. |
6[4.Gujarat |
The territories referred to in sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Bombay Reorganisation Act, 1960.] |
5. Kerala |
The territories specified in sub-section (1) of section 5 of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956. |
6. Madhya Pradesh |
The territories specified in sub-section (1) of section 9 of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 7[and the First Schedule to the Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh (Transfer of Territories) Act, 1959.] 26but excluding the territories specified in section 3 of the Madhya Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2000. |
7[7.Tamil Nadu |
The territories which immediately before the commencement of this Constitution were either comprised in the Province of Madras or were being administered as if they formed part of that Province and the territories specified in section 4 of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, 8[and the Second Schedule to the Andhra Pradesh and Madras (Alteration of Boundaries) Act, 1959], but excluding the territories specified in sub-section (1) of section 3 and sub-section (1) of section 4 of the Andhra State Act, 1953 and 9[the territories specified in clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 5, section 6 and clause (d) of sub-section (1) of section 7 of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 and the territories specified in the First Schedule to the Andhra Pradesh and Madras (Alteration of Boundaries) Act, 1959]. |
10[8. Maharashtra |
The territories specified in sub-section (1) of section 8 of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, but excluding the territories referred to in sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Bombay Reorganisation Act, 1960.] |
11[9. Karnataka] |
The territories specified in sub-section (1) of section 7 of the States Reogranisation Act, 1956 12[but excluding the territory specified in the Schedule to the Andhra Pradesh and Mysore (Transfer of Territory) Act, 1968]. |
13[10.] Orissa |
The territories which immediately before the commencement of this Constitution were either comprised in the Province of Orissa or were being administered as if they formed part of that Province. |
13[11.] Punjab |
The territories specified in section 11 of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 14[and the territories referred to in Part II of the First Schedule to the Acquired Territories (Merger) Act, 1960] 15[but excluding the territories refered to in Part II of the First Schedule to the Constitution (Ninth Amendment) Act, 1960] 16[and the territories specified in sub-section (1) of section 3, section 4 and sub-section (1) of section 5 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966]. |
13[12.] Rajasthan |
The territories specified in section 10 of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 12[but excluding the territories specified in the First Schedule to the Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh (Transfer of Territories) Act, 1959]. |
13[13.] Uttar Pradesh |
17[The territories which immediately before the commencement of this Constitution were either comprised in the Province known as the United Provinces or were being administered as if they formed part of that Province, the territories specified in clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Bihar and Uttar Pradesh (Alteration of Boundaries) Act, 1968, and the territories specified in clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 4 of the Haryana and Uttar Pradesh (Alteration of Boundaries) Act, 1979, but excluding the territories sepcified in clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Bihar and Uttar Pradesh (Alteration of Boundaries) Act, 1968, (24 of 1968) 27and the territories specified in section 3 of the Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000 and the territories specified in clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 4 of the Haryana and Uttar Pradesh (Alteration of Boundaries) Act, 1979.] |
13[14.] West Bengal |
The territories which immediately before the commencement of this Constitution were either comprised in the Province of West Bengal or were being administered as if they formed part of that Province and the territory of Chandernagore as defined in clause (c) of section 2 of the Chandernagore (Merger) Act, 1954 and also the territories specified in sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Bihar and West Bengal (Transfer of Territories) Act, 1956. |
13[15.] Jammu and Kashmir |
The territory, which immediately before the commencemnt of this Constitution was comprised in the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir. |
18[16. Nagaland |
The territories specified in sub-section (1) of section 3 of the State of Nagaland Act, 1962.] |
12[17. Haryana |
19[The territories specified in sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966 and the territories specified in clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 4 of the Haryana and Uttar Pradesh (Alteration of Boundaries) Act, 1979, but excluding the territories specified in clause (v) of sub-section (1) of section 4 of that Act.] |
20[18. Himachal |
The territories which immediately before the Pradesh commencement of this Constitution were being administered as if they were Chief Commissioners’ Provinces under the names of Himachal Pradesh and Bilaspur and the territories specified in sub-section (1) of section 5 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966.] |
21[19. Manipur |
The territory which immediately before the commencement of this Constitution was being administered as if it were a Chief Commissioner’s Province under the name of Manipur. |
20. Tripura |
The territory which immediately before the commencement of this Constitution was being administered as if it were a Chief Commissioner’s Province under the name of Tripura. |
21. Meghalaya |
The territories specified in section 5 of the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971. |
22[22. Sikkim |
The territories, which immediately before the commencement of the Constitution (Thirty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1975, were comprised in Sikkim.] |
23[23. Mizoram |
The territories specified in section 6 of the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971.] |
24[24. Arunachal Pradesh |
The territories specified in section 7 of the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971.] |
25[25. Goa |
The territories specified in section 3 of the Goa, Daman and Diu Reorganisation Act, 1987.] |
2626. Chhattisgarh: |
The Territoties specified in section 3 of the Madhaya Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000. |
2727 Uttaranchal: |
The territories specified in section 3 of the Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000. |
2828. Jharkhand: |
The territories specified in section 3 of the Bihar Reorganisation Act, 2000. |
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 2, for the First Sch.
2. Subs. by the Andhra Pradesh and Mysore (Transfer of Territory) 1968 (36 of 1968), s. 4, for the former entry (w.e.f. 1-10-1968),
3. Added by the State of Nagaland Act, 1962 (27 of 1962), s. 4 (w.e.f. 1-12-1963).
4. Added by the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971 (81 of 1971), s. 9 (w.e.f. 21-1-1972).
5. Subs. by the Bihar and Uttar Pradesh (Alteration of Boundries) Act, 1968 (24 of 1968), s. 4, for the former entry (w.e.f. 10-6-1970).
6. Subs. by the Bombay Reorganisation Act, 1960 (11 of 1960), s. 4, for entry 4 (w.e.f. 1-5-1960).
7. Ins. by the Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh (Transfer of Territories) Act, 1959 (47 of 1959), s. 4 (w.e.f. 1-10-1959).
8. Ins. by the Andhra Pradesh and Madras (Alteration of Boundries) Act, 1959 (56 of 1959), s. 6 (w.e.f. 1-4-1960).
9. Subs. by s. 6, ibid., for certain words (w.e.f. 1-4-1960).
10. Ins. by the Bombay Reorganisation Act, 1960 (11 of 1960), s. 4 (w.e.f. 1-5-1960).
11. Subs. by the Mysore State (Alteration of Name) Act, 1973 (31 of 1973), s. 5, for “9. Mysore” (w.e.f. 1-11-1973).
12. Ins. by the Andhra Pradesh and Mysore (Transfer of Territory) Act, 1968 (36 of 1968), s. 4 (w.e.f. 1-10-1968).
13. Entries 8 to 14 renumbered as entries 9 to 15 by the Bombay Reorganisation Act, 1960 (11 of 1960), s. 4 (w.e.f. 1-5-1960).
14. Ins. by the Acquired Territories (Merger) Act, 1960 (64 of 1960), s. 4 (w.e.f. 17-1-1961).
15. Added by the Constitution (Ninth Amendment) Act, 1960, s. 3 (w.e.f. 17-1-1961).
16. Ins. by the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966 (31 of 1966), s. 7 (w.e.f. 1-11-1966).
17. Subs. by the Haryana and Uttar Pradesh (Alteration of Boundaries) Act, 1979 (31 of 1979), s. 5, for the entry against “13. Uttar Pradesh” (w.e.f. 15-9-1983).
18. Ins. by the State of Nagaland Act, 1962 (27 of 1962), s. 4 (w.e.f. 1-12-1963).
19. Subs. by the Haryana and Uttar Pradesh (Alteration of Boundaries) Act, 1979 (31 of 1979), s. 5, for the entry against “17. Haryana” (w.e.f. 15-9-1983).
20. Ins. by the State of Himachal Pradesh Act, 1970 (53 of 1970) s. 4, (w.e.f. 25-1-1971).
21. Ins. by the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971 (81 of 1971), s. 9 (w.e.f. 21-1-1972).
22. Ins. by the Constitution (Thirty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1975, s. 2 (w.e.f. 26-4-1975).
23. Ins. by the State of Mizoram Act, 1986 (34 of 1986), s. 4 (w.e.f. 20-2-1987).
24. Ins. by the State of Arunachal Pradesh Act, 1986 (69 of 1986), s. 4. (w.e.f. 20-2-1987).
25. Ins. by the Goa, Daman and Diu Reorganisation Act, 1987 (18 of 1987), s. 5 (w.e.f. 30-5-1987).
26. Madhya Pradesh Re-Organisation Act, 2000 (28 of 2000) W.E.F. 1-11-2000.
27. Uttar Pradesh Re-Organisation Act, 2000 (29 of 2000) W.E.F. 9-11-2000.
28. Bihar Re-Organisation Act, 2000 (30 of 2000) W.E.F. 15-11-2000.
II. The Union Territories
Name |
Extent |
1. Delhi.. |
The territory, which immediately before the commencement of this Constitution was comprised in the Chief Commissioners Province of Delhi. |
1* * * * * |
|
2* * * * * |
|
3[2.] The Andaman and Nicobar Islands. |
The territory which immediately before the commencement of this Constitution was comprised in the Chief Commissioner’s Province of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. |
3[3.] 4[Lakshadweep]. |
The territory specified in section 6 of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956. |
5[3[4.] Dadra and Nagar Haveli- |
The territory which immediately before the eleventh Nagar Haveli day of August, 1961 was comprised in Free Dadra and Nagar Haveli.] |
6[3[5.] 7Daman and Diu . |
The territories specified in section 4 of the Goa, Daman and Diu Reorganisation Act, 1987.] |
8[3[6.] 9Pondicherry. |
The territories which immediately before the sixteenth day of August, 1962, were comprised in the French Establishments in India known as Pondicherry, Karikal, Mahe and Yanam.] |
10[3[7.] Chandigarh.. |
The territories specified in section 4 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966.] |
11* * * * * |
|
12* * * * * |
|
1. Entry 2 relating to “Himachal Pradesh” omitted by the State of Himachal Pradesh Act, 1970 (53 of 1970), s. 4 (w.e.f. 25-1-1971).
2. Entries relating to Manipur and Tripura omitted by the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971 (81 of 1971), s. 9 (w.e.f. 21-1-1972).
3. Entries 4 to 9 renumbered as entries 2 to 7 by s. 9, ibid. (w.e.f. 21-1-1972).
4. Subs. by the Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindivi Islands (Alteration of Name) Act, 1973 (34 of 1973), s. 5, for “The Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindivi Islands” (w.e.f. 1-11-1973).
5. Ins. by the Constitution (Tenth Amendment) Act, 1961, s. 2.
6. Subs. by the Goa, Daman and Diu Reorganisation Act, 1987 (18 of 1987), s. 5, for entry 5 (w.e.f. 30-5-1987).
7. Ins. by the Constitution (Fourteenth Amendment) Act, 1962, ss. 3 and 7 (w.e.f. 16-8-1962).
8. Ins. by the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966 (31 of 1966), s. 7 (w.e.f. 1-11-1966).
9. Entry 8 relating to Mizoram omitted by the State of Mizoram Act, 1986 (34 of 1986), s. 4 and entry 9 relating to Arunachal Pradesh renumbered as entry 8 (w.e.f. 20-2-1987).
10. Entry 8 relating to Arunachal Pradesh omitted by the State of Arunachal Pradesh Act, 1986 (69 of 1986), s. 4 (w.e.f. 20-2-1987).
11. Entry 8 relating to Mizoram omitted and entry 9 relating to Arunachal Pradesh renumberedas entry 8 by the State of Mizoram Act, 1986 (34 of 1986), sec. 4 (w.e.f. 20-2-1987).
12. Entry 8 relating to Arunachal Pradesh as renumbered by Act 34 of 1986, sec. 4 omitted by the State of Arunachal Pradesh Act, 1986 (69 of 1986), sec. 4 (w.e.f. 20-2-1987).
Section 397 SECOND SCHEDULE
SECOND SCHEDULE
[Articles 59(3), 65(3), 75(6), 97, 125, 148(3), 158(3), 164(5), 186 and 221]
PART A
Provisions as to the President and the Governors of States 1[***].
1. There shall be paid to the President and to the Governors of the States 1[***] the following emoluments per mensem, that is to say: -
The President …… 10,000 rupees2
The Governor of a State …… 5,500 rupees 3.
2. There shall also be paid to the President and to the Governors of the States 4[***] such allowances as were payable respectively to the Governor-General of the Dominion of India and to the Governors of the corresponding Provinces immediately before the commencement of this Constitution.
3. The President and the Governors of 5[the States] throughout their respective terms of office shall be entitled to the same privileges to which the Governor-General and the Governors of the corresponding Provinces were respectively entitled immediately before the commencement of this Constitution.
4. While the Vice-President or any other person is discharging the functions of, or is acting as, President, or any person is discharging the functions of the Governor, he shall be entitled to the same emoluments, allowances and privileges as the President or the Governor whose functions he discharges or for whom he acts, as the case may be.
6[***]
PART C
PROVISIONS AS TO THE SPEAKER AND THE DEPUTY SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF THE PEOPLE AND THE CHAIRMAN AND THE DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL OF STATES AND THE SPEAKER AND THE DEPUTY SPEAKER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 7[***] AND THE CHAIRMAN AND THE DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF 8[A STATE].
7. There shall be paid to the Speaker of the House of the People and the Chairman of the Council of States such salaries and allowances as were payable to the Speaker of the Constituent Assembly of the Dominion of India immediately before the commencement of this Constitution, and there shall be paid to the Deputy Speaker of the House of the People and to the Deputy Chairman of the Council of States such salaries and allowances as were payable to the Deputy Speaker of the Constituent Assembly of the Dominion of India immediately before such commencement.
8. There shall be paid to the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly 9[***] and to the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council of 10[a State] such salaries and allowances as were payable respectively to the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and the President and the Deputy President of the Legislative Council of the corresponding Province immediately before the commencement of this Constitution and, where the corresponding Province had no Legislative Council immediately before such commencement, there shall be paid to the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council of the State such salaries and allowances as the Governor of the State may determine.
PART D
PROVISIONS AS TO THE JUDGES OF THE SUPREME COURT
AND OF THE HIGH COURTS 11[***]
9. (1) There shall be paid to the Judges of the Supreme Court, in respect of time spent on actual service, salary at the following rates per mensem, that is to say:—
The Chief Justice 12[10,000 rupees]
Any other Judge 13[9,000 rupees]:
Provided that if a Judge of the Supreme Court at the time of his appointment is in receipt of a pension (other than a disability or wound pension) in respect of any previous service under the Government of India or any of its predecessor Governments or under the Government of a State or any of its predecessor Governments, his salary in respect of service in the Supreme Court 14[shall be reduced—
(a) by the amount of that pension, and
(b) if he has, before such appointment, received in lieu of a portion of the pension due to him in respect of such previous service the commuted value thereof, by the amount of that portion of the pension, and
(c) if he has, before such appointment, received a retirement gratuity in respect of such previous service, by the pension equivalent of that gratuity].
(2) Every Judge of the Supreme Court shall be entitled without payment of rent to the use of an official residence.
(3) Nothing in sub-paragraph (2) of this paragraph shall apply to a Judge who, immediately before the commencement of this Constitution,—
(a) was holding office as the Chief Justice of the Federal Court and has become on such commencement the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court under clause (1) of article 374, or
(b) was holding office as any other Judge of the Federal Court and has on such commencement become a Judge (other than the Chief Justice) of the Supreme Court under the said clause,
during the period he holds office as such Chief Justice or other Judge, and every Judge who so becomes the Chief Justice or other Judge of the Supreme Court shall, in respect of time spent on actual service as such Chief Justice or other Judge, as the case may be, be entitled to receive in addition to the salary specified in sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph as special pay an amount equivalent to the difference between the salary so specified and the salary which he was drawing immediately before such commencement.
(4) Every Judge of the Supreme Court shall receive such reasonable allowances to reimburse him for expenses incurred in travelling on duty within the territory of India and shall be afforded such reasonable facilities in connection with travelling as the President may from time to time prescribe.
(5) The rights in respect of leave of absence (including leave allowances) and pension of the Judges of the Supreme Court shall be governed by the provisions which, immediately before the commencement of this Constitution, were applicable to the Judges of the Federal Court.
10. 15[(1). There shall be paid to the Judges of High Courts, in respect of time spent on actual service, salary at the following rates per mensem, that is to say,—
The Chief Justice 16[9,000 rupees]
Any other Judge17[8,000 rupees]:
Provided that if a Judge of a High Court at the time of his appointment is in receipt of a pension (other than a disability or wound pension) in respect of any previous service under the Government of India or any of its predecessor Governments or under the Government of a State or any of its predecessor Governments, his salary in respect of service in the High Court shall be reduced—
(a) by the amount of that pension, and
(b) if he has, before such appointment, received in lieu of a portion of the pension due to him in respect of such previous service the commuted value thereof, by the amount of that portion of the pension, and
(c) if he has, before such appointment, received a retirement gratuity in respect of such previous service, by the pension equivalent of that gratuity.]
(2) Every person who immediately before the commencement of this Constitution—
(a) was holding office as the Chief Justice of a High Court in any Province and has on such commencement become the Chief Justice of the High Court in the corresponding State under clause (1) of article 376, or
(b) was holding office as any other Judge of a High Court in any Province and has on such commencement become a Judge (other than the Chief Justice) of the High Court in the corresponding State under the said clause,
shall, if he was immediately before such commencement drawing a salary at a rate higher than that specified in sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph, be entitled to receive in respect of time spent on actual service as such Chief Justice or other Judge, as the case may be, in addition to the salary specified in the said sub-paragraph as special pay an amount equivalent to the difference between the salary so specified and the salary which he was drawing immediately before such commencement.
18[(3) Any person who, immediately before the commencement of the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, was holding office as the Chief Justice of the High Court of a State specified in Part B of the First Schedule and has on such commencement become the Chief Justice of the High Court of a State specified in the said Schedule as amended by said Act, shall, if he was immediately before such commencement drawing any amount as allowance in addition to his salary, be entitled to receive in respect of time spent on actual service as such Chief Justice, the same amount as allowance in addition to the salary specified in sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph.]
11. In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires—
(a) the expression ‘Chief Justice’ includes an acting Chief Justice, and a ‘Judge’ includes an ad hoc Judge;
(b) ‘actual service’ includes—
(i) time spent by a Judge on duty as a Judge or in the performance of such other functions as he may at the request of the President undertake to discharge;
(ii) vacations, excluding any time during which the Judge is absent on leave; and
(iii) joining time on transfer from a High Court to the Supreme Court or from one High Court to another.
PART E
PROVISIONS AS TO THE COMPTROLLER AND
AUDITOR-GENERAL OF INDIA
12. (1) There shall be paid to the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India a salary at the rate of four thousand19 rupees per mensem.
(2) The person who was holding office immediately before the commencement of this Constitution as Auditor-General of India and has become on such commencement the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India under article 377 shall in addition to the salary specified in sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph be entitled to receive as special pay an amount equivalent to the difference between the salary so specified and the salary which he was drawing as Auditor-General of India immediately before such commencement.
(3) The rights in respect of leave of absence and pension and the other conditions of service of the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India shall be governed or shall continue to be governed, as the case may be, by the provisions which were applicable to the Auditor-General of India immediately before the commencement of this Constitution and all references in those provisions to the Governor-General shall be construed as references to the President.
1. The words and letter “specified in Part A of the First Schedule” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec. 29 and Sch.
2. Raised to Rs. 15,000 p.m. by the President’s Pension (Amendment) Act, 1985 and further raised to Rs. 20,000 p.m. by the President’s Emoluments and Pension (Amendment) Act, 1990 and further raised to Rs. 50,000 p.m. by the President’s Emoluments and Pension (Amendment) Act, 1998 (25 of 1998), sec. 2 (w.r.e.f. 1-1-1996).
3. Raised to Rs. 11,000 p.m. by the Governor’s Emoluments, Allowances and Privileges (Amendment) Act, 1987 (17 of 1987) and further raised to Rs. 36,000 p.m. by the Governors (Emoluments and Privileges) Amendment Act, 1998 (27 of 1998), sec. 2 (w.r.e.f. 1-1-1996).
4. The words “so specified” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec. 29 and Sch.
5. Subs. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec. 29 and Sch., for “such States”.
6. Part B omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec. 29 and Sch.
7. The words and letter “or a State in Part A of the First Schedule” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec. 29 and Sch.
8. Subs. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec. 29 and Sch., for “any such State”.
9. The words and letter “of a State specified in Part A of the First Schedule” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec. 29 and Sch.
10. Subs. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec. 29 and Sch., for “such State”.
11. The words and letter “in States in Part A of the First Schedule” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec. 25 (w.e.f. 1-11-1956).
12. Subs. by the Constitution (Fifty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1986, sec. 4, for “5,000 rupees” (w.e.f. 1-4-1986). Now Rs. 33,000 per mensem vide the High Court and Supreme Court Judges (Conditions of Service) Amendment Act, 1998 (18 of 1998), sec. 7 (w.r.e.f. 1-1-1996).
13. Subs. by the Constitution (Fifty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1986, sec. 4, for “4,000 rupees” (w.e.f. 1-4-1986). Now Rs. 30,000 per mensem vide the High Court and Supreme Court Judges (Conditions of Service) Amendment Act, 1998 (18 of 1998), sec. 7 (w.r.e.f. 1-1-1996).
14. Subs. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec. 25, for “shall be reduced by the amount of that pension” (w.e.f. 1-11-1956).
15. Subs. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec. 25, for sub-paragraph (1) (w.e.f. 1-11-1956).
16. Subs. by the Constitution (Fifty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1986 (34 of 1986), sec. 4, for “4,000 rupees” (w.e.f. 1-4-1986). Now Rs. 30,000 per mensem vide the High Court and Supreme Court Judges (Conditions of Service) Amendment Act, 1998 (18 of 1998), sec. 4 (w.r.e.f. 1-1-1996).
17. Subs. by the Constitution (Fifty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1986 (34 of 1986), sec. 4, for “3,500 rupees” (w.e.f. 1-4-1986). Now Rs. 26,000 per mensem vide the High Court and Supreme Court Judges (Conditions of Service) Amendment Act, 1998 (18 of 1998), sec. 4 (w.r.e.f. 1-1-1996).
18. Subs. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec. 25, for sub-paragraphs (3) and (4) (w.e.f. 1-11-1956).
19. The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India shall be paid a salary equal to the salary of the Judges of Supreme Court vide section 3 of Act 56 of 1971. The salary of Judges of the Supreme Court has been raised to Rs. 9,000 per mensem by the Constitution (Fifty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1986 and further raised to Rs. 30,000 p.m. by the High Court and Supreme Court Judges (Conditions of Service) Amendment Act, 1998 (18 of 1998), sec. 7 (w.r.e.f. 1-1-1996).
Section 398. THIRD SCHEDULE.
THIRD SCHEDULE
[Articles 75(4), 99, 124(6), 148(2), 164(3), 188 and 219]1
Forms of Oaths or Affirmations
I. Form of oath of office for a Minister for the Union:
“I, A.B., do swear in the name of God/solemnly affirm that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established, 2[that I will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India,] that I will faithfully and conscientiously discharge my duties as a Minister for the Union and that I will do right to all manner of people in accordance with the Constitution and the law, without fear or favour, affection or ill-will.”
II. Form of oath of secrecy for a Minister for the Union: -
“I, A.B., do swear in the name of God/solemnly affirm that I will not directly or indirectly communicate or reveal to any person or persons any matter which shall be brought under my consideration or shall become known to me as a Minister for the Union except as may be required for the due discharge of my duties as such Minister.”
3[III. A Form of oath or affirmation to be made by a candidate for election to Parliament:-
“I, A.B., having been nominated as a candidate to fill a seat in the council of States (or the House of the People) do swear in the name of God/solemnly affirm that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established and that I will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India.”
B Form of oath or affirmation to be made by a member of Parliament: – “I, A.B., having been elected (or nominated) a member of the Council of States (or the House of the People) do swear in the name of God/solemnly affirm that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established, that I will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India and that I will faithfully discharge the duty upon which I am about to enter.”]
IV Form of oath or affirmation to be made by the Judges of the Supreme Court and the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India: -
1. See also articles 84(a) and 173(a).
2. Ins. by the Constitution (Sixteenth Amendment) Act, 1963, sec. 5.
3.Subs. by the Constitution (Sixteenth Amendment) Act, 1963, sec. 5, for Form III.
“I, A.B., having been appointed Chief Justice (or a Judge) of the Supreme Court of India (or Comptroller and Auditor-General of India) do swear in the name of God/solemnly affirm that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established, 1[that I will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India,] that I will duly and faithfully and to the best of my ability, knowledge and judgment perform the duties of my office without fear or favour, affection or ill-will and that I will uphold the Constitution and the laws.”
V Form of oath of office for a Minister for a State: -
“I, A.B., do swear in the name of God/solemnly affirm that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established, 1[that I will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India,] that I will faithfully and conscientiously discharge my duties as a Minister for the State of………… and that I will do right to all manner of people in accordance with the Constitution and the law without fear or favour, affection or ill-will.”
VI Form of oath of secrecy for a Minister for a State: -
“I, A.B., do swear in the name of God/solemnly affirm that I will not directly or indirectly communicate or reveal to any person or persons any matter which shall be brought under my consideration or shall become known to me as a Minister for the State of ………………………………….except as may be required for the due discharge of my duties as such Minister.”
3[VII A Form of oath or affirmation to be made by a candidate for election to the Legislature of a State: -
“I, A.B., having been nominated as a candidate to fill a seat in the Legislative Assembly (or Legislative Council), do swear in the name of God/solemnly affirm that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established and that I will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India.”
B Form of oath or affirmation to be made by a member of the Legislature of a State: -
“I, A.B., having been elected (or nominated) a member of the Legislative Assembly (or Legislative Council), do swear in the name of God/solemnly affirm that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established, that I will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India and that I will faithfully discharge the duty upon which I am about to enter.”]
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Sixteenth Amendment) Act, 1963, sec. 5.
2. Subs. by the Constitution (Sixteenth Amendment) Act, 1963, sec. 5, for Form VII.
VIII Form of oath or affirmation to be made by the Judges of a High Court: -
“I, A.B., having been appointed Chief Justice (or a Judge) of the High Court at (or of) ……………………… do swear in the name of God/solemnly affirm that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established, 1[that I will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India,] that I will duly and faithfully and to the best of my ability, knowledge and judgment perform the duties of my office without fear or favour, affection or ill-will and that I will uphold the Constitution and the laws.”
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Sixteenth Amendment) Act, 1963, sec. 5.
Section 399. FOURTH SCHEDULE.
1[FOURTH SCHEDULE
[Articles 4(1) and 80(2)]
Allocation of seats in the Council of States
To each State or Union territory specified in the first column of the following table, there shall be allotted the number of seats specified in the second column thereof opposite to that State or that Union territory, as the case may be.
1 |
Andhra Pradesh |
18 |
2 |
Assam |
7 |
3 |
Bihar |
17[22] |
18[4 |
Jharkhand |
6] |
2[4[5. |
Goa |
1] |
3[4[6.] |
Gujarat |
11] |
5[4[7.] |
Haryana |
5] |
4[8.] |
Kerala |
9 |
4[9.] |
Madhya Pradesh |
19[11] |
20[10. |
Chattisgarh |
5] |
6[4[11.] |
Tamil Nadu] |
7[18] |
8[4[12.] |
Maharashtra |
19] |
9[4[13.] |
Karnataka] |
12 |
4[14.] |
Orissa |
10 |
4[15.] |
Punjab |
10[7] |
4[16.] |
Rajasthan |
10 |
4[17.] |
Uttar Pradesh |
11[31] |
21[18. |
Uttranchal |
3] |
[19.] |
West Bengal |
16 |
4[20.] |
Jammu and Kashmir |
4 |
12[4[21.] |
Nagaland |
1] |
15[4[22.] |
Himachal Pradesh |
3] |
13[4[23.] |
Manipur |
1] |
4[24.] |
Tripura |
1 |
4[25.] |
Meghalaya |
1 |
14[4[26.] |
Sikkim |
1] |
4[27.] |
Mizoram |
1 |
4[28.] |
Arunachal Pradesh |
1 |
4[29.] |
Delhi |
3 |
4[30.] |
Pondicherry |
1 |
Total |
16[233]] |
1. Subs. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 3, for the Fourth Sch.
2. Ins. by the Goa, Daman and Diu Reorganisation Act, 1987 (18 of 1987), s. 6 (w.e.f. 30-5-1987).
3. Subs. by the Bombay Reorganisation Act, 1960 (11 of 1960), s. 6, (w.e.f. 1-5-1960).
4. Entry numbers have been renumbered by (i) he North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971 (81 of 1971); (ii) the State of Mizoram Act, 1986 (34 of 1986); (iii) The Goa, Daman and Diu Reorganisation Act, 1987 (18 of 1987); (iv) The Madhya Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000 (28 of 2000) (w.e.f. 1-11-2000); (v) The Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000 (29 of 2000) (w.e.f. 9-11-2000); (vi) The Bihar Reorganisation Act, 2000 (30 of 2000) (w.e.f. 15-11-2000).
5. Ins. by the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966 (31 of 1966), s. 9 (w.e.f. 1-11-1966).
6. Subs. by the Madras State (Alteration of Name) Act, 1968 (53 of 1968), s. 5, for “Madras” (w.e.f. 14-1-1969).
7. Subs. by the Andhra Pradesh and Madras (Alteration of Boundries) Act, 1959 (56 of 1959), s. 8, for “17” (w.e.f. 1-4-1960).
8 Ins. by the Bombay Reorganisation Act, 1960 (11 of 1960), s. 6 (w.e.f. 1-5-1960).
9. Subs. by the Mysore State (Alternation of name) Act, 1973 (31 of 1973), s. 5, for “Mysore” (w.e.f. 1-11-1973).
10. Subs. by the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966 (31 of 1966), s. 9, for “11” (w.e.f. 1-11-1966).
11. Subs. by the Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000 (29 of 2000), s. 7, for “34” (w.e.f. 9-11-2000).
12. Ins. by the State of Nagaland Act, 1962 (27 of 1962), s. 6 (w.e.f. 1-12-1963).
13. Subs. By the North Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971 (81 of 1971), sec. 10.
14. Ins. by the Constitution (Thirty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1975, s. 4 (w.e.f. 26-4-1975).
15. Ins. by the State of Himachal Pradesh Act, 1970 (53 of 1970), s. 5 (w.e.f. 25-1-1971).
16. Subs. by the Goa, Daman and Diu Reorganisation Act, 1987 (18 of 1987), s. 6, for “232” (w.e.f. 30-5-1987).
17. Subs. By the Bihar Reorganisation Act, 2000 (30 of 2000), sec. 7 for “22” (w.e.f. 15-11-2000).
18. Ins. by the Bihar Reorganisation Act, 2000 (30 of 2000), sec. 7 (w.e.f. 15-11-2000).
19. Subs. by the Madhya Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000 (28 of 2000), sec. 7 for “16”.
20. Ins. by the Madhya Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000 (28 of 2000), sec. 7.
21. Ins. by the Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000 (29 of 2000), sec. 7 (w. e. f. 9-11-2000).
Section 400. FIFTH SCHEDULE.
FIFTH SCHEDULE
[Article 244(1)]
Provisions as to the Administration and Control of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes
Part A — General
1. Interpretation. -
In this Schedule, unless the context otherwise requires, the expression “State” 1[***] does not include the 2[States of Assam, 3[,4[Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.]]]
2. Executive power of a State in Scheduled Areas. -
Subject to the provisions of this Schedule, the executive power of a State extends to the Scheduled Areas therein.
3. Report by the Governor 5[***] to the President regarding the administration of Scheduled Areas. -
The Governor 5[***] of each State having Scheduled Areas therein shall annually, or whenever so required by the President, make a report to the President regarding the administration of the Scheduled Areas in that State and the executive power of the Union shall extend to the giving of directions to the State as to the administration of the said areas.
1. Interpretation. -
In this Schedule, unless the context otherwise requires, the expression “State” 1[***] does not include the 2[States of Assam, 3[,4[Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.]]]
2. Executive power of a State in Scheduled Areas. -
Subject to the provisions of this Schedule, the executive power of a State extends to the Scheduled Areas therein.
3. Report by the Governor 5[***] to the President regarding the administration of Scheduled Areas. -
The Governor 5[***] of each State having Scheduled Areas therein shall annually, or whenever so required by the President, make a report to the President regarding the administration of the Scheduled Areas in that State and the executive power of the Union shall extend to the giving of directions to the State as to the administration of the said areas.
Part B
Administration and Control of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes
4. Tribes Advisory Council. -
(1) There shall be established in each State having Scheduled Areas therein and, if the President so directs, also in any State having Scheduled Tribes but not Scheduled Areas therein, a Tribes Advisory Council consisting of not more than twenty members of whom, as nearly as may be, three-fourths shall be the representatives of the Scheduled Tribes in the Legislative Assembly of the State:
Provided that if the number of representatives of the Scheduled Tribes in the Legislative Assembly of the State is less than the number of seats in the Tribes Advisory Council to be filled by such representatives, the remaining seats shall be filled by other members of those tribes.
(2) It shall be the duty of the Tribes Advisory Council to advise on such matters pertaining to the welfare and advancement of the Scheduled Tribes in the State as may be referred to them by the Governor 6[***].
(3) The Governor 5[***] may make rules prescribing or regulating, as the case may be, -
(a) The number of members of the Council, the mode of their appointment and the appointment of the Chairman of the Council and of the officers and servants thereof;
(b) The conduct of its meetings and its procedure in general; and
(c) All other incidental matters.
5. Law applicable to Scheduled Areas. -
(1) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, the Governor 6[***] may by public notification direct that any particular Act of Parliament or of the Legislature of the State shall not apply to a Scheduled Area or any part thereof in the State or shall apply to a Scheduled Area or any part thereof in the State subject to such exceptions and modifications as he may specify in the notification and any direction given under this sub-paragraph may be given so as to have retrospective effect.
(2) The Governor 6[***] may make regulations for the peace and good government of any area in a State which is for the time being a Scheduled Area.
In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such regulations may-
(a) Prohibit or restrict the transfer of land by or among members of the Scheduled Tribes in such area;
(b) Regulate the allotment of land to members of the Scheduled Tribes in such area;
(c) Regulate the carrying on of business as money-lender by persons who lend money to members of the Scheduled Tribes in such area.
(3) In making any such regulation as is referred to in sub-paragraph (2) of this paragraph, the Governor 5[***] may repeal or amend any Act of Parliament or of the Legislature of the State or any existing law which is for the time being applicable to the area in question.
(4) All regulations made under this paragraph shall be submitted forthwith to the President and, until assented to by him, shall have no effect.
(5) No regulation shall be made under this paragraph unless the Governor 5[***] making the regulation has, in the case where there is a Tribes Advisory Council for the State, consulted such Council.
Part C
Scheduled Areas
6. Scheduled Areas. -
(1) In this Constitution, the expression “Scheduled Areas” means such areas as the President may by order declare to be Scheduled Areas.
(2) The President may at any time by order
(a) Direct that the whole or any specified part of a Scheduled Area shall cease to be a Scheduled Area or a part of such an area;
7[(aa) Increase the area of any Scheduled Area in a State after consultation with the Governor of that State;]
(b) Alter, but only by way of rectification of boundaries, any Scheduled Area;
(c) On any alteration of the boundaries of a State or on the admission into the Union or the establishment of a new State, declare any territory not previously included in any State to be, or to form part of, a Scheduled Area;
7[(d) Rescind, in relation to any State or States, any order or orders made under this paragraph, and in consultation with the Governor of the State concerned, make fresh orders redefining the areas which are to be Scheduled Areas;]
And any such order may contain such incidental and consequential provisions as appear to the President to be necessary and proper, but save as aforesaid, the order made under sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph shall not be varied by any subsequent order.
Part D
Amendment of the Schedule
7. Amendment of the Schedule. -
(1) Parliament may from time to time by law amend by way of addition, variation or repeal any of the provisions of this Schedule and, when the Schedule is so amended, any reference to this Schedule in this Constitution shall be construed as a reference to such Schedule as so amended.
(2) No such law as is mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph shall be deemed to be an amendment of this Constitution for the purposes of article 368.
1. The words and letters “means a State specified in Part A or Part B of the First Schedule but” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch.
2. Subs. by the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971, (81 of 1971), s. 71, for “State of Assam” (w.e.f. 21-1-1972).
3. Subs. by the State of Mizoram Act, 1986 (34 of 1986), s. 39, for “Meghalaya and Tripura” (w.e.f. 20-2-1987).
4. Subs. By the Constitution (Forty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1984, sec. 3, for “and Meghalaya” (w. e. f. 1-4-1985).
5. The words “or Rajpramukh” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment), Act 1956, s. 29 and Sch.
6. The words “or Rajpramukh, as the case may be” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment), Act 1956, s. 29 and Sch.
7. Ins. by the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution (Amendment) Act, 1976 (101 of 1976), s. 2.
Section 401. SIXTH SCHEDULE
SIXTH SCHEDULE
[Articles 244(2) and 275(1)]
Provisions as to the Administration of Tribal Areas in 1[2[the States of Assam 3[,Meghalaya, Tripura] and Mizoram]]
1. Autonomous districts and autonomous regions.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this paragraph, the tribal areas in each item of 4[5[Parts I, II and IIA] and in Part III] of the table appended to paragraph 20 of this Schedule shall be an autonomous district.
(2) If there are different Scheduled Tribes in an autonomous district, the Governor may, by public notification, divide the area or areas inhabited by them into autonomous regions.6
(3) The Governor may, by public notification,—
(a) include any area in 4[any of the Parts] of the said table,
(b) exclude any area from 4[any of the Parts] of the said table,
(c) create a new autonomous district,
(d) increase the area of any autonomous district,
(e) diminish the area of any autonomous district,
(f) unite two or more autonomous districts or parts thereof so as to form one autonomous district,
7[(ff) alter the name of any autonomous district,]
(g) define the boundaries of any autonomous district:
Provided that no order shall be made by the Governor under clauses (c), (d), (e) and (f) of this sub-paragraph except after consideration of the report of a Commission appointed under sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 14 of this Schedule:
8[Provided further that any order made by the Governor under this sub-paragraph may contain such incidental and consequential provisions (including any amendment of paragraph 20 and of any item in any of the Parts of the said table) as appear to the Governor to be necessary for giving effect to the provisions of the order.]
2. Constitution of District Councils and Regional Councils.—9[(1) There shall be a District Council for each autonomous district consisting of not more than thirty members, of whom not more than four persons shall be nominated by the Governor and the rest shall be elected on the basis of adult suffrage.]10
(2) There shall be a separate Regional Council for each area constituted an autonomous region under sub-paragraph (2) of paragraph 1 of this Schedule.
(3) Each District Council and each Regional Council shall be a body corporate by the name respectively of ‘the District Council of (name of district)’ and ‘the Regional Council of (name of region)’, shall have perpetual succession and a common seal and shall by the said name sue and be sued.11*
(4) Subject to the provisions of this Schedule, the administration of an autonomous district shall, in so far as it is not vested under this Schedule in any Regional Council within such district, be vested in the District Council for such district and the administration of an autonomous region shall be vested in the Regional Council for such region.
(5) In an autonomous district with Regional Councils, the District Council shall have only such powers with respect to the areas under the authority of the Regional Council as may be delegated to it by the Regional Council in addition to the powers conferred on it by this Schedule with respect to such areas.
(6) The Governor shall make rules for the first constitution of District Councils and Regional Councils in consultation with the existing tribal Councils or other representative tribal organisations within the autonomous districts or regions concerned, and such rules shall provide for—
(a) the composition of the District Councils and Regional Councils and the allocation of seats therein;
(b) the delimitation of territorial constituencies for the purpose of elections to those Councils;
(c) the qualifications for voting at such elections and the preparation of electoral rolls therefor;
(d) the qualifications for being elected at such elections as members of such Councils;
(e) the term of office of members of 12[Regional Councils];
(f) any other matter relating to or connected with elections or nominations to such Councils;
(g) the procedure and the conduct of business 13[including the power to act notwithstanding any vacancy] in the District and Regional Councils;
(h) the appointment of officers and staff of the District and Regional Councils.
13[(6A) The elected members of the District Council shall hold office for a term of five years from the date appointed for the first meeting of the Council after the general elections to the Council, unless the District Council is sooner dissolved under paragraph 16 and a nominated member shall hold office at the pleasure of the Governor:
Provided that the said period of five years may, while a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation or if circumstances exist which, in the opinion of the Governor, render the holding of elections impracticable, be extended by the Governor for a period not exceeding one year at a time and in any case where a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation not extending beyond a period of six months after the Proclamation has ceased to operate:
Provided further that a member elected to fill a casual vacancy shall hold office only for the remainder of the term of office of the member whom he replaces.]
(7) The District or the Regional Council may after its first constitution make rules 13[with the approval of the Governor] with regard to the matters specified in sub-paragraph (6) of this paragraph and may also make rules 13[with like approval] regulating—
(a) the formation of subordinate local Councils or Boards and their procedure and the conduct of their business; and
(b) generally all matters relating to the transaction of business pertaining to the administration of the district or region, as the case may be:
Provided that until rules are made by the District or the Regional Council under this sub-paragraph the rules made by the Governor under sub-paragraph (6) of this paragraph shall have effect in respect of elections to, the officers and staff of, and the procedure and the conduct of business in, each such Council.
14[***]
3. Powers of the District Councils and Regional Councils to make laws.—(1) The Regional Council for an autonomous region in respect of all areas within such region and the District Council for an autonomous district in respect of all areas within the district except those which are under the authority of Regional Councils, if any, within the district shall have power to make laws with respect to—
(a) the allotment, occupation or use, or the setting apart, of land, other than any land which is a reserved forest for the purposes of agriculture or grazing or for residential or other non-agricultural purposes or for any other purpose likely to promote the interests of the inhabitants of any village or town:
Provided that nothing in such laws shall prevent the compulsory acquisition of any land, whether occupied or unoccupied, for public purposes 15[by the Government of the State concerned] in accordance with the law for the time being in force authorising such acquisition;
(b) the management of any forest not being a reserved forest;
(c) the use of any canal or water-course for the purpose of agriculture;
(d) the regulation of the practice of jhum or other forms of shifting cultivation;
(e) the establishment of village or town committees or councils and their powers;
(f) any other matter relating to village or town administration, including village or town police and public health and sanitation;
(g) the appointment or succession of Chiefs or Headmen;
(h) the inheritance of property;
16[(i) marriage and divorce;]
(j) social customs.
(2) In this paragraph, a ‘reserved forest’ means any area which is a reserved forest under the Assam Forest Regulation, 1891, or under any other law for the time being in force in the area in question.
(3) All laws made under this paragraph shall be submitted forthwith to the Governor and, until assented to by him, shall have no effect.17#
4. Administration of justice in autonomous districts and autonomous regions.—(1) The Regional Council for an autonomous region in respect of areas within such region and the District Council for an autonomous district in respect of areas within the district other than those which are under the authority of the Regional Councils, if any, within the district may constitute village councils or courts for the trial of suits and cases between the parties all of whom belong to Scheduled Tribes within such areas, other than suits and cases to which the provisions of sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 5 of this Schedule apply, to the exclusion of any court in the State, and may appoint suitable persons to be members of such village councils or presiding officers of such courts, and may also appoint such officers as may be necessary for the administration of the laws made under paragraph 3 of this Schedule.
(2) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, the Regional Council for an autonomous region or any court constituted in that behalf by the Regional Council or, if in respect of any area within an autonomous district there is no Regional Council, the District Council for such district, or any court constituted in that behalf by the District Council, shall exercise the powers of a court of appeal in respect of all suits and cases triable by a village council or court constituted under sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph within such region or area, as the case may be, other than those to which the provisions of sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 5 of this Schedule apply, and no other court except the High Court and the Supreme Court shall have jurisdiction over such suits or cases.
(3) The High Court 18[***] shall have and exercise such jurisdiction over the suits and cases to which the provisions of sub-paragraph (2) of this paragraph apply as the Governor may from time to time by order specify.
(4) A Regional Council or District Council, as the case may be, may with the previous approval of the Governor make rules regulating—
(a) the constitution of village councils and courts and the powers to be exercised by them under this paragraph;
(b) the procedure to be followed by village councils or courts in the trial of suits and cases under sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph;
(c) the procedure to be followed by the Regional or District Council or any court constituted by such Council in appeals and other proceedings under sub-paragraph (2) of this paragraph;
(d) the enforcement of decisions and orders of such Councils and courts;
(e) all other ancillary matters for the carrying out of the provisions of sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) of this paragraph.
19[(5) On and from such date as the President may, 20[after consulting the Government of the State concerned], by notification appoint in this behalf, this paragraph shall have effect in relation to such autonomous district or region as may be specified in the notification, as if—
(i) in sub-paragraph (1), for the words “between the parties all of whom belong to Scheduled Tribes within such areas, other than suits and cases to which the provisions of sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 5 of this Schedule apply,”, the words “not being suits and cases of the nature referred to in sub- paragraph (1) of paragraph (5) of this Schedule, which the Governor may specify in this behalf,” had been substituted;
(ii) sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) had been omitted;
(iii) in sub-paragraph (4)—
(a) for the words “A Regional Council or District Council, as the case may be, may with the previous approval of the Governor make rules regulating’, the words “the Governor may make rules regulating’ had been substituted; and
(b) for clause (a), the following clause had been substituted, namely:—
(a) the constitution of village councils and courts, the powers to be exercised by them under this paragraph and the courts to which appeals from the decisions of village councils and courts shall lie;”;
(c) for clause (c), the following clause had been substituted, namely:—
“(c) the transfer of appeals and other proceedings pending before the Regional or District Council or any court constituted by such Council immediately before the date appointed by the President under sub-paragraph (5);” and
(d) in clause (e), for the words, brackets and figures “sub-paragraphs (1) and (2)”, the word, brackets and figure “sub-paragraph (1)” had been substituted.]21
5. Conferment of powers under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898,22 on the Regional and District Councils and on certain courts and officers for the trial of certain suits, cases and offences.—(1) The Governor may, for the trial of suits or cases arising out of any law in force in any autonomous district or region being a law specified in that behalf by the Governor, or for the trial of offences punishable with death, transportation for life, or imprisonment for a term of not less than five years under the Indian Penal Code or under any other law for the time being applicable to such district or region, confer on the District Council or the Regional Council having authority over such district or region or on courts constituted by such District Council or on any officer appointed in that behalf by the Governor, such powers under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, or, as the case may be, the Code of Criminal Procedure, 18981 , as he deems appropriate, and thereupon the said Council, court or officer shall try the suits, cases or offences in exercise of the powers so conferred.
(2) The Governor may withdraw or modify any of the powers conferred on a District Council, Regional Council, court or officer under sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph.
(3) Save as expressly provided in this paragraph, the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 18981, shall not apply to the trial of any suits, cases or offences in an autonomous district or in any autonomous region to which the provisions of this paragraph apply.
23[(4) On and from the date appointed by the President under sub-paragraph (5) of paragraph 4 in relation to any autonomous district or autonomous region, nothing contained in this paragraph shall, in its application to that district or region, be deemed to authorise the Governor to confer on the District Council or Regional Council or on courts constituted by the District Council any of the powers referred to in sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph.]
24[6. Powers of the District Council to establish primary schools, etc.—(1) The District Council for an autonomous district may establish, construct, or manage primary schools, dispensaries, markets, 25[cattle pounds], ferries, fisheries, roads, road transport and waterways in the district and may, with the previous approval of the Governor, make regulations for the regulation and control thereof and, in particular, may prescribe the language and the manner in which primary education shall be imparted in the primary schools in the district.
(2) The Governor may, with the consent of any District Council, entrust either conditionally or unconditionally to that Council or to its officers functions in relation to agriculture, animal husbandry, community projects, co-operative societies, social welfare, village planning or any other matter to which the executive power of the State26[***] extends.]
7. District and Regional Funds.—(1) There shall be constituted for each autonomous district, a District Fund for each autonomous region, a Regional Fund to which shall be credited all moneys received respectively by the District Council for that district and the Regional Council for that region in the course of the administration of such district or region, as the case may be, in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.
27[(2) The Governor may make rules for the management of the District Fund, or, as the case may be, the Regional Fund and for the procedure to be followed in respect of payment of money into the said Fund, the withdrawal of moneys therefrom, the custody of moneys therein and any other matter connected with or ancillary to the matters aforesaid.
(3) The accounts of the District Council or, as the case may be, the Regional Council shall be kept in such form as the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India may, with the approval of the President, prescribe.
(4) The Comptroller and Auditor-General shall cause the accounts of the District and Regional Councils to be audited in such manner as he may think fit, and the reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General relating to such accounts shall be submitted to the Governor who shall cause them to be laid before the Council.]
8. Powers to assess and collect land revenue and to impose taxes.—(1) The Regional Council for an autonomous region in respect of all lands within such region and the District Council for an autonomous district in respect of all lands within the district except those which are in the areas under the authority of Regional Councils, if any, within the district, shall have the power to assess and collect revenue in respect of such lands in accordance with the principles for the time being followed 28[by the Government of the State in assessing lands for the purpose of land revenue in the State generally].
(2) The Regional Council for an autonomous region in respect of areas within such region and the District Council for an autonomous district in respect of all areas in the district except those which are under the authority of Regional Councils, if any, within the district, shall have power to levy and collect taxes on lands and buildings, and tolls on persons resident within such areas.
(3) The District Council for an autonomous district shall have the power to levy and collect all or any of the following taxes within such district, that is to say—
(a) taxes on professions, trades, callings and employments;
(b) taxes on animals, vehicles and boats;
(c) taxes on the entry of goods into a market for sale therein, and tolls on passengers and goods carried in ferries; and
(d) taxes for the maintenance of schools, dispensaries or roads.
(4) A Regional Council or District Council, as the case may be, may make regulations to provide for levy and collection of any of the taxes specified in sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) of this paragraph 29[and every such regulation shall be submitted forthwith to the Governor and, until assented to by him, shall have no effect].
9. Licences or leases for the purpose of prospecting for, or extraction of, minerals.—(1) Such share of the royalties accruing each year from licences or leases for the purpose of prospecting for, or the extraction of, minerals granted by 30[the Government of the State] in respect of any area within an autonomous district as may be agreed upon between 30[the Government of the State] and the District Court of such district shall be made over to that District Council.
(2) If any dispute arises as to the share of such royalties to be made over to a District Council, it shall be referred to the Governor for determination and the amount determined by the Governor in his discretion shall be deemed to be the amount payable under sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph to the District Council and the decision of the Governor shall be final.31
3210. Power of District Council to make regulations for the control of money-lending and trading by non-tribals.—(1) The District Council of an autonomous district may make regulations for the regulation and control of money-lending or trading within the district by persons other than Scheduled Tribes resident in the district.
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such regulations may—
(a) prescribe that no one except the holder of a licence issued in that behalf shall carry on the business of money-lending;
(b) prescribe the maximum rate of interest which may be charged or be recovered by a money-lender;
(c) provide for the maintenance of accounts by money-lenders and for the inspection of such accounts by officers appointed in that behalf by the District Council;
(d) prescribe that no person who is not a member of the Scheduled Tribes resident in the district shall carry on wholesale or retail business in any commodity except under a licence issued in that behalf by the District Council:
Provided that no regulations may be made under this paragraph unless they are passed by a majority of not less than three-fourths of the total membership of the District Council:
Provided further that it shall not be competent under any such regulations to refuse the grant of a licence to a money-lender or a trader who has been carrying on business within the district since before the time of making of such regulations.
(3) All regulations made under this paragraph shall be submitted forthwith to the Governor and, until assented to by him, shall have no effect.33
11. Publication of laws, rules and regulations made under the Schedule.—All laws, rules and regulations made under this Schedule by a District Council or a Regional Council shall be published forthwith in the Official Gazette of the State and shall on such publication have the force of law.
3412. 35[Application of Acts of Parliament and of the Legislature of the State of Assam to autonomous districts and autonomous regions in the State of Assam].—(1) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution—
(a) no Act of the 36[Legislature of the State of Assam] in respect of any of the matters specified in paragraph 3 of this Schedule as matters with respect to which a District Council or a Regional Council may make laws, and no Act of the 36[Legislature of the State of Assam] prohibiting or restricting the consumption of any non-distilled alcoholic liquor shall apply to any autonomous district or autonomous region 37[in the State] unless in either case the District Council for such district or having jurisdiction over such region by public notification so directs, and the District Council in giving such direction with respect to any Act may direct that the Act shall in its application to such district or region or any part thereof have effect subject to such exceptions or modifications as it thinks fit; 38
(b) the Governor may, by public notification, direct that any Act of Parliament or of the 36[Legislature of the State of Assam] to which the provisions of clause (a) of this sub-paragraph do not apply shall not apply to an autonomous district or an autonomous region 37[in that State], or shall apply to such district or region or any part thereof subject to such exceptions or modifications as he may specify in the notification.
(2) Any direction given under sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph may be given so as to have retrospective effect.
39[12A. Application of Acts of Parliament and of the Legislature of the State of Meghalaya to autonomous districts and autonomous regions in the State of Meghalaya.—Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution,—
(a) if any provision of a law made by a District or Regional Council in the State of Meghalaya with respect to any matter specified in sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 3 of this Schedule or if any provision of any regulation made by a District Council or a Regional Council in that State under paragraph 8 or paragraph 10 of this Schedule, is repugnant to any provision of a law made by the Legislature of the State of Meghalaya with respect to that matter, then, the law or regulation made by the District Council or, as the case may be, the Regional Council whether made before or after the law made by the Legislature of the State of Meghalaya, shall, to the extent of repugnancy, be void and the law made by the Legislature of the State of Meghalaya shall prevail;
(b) the President may, with respect to any Act of Parliament, by notification, direct that it shall not apply to an autonomous district or an autonomous region in the State of Meghalaya, or shall apply to such district or region or any part thereof subject to such exceptions or modifications as he may specify in the notification and any such direction may be given so as to have retrospective effect.]
40[12AA. Application of Acts of Parliament and of the Legislature of the State of Tripura to the autonomous district and autonomous regions in the State of Tripura.—Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution—
(a) no Act of the Legislature of the State of Tripura in respect of any of the matters specified in paragraph 3 of this Schedule as matters with respect to which a District Council or a Regional Council may make laws, and no Act of the Legislature of the State of Tripura prohibiting or restricting the consumption of any non-distilled alcoholic liquor shall apply to the autonomous district or an autonomous region in that State unless, in either case, the District Council for that district or having jurisdiction over such region by public notification so directs, and the District Council in giving such direction with respect to any Act direct that the Act shall, in its application to that district or such region or any part thereof, have effect subject to such exceptions or modifications as it thinks fit;
(b) the Governor may, by public notification, direct that any Act of the Legislature of the State of Tripura to which the provisions of clause (a) of this sub-paragraph do not apply, shall not apply to the autonomous district or any autonomous region in that State, or shall apply to that district or such region, or any part thereof, subject to such exceptions or modifications, as he may specify in the notification;
(c) the President may, with respect to any Act of Parliament, by notification, direct that it shall not apply to the autonomous district or an autonomous region in the State of Tripura, or shall apply to such district or region or any part thereof, subject to such exceptions or modifications as he may specify in the notification and any such direction may be given so as to have retrospective effect.]
41[12B. Application of Acts of Parliament and of the Legislature of the State of Mizoram to autonomous districts and autonomous regions in the State of Mizoram.—Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution,—
(a) no Act of the Legislature of the State of Mizoram in respect of any of the matters specified in paragraph 3 of this Schedule as matters with respect to which a District Council or a Regional Council may make laws, and no Act of Legislature of the State of Mizoram prohibiting or restricting the consumption of any non-distilled alcoholic liquor shall apply to any autonomous district or autonomous region in that State unless, in either case, the District Council for such district or having jurisdiction over such region, by public notification, so directs, and the District Council, in giving such direction with respect to any Act, may direct that the Act shall, in its application to such district or region or any part thereof, have effect subject to such exceptions or modifications as it thinks fit;
(b) the Governor may, by public notification, direct that any Act of the Legislature of the State of Mizoram to which the provisions of clause (a) of this sub-paragraph do not apply, shall not apply to an autonomous district or an autonomous region in that State, or shall apply to such district or region, or any part thereof, subject to such exceptions or modifications, as he may specify in the notification;
(c) the President may, with respect to any Act of Parliament, by notification, direct that it shall not apply to an autonomous district or an autonomous region in the State of Mizoram, or shall apply to such district or region or any part thereof, subject to such exceptions or modifications as he may specify in the notification and any such direction may be given so as to have retrospective effect.]
13. Estimated receipts and expenditure pertaining to autonomous districts to be shown separately in the annual financial statement.—The estimated receipts and expenditure pertaining to an autonomous district which are to be credited to, or is to be made from, the Consolidated Fund of the State 42[***] shall be first placed before the District Council for discussion and then after such discussion be shown separately in the annual financial statement of the State to be laid before the Legislature of the State under article 202.
14. Appointment of Commission to inquire into and report on the administration of autonomous districts and autonomous regions.—(1) The Governor may at any time appoint a Commission to examine and report on any matter specified by him relating to the administration of the autonomous districts and autonomous regions in the State, including matters specified in clauses (c), (d), (e) and (f) of sub- paragraph (3) of paragraph 1 of this Schedule, or may appoint a Commission to inquire into and report from time to time on the administration of autonomous districts and autonomous regions in the State generally and in particular on—
(a) the provision of educational and medical facilities and communications in such districts and regions;
(b) the need for any new or special legislation in respect of such districts and regions; and
(c) the administration of the laws, rules and regulations made by the District and Regional Councils,and define the procedure to be followed by such Commission.
(2) The report of every such Commission with the recommendations of the Governor with respect thereto shall be laid before the Legislature of the State by the Minister concerned together with an explanatory memorandum regarding the action proposed to be taken thereon by 43[the Government of the State].44
(3) In allocating the business of the Government of the State among his Ministers the Governor may place one of his Ministers specially in charge of the welfare of the autonomous districts and autonomous regions in the State.
4515. Annulment or suspension of acts and resolutions of District and Regional Councils.—(1) If at any time the Governor is satisfied that an act or resolution of a District or a Regional Council is likely to endanger the safety of India 46[or is likely to be prejudicial to public order], he may annul or suspend such act or resolution and take such steps as he may consider necessary (including the suspension of the Council and the assumption to himself of all or any of the powers vested in or exercisable by the Council) to prevent the commission or continuance of such act, or the giving of effect to such resolution.
(2) Any order made by the Governor under sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph together with the reasons therefor shall be laid before the Legislature of the State as soon as possible and the order shall, unless revoked by the Legislature of the State, continue in force for a period of twelve months from the date on which it was so made:
Provided that if and so often as a resolution approving the continuance in force of such order is passed by the Legislature of the State, the order shall unless cancelled by the Governor continue in force for a further period of twelve months from the date on which under this paragraph it would otherwise have ceased to operate.
4716. Dissolution of a District or a Regional Council.—48[(1)] The Governor may on the recommendation of a Commission appointed under paragraph 14 of this Schedule by public notification order the dissolution of a District or a Regional Council, and—
(a) direct that a fresh general election shall be held immediately for the reconstitution of the Council, or
(b) subject to the previous approval of the Legislature of the State assume the administration of the area under the authority of such Council himself or place the administration of such area under the Commission appointed under the said paragraph or any other body considered suitable by him for a period not exceeding twelve months:
Provided that when an order under clause (a) of this paragraph has been made, the Governor may take the action referred to in clause (b) of this paragraph with regard to the administration of the area in question pending the reconstitution of the Council on fresh general election:
Provided further that no action shall be taken under clause (b) of this paragraph without giving the District or the Regional Council, as the case may be, an opportunity of placing its views before the Legislature of the State.
49[(2) If at any time the Governor is satisfied that a situation has arisen in which the administration of an autonomous district or region cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of this Schedule, he may, by public notification assume to himself all or any of the functions or powers vested in or exercisable by the District Council or, as the case may be, the Regional Council and declare that such functions or powers shall be exercisable by such person or authority as he may specify in this behalf, for a period not exceeding six months:
Provided that the Governor may by a further order or orders extend the operation of the initial order by a period not exceeding six months on each occasion.
(3) Every order made under sub-paragraph (2) of this paragraph with the reasons therefor shall be laid before the Legislature of the State and shall cease to operate at the expiration of thirty days from the date on which the State Legislature first sits after the issue of the orders, unless, before the expiry of that period it has been approved by that State Legislature.]
17. Exclusion of areas from autonomous districts in forming constituencies in such districts.—For the purposes of elections to 50[the Legislative Assembly of Assam or Meghalaya] 51[or Tripura] 52[or Mizoram], the Governor may by order declare that any area within an autonomous district 53[in the State of Assam or Meghalaya 51[or Tripura] 52[or Mizoram], as the case may be,] shall not form part of any constituency to fill a seat or seats in the Assembly reserved for any such district but shall form part of a constituency to fill a seat or seats in the Assembly not so reserved to be specified in the order.54
55[***]
19. Transitional provisions.—(1) As soon as possible after the commencement of this Constitution the Governor shall take steps for the constitution of a District Council for each autonomous district in the State under this Schedule and, until a District Council is so constituted for an autonomous district, the administration of such district shall be vested in the Governor and the following provisions shall apply to the administration of the areas within such district instead of the foregoing provisions of this Schedule, namely:—
(a) no Act of Parliament or of the Legislature of the State shall apply to any such area unless the Governor by public notification so directs; and the Governor in giving such a direction with respect to any Act may direct that the Act shall, in its application to the area or to any specified part thereof, have effect subject to such exceptions or modifications as he thinks fit;
(b) the Governor may make regulations for the peace and good government of any such area and any regulations so made may repeal or amend any Act of Parliament or of the Legislature of the State or any existing law which is for the time being applicable to such area.
(2) Any direction given by the Governor under clause (a) of sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph may be given so as to have retrospective effect.
(3) All regulations made under clause (b) of sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph shall be submitted forthwith to the President and, until assented to by him, shall have no effect.56
57[20. Tribal areas.—(1) The areas specified in Parts I, II 3[,IIA] and III of the table below shall respectively be the tribal areas within the State of Assam, the State of Meghalaya 58[, the State of Tripura] and the 59[State] of Mizoram.
(2) 60[Any reference in Part I, Part II or Part III of the table below] to any district shall be construed as a reference to the territories comprised within the autonomous district of that name existing immediately before the day appointed under clause (b) of section 2 of the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971:
Provided that for the purposes of clauses (e) and (f) of sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 3, paragraph 4, paragraph 5, paragraph 6, sub-paragraph (2), clauses (a), (b) and (d) of sub-paragraph (3) and sub-paragraph (4) of paragraph 8 and clause (d) of sub-paragraph (2) of paragraph 10 of this Schedule, no part of the area comprised within the municipality of Shillong shall be deemed to be within the 61[Khasi Hills District].]
58[(3) The reference in Part IIA in the table below to the ‘Tripura Tribal Areas District’ shall be construed as a reference to the territory comprising the tribal areas specified in the First Schedule to the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council Act, 1979.]
TABLE
PART I
1. The North Cachar Hills District.
2. 62[The Karbi Anglong District.]63
PART II
64[1. Khasi Hills District.
2. Jaintia Hills District.]
3. The Garo Hills District.
65[PART IIA
Tripura Tribal Areas District.]
PART III
66[***]
67[ 1. The Chakma District.
68[2. The Mara District.
3. The Lai District.]]
69[20A. Dissolution of the Mizo District Council.—(1) Notwithstanding anything in this Schedule, the District Council of the Mizo District existing immediately before the prescribed date (hereinafter referred to as the Mizo District Council) shall stand dissolved and cease to exist.
(2) The Administrator of the Union territory of Mizoram may, by one or more orders, provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:—
(a) the transfer, in whole or in part, of the assets, rights and liabilities of the Mizo District Council (including the rights and liabilities under any contract made by it) to the Union or to any other authority;
(b) the substitution of the Union or any other authority for the Mizo District Council, or the addition of the Union or any other authority, as a party to any legal proceedings to which the Mizo District Council is a party;
(c) the transfer or re-employment of any employees of the Mizo District Council to or by the Union or any other authority, the terms and conditions of service applicable to such employees after such transfer or re-employment;
(d) the continuance of any laws, made by the Mizo District Council and in force immediately before its dissolution, subject to such adaptations and modifications, whether by way of repeal or amendment, as the Administrator may make in this behalf, until such laws are altered, repealed or amended by a competent Legislature or other competent authority;
(e) such incidental, consequential and supplementary matters as the Administrator considers necessary.
Explanation.—In this paragraph and in paragraph 20B of this Schedule, the expression ‘prescribed date’ means the date on which the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory of Mizoram is duly constituted under and in accordance with the provisions of the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963.
70[20B. Autonomous regions in the Union territory of Mizoram to be autonomous districts and transitory provisions consequent thereto.—(1) Notwithstanding anything in this Schedule,—
(a) every autonomous region existing immediately before the prescribed date in the Union territory of Mizoram shall, on and from that date, be an autonomous district in that Union territory (hereafter referred to as the corresponding new district) and the Administrator thereof may, by one or more orders, direct that such consequential amendments as are necessary to give effect to the provisions of this clause shall be made in paragraph 20 of this Schedule (including Part III of the table appended to that paragraph) and thereupon the said paragraph and the said Part III shall be deemed to have been amended accordingly;
(b) every Regional Council of an autonomous region in the Union territory of Mizoram existing immediately before the prescribed date (hereafter referred to as the existing Regional Council) shall, on and from that date and until a District Council is duly constituted for the corresponding new district, be deemed to be the District Council of that district (hereafter referred to as the corresponding new District Council).
(2) Every member whether elected or nominated of an existing Regional Council shall be deemed to have been elected or, as the case may be, nominated to the corresponding new District Council and shall hold office until a District Council is duly constituted for the corresponding new district under this Schedule.
(3) Until rules are made under sub-paragraph (7) of paragraph 2 and sub-paragraph (4) of paragraph 4 of this Schedule by the corresponding new District Council, the rules made under the said provisions by the existing Regional Council and in force immediately before the prescribed date shall have effect in relation to the corresponding new District Council subject to such adaptations and modifications as may be made therein by the Administrator of the Union territory of Mizoram.
(4) The Administrator of the Union territory of Mizoram may, by one or more orders, provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:—
(a) the transfer in whole or in part of the assets, rights and liabilities of the existing Regional Council (including the rights and liabilities under any contract made by it) to the corresponding new District Council;
(b) the substitution of the corresponding new District Council for the existing Regional Council as a party to the legal proceedings to which the existing Regional Council is a party;
(c) the transfer or re-employment of any employees of the existing Regional Council to or by the corresponding new District Council, the terms and conditions of service applicable to such employees after such transfer or re-employment;
(d) the continuance of any laws made by the existing Regional Council and in force immediately before the prescribed date, subject to such adaptations and modifications, whether by way of repeal or amendment, as the Administrator may make in this behalf until such laws are altered, repealed or amended by a competent Legislature or other competent authority;
(e) such incidental, consequential and supplementary matters as the Administrator considers necessary.71
72[20C. Interpretation.—Subject to any provision made in this behalf, the provisions of this Schedule shall, in their application to the Union territory of Mizoram, have effect—
(1) as if references to the Governor and Government of the State were references to the Administrator of the Union territory appointed under article 239, references to State (except in the expression ‘Government of the State’) were references to the Union territory of Mizoram and references to the State Legislature were references to the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory of Mizoram;
(2) as if—
(a) in sub-paragraph (5) of paragraph 4, the provision for consultation with the Government of the State concerned had been omitted;
(b) in sub-paragraph (2) of paragraph 6, for the words ‘to which the executive power of the State extends’, the words ‘with respect to which the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory of Mizoram has power to make laws’ had been substituted;
(c) in paragraph 13, the words and figures ‘under article 202’ had been omitted.]
21. Amendment of the Schedule.—(1) Parliament may from time to time by law amend by way of addition, variation or repeal any of the provisions of this Schedule and, when the Schedule is so amended, any reference to this Schedule in this Constitution shall be construed as a reference to such Schedule as so amended.
(2) No such law as is mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph shall be deemed to be an amendment of this Constitution for the purposes of article 368.
—————————————-
1.Subs. by the State of Mizoram Act, 1986 (34 of 1986), sec. 39(f), for “the State of Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura and in the Union Territory of Mizoram” (w.e.f. 20-2-1987).
2.Subs. by the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971 (81 of 1971), sec. 71(i) and Eighth Sch., for “Assam” (w.e.f. 21-1-1972).
3.Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1984, sec. 4, for “and Meghalaya” (w.e.f. 1-4-1985).
4.Subs. by the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971 (81 of 1971), sec. 71(i) and Eighth Sch., for “Part A” (w.e.f. 21-1-1972).
5.Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1984, sec. 4, for “Parts I and II” (w.e.f. 1-4-1985).
6.Paragraph 1 has been amended in its application to the State of Assam by the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution (Amendment) Act, 2003 (44 of 2003), sec. 2 (w.e.f. 7-9-2003) so as to insert after sub-paragraph (2) the following proviso; namely:—
“Provided that nothing in this sub-paragraph shall apply to the Bodoland Territorial Areas District.”
7.Ins. by the Assam Reorganisation (Meghalaya) Act, 1969 (55 of 1969), sec. 74 and Fourth Sch. (w.e.f. 2-4-1970).
8.Ins. by the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971 (81 of 1971), sec. 71(i) and Eighth Sch. (w.e.f. 21-1-1972).
9.Subs. by the Assam Reorganisation (Meghalaya) Act, 1969 (55 of 1969), sec. 74 and Fourth Sch., for paragraph (1) (w.e.f. 2-4-1970).
10.Paragraph 2 has been amended in its application to the State of Assam by the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution (Amendment) Act, 2003 (44 of 2003), sec. 2 (w.e.f. 7-9-2003), so as to insert after sub-paragraph (1), the following proviso, namely:—
“Provided that the Bodoland Territorial Council shall consist of not more than forty-six members of whom forty shall be elected on the basis of adult suffrage, of whom thirty shall be reserved for the Scheduled Tribes, five for non-tribal communities, five open for all communities and the remaining six shall be nominated by the Governor having same rights and privileges as other members, including voting rights, from amongst the un-represented communities of the Bodoland Territorial Areas District, of which at least two shall be women.”
11.Paragraph 2 has been amended in its application to the State of Assam by the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution (Amendment) Act, 1995 (42 of 1995), sec. 2 (w.e.f. 12-9-1995), so as to insert in sub-paragraph (3), the following proviso, namely:—
“Provided that the District Council constituted for the North Cachar Hills District shall be called as the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council and the District Council constituted for the Karbi Anglong District shall be called as the Karbi Anglong Autonomus Council.”
12.Subs. by the Assam Reorganisation (Meghalaya) Act, 1969 (55 of 1969), sec. 74 and Fourth Sch., for “such Councils” (w.e.f. 2-4-1970).
13.Ins. by the Assam Reorganisation (Meghalaya) Act, 1969 (55 of 1969), sec. 74 and Fourth Sch. (w.e.f. 2-4-1970).
14.Second proviso omitted by the Assam Reorganisation (Meghalaya) Act, 1969
(55 of 1969), sec. 74 and Fourth Sch. (w.e.f. 2-4-1970).
15.Subs. by the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971 (81 of 1971), sec. 71(i) and Eighth Sch., for certain words (w.e.f. 21-1-1972).
16. Subs. by the Assam Reorganisation (Meghalaya) Act, 1969 (55 of 1969), sec. 74 and Fourth Sch., for clause (i) (w.e.f. 2-4-1970).
17.Paragraph 3 has been amended in its application to the State of Assam by the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution (Amendment) Act, 2003 (44 of 2003), sec. 2 (w.e.f. 7-9-2003), so as to substitute for sub-paragraph (3), the following sub-paragraph, namely:—
“(3) Save as otherwise provided in sub-paragraph (2) of paragraph 3A or sub-paragraph (2) of paragraph 3B, all laws made under this paragraph or sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 3A or sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 3B shall be submitted forthwith to the Governor and, until assented to by him, shall have no effect.”
Earlier sub-paragraph (3) was subs. by the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution (Amendment) Act, 1995 (42 of 1995), sec. 2 (w.e.f. 12-9-1995), so as to read as under:
“(3) Save as otherwise provided in sub-paragraph (2) of paragraph 3A, all laws made under this paragraph or sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 3A shall be submitted forthwith to the Governor and, until assented to by him, shall have no effect.”
18.The words “of Assam” omitted by the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971 (81 of 1971), sec. 71(i) and Eighth Sch. (w.e.f. 21-1-1972).
19.Ins. by the Assam Reorganisation (Meghalaya) Act, 1969 (55 of 1969), sec. 74 and Fourth Sch. (w.e.f. 2-4-1970).
20.Subs. by the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971 (81 of 1971), sec. 71(i) and Eighth Sch., for certain words (w.e.f. 21-1-1972).
21.Paragraph 4 has been amended in its application to the State of Assam by the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution (Amendment) Act, 2003 (44 of 2003), sec. 2 (w.e.f. 7-9-2003), so as to insert after sub-paragraph (5), the following sub-paragraph, namely:—
“(6) Nothing in this paragraph shall apply to the Bodoland Territorial Council consituted under the proviso to sub-paragraph (3) of paragraph 2 of this Schedule.”
22.See now the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974).
23.Ins. by the Assam Reorganisation (Meghalaya) Act, 1969 (55 of 1969), sec. 74 and Fourth Sch. (w.e.f. 2-4-1970).
24.Subs. by the Assam Reorganisation (Meghalaya) Act, 1969 (55 of 1969), sec. 74 and Fourth Sch., for paragraph 6 (w.e.f. 2-4-1970).
25.Subs. by the Repealing and Amending Act, 1974 (56 of 1974), sec. 4 , for “cattle ponds”.
26.The words “of Assam or Meghalaya, as the case may be,” omitted by the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971 (81 of 1971), sec. 71(i) and Eighth Sch. (w.e.f. 21-1-1972).
27.Subs. by the Assam Reorganisation (Meghalaya) Act, 1969 (55 of 1969), sec. 74 and Fourth Sch., for sub-paragraph (2) (w.e.f. 2-4-1970).
28.Subs. by the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971 (81 of 1971), sec. 71(i) and Eighth Sch., for certain words (w.e.f. 21-1-1972).
29.Ins. by the Assam Reorganisation (Meghalaya) Act, 1969 (55 of 1969) sec. 74 and Fourth Sch. (w.e.f. 2-4-1970).
30.Subs. by the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971 (81 of 1971), sec. 71(i) and Eighth Sch., for “the Government of Assam” (w.e.f. 21-1-1972).
31.Paragraph 9 has been amended in its application to the States of Tripura and Mizoram by the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution (Amendment) Act, 1988 (67 of 1988), sec. 2 (w.e.f. 16-12-1988), so as to insert after sub-paragraph (2), the following sub-paragraph namely:—
“(3) The Governor may, by order, direct that the share of royalties to be made over to a District Council under this paragraph shall be made over to that Council within a period of one year from the date of any agreement under sub-paragraph (1) or, as the case may be, of any determination under sub-paragraph (2).”
32.Paragraph 10 has been amended in its application to the States of Tripura and Mizoram by the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution (Amendment) Act, 1988 (67 of 1988), sec. 2 (w.e.f. 16-12-1988), as under:
(a) in the heading, the words “by non-tribals” shall be omitted;
(b) in sub-paragraph (1), the words “other than Scheduled Tribes” shall be omitted;
(c) in sub-paragraph (2), for clause (d), the following clause shall be substituted, namely:—
“(d) prescribe that no person resident in the district shall carry on any trade, whether wholesale or retail, except under a licence issued in that behalf by the District Council.”
33.Paragraph 10 has been amended in its application to the State of Assam by the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution (Amendment) Act, 2003 (44 of 2003), sec. 2 (w.e.f. 7-9-2003), so as to insert after sub-paragraph (3), the following sub-paragraph, namely:—
“(4) Nothing in this paragraph shall apply to the Bodoland Territorial Council constituted under the proviso to sub-paragraph (3) of paragraph 2 of this Schedule.”
34.Paragraph 12 has been amended in its application to the State of Assam by the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution (Amendment) Act, 1995 (42 of 1995), sec. 2 (w.e.f. 12-9-1995), so as to substitute in sub-paragraph (1), for the words and figure “matters specified in paragraph 3 of this Schedule”, the words, figures and letter “matters specified in paragraph 3 or paragraph 3A of this Schedule”.
35.Subs. by the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971 (81 of 1971), sec. 71(i) and Eighth Sch., for the heading (w.e.f. 21-1-1972).
36.Subs. by the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971 (81 of 1971), sec. 71(i) and Eighth Sch., for “Legislature of the State” (w.e.f. 21-1-1972).
37.Ins. by the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971 (81 of 1971), sec. 71(i) and Eighth Sch., (w.e.f. 21-1-1972).
38.Paragraph 12 has been amended in its application to the State of Assam by the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution (Amendment) Act, 2003 (44 of 2003), sec. 2 (w.e.f. 7-9-2003), so as to substitute in sub-paragraph (1), in clause (a), for the words, figures and letter “matters specified in paragraph 3 or paragraph 3A of this Schedule “the words, figures and letters “matters specified in paragraph 3 or paragraph 3A or paragraph 3B of this Schedule”.
39.Paragraph 12A ins. by the Assam Reorgnisation (Meghalaya) Act, 1969 (55 of 1969), sec. 74 and Fourth sch. (w.e.f. 2-4-1970) and subs. by the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971 (81 of 1971), sec. 71(i) and Eighth Sch. (w.e.f. 21-1-1972).
40.Subs. by the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution (Amendment) Act, 1988 (67 of 1988),
sec. 2 (w.e.f. 16-12-1988), for paragraphs 12AA and 12B. Earlier paragraph 12AA was inserted by the Constitution (Forty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1984, sec. 4 (w.e.f. 1-4-1985).
41.Paragraph 12B subs. by the North-Eastern (Reorganisation) Act, 1971 (81 of 1971), sec. 71(i) and Eighth Sch., for paragraph 12A (w.e.f. 21-1-1972) and again subs. by the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Act, 1971 (83 of 1971), sec. 13 (w.e.f. 29-4-1972) and further subs. by the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution (Amendment) Act, 1988 (67 of 1988), sec. 2 (w.e.f. 16-12-1988).
42.The words “of Assam” omitted by the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971 (81 of 1971), sec. 71(i) and Eighth Sch. (w.e.f. 21-1-1972).
43.Subs. by the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971 (81 of 1971), sec. 71(i) and Eighth Sch., for “the Government of Assam” (w.e.f. 21-1-1972).
44.Paragraph 14 has been amended in its application to the State of Assam by the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution (Amendment) Act, 1995 (42 of 1995), sec. 2 (w.e.f. 12-9-1995), so as to omit in sub-paragraph (2), the words “with the recommendations of the Governor with respect thereto”.
45.Paragraph 15 has been amended in its application to the States of Tripura and Mizoram by the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution (Amendment) Act, 1988 (67 of 1988), sec. 2 (w.e.f. 16-12-1988), so as to—
(a) in sub-paragraph (2), substitute for the words “by the Legislature of the State”, the words
“by him”. (b) the proviso shall be omitted.
46.Ins. by the Assam Reorganisation (Meghalaya) Act, 1969 (55 of 1969), sec. 74 and Fourth Sch. (w.e.f. 2-4-1970).
47.Paragraph 16 has been amended in its application to the States of Tripura and Mizoram by the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution (Amendment) Act, 1988 (67 of 1988), sec. 2 (w.e.f. 16-12-1988), as under:
(a) in sub-paragraph (1), the words “subject to the previous approval of the Legislature of the State” occurring in clause (b), and the second proviso shall be omitted;
(b) for sub-paragraph (3), the following sub-paragraph shall be substituted, namely:—
“(3) Every order made under sub-paragraph (1) or sub-paragraph (2) of this paragraph, along with the reasons therefor shall be laid before the Legislature of the State.”
48.Paragraph 16 renumbered as sub-paragraph (1) thereof by the Assam Reorganisation (Meghalaya) Act, 1969 (55 of 1969), sec. 74 and Fourth Sch. (w.e.f. 2-4-1970).
49.Ins. by the Assam Reorganisation (Meghalaya) Act, 1969 (55 of 1969), sec. 74 and Fourth Sch. (w.e.f. 2-4-1970).
50.Subs. by the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971 (81 of 1971), sec. 71(i) and Eighth Sch., for “the Legislative Assembly of Assam” (w.e.f. 21-1-1972).
51.Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1984, sec. 4 (w.e.f. 1-4-1985).
52.Ins. by the State of Mizoram Act, 1986 (34 of 1986), sec. 39(f) (w.e.f. 20-2-1987).
53.Ins. by the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971 (81 of 1971), sec. 71(i) and Eighth Sch. (w.e.f. 21-1-1972).
54.Paragraph 17 has been amended in its application to the State of Assam by the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution (Amendment) Act, 2003 (44 of 2003), sec. 2 (w.e.f. 7-9-2003), so as to insert the following proviso, namely:—
“Provided that nothing in this paragraph shall apply to the Bodoland Territorial Areas District.”
55.Paragraph 18 omitted by the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971 (81 of 1971), sec. 71(i) and Eighth Sch. (w.e.f. 21-1-1972).
56.Paragraph 19 has been amended in its application to the State of Assam by the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution (Amendment) Act, 2003 (44 of 2003), sec. 2 (w.e.f. 7-9-2003), so as to insert after sub-paragraph (3), the following sub-paragraph, namely:—
“(4) As soon as possible after the commencement of this Act, an Interim Executive Council for Bodoland Territorial Areas District in Assam shall be formed by the Governor from amongst leaders of the Bodo movement, including the signatories to the Memorandum of Settlement, and shall provide adequate representation to the non-tribal communities in that area:
Provided that the Interim Council shall for a period of six months during which endeavour to hold the election to the Council shall be made.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-paragraph, the expression “Memorandum of Settlement” means the Memorandum signed on the 10th day of February, 2003 between Government of India, Government of Assam and Bodo Liberation Tigres.”
57.Subs. by the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971 (81 of 1971), sec. 71(i) and Eighth Sch., for paragraphs 20 and 20A (w.e.f. 21-1-1972). Earlier paragraph 20A was inserted by the Assam Reorganisation (Meghalaya) Act, 1969 (55 of 1969), sec. 74 and Eighth Sch. (w.e.f. 2-4-1970).
58.Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1984, sec. 4 (w.e.f. 1-4-1985).
59.Subs. by the State of Mizoram Act, 1986 (34 of 1986), sec. 39(f), for “Union territory” (w.e.f. 20-2-1987).
60.Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1984, sec. 4, for “Any reference in the table below” (w.e.f. 1-4-1985).
61.Subs. by the Government of Meghalaya Notification DCA 31/72/11, dated the 14th June, 1973, published in the Gazette of Meghalaya, Pt. VA, dated 23rd June, 1973, p. 200.
62.Subs. by the Government of Assam Notification T-A D/R/115/74/47, dated 14th October, 1976, for “The Mikir Hills District”.
63.Paragraph 20 has been amended in its application to the State of Assam by the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution (Amendment) Act, 2003 (44 of 2003), sec. 2, so as to insert in Part I of the Table, after entry 2, the following, namely:—
“3. The Bodoland Territorial Areas District.”.
64.Subs. by the Government of Meghalaya Notification DCA 31/72/11, dated 14th June, 1973, published in the Gazette of Meghalaya, Pt. VA, dated 23rd June, 1973, p. 200
65.Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1984, sec. 4 (w.e.f. 1-4-1985).
66.The words “The Mizo District” omitted by the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Act, 1971 (83 of 1971), sec. 13 (w.e.f. 29-4-1972).
67.Ins. by the Mizoram District Councils (Miscellaneous Provisions) Order 1972, published in the Mizoram Gazette, 1972, dated the 5th May, 1972, Vol. 1, Pt. II, p. 17 (w.e.f. 29-4-1972).
68.Subs. by the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution (Amendment) Act, 1988 (67 of 1988),
sec. 2 (w.e.f. 16-12-1988), for serial numbers 2 and 3 and the entries relating thereto.
69.Paragraph 20A ins. by the Assam Reorganisation (Meghalaya) Act, 1969 (55 of 1969), sec. 74 and Fourth Sch. (w.e.f. 2-4-1970) and subs. by the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Act, 1971 (83 of 1971), sec. 13 (w.e.f. 29-4-1972).
70.Paragraph 20B subs. by the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Act, 1971 (83 of 1971), sec. 13, for paragraph 20A (w.e.f. 29-4-1972).
71.After paragraph 20B, the following paragraph has been inserted in its application to the State of Assam by the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution (Amendment) Act, 1995 (42 of 1995), sec. 2 (w.e.f. 12-9-1995), namely:—
“20BA. Exercise of discretionary powers by the Governor in the discharge of his functions.—The Governor in the discharge of his functions under sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) of paragraph 1, sub-paragraphs (1), (6), sub-paragraph (6A) excluding the first proviso and sub-paragraph (7) of paragraph 2, sub-paragraph (3) of paragraph 3, sub-paragraph (4) of paragraph 4, paragraph 5, sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 6, sub-paragraph (2) of paragraph 7, sub-paragraph (4) of paragraph 8, sub-paragraph (3) of paragraph 9, sub-paragraph (3) of paragraph 10, sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 14, sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 15 and sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) of paragraph 16 of this Schedule, shall, after consulting the Council of Ministers and the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council or the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, as the case may be, take such action as he considers necessary in his discretion.”
After paragraph 20B, the following paragraph has been inserted in its application to the State of Tripura and Mizoram, by the sixth Schedule to the Constitution (Amendment) Act, 1988 (67 of 1988), sec. 2, namely:—
“20BB. Exercise of discretionary powers by the Governor in the discharge of his functions.—The Governor, in the discharge of his functions under sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) of paragraph 1, sub-paragraphs (1) and (7) of paragraph 2, sub-paragraph (3) of paragraph 3, sub-paragraph (4) of paragraph 4, paragraph 5, sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 6, sub-paragraph (2) of paragraph 7, sub-paragraph (3) of paragraph 9, sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 14, sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 15 and sub-paragraph (1) and (2) of paragraph 16 of this Schedule, shall, after consulting the Council of Ministers, and if he thinks it necessary, the District Council or the Regional Council concerned, take such action as he considers necessary in his discretion.”
72.Paragraph 20C subs. by the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Act, 1971 (83 of 1971), sec. 13, for paragraph 20A (w.e.f. 29-4-1972).
* Paragraph 2 has been amended in its application to the State of Assam by the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution (Amendment) Act, 2003 (44 of 2003), sec. 2 (w.e.f. 7-9-2003), so as to insert in sub-paragraph (3), after the proviso, the following proviso, namely:—
“Provided further that the District Council constituted for the Bodoland Territorial Areas District shall be called the Bodoland Territorial Council.”
# After paragraph 3, the following paragraph has been inserted in its application to the State of Assam by the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution (Amendment) Act, 1995 (42 of 1995), sec. 2 (w.e.f. 12-9-1995), namely:—
“3A. Additional powers of the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council and the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council to make law.—(1) Without prejudice to the provisions of paragraph 3, the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council and the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council within their respective districts, shall have power to make laws with respect to—
(a) industries, subject to the provisions of entries 7 and 52 of List I of the Seventh Schedule;
(b) communications, that is to say, roads, bridges, ferries and other means of communication not specified in List I of the Seventh Schedule; municipal tramways, ropeways, inland waterways and traffic thereon subject to the provisions of List I and List III of the Seventh Schedule with regard to such waterways; vehicles other than mechanically propelled vehicles;
(c) preservation, protection and improvement of stock and prevention of animal diseases; veterinary training and practice; cattle pounds;
(d) primary and secondary education;
(e) agriculture, including agricultural education and research, protection against pests and prevention of plant diseases;
(f) fisheries;
(g) water, that is to say, water supplies, irrigation and canals, drainage and embankments, water storage and water power subject to the provisions of entry 56 of List I of the Seventh Schedule;
(h) social security and social insurance; employment and unemployment;
(i) flood control schemes for protection of villages, paddy fields, markets, towns, etc. (not of technical nature);
(j) theatre and dramatic performances, cinemas subject to the provisions of entry 60 of List I of the Seventh Schedule; sports entertainments and amusements;
(k) public health and sanitation, hospitals and dispensaries;
(l) minor irrigation;
(m) trade and commerce in, and the production, supply and distribution of, food stuffs, cattle fodder, raw cotton and raw jute;
(n) Libraries, museums and other similar institutions controlled or financed by the State; ancient and historical monuments and records other than those declared by or under any law made by Parliament to be of national importance; and
(o) alienation of land.
(2) All laws made by the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council and the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council under paragraph 3 or under this paragraph shall, in so far as they relate to matters specified in List III of the Seventh Schedule, be submitted forthwith to the Governor who shall reserve the same for the consideration of the President.
(3) When a law is reserved for the consideration of the President, the President shall declare either that he assents to the said law or that he withholds assent therefrom:
Provided that the President may direct the Governor to return the law to the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council or the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, as the case may be, together with a message requesting that the said Council will reconsider the law or any specified provisions thereof and, in particular, will, consider the desirability of introducing any such amendments as he may recommend in his message and, when the law is so returned, the said Council shall consider the law accordingly within a period of six months from the date of receipt of such message and, if the law is again passed by the said Council with or without amendment it shall be presented again to the President for his consideration.”
## After paragraph 3A, the following paragraph has been inserted in its application to the State of Assam by the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution (Amendment) Act, 2003 (44 of 2003), sec. 2 (w.e.f. 7-9-2003), namely:—
“3B. Additional powers to the Bodoland Territorial Council to make laws.—(1) Without prejudice to the provisions of paragraph 3, the Bodoland Territorial Council within its areas shall have power to make laws with respect to—(i) Agriculture, including agricultural education and research, protection against pests and prevention of plant diseases; (ii) Animal husbandry and verterinary, that is to say, preservation, protection and improvement of stock and prevention of animal diseases, veterinary training and practice, cattle pounds; (iii) Co-operation; (iv) Cultural affairs; (v) Education, that is to say, primary education, higher secondary including vocational training, adult education, college education (general); (vi) Fisheries; (vii) Flood control for protection of village, paddy fields, markets and towns (not of technical nature); (viii) Food and civil supply; (ix) Forests (other than reserved forests); (x) Handloom and textile; (xi) Health and family welfare; (xii) Intoxicating liquors, opium and derivatives, subject to the provisions of entry 84 of List I of the Seventh Schedule; (xiii) Irrigation; (xiv) Labour and employment; (xv) Land and Revenue; (xvi) Library services (financed and controlled by the State Government); (xvii) Lotteries (subject to the provisions of entry 40 of List I of the Seventh Schedule), theatres, dramatic performances and cinemas (subject to the provisions of entry 60 of List I of the Seventh Schedule); (xviii) Markets and fairs;
(xix) Municipal corporation, improvement trust, district boards and other local authorities; (xx) Museum and archaeology institutions controlled or financed by the State, ancient and historical monuments and records other than those declared by or under any law made by Parliament to be of national importance; (xxi) Panchayat and rural development; (xxii) Planning and development; (xxiii) Printing and stationery; (xxiv) Public health engineering; (xxv) Public works department; (xxvi) Publicity and public relations; (xxvii) Registration of births and deaths; (xxviii) Relief and rehabilitation; (xxix) Sericulture; (xxx) Small, cottage and rural industry subject to the provisions of entries 7 and 52 of List I of the Seventh Schedule; (xxxi) Social welfare; (xxxii) Soil conservation; (xxxiii) Sports and youth welfare; (xxxiv) Statistics; (xxxv) Tourism; (xxxvi) Transport (roads, bridges, ferries and other means of communications not specified in List I of the Seventh Schedule, municipal tramways, ropeways, inland waterways and traffic thereon subject to the provision of List I and List III of the Seventh Schedule with regard to such waterways, vehicles other than mechanically propelled vehicles); (xxxvii) Tribal research institute controlled and financed by the State Government; (xxxviii) Urban development—town and country planning; (xxxix) Weights and measures subject to the provisions of entry 50 of List I of the Seventh Schedule; and (xl) Welfare of plain tribes and backward classes:
Provided that nothing in such laws shall—
(a) extinguish or modify the existing rights and privileges of any citizen in respect of his land at the date of commencement of this Act; and
(b) disallow any citizen from acquiring land either by way of inheritance, allotment, settlement or by any other way of transfer if such citizen is otherwise eligible for such acquisition of land within the Bodoland Territorial Areas District.
(2) All laws made under paragraph 3 or under this paragraph shall in so far as they relate to matters specified in List III of the Seventh Schedule, be submitted forthwith to the Governor who shall reserve the same for the consideration of the President.
(3) When a law is reserved for the consideration of the President, the President shall declare either that he assents to the said law or that he withholds assent therefrom:
Provided that the President may direct the Governor to return the law to the Bodoland Territorial Council, together with the message requesting that the said Council will reconsider the law or any specified provisions thereof and, in particular, will consider the desirability of introducing any such amendments as he may recommend in his message and, when the law is so returned, the said Council shall consider the law accordingly within a period of six months from the date of receipt of such message and, if the law is again passed by the said Council with or without amendment it shall be presented again to the President for his consideration.”
Section 402. SEVENTH SCHEDULE.
SEVENTH SCHEDULE
[Article 246]
List I—Union List
1. Defence of India and every part thereof including preparation for defence and all such acts as may be conducive in times of war to its prosecution and after its termination of effective demobilisation.
2. Naval, military and air forces; any other armed forces of the Union.
1[2A. Deployment of any armed force of the Union or any other force subject to the control of the Union or any contingent or unit thereof in any State in aid of the civil power; powers, jurisdiction, privileges and liabilities of the members of such forces while on such deployment.]
3. Delimitation of cantonment areas, local self-government in such areas, the constitution and powers within such areas of cantonment authorities and the regulation of house accommodation (including the control of rents) in such areas.
4. Naval, military and air force works.
5. Arms, firearms, ammunition and explosives.
6. Atomic energy and mineral resources necessary for its production.
7. Industries declared by Parliament by law to be necessary for the purpose of defence or for the prosecution of war.
8. Central Bureau of Intelligence and Investigation.
9. Preventive detention for reasons connected with Defence, Foreign Affairs, or the security of India; persons subjected to such detention.
10. Foreign affairs; all matters which bring the Union into relation with any foreign country.
11. Diplomatic, consular and trade representation.
12. United Nations Organisation.
13. Participation in international conferences, associations and other bodies and implementing of decisions made thereat.
14. Entering into treaties and agreements with foreign countries and implementing of treaties, agreements and conventions with foreign countries.
15. War and peace.
16. Foreign jurisdiction.
17. Citizenship, naturalisation and aliens.
18. Extradition.
19. Admission into, and emigration and expulsion from, India; passports and visas.
20. Pilgrimages to places outside India.
21. Piracies and crimes committed on the high seas or in the air; offences against the law of nations committed on land or the high seas or in the air.
22. Railways.
23. Highways declared by or under law made by Parliament to be national highways.
24. Shipping and navigation on inland waterways, declared by Parliament by law to be national waterways, as regards mechanically propelled vessels; the rule of the road on such waterways.
25. Maritime shipping and navigation, including shipping and navigation on tidal waters; provision of education and training for the mercantile marine and regulation of such education and training provided by States and other agencies.
26. Lighthouses, including lightships, beacons and other provisions for the safety of shipping and aircraft.
27. Ports declared by or under law made by Parliament or existing law to be major ports, including their delimitation and the constitution and powers of port authorities therein.
28. Port quarantine, including hospitals connected therewith; seamen’s and marine hospitals.
29. Airways; aircraft and air navigation; provision of aerodromes; regulation and organisation of air traffic and of aerodromes; provision for aeronautical education and training and regulation of such education and training provided by States and other agencies.
30. Carriage of passengers and goods by railway, sea or air, or by national waterways in mechanically propelled vessels.
31. Posts and telegraphs; telephones, wireless, broadcasting and other like forms of communication.
32. Property of the Union and the revenue therefrom, but as regards property situated in a State 2[***] subject to legislation by the State, save in so far as Parliament by law otherwise provides.
3[***]
34. Courts of wards for the estates of Rulers of Indian States.
35. Public debt of the Union.
36. Currency, coinage and legal tender; foreign exchange.
37. Foreign loans.
38. Reserve Bank of India.
39. Post Office Savings Bank.
40. Lotteries organised by the Government of India or the Government of a State.
41. Trade and commerce with foreign countries; import and export across customs frontiers; definition of customs frontiers.
42. Inter-State trade and commerce.
43. Incorporation, regulation and winding up of trading corporations, including banking, insurance and financial corporations but not including co-operative societies.
44. Incorporation, regulation and winding up of corporations, whether trading or not, with objects not confined to one State, but not including universities.
45. Banking.
46. Bills of exchange, cheques, promissory notes and other like instruments.
47. Insurance.
48. Stock exchanges and futures markets.
49. Patents, inventions and designs; copyright; trade-marks and merchandise marks.
50. Establishment of standards of weight and measure.
51. Establishment of standards of quality for goods to be exported out of India or transported from one State to another.
52. Industries, the control of which by the Union is declared by Parliament by law to be expedient in the public interest.
53. Regulation and development of oil fields and mineral oil resources; petroleum and petroleum products; other liquids and substances declared by Parliament by law to be dangerously inflammable.
54. Regulation of mines and mineral development to the extent to which such regulation and development under the control of the Union is declared by Parliament by law to be expedient in the public interest.
55. Regulation of labour and safety in mines and oilfields.
56. Regulation and development of inter-State rivers and river valleys to the extent to which such regulation and development under the control of the Union is declared by Parliament by law to be expedient in the public interest.
57. Fishing and fisheries beyond territorial waters.
58. Manufacture, supply and distribution of salt by Union agencies, regulation and control of manufacture, supply and distribution of salt by other agencies.
59. Cultivation, manufacture, and sale for export, of opium.
60. Sanctioning of cinematograph films for exhibition.
61. Industrial disputes concerning Union employees.
62. The institutions known at the commencement of this Constitution as the National Library, the Indian Museum, the Imperial War Museum, the Victoria Memorial and the Indian War Memorial, and any other like institution financed by the Government of India wholly or in part and declared by Parliament by law to be an institution of national importance.
63. The institutions known at the commencement of this Constitution as the Banaras Hindu University, the Aligarh Muslim University and the 4[Delhi University; the University established in pursuance of article 371E;] any other institution declared by Parliament by law to be an institution of national importance.
64. Institutions for scientific or technical education financed by the Government of India wholly or in part and declared by Parliament by law to be institutions of national importance.
65. Union agencies and institutions for—
(a) professional, vocational or technical training, including the training of police officers; or
(b) the promotion of special studies or research; or
(c) scientific or technical assistance in the investigation or detection of crime.
66. Co-ordination and determination of standards in institutions for higher education or research and scientific and technical institutions.
67. Ancient and historical monuments and records, and archaeological sites and remains, 5[declared by or under law made by Parliament] to be of national importance.
68. The Survey of India, the Geological, Botanical, Zoological and Anthropological Surveys of India; Meteorological organisations.
69. Census.
70. Union Public Services; All-India Services; Union Public Service Commission.
71. Union pensions, that is to say, pensions payable by the Government of India or out of the Consolidated Fund of India.
72. Elections to Parliament, to the Legislatures of States and to the offices of President and Vice-President; the Election Commission.
73. Salaries and allowances of members of Parliament, the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Council of States and the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of the People.
74. Powers, privileges and immunities of each House of Parliament and of the members and the Committees of each House; enforcement of attendance of persons for giving evidence or producing documents before committees of Parliament or commissions appointed by Parliament.
75. Emoluments, allowances, privileges, and rights in respect of leave of absence, of the President and Governors; salaries and allowances of the Ministers for the Union; the salaries, allowances, and rights in respect of leave of absence and other conditions of service of the Comptroller and Auditor-General.
76. Audit of the accounts of the Union and of the States.
77. Constitution, organisation, jurisdiction and powers of the Supreme Court (including contempt of such Court), and the fees taken therein; persons entitled to practise before the Supreme Court.
78. Constitution and Organisation 6[(including vacations)] of the High Courts except provisions as to officers and servants of High Courts; persons entitled to practise before the High Courts.
7[79. Extension of the jurisdiction of a High Court to, and exclusion of the jurisdiction of a High Court from, any Union territory.]
80. Extension of the powers and jurisdiction of members of a police force belonging to any State to any area outside that State, but not so as to enable the police of one State to exercise powers and jurisdiction in any area outside that State without the consent of the Government of the State in which such area is situated; extension of the powers and jurisdiction of members of a police force belonging to any State to railway areas outside that State.
81. Inter-State migration; inter-State quarantine.
82. Taxes on income other than agricultural income.
83. Duties of customs including export duties.
84. Duties of excise on tobacco and other goods manufactured or produced in India except—
(a) alcoholic liquors for human consumption.
(b) opium, Indian hemp and other narcotic drugs and narcotics,
but including medicinal and toilet preparations containing alcohol or any substance included in sub-paragraph (b) of this entry.
85. Corporation tax.
86. Taxes on the capital value of the assets, exclusive of agricultural land, of individuals and companies; taxes on the capital of companies.
87. Estate duty in respect of property other than agricultural land.
88. Duties in respect of succession to property other than agricultural land.
89. Terminal taxes on goods or passengers, carried by railway, sea or air; taxes on railway fares and freights.
90. Taxes other than stamp duties on transactions in stock exchanges and futures markets.
91. Rates of stamp duty in respect of bills of exchange, cheques, promissory notes, bills of lading, letters of credit, policies of insurance, transfer of shares, debentures, proxies and receipts.
92. Taxes on the sale or purchase of newspapers and on advertisements published therein.
8[92A. Taxes on the sale or purchase of goods other than newspapers, where such sale or purchase takes place in the course of inter-State trade or commerce.]
9[92B. Taxes on the consignment of goods (whether the consignment is to the person making it or to any other person), where such consignment takes place in the course of inter-State trade or commerce.]
10[92C. Taxes on services.]
93. Offences against laws with respect to any of the matters in this List.
94. Inquiries, surveys and statistics for the purpose of any of the matters in this List.
95. Jurisdiction and powers of all courts, except the Supreme Court, with respect to any of the matters in this List; admiralty jurisdiction.
96. Fees in respect of any of the matters in this List, but not including fees taken in any court.
97. Any other matter not enumerated in List II or List III including any tax not mentioned in either of those Lists.
List II—State List
1. Public order (but not including 11[the use of any naval, military or Air force or any other armed force of the Union or of any other force subject to the control of the Union or of any contingent or unit thereof] in aid of the civil power).
12[2. Police (including railway and village police) subject to the provisions of entry 2A of List I.]
3. 13[***] Officers and servants of the High Court; procedure in rent and revenue courts; fees taken in all courts except the Supreme Court.
4. Prisons, reformatories, Borstal institutions and other institutions of a like nature, and persons detained therein; arrangements with other States for the use of prisons and other institutions.
5. Local government, that is to say, the constitution and powers of municipal corporations, improvement trusts, district boards, mining settlement authorities and other local authorities for the purpose of local self-government or village administration.
6. Public health and sanitation; hospitals and dispensaries.
7. Pilgrimages, other than pilgrimages to places outside India.
8. Intoxicating liquors, that is to say, the production, manufacture, possession, transport, purchase and sale of intoxicating liquors.
9. Relief of the disabled and unemployable.
10. Burials and burial grounds; cremations and cremation grounds.
14[***]
12. Libraries, museums and other similar institutions controlled or financed by the State; ancient and historical monuments and records other than those 15[declared by or under law made by Parliament] to be of national importance.
13. Communications, that is to say, roads, bridges, ferries, and other means of communication not specified in List I; municipal tramways; ropeways; inland waterways and traffic thereon subject to the provisions of List I and List III with regard to such waterways; vehicles other than mechanically propelled vehicles.
14. Agriculture, including agricultural education and research, protection against pests and prevention of plant diseases.
15. Preservation, protection and improvement of stock and prevention of animal diseases; veterinary training and practice.
16. Pounds and the prevention of cattle trespass.
17. Water, that is to say, water supplies, irrigation and canals, drainage and embankments, water storage and water power subject to the provisions of entry 56 of List I.
18. Land, that is to say, right in or over land, land tenures including the relation of landlord and tenant, and the collection of rents; transfer and alienation of agricultural land; land improvement and agricultural loans; colonization.
16[***]
21. Fisheries.
22. Courts of wards subject to the provisions of entry 34 of List I; encumbered and attached estates.
23. Regulation of mines and mineral development subject to the provisions of List I with respect to regulation and development under the control of the Union.
24. Industries subject to the provisions of 17[entries 7 and 52] of List I.
25. Gas and gas-works.
26. Trade and commerce within the State subject to the provisions of entry 33 of List III.
27. Production, supply and distribution of goods subject to the provisions of entry 33 of List III.
28. Markets and fairs.
18[***]
30. Money-lending and money-lenders; relief of agricultural indebtedness.
31. Inns and inn-keepers.
32. Incorporation, regulation and winding up of corporation, other than those specified in List I, and universities; unincorporated trading, literary, scientific, religious and other societies and associations; co-operative societies.
33. Theaters and dramatic performances; cinemas subject to the provisions of entry 60 of List I; sports, entertainments and amusements.
34. Betting and gambling.
35. Works, lands and buildings vested in or in the possession of the State.
19[***]
37. Elections to the Legislature of the State subject to the provisions of any law made by Parliament.
38. Salaries and allowances of members of the Legislature of the State, of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and, if there is a Legislative Council, of the Chairman and Deputy Chairman thereof.
39. Powers, privileges and immunities of the Legislative Assembly and of the members and the committees thereof, and, if there is a Legislative Council, of that Council and of the members and the committees thereof; enforcement of attendance of persons for giving evidence or producing documents before committees of the Legislature of the State.
40. Salaries and allowances of Ministers for the State.
41. State public services; State Public Service Commission.
- State pensions, that is to say, pensions payable by the State or out of the Consolidated Fund of the State.
43. Public debt of the State.
44. Treasure trove.
45. Land revenue, including the assessment and collection of revenue, the maintenance of land records, survey for revenue purposes and records of rights, and alienation of revenues.
46. Taxes on agricultural income.
47. Duties in respect of succession to agricultural land.
48. Estate duty in respect of agricultural land.
49. Taxes on lands and buildings.
50. Taxes on mineral rights subject to any limitations imposed by Parliament by law relating to mineral development.
51. Duties of excise on the following goods manufactured or produced in the State and countervailing duties at the same or lower rates on similar goods manufactured or produced elsewhere in India:—
(a) alcoholic liquors for human consumption;
(b) opium, Indian hemp and other narcotic drugs and narcotics,
but not including medicinal and toilet preparations containing alcohol or any substance included in sub-paragraph (b) of this entry.
52. Taxes on the entry of goods into a local area for consumption, use or sale therein.
53. Taxes on the consumption or sale of electricity.
20[54. Taxes on the sale or purchase of goods other than newspapers, subject to the provisions of entry 92A of List I.]
55. Taxes on advertisements other than advertisements published in the newspapers 21[and advertisements broadcast by radio or television].
56. Taxes on goods and passengers carried by road or on inland waterways.
57. Taxes on vehicles, whether mechanically propelled or not, suitable for use on roads, including tramcars subject to the provisions of entry 35 of List III.
58. Taxes on animals and boats.
59. Tolls.
60. Taxes on professions, trades, callings and employments.
61. Capitation taxes.
62. Taxes on luxuries, including taxes on entertainments, amusements, betting and gambling.
63. Rates of stamp duty in respect of documents other than those specified in the provisions of List I with regard to rates of stamp duty.
64. Offences against laws with respect to any of the matters in this List.
65. Jurisdiction and powers of all courts, except the Supreme Court, with respect to any of the matters in this List.
66. Fees in respect of any of the matters in this List, but not including fees taken in any court.
List III—Concurrent List
1. Criminal law, including all matters included in the Indian Penal Code at the commencement of this Constitution but excluding offences against laws with respect to any of the matters specified in List I or List II and excluding the use of naval, military or air forces or any other armed forces of the Union in aid of the civil power.
2. Criminal procedure, including all matters included in the Code of Criminal Procedure at the commencement of this Constitution.
3. Preventive detention for reasons connected with the security of a State, the maintenance of public order, or the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the community; persons subjected to such detention.
4. Removal from one State to another State of prisoners, accused persons and persons subjected to preventive detention for reasons specified in entry 3 of this List.
5. Marriage and divorce; infants and minors; adoption; wills, intestacy and succession; joint family and partition; all matters in respect of which parties in judicial proceedings were immediately before the commencement of this Constitution subject to their personal law.
6. Transfer of property other than agricultural land; registration of deeds and documents.
7. Contracts, including partnership, agency, contracts of carriage, and other special forms of contracts, but not including contracts relating to agricultural land.
8. Actionable wrongs.
9. Bankruptcy and insolvency.
10. Trust and Trustees.
11. Administrators-general and official trustees.
22[11A. Administration of justice; constitution and organisation of all courts, except the Supreme Court and the High Courts.]
12. Evidence and oaths; recognition of laws, public acts and records, and judicial proceedings.
13. Civil procedure, including all matters included in the Code of Civil Procedure at the commencement of this Constitution, limitation and arbitration.
14. Contempt of court, but not including contempt of the Supreme Court.
15. Vagrancy; nomadic and migratory tribes.
16. Lunacy and mental deficiency, including places for the reception or treatment of lunatics and mental deficients.
17. Prevention of cruelty to animals.
1[17A. Forests.
17B. Protection of wild animals and birds.]
18. Adulteration of foodstuffs and other goods.
19. Drugs and poisons, subject to the provisions of entry 59 of List I with respect to opium.
20. Economic and social planning.
23[20A. Population control and family planning.]
21. Commercial and industrial monopolies, combines and trusts.
22. Trade unions; industrial and labour disputes.
23. Social security and social insurance; employment and unemployment.
24. Welfare of labour including conditions of work, provident funds, employers’ liability, workmen’s compensation, invalidity and old age pensions and maternity benefits.
24[25. Education, including technical education, medical education and universities, subject to the provisions of entries 63, 64, 65 and 66 of List I; vocational and technical training of labour.]
26. Legal, medical and other professions.
27. Relief and rehabilitation of persons displaced from their original place of residence by reason of the setting up of the Dominions of India and Pakistan.
28. Charities and charitable institutions, charitable and religious endowments and religious institutions.
29. Prevention of the extension from one State to another of infectious or contagious diseases or pests affecting men, animals or plants.
30. Vital statistics including registration of births and deaths.
31. Ports other than those declared by or under law made by Parliament or existing law to be major ports.
32. Shipping and navigation on inland waterways as regards mechanically propelled vessels, and the rule of the road on such waterways, and the carriage of passengers and goods on inland waterways subject to the provisions of List I with respect to national waterways.
25[33. Trade and commerce in, and the production, supply and distribution of,—
(a) the products of any industry where the control of such industry by the Union is declared by Parliament by law to be expedient in the public interest, and imported goods of the same kind as such products;
(b) foodstuffs, including edible oilseeds and oils;
(c) cattle fodder, including oilcakes and other concentrates;
(d) raw cotton, whether ginned or unginned, and cotton seed; and
(e) raw jute.]
26[33A. Weights and measures except establishment of standards.]
34. Price control.
35. Mechanically propelled vehicles including the principles on which taxes on such vehicles are to be levied.
36. Factories.
37. Boilers.
38. Electricity.
39. Newspapers, books and printing presses.
40. Archaeological sites and remains other than those 27[declared by or under law made by Parliament] to be of national importance.
41. Custody, management and disposal of property (including agricultural land) declared by law to be evacuee property.
28[42. Acquisition and requisitioning of property.]
43. Recovery in a State of claims in respect of taxes and other public demands, including arrears of land-revenue and sums recoverable as such arrears, arising outside that State.
44. Stamp duties other than duties or fees collected by means of judicial stamps, but not including rates of stamp duty.
45. Inquiries and statistics for the purposes of any of the matters specified in List II or List III.
46. Jurisdiction and powers of all courts, except the Supreme Court, with respect to any of the matters in this List.
47. Fees in respect of any of the matters in this List, but not including fees taken in any court.
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, sec. 57 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
2. The words and letters “specified in Part A or Part B of the First Schedule” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec. 29 and Sch.
3. Entry 33 omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec. 26 (w.e.f. 1-11-1956).
4. Subs. by the Constitution (Thirty-second Amendment) Act, 1973, sec. 4, for “Delhi University and” (w.e.f. 1-7-1974).
5. Subs. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec. 27, for “declared by Parliament by law” (w.e.f. 1-11-1956).
6. Ins. by the Constitution (Fifteenth Amendment) Act, 1963, sec. 12 (with retrospective effect).
7. Subs. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec. 29 and Sch., for entry 79.
8. Ins. by the Constitution (Sixth Amendment) Act, 1956, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 11-9-1956).
9. Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1982, sec. 5 (w.e.f. 2-2-1983).
10. Ins. by the Constitution (Eighty-eighth Amendment) Act, 2003, sec. 4.
11. Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, sec. 57, for certain words (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
12. Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, sec. 57, for entry 2 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
13. Certain words omitted by the Constitution (Forty-second (Amendment) Act, 1976, sec. 57 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
14. Entry 11 omitted by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, sec. 57 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
15. Subs. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec. 27, for “declared by Parliament by law”.
16. Entries 19 and 20 omitted by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, sec. 57 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
17. Subs. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec. 28, for “entry 52”.
18. Entry 29 omitted by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, sec. 57 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
19. Entry 36 omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec. 26 (w.e.f. 1-11-1956).
20. Subs. by the Constitution (Sixth Amendment) Act, 1956, sec. 2, for entry 54 (w.e.f. 1-11-1956).
21. Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-Second Amendment) Act, 1976, sec. 57 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
22. Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, sec. 57 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
23. Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976,
sec. 57 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
24. Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, sec. 57, for entry 25 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
25. Subs. by the Constitution (Third Amendment) Act, 1954, sec. 2, for entry 33.
26. Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, sec. 57 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
27. Subs. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec. 27, for “declared by the Parliament by law” (w.e.f. 1-11-1956).
28. Subs. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, sec. 26, for entry 42 (w.e.f. 1-11-1956).
Section 403. EIGHT SCHEDULE.
EIGHTH SCHEDULE
(Articles 344 (1) and 351]
Languages
1. Assamese.
2. Bengali.
1[3. Bodo.
4. Dogri]
2[5.] Gujarati.
3[6.] Hindi.
3[7.] Kannada.
3[8.] Kashmiri.
4[ 3[9.] Konkani.]
5[10. Maithili.]
6[ 7[11.]] Malayalam.
8[ 9[12.] Manipuri]
10[ 9[13.]] Marathi.
11[ 9[14.] Nepali.]
12[ 9[15.]] Oriya.
12[ 9[16.]] Punjabi.
12[ 9[17.]] Sanakrit.
13[18. Santhali.]
12[ 14[19.] Sindhi.]
12[ 15[20.]] Tamil.
12[ 15[21.]] Telugu.
12[ 15[22.]] Urdu.
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Ninety-second Amendment) Act, 2003, s. 2(a).
2. Entry 3 renumbered as entry 5 by s. 2(a), the Constitution (Ninety-second Amendment) Act, 2003.
3. Entries 4 to 7 renumbered as entries 6 to 9 by s. 2(b), the Constitution (Ninety-second Amendment) Act, 2003.
4. Ins. by the Constitution (Seventy-first Amendment) Act, 1992, s. 2(a).
5. Ins. by the Constitution (Ninety-second Amendment) Act, 2003, s. 2(c).
6. Entry 7 renumbered as entry 8 by s. 2(a), the Constitution (Seventy-first Amendment) Act, 1992.
7. Entry 8 renumbered as entry 11 by s.2(c), the Constitution
(Ninety-second Amendment) Act, 2003.
8. Ins. by the Constitution (Seventy-first Amendment) Act, 1992, s. 2(b).
9. Entries 9 to 14 renumbered as entries 12 to 17 by s. 2(d), the Constitution (Ninety-second Amendment) Act, 2003.
10. Entry 8 renumbered as entry 10 by s.2(b), the Constitution (Seventy-first Amendment) Act, 1992.
11. Ins. by the Constitution (Seventy-first Amendment) Act, 1992, s. 2(c).
12. Entries 9 to 15 renumbered as entries 12 to 18 and entry 15 added by s. 2(c), the Constitution (Twenty-first Amendment) Act, 1967.
13. Ins. by the Constitution (Ninety-second Amendment) Act, 2003, s. 2(e).
14. Entry 15 renumbered as entry 19 by s.2(e), the Constitution (Ninety-second Amendment) Act, 2003.
15. Entries 16 to 18 renumbered as entries 20 to 22 by s. 2(f), the Constitution (Ninety-second Amendment) Act, 2003.
Section 404. NINTH SCHEDULE
1[NINTH SCHEDULE
(Article 31B)
1. The Bihar Land Reforms Act, 1950 (Bihar Act XXX of 1950).
2. The Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act, 1948 (Bombay Act LXVII of 1948).
3. The Bombay Maleki Tenure Abolition Act, 1949 (Bombay Act LXI of 1949).
4. The Bombay Taluqdari Tenure Abolition Act, 1949 (Bombay Act LXII of 1949).
5. The Panch Mahals Mehwassi Tenure Abolition Act, 1949 (Bombay Act LXIII of 1949).
6. The Bombay Khoti Abolition Act, 1950 (Bombay Act VI of 1950).
7. The Bombay Paragana and Kulkarni Watan Abolition Act, 1950 (Bombay Act LX of 1950).
8. The Madhya Pradesh Abolition of Proprietary Rights (Estates, Mahals, Alienated Lands) Act, 1950 (Madhya Pradesh Act I of 1951).
9. The Madras Estates (Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwari) Act, 1948 (Madras Act XXVI of 1948).
10. The Madras Estates (Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwari) Amendment Act, 1950 (Madras Act I of 1950).
11. The Uttar Pradesh Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1950 (Uttar Pradesh Act I of 1951).
12. The Hyderabad (Abolition of Jagirs) Regulation, 1358F (No. LXIX of 1359, Fasli).
13. The Hyderabad Jagirs (Commutation) Regulation, 1359F (No. XXV of 1359, Fasli).]
2[14. The Bihar Displaced Persons Rehabilitation (Acquisition of Land) Act, 1950 (Bihar Act XXXVIII of 1950).
15. The United Provinces Land Acquisition (Rehabilitation of Refugees) Act, 1948 (U.P. Act XXVI of 1948).
16. The Resettlement of Displaced Persons (Land Acquisition) Act, 1948 (Act LX of 1948).
17. Sections 52A to 52G of the Insurance Act, 1938 (Act IV of 1938), as inserted by section 42 of the Insurance (Amendment) Act, 1950 (Act XLVII of 1950).
18. The Railway Companies (Emergency Provisions) Act, 1951 (Act LI of 1951).
19. Chapter III-A of the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951 (Act LXV of 1951), as inserted by section 13 of the Industries (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 1953 (Act XXVI of 1953).
20. The West Bengal Land Development and Planning Act, 1948 (West Bengal Act XXI of 1948), as amended by West Bengal Act XXIX of 1951.]
3[21. The Andhra Pradesh Ceiling on Agricultural Holdings Act, 1961 (Andhra Pradesh Act X of 1961).
22. The Andhra Pradesh (Telangana Area) Tenancy and Agricultural Lands (Validation) Act, 1961 (Andhra Pradesh Act XXI of 1961).
23. The Andhra Pradesh (Telangana Area) Ijara and Kowli Land Cancellation of Irregular Pattas and Abolition of Concessional Assessment Act, 1961 (Andhra Pradesh Act XXXVI of 1961).
24. The Assam State Acquisition of Lands belonging to Religious or Charitable Institution of Public Nature Act, 1959 (Assam Act IX of 1961).
25. The Bihar Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1953 (Bihar Act XX of 1954).
26. The Bihar Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling Area and Acquisition of Surplus Land) Act, 1961 (Bihar Act XII of 1962), except section 28 of this Act.
27. The Bombay Taluqdari Tenure Abolition (Amendment) Act, 1954 (Bombay Act I of 1955).
28. The Bombay Taluqdari Tenure Abolition (Amendment) Act, 1957 (Bombay Act XVIII of 1958).
29. The Bombay Inams (Kutch Area) Abolition Act, 1958 (Bombay Act XCVIII of 1958).
30. The Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands (Gujarat Amendment) Act, 1960 (Gujarat Act XVI of 1960).
31. The Gujarat Agricultural Lands Ceiling Act, 1960 (Gujarat Act XXVI of 1961).
32. The Sagbara and Mehwassi Estates (Proprietary Rights Abolition, etc.) Regulation, 1962 (Gujarat Regulation I of 1962).
33. The Gujarat Surviving Alienations Abolition Act, 1963 (Gujarat Act XXXIII of 1963), except in so far as this Act relates to an alienation referred to in sub-clause (d) of clause (3) of section 2 thereof.
34. The Maharashtra Agricultural Lands (Ceiling on Holdings) Act, 1961 (Maharashtra Act XXVII of 1961).
35. The Hyderabad Tenancy and Agricultural Lands (Re-enactment, Validation and Further Amendment) Act, 1961 (Maharashtra Act XLV of 1961).
36. The Hyderabad Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act, 1950 (Hyderabad Act XXI of 1950).
37. The Jenmikaram Payment (Abolition) Act, 1960 (Kerala Act III of 1961).
38. The Kerala Land Tax Act, 1961 (Kerala Act XIII of 1961).
39. The Kerala Land Reforms Act, 1963 (Kerala Act I of 1964).
40. The Madhya Pradesh Land Revenue Code, 1959 (Madhya Pradesh Act XX of 1959).
41. The Madhya Pradesh Ceiling on Agricultural Holdings Act, 1960 (Madhya Pradesh Act XX of 1960).
42. The Madras Cultivating Tenants Protection Act, 1955 (Madras Act XXV of 1955).
43. The Madras Cultivating Tenants (Payment of Fair Rent) Act, 1956 (Madras Act XXIV of 1956).
44. The Madras Occupants of Kudiyiruppu (Protection from Eviction) Act, 1961 (Madras Act XXXVIII of 1961).
45. The Madras Public Trusts (Regulation of Administration of Agricultural Lands) Act, 1961 (Madras Act LVII of 1961).
46. The Madras Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling on Land) Act, 1961 (Madras Act LVIII of 1961).
47. The Mysore Tenancy Act, 1952 (Mysore Act XIII of 1952).
48. The Coorg Tenants Act, 1957 (Mysore Act XIV of 1957).
49. The Mysore Village Offices Abolition Act, 1961 (Mysore Act XIV of 1961).
50. The Hyderabad Tenancy and Agricultural Lands (Validation) Act, 1961 (Mysore Act XXXVI of 1961).
51. The Mysore Land Reforms Act, 1961 (Mysore Act X of 1962).
52. The Orissa Land Reforms Act, 1960 (Orissa Act XVI of 1960).
53. The Orissa Merged Territories (Village Offices Abolition) Act, 1963 (Orissa Act X of 1963).
54. The Punjab Security of Land Tenures Act, 1953 (Punjab Act X of 1953).
55. The Rajasthan Tenancy Act, 1955 (Rajasthan Act III of 1955).
56. The Rajasthan Zamindari and Biswedari Abolition Act, 1959 (Rajasthan Act VIII of 1959).
57. The Kumaun and Uttarakhand Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1960 (Uttar Pradesh Act XVII of 1960).
58. The Uttar Pradesh Imposition of Ceiling on Land Holdings Act, 1960 (Uttar Pradesh Act I of 1961).
59. The West Bengal Estates Acquisition Act, 1953 (West Bengal Act I of 1954).
60. The West Bengal Land Reforms Act, 1955 (West Bengal Act X of 1956).
61. The Delhi Land Reforms Act, 1954 (Delhi Act VIII of 1954).
62. The Delhi Land Holdings (Ceiling) Act, 1960 (Central Act 24 of 1960).
63. The Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act, 1960 (Central Act 33 of 1960).
64. The Tripura Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act, 1960 (Central Act 43 of 1960).
4[65. The Kerala Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1969 (Kerala Act 35 of 1969).
66. The Kerala Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1971 (Kerala Act 25 of 1971).]
5[67. The Andhra Pradesh Land Reforms (Ceiling on Agricultural Holdings) Act, 1973 (Andhra Pradesh Act 1 of 1973).
68. The Bihar Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling Area and Acquisition of Surplus Land) (Amendment) Act, 1972 (Bihar Act 1 of 1973).
69. The Bihar Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling Area and Acquisition of Surplus Land) (Amendment) Act, 1973 (Bihar Act IX of 1973).
70. The Bihar Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1972 (Bihar Act V of 1972).
71. The Gujarat Agricultural Lands Ceiling (Amendment) Act, 1972 (Gujarat Act 2 of 1974).
72. The Haryana Ceiling on Land Holdings Act, 1972 (Haryana Act 26 of 1972).
73. The Himachal Pradesh Ceiling on Land Holdings Act, 1972 (Himachal Pradesh Act 19 of 1973).
74. The Kerala Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1972 (Kerala Act 17 of 1972).
75. The Madhya Pradesh Ceiling on Agricultural Holdings (Amendment) Act, 1972 (Madhya Pradesh Act 12 of 1974).
76. The Madhya Pradesh Ceiling on Agricultural Holdings (Second Amendment) Act, 1972 (Madhya Pradesh Act 13 of 1974).
77. The Mysore Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1973 (Karnataka Act 1 of 1974).
78. The Punjab Land Reforms Act, 1972 (Punjab Act 10 of 1973).
79. The Rajasthan Imposition of Ceiling on Agricultural Holdings Act, 1973 (Rajasthan Act 11 of 1973).
80. The Gudalur Janmam Estates (Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwari) Act, 1969 (Tamil Nadu Act 24 of 1969).
81. The West Bengal Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1972 (West Bengal Act XII of 1972).
82. The West Bengal Estates Acquisition (Amendment) Act, 1964 (West Bengal Act XXII of 1964).
83. The West Bengal Estates Acquisition (Second Amendment) Act, 1973 (West Bengal Act XXXIII of 1973).
84. The Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands (Gujarat Amendment) Act, 1972 (Gujarat Act 5 of 1973).
85. The Orissa Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1974 (Orissa Act 9 of 1974).
86. The Tripura Land Revenue and Land Reforms (Second Amendment) Act, 1974 (Tripura Act 7 of 1974).]
6 [7[* * * * * ]]
88. The Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951 (Central Act 65 of 1951).
89. The Requisitioning and Acquisition of Immovable Property Act, 1952 (Central Act 30 of 1952).
90. The Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act, 1957 (Central Act 67 of 1957).
91. The Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act, 1969 (Central Act 54 of 1969).
7[* * * * *]
93. The Coking Coal Mines (Emergency Provisions) Act, 1971 (Central Act 64 of 1971).
94. The Coking Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act, 1972 (Central Act 36 of 1972).
95. The General Insurance Business (Nationalisation) Act, 1972 (Central Act 57 of 1972).
96. The Indian Copper Corporation (Acquistion of Undertaking) Act, 1972 (Central Act 58 of 1972).
97. The Sick Textile Undertakings (Taking Over of Management) Act, 1972 (Central Act 72 of 1972).
98. The Coal Mines (Taking Over of Management) Act, 1973 (Central Act 15 of 1973).
99. The Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act, 1973 (Central Act 26 of 1973).
100. The Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1973 (Central Act 46 of 1973).
101. The Alcock Ashdown Company Limited (Acquisition of Undertakings) Act, 1973 (Central Act 56 of 1973).
102. The Coal Mines (Conservation and Development) Act, 1974 (Central Act 28 of 1974).
103. The Additional Emoluments (Compulsory Deposit) Act, 1974 (Central Act 37 of 1974).
104. The Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (Central Act 52 of 1974).
105. The Sick Textile Undertakings (Nationalisation) Act, 1974 (Central Act 57 of 1974).
106. The Maharashtra Agricultural Lands (Ceiling on Holdings) (Amendment) Act, 1964 (Maharashtra Act XVI of 1965).
107. The Maharashtra Agricultural Lands (Ceiling on Holdings) (Amendment) Act, 1965 (Maharashtra Act XXXII of 1965).
108. The Maharashtra Agricultural Lands (Ceiling on Holdings) (Amendment) Act, 1968 (Maharashtra Act XVI of 1968).
109. The Maharashtra Agricultural Lands (Ceiling on Holdings) (Second Amendment) Act, 1968 (Maharashtra Act XXXIII of 1968).
110. The Maharashtra Agricultural Lands (Ceiling on Holdings) (Amendment) Act, 1969 (Maharashtra Act XXXVII of 1969).
111. The Maharashtra Agricultural Lands (Ceiling on Holdings) (Second Amendment) Act, 1969 (Maharashtra Act XXXVIII of 1969).
112. The Maharashtra Agricultural Lands (Ceiling on Holdings) (Amendment) Act, 1970 (Maharashtra Act XXVII of 1970).
113. The Maharashtra Agricultural Lands (Ceiling on Holdings) (Amendment) Act, 1972 (Maharashtra Act XIII of 1972).
114. The Maharashtra Agricultural Lands (Ceiling on Holdings) (Amendment) Act, 1973 (Maharashtra Act L of 1973).
115. The Orissa Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1965 (Orissa Act 13 of 1965).
116. The Orissa Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1966 (Orissa Act 8 of 1967).
117. The Orissa Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1967 (Orissa Act 13 of 1967).
118. The Orissa Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1969 (Orissa Act 13 of 1969).
119. The Orissa Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1970 (Orissa Act 18 of 1970).
120. The Uttar Pradesh Imposition of Ceiling on Land Holdings (Amendment) Act, 1972 (Uttar Pradesh Act 18 of 1973).
121. The Uttar Pradesh Imposition of Ceiling on Land Holdings (Amendment) Act, 1974 (Uttar Pradesh Act 2 of 1975).
122. The Tripura Land Revenue and Land Reforms (Third Amendment) Act, 1975 (Tripura Act 3 of 1975).
123. The Dadra and Nagar Haveli Land Reforms Regulation, 1971 (3 of 1971).
124. The Dadra and Nagar Haveli Land Reforms (Amendment) Regulation, 1973 (5 of 1973).]
8[125. Section 66A and Chapter IVA of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1939 (Central Act 4 of 1939).
126. The Essential Commodities Act, 1955 (Central Act 10 of 1955).
127. The Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act, 1976 (Central Act 13 of 1976).
128. The Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 (Central Act 19 of 1976).
129. The Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities (Amendment) Act, 1976 (Central Act 20 of 1976).
9[* * * * *]
131. The Levy Sugar Price Equalisation Fund Act, 1976 (Central Act 31 of 1976).
132. The Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976 (Central Act 33 of 1976).
133. The Departmentalisation of Union Accounts (Transfer of Personnel) Act, 1976 (Central Act 59 of 1976).
134. The Assam Fixation of Ceiling on Land Holdings Act, 1956 (Assam Act I of 1957).
135. The Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands (Vidarbha Region) Act, 1958 (Bombay Act XCIX of 1958).
136. The Gujarat Private Forests (Acquisition) Act, 1972 (Gujarat Act 14 of 1973).
137. The Haryana Ceiling on Land Holding (Amendment) Act, 1976 (Haryana Act 17 of 1976).
138. The Himachal Pradesh Tenancy and Land Reforms Act, 1972 (Himachal Pradesh Act 8 of 1974).
139. The Himachal Pradesh Village Common Lands Vesting and Utilization Act, 1974 (Himachal Pradesh Act 18 of 1974).
140. The Karnataka Land Reforms (Second Amendment and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1974 (Karnataka Act 31 of 1974).
141. The Karnataka Land Reforms (Second Amendment) Act, 1976 (Karnataka Act 27 of 1976).
142. The Kerala Prevention of Eviction Act, 1966 (Kerala Act 12 of 1966).
143. The Thiruppuvaram Payment (Abolition) Act, 1969 (Kerala Act 19 of 1969).
144. The Sreepadam Lands Enfranchisement Act, 1969 (Kerala Act 20 of 1969).
145. The Sree Pandaravaka Lands (Vesting and Enfranchisement) Act, 1971 (Kerala Act 20 of 1971).
146. The Kerala Private Forests (Vesting and Assignment) Act, 1971 (Kerala Act 26 of 1971).
147. The Kerala Agricultural Workers Act, 1974 (Kerala Act 18 of 1974).
148. The Kerala Cashew Factories (Acquisition) Act, 1974 (Kerala Act 29 of 1974).
149. The Kerala Chitties Act, 1975 (Kerala Act 23 of 1975).
150. The Kerala Scheduled Tribes (Restriction on Transfer of Lands and Restoration of Alienated Lands) Act, 1975 (Kerala Act 31 of 1975).
151. The Kerala Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1976 (Kerala Act 15 of 1976).
152. The Kanam Tenancy Abolition Act, 1976 (Kerala Act 16 of 1976).
153. The Madhya Pradesh Ceiling on Agricultural Holdings (Amendment) Act, 1974 (Madhya Pradesh Act 20 of 1974).
154. The Madhya Pradesh Ceiling on Agricultural Holdings (Amendment) Act, 1975 (Madhya Pradesh Act 2 of 1976).
155. The West Khandesh Mehwassi Estates (Proprietary Rights Abolition, etc.) Regulation, 1961 (Maharashtra Regulation 1 of 1962).
156. The Maharashtra Restoration of Lands to Scheduled Tribes Act, 1974 (Maharashtra Act XIV of 1975).
157. The Maharashtra Agricultural Lands (Lowering of Ceiling on Holdings) and (Amendment) Act, 1972 (Maharashtra Act XXI of 1975).
158. The Maharashtra Private Forests (Acquisition) Act, 1975 (Maharashtra Act XXIX of 1975).
159. The Maharashtra Agricultural Lands (Lowering of Ceiling on Holdings) and (Amendment) Amendment Act, 1975 (Maharashtra Act XLVII of 1975).
160. The Maharashtra Agricultural Lands (Ceiling on Holdings) (Amendment) Act, 1975 (Maharashtra Act II of 1976).
161. The Orissa Estates Abolition Act, 1951 (Orissa Act I of 1952).
162. The Rajasthan Colonisation Act, 1954 (Rajasthan Act XXVII of 1954).
163. The Rajasthan Land Reforms and Acquistion of Landowners’ Estates
Act, 1963 (Rajasthan Act 11 of 1964).
164. The Rajasthan Imposition of Ceiling on Agricultural Holdings (Amendment) Act, 1976 (Rajasthan Act 8 of 1976).
165. The Rajasthan Tenancy (Amendment) Act, 1976 (Rajasthan Act 12 of 1976).
166. The Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Reduction of Ceiling on Land) Act,
1970 (Tamil Nadu Act 17 of 1970).
167. The Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling on Land) Amendment Act, 1971 (Tamil Nadu Act 41 of 1971).
168. The Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling on Land) Amendment Act, 1972 (Tamil Nadu Act 10 of 1972).
169. The Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling on Land) Second Amendment Act, 1972 (Tamil Nadu Act 20 of 1972).
170. The Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling on Land) Third Amendment Act, 1972 (Tamil Nadu Act 37 of 1972).
171. The Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling on Land) Fourth Amendment Act, 1972 (Tamil Nadu Act 39 of 1972).
172. The Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling on Land) Sixth Amendment Act, 1972 (Tamil Nadu Act 7 of 1974).
173. The Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling on Land) Fifth Amendment Act, 1972 (Tamil Nadu Act 10 of 1974).
174. The Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling on Land) Amendment Act, 1974 (Tamil Nadu Act 15 of 1974).
175. The Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling on Land) Third Amendment Act, 1974 (Tamil Nadu Act 30 of 1974).
176. The Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling on Land) Second Amendment Act, 1974 (Tamil Nadu Act 32 of 1974).
177. The Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling on Land) Amendment Act, 1975 (Tamil Nadu Act 11 of 1975).
178. The Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling on Land) Second Amendment Act, 1975 (Tamil Nadu Act 21 of 1975).
179. Amendments made to the Uttar Pradesh Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1950 (Uttar Pradesh Act I of 1951) by the Uttar Pradesh Land Laws (Amendment) Act, 1971 (Uttar Pradesh Act 21 of
1971) and the Uttar Pradesh Land Laws (Amendment) Act, 1974 (Uttar Pradesh Act 34 of 1974).
180. The Uttar Pradesh Imposition of Ceiling on Land Holdings (Amendment) Act, 1976 (Uttar Pradesh Act 20 of 1976).
181. The West Bengal Land Reforms (Second Amendment) Act, 1972 (West Bengal Act XXVIII of 1972).
182. The West Bengal Restoration of Alienated Land Act, 1973 (West Bengal Act XXIII of 1973).
183. The West Bengal Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1974 (West Bengal Act XXXIII of 1974).
184. The West Bengal Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1975 (West Bengal Act XXIII of 1975).
185. The West Bengal Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1976 (West Bengal Act XII of 1976).
186. The Delhi Land Holdings (Ceiling) Amendment Act, 1976 (Central Act 15 of 1976).
187. The Goa, Daman and Diu Mundkars (Protection from Eviction) Act, 1975 (Goa, Daman and Diu Act 1 of 1976).
188. The Pondicherry Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling on Land) Act, 1973 (Pondicherry Act 9 of 1974).]
10[189. The Assam (Temporarily Settled Areas) Tenancy Act, 1971 (Assam Act XXIII of 1971).
190. The Assam (Temporarily Settled Areas) Tenancy (Amendment) Act, 1974 (Assam Act XVIII of 1974).
191. The Bihar Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling Area and Acquisition of Surplus Land) (Amendment) Amending Act, 1974 (Bihar Act 13 of 1975).
192. The Bihar Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling Area and Acquisition of
Surplus Land) (Amendment) Act, 1976 (Bihar Act 22 of 1976).
193. The Bihar Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling Area and Acquisition of Surplus Land) (Amendmend) Act, 1978 (Bihar Act VII of 1978).
194. The Land Acquisition (Bihar Amendment) Act, 1979 (Bihar Act 2 of 1980).
195. The Haryana Ceiling on Land Holdings (Amendment) Act, 1977 (Haryana Act 14 of 1977).
196. The Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling on Land) Amendment Act, 1978 (Tamil Nadu Act 25 of 1978).
197. The Tamil Nadu land reforms (Fixation of Ceiling on Land) Amendment Act, 1979 (Tamil Nadu Act 11 of 1979).
198. The Uttar Pradesh Zamindari Abolition Laws (Amendment) Act, 1978 (Uttar Pradesh Act 15 of 1978).
199. The West Bengal Restoration of Alienated Land (Amendment) Act, 1978 (West Bengal Act XXIV of 1978).
200. The West Bengal Restoration of Alienated Land (Amendment) Act, 1980 (West Bengal Act LVI of 1980).
201. The Goa, Daman and Diu Agricultural Tenancy Act, 1964 (Goa, Daman and Diu Act 7 of 1964).
202. The Goa, Daman and Diu Agricultural Tenancy (Fifth Amendment) Act, 1976 (Goa, Daman and Diu Act 17 of 1976).]
11[203. The Andhra Pradesh Scheduled Areas Land Transfer Regulation,
1959 (Andhra Pradesh Regulation 1 of 1959).
204. The Andhra Pradesh Scheduled Areas Laws (Extension and Amendment) Regulation, 1963 (Andhra Pradesh Regulation 2 of 1963).
205. The Andhra Pradesh Scheduled Areas Land Transfer (Amendment) Regulation, 1970 (Andhra Pradesh Regulation 1 of 1970).
206. The Andhra Pradesh Scheduled Areas Land Transfer (Amendment) Regulation, 1971 (Andhra Pradesh Regulation 1 of 1971).
207. The Andhra Pradesh Scheduled Areas Land Transfer (Amendment) Regulation, 1978 (Andhra Pradesh Regulation 1 of 1978).
208. The Bihar Tenancy Act, 1885 (Bihar Act 8 of 1885).
209. The Chota Nagpur Tenancy Act, 1908 (Bengal Act 6 of 1908) (Chapter VIII-sections 46, 47, 48, 48A and 49; Chapter X-section 71, 71A and 71B; and Chapter XVIII-sections 240, 241 and 242).
210. The Santhal Parganas Tenancy (Supplementary Provisions) Act, 1949 (Bihar Act 14 of 1949) except section 53.
211. The Bihar Scheduled Areas Regulation, 1969 (Bihar Regulation 1 of 1969).
212. The Bihar Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling Area and Acquisition of Surplus Land) (Amendment) Act, 1982 (Bihar Act 55 of 1982).
213. The Gujarat Devasthan Inams Abolition Act, 1969 (Gujarat Act 16 of
1969).
214. The Gujarat Tenancy Laws (Amendment) Act, 1976 (Gujarat Act 37 of 1976).
215. The Gujarat Agricultural Lands Ceiling (Amendment) Act, 1976 (President’s Act 43 of 1976).
216. The Gujarat Devasthan Inams Abolition (Amendment) Act, 1977 (Gujarat Act 27 of 1977).
217. The Gujarat Tenancy Laws (Amendment) Act, 1977 (Gujarat Act 30 of 1977).
218. The Bombay Land Revenue (Gujarat Second Amendment) Act, 1980 (Gujarat Act 37 of 1980).
219. The Bombay Land Revenue Code and Land Tenure Abolition Laws
(Gujarat Amendment) Act, 1982 (Gujarat Act 8 of 1982).
220. The Himachal Pradesh Transfer of Land (Regulation) Act, 1968 (Himachal Pradesh Act 15 of 1969).
221. The Himachal Pradesh Transfer of Land (Regulation) (Amendment) Act, 1986 (Himachal Pradesh Act 16 of 1986).
222. The Karnataka Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prohibition of Transfer of certain Lands) Act, 1978 (Karnataka Act 2 of 1979).
223. The Kerala Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1978 (Kerala Act 13 of 1978).
224. The Kerala Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1981 (Kerala Act 19 of 1981).
225. The Madhya Pradesh Land Revenue Code (Third Amendment) Act, 1976 (Madhya Pradesh Act 61 of 1976).
226. The Madhya Pradesh Land Revenue Code (Amendment) Act, 1980 (Madhya Pradesh Act 15 of 1980).
227. The Madhya Pradesh Akrishik Jot Uchchatam Seema Adhiniyam, 1981 (Madhya Pradesh Act 11 of 1981).
228. The Madhya Pradesh Ceiling on Agricultural Holdings (Second Amendment) Act, 1976 (Madhya Pradesh Act 1 of 1984).
229. The Madhya Pradesh Ceiling on Agricultural Holdings (Amendment) Act, 1984 (Madhya Pradesh Act 14 of 1984).
230. The Madhya Pradesh Ceiling on Agricultural Holdings (Amendment) Act, 1989 (Madhya Pradesh Act 8 of 1989).
231. The Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966 (Maharashtra Act 41 of 1966), sections 36, 36A and 36B.
232. The Maharashtra Land Revenue Code and the Maharashtra Restoration of Lands to Scheduled Tribes (Second Amendment) Act,
1976 (Maharashtra Act 30 of 1977).
233. The Maharashtra Abolition of Subsisting Proprietary Rights to Mines and Minerals in certain Lands Act, 1985 (Maharashtra Act 16 of 1985).
234. The Orissa Scheduled Areas Transfer of Immovable Property (by Scheduled Tribes) Regulation, 1956 (Orissa Regulation 2 of 1956).
235. The Orissa Land Reforms (Second Amendment) Act, 1975 (Orissa Act 29 of 1976).
236. The Orissa Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1976 (Orissa Act 30 of 1976).
237. The Orissa Land Reforms (Second Amendment) Act, 1976 (Orissa Act 44 of 1976).
238. The Rajasthan Colonisation (Amendment) Act, 1984 (Rajasthan Act 12 of 1984).
239. The Rajasthan Tenancy (Amendment) Act, 1984 (Rajasthan Act 13 of 1984).
240. The Rajasthan Tenancy (Amendment) Act, 1987 (Rajasthan Act 21 of 1987).
241. The Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling on Land) Second Amendment Act, 1979 (Tamil Nadu Act 8 of 1980).
242. The Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling on Land) Amendment Act, 1980 (Tamil Nadu Act 21 of 1980).
243. The Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling on Land) Amendment Act, 1981 (Tamil Nadu Act 59 of 1981).
244. The Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling on Land) Second Amendment Act, 1983 (Tamil Nadu Act 2 of 1984).
245. The Uttar Pradesh Land Laws (Amendment) Act, 1982 (Uttar Pradesh Act 20 of 1982).
246. The West Bengal Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1965 (West Bengal Act 18 of 1965).
247. The West Bengal Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1966 (West Bengal Act 11 of 1966).
248. The West Bengal Land Reforms (Second Amendment) Act, 1969 (West Bengal Act 23 of 1969).
249. The West Bengal Estate Acquisition (Amendment) Act, 1977 (West
Bengal Act 36 of 1977).
250. The West Bengal Land Holding Revenue Act, 1979 (West Bengal
Act 44 of 1979).
251. The West Bengal Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1980 (West Bengal Act 41 of 1980).
252. The West Bengal Land Holding Revenue (Amendment) Act, 1981 (West Bengal Act 33 of 1981).
253. The Calcutta Thikka Tenancy (Acquisition and Regulation) Act, 1981 (West Bengal Act 37 of 1981).
254. The West Bengal Land Holding Revenue (Amendment) Act, 1982 (West Bengal Act 23 of 1982).
255. The Calcutta Thikka Tenancy (Acquisition and Regulation) (Amendment) Act, 1984 (West Bengal Act 41 of 1984).
256. The Mahe Land Reforms Act, 1968 (Pondicherry Act 1 of 1968).
257. The Mahe Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1980 (Pondicherry Act 1
of 1981).]
12[257A. The Tamil Nadu Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions and of appointments or posts in the Services under the State) Act, 1993 (Tamil Nadu Act 45 of 1994).]
13[258. The Bihar Privileged Persons Homestead Tenancy Act, 1947 (Bihar Act 4 of 1948).
259. The Bihar Consolidation of Holdings and Prevention of Fragmentation Act, 1956 (Bihar Act 22 of 1956).
260. The Bihar Consolidation of Holdings and Prevention of Fragmention (Amendment) Act, 1970 (Bihar Act 7 of 1970).
261. The Bihar Privileged Persons Homestead Tenancy (Amendment) Act, 1970 (Bihar Act 9 of 1970).
262. The Bihar Consolidation of Holdings and Prevention of Fragmentation (Amendment) Act, 1973 (Bihar Act 27 of 1975).
263. The Bihar Consolidation of Holdings and Prevention of Fragmentation (Amendment) Act, 1981 (Bihar Act 35 of 1982).
264. The Bihar Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling Area and Acquisition of
Surplus Land) (Amendment) Act, 1987 (Bihar Act 21 of 1987).
265. The Bihar Privileged Persons Homestead Tenancy (Amendment) Act, 1989 (Bihar Act 11 of 1989).
266. The Bihar Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1989 (Bihar Act 11 of 1990).
267. The Karnataka Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prohibition
of Transfer of Certain Lands) (Amendment) Act, 1984 (Karnataka Act 3 of 1984).
268. The Kerala Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1989 (Kerala Act 16 of 1989).
269. The Kerala Land Reforms (Second Amendment) Act, 1989 (Kerala Act 2 of 1990).
270. The Orissa Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1989 (Orissa Act 9 of 1990).
271. The Rajasthan Tenancy (Amendment) Act, 1979 (Rajasthan Act 16 of 1989).
272. The Rajasthan Colonisation (Amendment) Act, 1987 (Rajasthan Act 2 of 1987).
273. The Rajasthan Colonisation (Amendment) Act, 1989 (Rajasthan Act 12 of 1989).
274. The Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling on Land) Amendment Act, 1983 (Tamil Nadu Act 3 of 1984).
275. The Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling on Land) Amendment Act, 1986 (Tamil Nadu Act 57 of 1986).
276. The Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling on Land) Second Amendment Act, 1987 (Tamil Nadu Act 4 of 1988).
277. The Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling on Land) Amendment (Amendment) Act, 1989 (Tamil Nadu Act 30 of `1989).
278. The West Bengal Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1981 (West Bengal Act 50 of 1981).
279. The West Bengal Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1986 (West Bengal Act 5 of 1986).
280. The West Bengal Land Reforms (Second Amendment) Act, 1986 (West Bengal Act 19 of 1986).
281. The West Bengal Land Reforms (Third Amendment) Act, 1986 (West Bengal Act 35 of 1986).
282. The West Bengal Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1989 (West Bengal Act 23 of 1989).
283. The West Bengal Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1990 (West Bengal Act 24 of 1990).
284. The West Bengal Land Reforms Tribunal Act, 1991 (West Bengal Act 12 of 1991).
Explanation. -
Any acquisition made under the Rajasthan Tenancy Act, 1955 (Rajasthan Act III of 1955), in contravention of the second proviso to clause (1) of article 31A shall, to the extent of the contravention, be void.]
1. Added by the Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951, s. 14.
2. Added by the Constitution (Fourth Amendment) Act, 1955, s. 5.
3. Added by the Constitution (Seventeenth Amendment) Act, 1964, s. 3
4. Ins. by the Constitution (Twenty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1972, s. 2.
5. Ins. by the Constitution (Thirty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1974, s. 2.
6. Ins. by the Constitution (Thirty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1975, s. 5.
7. Entry 87 and 92 omitted by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 44 (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
8. Ins. by the Constitution (Fortieth Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 3.
9. Entry 130 omitted by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 44 (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
10. Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-seventh Amendment) Act, 1984, s.2 (w.e.f 26-8-1984).
11. Ins. by the Constitution (Sixty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1990, s. 2 (w.e.f 7-6-1990).
12. Ins. by the Constitution (Seventy-sixth Amendment) Act, 1994, s. 2 (w.e.f 31-8-1994).
13. Entries 258 to 284, ins by the Constitution (Seventy-eighth Amendment) Act, 1995, s. 2 (w.e.f 30-8-1995).
Section 405. TENTH SCHEDULE
1[TENTH SCHEDULE
[Articles 102(2) and 191(2)]
Provisions as to disqualification on ground of defection
1. Interpretation.—In this Schedule, unless the context otherwise requires,—
(a) ‘House’ means either House of Parliament or the Legislative Assembly or, as the case may be, either House of the Legislature of a State;
(b) ‘legislature party’, in relation to a member of a House belonging to any political party in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 2 or 2[***] paragraph 4, means the group consisting of all the members of that House for the time being belonging to that political party in accordance with the said provisions;
(c) ‘original political party’, in relation to a member of a House, means the political party to which he belongs for the purposes of sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 2;
(d) ‘paragraph’ means a paragraph of this Schedule.
2. Disqualification on ground of defection.—(1) Subject to the provisions of 3[paragraphs 4 and 5], a member of a House belonging to any political party shall be disqualified for being a member of the House—
(a) if he has voluntarily gives up his membership of such political party; or
(b) if he votes or abstains from voting in such House contrary to any direction issued by the political party to which he belongs or by any person or authority authorised by it in this behalf, without obtaining, in either case, the prior permission of such political party, person or authority and such voting or abstention has not been condoned by such political party, person or authority within fifteen days from the date of such voting or abstention.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-paragraph,—
(a) an elected member of a House shall be deemed to belong to the political party, if any, by which he was set up as a candidate for election as such member;
(b) a nominated member of a House shall,—
(i) where he is a member of any political party on the date of his nomination as such member, be deemed to belong to such political party;
(ii) in any other case, be deemed to belong to the political party of which he becomes, or, as the case may be, first becomes, a member before the expiry of six months from the date on which he takes his seat after complying with the requirements of article 99 or, as the case may be, article 188.
(2) An elected member of a House who has been elected as such otherwise than as a candidate set up by any political party shall be disqualified for being a member of the House if he joins any political party after such election.
(3) A nominated member of a House shall be disqualified for being a member of the House if he joins any political party after the expiry of six months from the date on which he takes his seat after complying with the requirements of article 99 or, as the case may be, article 188.
(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, a person who, on the commencement of the Constitution (Fifty-second Amendment) Act, 1985, is a member of a House (whether elected or nominated as such) shall,—
(i) where he was a member of political party immediately before such commencement, be deemed, for the purposes of sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph, to have been elected as a member of such House as a candidate set up by such political party;
(ii) in any other case, be deemed to be an elected member of the House who has been elected as such otherwise than as a candidate set up by any political party for the purposes of sub-paragraph (2) of this paragraph or, as the case may be, deemed to be a nominated member of the House for the purposes of sub-paragraph (3) of this paragraph.
4[***]
4. Disqualification on ground of defection not to apply in case of merger.—(1) A member of a House shall not be disqualified under sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 2 where his original political party merges with another political party and he claims that he and any other members of his original political party—
(a) have become members of such other political party or, as the case may be, of a new political party formed by such merger; or
(b) have not accepted the merger and opted to function as a separate group,
and from the time of such merger, such other political party or new political party or group, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be the political party to which he belongs for the purposes of sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 2 and to be his original political party for the purposes of this sub-paragraph.
(2) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph, the merger of the original political party of a member of a House shall be deemed to have taken place if, and only if, not less than two-thirds of the members of the legislature party concerned have agreed to such merger.
5. Exemption.—Notwithstanding anything contained in this Schedule, a person who has been elected to the office of the Speaker or the Deputy Speaker of the House of the People or the Deputy Chairman of the Council of States or the Chairman or the Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council of a State or the Speaker or the Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of a State, shall not be disqualified under this Schedule,—
(a) if he, by reason of his election to such office, voluntarily gives up the membership of the political party to which he belonged immediately before such election and does not, so long as he continues to hold such office thereafter, rejoin that political party or become a member of another political party; or
(b) if he, having given up by reason of his election to such office his membership of the political party to which he belonged immediately before such election, rejoins such political party after he ceases to hold such office.
6. Decision on questions as to disqualification on ground of defection.—(1) If any question arises as to whether a member of a House has become subject to disqualification under this Schedule, the question shall be referred for the decision of the Chairman or, as the case may be, the Speaker of such House and his decision shall be final:
Provided that where the question which has arisen is as to whether the Chairman or the Speaker of a House has become subject to such disqualification, the question shall be referred for the decision of such member of the House as the House may elect in this behalf and his decision shall be final.
(2) All proceedings under sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph in relation to any question as to disqualification of a member of a House under this Schedule shall be deemed to be proceedings in Parliament within the meaning of article 122 or, as the case may be, proceedings in the Legislature of a State within the meaning of article 212.
*7. Bar of jurisdiction of courts.—Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, no court shall have any jurisdiction in respect of any matter connected with the disqualification of a member of a House under this Schedule.
8. Rules.—(1) Subject to the provisions of sub-paragraph (2) of this paragraph, the Chairman or the Speaker of a House may make rules for giving effect to the provisions of this Schedule, and in particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, such rules may provide for—
(a) the maintenance of registers or other records as to the political parties if any, to which different members of the House belong;
(b) the report which the leader of a legislature party in relation to a member of a House shall furnish with regard to any condonation of the nature referred to in clause (b) of sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 2 in respect of such member, the time within which and the authority to whom such report shall be furnished;
(c) the reports which a political party shall furnish with regard to admission to such political party of any members of the House and the officer of the House to whom such reports shall be furnished; and
(d) the procedure for deciding any question referred to in sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 6 including the procedure for any inquiry which may be made for the purpose of deciding such question.
(2) The rules made by the Chairman or the Speaker of a House under sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph shall be laid as soon as may be after they are made before the House for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions and shall take effect upon the expiry of the said period of thirty days unless they are sooner approved with or without modifications or disapproved by the House and where they are so approved, they shall take effect on such approval in the form in which they were laid or in such modified form, as the case may be, and where they are so disapproved, they shall be of no effect.
(3) The Chairman or the Speaker of a House may, without prejudice to the provisions of article 105 or, as the case may be, article 194, and to any other power which he may have under this Constitution direct that any wilful contravention by any person of the rules made under this paragraph may be dealt with in the same manner as a breach of privilege of the House.]
——————————-
1. Added by the Constitution (Fifty-second Amendment) Act, 1985, sec. 6 (w.e.f. 1-3-1985).
2. The words “paragraph 3, or as the case may be” omitted by the Constitution (Ninety-first Amendment) Act, 2003, sec. 5(a) (w.e.f. 1-1-2004).
3. Subs. by the Constitution (Ninety-first Amendment) Act, 2003, sec. 5(b), for “paragraphs 3, 4 and 5” (w.e.f. 1-1-2004).
4. Paragraph 3 omitted by the Constitution (Ninety-first Amendment) Act, 2003, sec. 5(c) (w.e.f. 1-1-2004). Prior to omission paragraph 3 stood as under:
3. Disqualification on ground of defection not to apply in case of split.—Where a member of a House makes a claim that he and any other members of his legislature party constitute the group representing a faction which has arisen as a result of a split in his original political party and such group consists of not less than one third of the members of such legislature party,—
(a) he shall not be disqualified under sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 2 on the ground—
(i) that he has voluntarily given up his membership of his original political party; or
(ii) that he has voted or abstained from voting in such House contrary to any direction issued by such party or by any person or authority authorised by it in that behalf without obtaining the prior permission of such party, person or authority and such voting or abstention has not been condoned by such party, person or authority within fifteen days from the date of such voting or abstention; and
(b) from the time of such split, such faction shall be deemed to be the political party to which he belongs for the purposes of sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 2 and to be his original political party for the purposes of this paragraph.
* Paragraph 7 declared invalid for want of ratification in accordance with the proviso to clause (2) of article 368 as per majority opinion in Kihota Hollohan v. Zachilhu, (1992) 1 SCC 309.
Section 406. ELEVENTH SCHEDULE
1[ELEVENTH SCHEDULE
(Article 243G)
1. Agriculture, including agricultural extension.
2. Land improvement, implementation of land reforms, land consolidation and soil conservation.
3. Minor irrigation, water management and watershed development.
4. Animal husbandry, dairying and poultry.
5. Fisheries.
6. Social forestry and farm forestry.
7. Minor forest produce.
8. Small scale industries, including food processing industries.
9. Khadi, village and cottage industries.
10. Rural housing.
11. Drinking water.
12. Fuel and fodder.
13. Roads, culverts, bridges, ferries, waterways and other means of communication.
14. Rural electrification, including distribution of electricity.
15. Non-conventional energy sources.
16. Poverty alleviation programme.
17. Education, including primary and secondary schools.
18. Technical training and vocational education.
19. Adult and non-formal education.
20. Libraries.
21. Cultural activities.
22. Markets and fairs.
23. Health and sanitation, including hospitals, primary health centres and dispensaries.
24. Family welfare.
25. Women and child development.
26. Social welfare, including welfare of the handicapped and mentally retarded.
27. Welfare of the weaker sections, and in particular, of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.
28. Public distribution system.
29. Maintenance of community assets.]
1. Added by the Constitution (Seventy-third Amendment) Act, 1992, sec. 4 (W.e.f. 24-4-1993)
Section 407. TWELTH SCHEDULE
1[TWELTH SCHEDULE
(Article 243W)
1. Urban planning including town planning.
2. Regulation of land-use and construction of buildings.
3. Planning for economic and social development.
4. Roads and bridges.
5. Water supply for domestic, industrial and commercial purposes.
6. Public health, sanitation conservancy and solid waste management.
7. Fire services.
8. Urban forestry, protection of the environment and promotion of ecological aspects.
9. Safeguarding the interests of weaker sections of society, including the handicapped and mentally retarded.
10. Slum improvement and upgradation.
11. Urban poverty alleviation.
12. Provision of urban amenities and facilities such as parks, gardens, playgrounds.
13. Promotion of cultural, educational and aesthetic aspects.
14. Burials and burial grounds; cremations, cremation grounds and electric crematoriums.
15. Cattle pounds; prevention of cruelty to animals.
16. Vital statistics including registration of births and deaths.
17. Public amenities including street lighting, parking lots, bus stops and public conveniences.
18. Regulation of slaughter houses and tanneries.]
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Seventy-fourth Amendment) Act, 1992, sec. 4 (w.e.f. 1-6-1993)
Section 408. APPENDIX I
APPENDIX I
1[THE CONSTITUTION (APPLICATION TO JAMMU AND KASHMIR) ORDER, 1954 C.O. 48
1. Published with the Ministry of Law Notifin. No. S.R.O. 1610, dated the 14th May, 1954, Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, s. 3, page 821.
In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (1) of article 370 of the Constitution, the President, with the concurrence of the Government of the State of Jammu and Kashmir, is pleased to make the following Order: -
1. (1) This Order may be called the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1954.
(2) It shall come into force on the fourteenth day of May, 1954 and shall thereupon supersede the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1950.
1[2. The provisions of the Constitution as in force on the 20th day of June, 1964 and as amended by the Constitution (Nineteenth Amendment) Act, 1966, the Constitution (Twenty-first Amendment) Act, 1967, section 5 of the Constitution (Twenty-third Amendment) Act, 1969, the Constitution (Twenty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1971, section 2 of the Constitution (Twenty-fifth Amendment) Act, 1971, the Constitution (Twenty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1971, the Constitution (Thirtieth Amendment) Act, 1972, section 2 of the Constitution (Thirty-first Amendment) Act, 1973, section 2 of the Constitution (Thirty-third Amendment) Act, 1974, sections 2, 5, 6 and 7 of the Constitution (Thirty-eighth Amendment) Act, 1975, the Constitution (Thirty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1975, the Constitution (Fortieth Amendment) Act, 1976, sections 2, 3 and 6 of the Constitution (Fifty-second Amendment) Act, 1985 and the Constitution (Sixty-first Amendment) Act, 1988 which, in addition to article 1 and article 370, shall apply in relation to the State of Jammu and Kashmir and the exceptions and modifications subject to which they shall so apply shall be as follows: -
1. The opening words have been successively amended by C.O. 56 C.O. 74, C.O. 76, C.O. 79, C.O. 89, C.O. 91, C.O. 94, C.O. 98, C.O. 103, C.O. 104, C.O. 105, C.O. 108, C.O. 136 and C.O. 141 to read as above.
(1) THE PREAMBLE.
(2) PART I.
To article 3, there shall be added the following further proviso, namely: -
“Provided further that no Bill providing for increasing or diminishing the area of the State of Jammu and Kashmir or altering the name or boundary of that State shall be introduced in Parliament without the consent of the Legislature of that State.”.
(3) PART II.
(a) This Part shall be deemed to have been applicable in relation to the State of Jammu and Kashmir as from the 26th day of January, 1950.
(b) To article 7, there shall be added the following further proviso, namely: -
“Provided further that nothing in this article shall apply to a permanent resident of the State of Jammu and Kashmir who, after having so migrated to the territory now included in Pakistan, returns to the territory of that State under a permit for resettlement in that State or permanent return issued by or under the authority of any law made by the Legislature of that State, and every such person shall be deemed to be a citizen of India.”.
(4) PART III.
(a) In article 13, references to the commencement of the Constitution shall be construed as references to the commencement of this Order.
(b) 1* * * * *
(c) In clause (3) of article 16, the reference to the State shall be construed as not including a reference to the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
(d) In article 19, for a period of 2[3[twenty-five] years] from the commencement of this Order: -
(i) In clauses (3) and (4), after the words “in the interests of”, the words “the security of the State or” shall be inserted;
(ii) In clause (5), for the words “or for the protection of the interests of any Scheduled Tribe”, the words “or in the interests of the security of the State” shall be substituted; and
(iii) The following new clause shall be added, namely: -
(iv) The words “reasonable restrictions” occurring in clauses (2), (3), (4) and (5) shall be construed as meaning such restrictions as the appropriate Legislature deems reasonable.’.
(e) In clauses (4) and (7) of article 22, for the word “Parliament”, the words “the Legislature of the State” shall be substituted.
(f) In article 31, clauses (3), (4) and (6) shall be omitted; and for clause (5), there shall be substituted the following clause, namely: -
“(5) Nothing in clause (2) shall affect-
(a) The provisions of any existing law; or
(b) The provisions of any law which the State may hereafter make-
(i) For the purpose of imposing or levying any tax or penalty; or
(ii) For the promotion of public health or the prevention of danger to life or property; or
(iii) With respect to property declared by law to be evacuee property.”.
(g) In article 31A, the proviso to clause (1) shall be omitted; and for sub-clause (a) of clause (2), the following sub-clause shall be substituted, namely: -
(a) “Estate” shall mean land which is occupied or has been let for agricultural purposes or for purposes subservient to agriculture, or for pasture, and includes-
(i) Sites of buildings and other structures on such land;
(ii) Trees standing on such land;
(iii) Forest land and wooded waste;
(iv) Area covered by or fields floating over water;
(v) Sites of jandars and gharats;
(vi) Any jagir, inam, muafi or mukarrari or other similar grant, but does not include-
(i) The site of any building in any town, or town area or village abadi or any land appurtenant to any such building or site;
(ii) Any land which is occupied as the site of a town or village; or
(iii) Any land reserved for building purposes in a municipality or notified area or cantonment or town area or any area for which a town planning scheme is sanctioned.’.
4[(h) In article 32, clause (3) shall be omitted.]
(i) In article 35-
(i) References to the commencement of the Constitution shall be construed as references to the commencement of this Order;
(ii) In clause (a) (i), the words, brackets and figures “clause (3) of article 16, clause (3) of article 32” shall be omitted; and
(iii) After clause (b), the following clause shall be added, namely: -
“(c) No law with respect to preventive detention made by the Legislature of the State of Jammu and Kashmir, whether before or after the commencement of the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1954, shall be void on the ground that it is inconsistent with any of the provisions of this part, but any such law shall, to the extent of such inconsistency, cease to have effect on the expiration of 5[6[twenty-five] years] from the commencement of the said Order, except as respects things done or omitted to be done before the expiration thereof.”.
(j) After article 35, the following new article shall be added, namely: -
“35A. Saving of laws with respect to permanent residents and their rights. -
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Constitution, no existing law in force in the State of Jammu and Kashmir, and no law hereafter enacted by the Legislature of the State, -
(a) Defining the classes of persons who are, or shall be permanent residents of the State of Jammu and Kashmir; or
(b) Conferring on such permanent residents any special rights and privileges or imposing upon other persons any restrictions as respects-
(i) Employment under the State Government;
(ii) Acquisition of immovable property in the State;
(iii) Settlement in the State; or
(iv) Right to scholarships and such other forms of aid as the State Government may provide,
Shall be void on the ground that it is inconsistent with or takes away or abridges any rights conferred on the other citizens of India by any provision of this Part.”.
1. Cl. (b) omitted by C.O. 124.
2. Subs. by C.O. 69, for “ten years”.
3. Subs. by C.O. 97, for “twenty”.
4. Subs. by C.O. 89, for cl. (h).
5. Subs. by C.O. 69, for “ten years”.
6. Subs. by C.O. 97, for “twenty”.
(5) PART V.
1[(a) For the purposes of article 55, the population of the State of Jammu and Kashmir shall be deemed to be sixty-three lakhs.
(b) In article 81, for clauses (2) and (3), the following clauses shall be substituted, namely: -
“(2) For the purposes of sub-clause (a) of clause (1), -
(a) There shall be allotted to the State six seats in the House of the People;
(b) The State shall be divided into single member territorial constituencies by the Delimitation Commission constituted under the Delimitation Act, 1972, in accordance with such procedure as the Commission may deem fit;
(c) The constituencies shall, as far as practicable, be geographically compact areas, and in delimiting them regard shall be had to physical features, existing boundaries of administrative units, facilities of communication and public convenience; and
(d) The constituencies into which the State is divided shall not comprise the area under the occupation of Pakistan.
(3) Nothing in clause (2) shall affect the representation of the State in the House of the People until the dissolution of the House existing on the date of publication in the Gazette of India of the final order or orders of the Delimitation Commission relating to the delimitation of parliamentary constituencies under the Delimitation Act, 1972.
(4) (a) The Delimitation Commission shall associate with itself for the purpose of assisting it in its duties in respect of the State, five persons who shall be members of the House of the People representing the State.
(b) The persons to be so associated from the State shall be nominated by the Speaker of the House of the People having due regard to the composition of the House.
(c) The first nominations to be made under sub-clause (b) shall be made by the Speaker of the House of the People within two months from the commencement of the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Second Amendment Order, 1974.
(d) None of the associate members shall have a right to vote or to sign any decision of the Delimitation Commission.
(e) If owing to death or resignation, the office of an associate member falls vacant, it shall be filled as soon as may be practicable by the Speaker of the House of the People and in accordance with the provisions of sub-clauses (a) and (b).”.]
2[(c) In article 133, after clause (1), the following clause shall be inserted, namely: -
(1A) The provisions of section 3 of the Constitution (Thirtieth Amendment) Act, 1972, shall apply in relation to the State of Jammu and Kashmir subject to the modification that references therein to “this Act”, “the commencement of this Act”, “this Act had not been passed” and “as amended by this Act” shall be construed respectively as references to “the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Second Amendment Order, 1974”, “the commencement of the said Order”, “the said Order had not been made” and “as it stands after the commencement of the said Order”.’.]
3[(d)] In article 134, clause (2), after the words “Parliament may”, the words “on the request of the Legislature of the State” shall be inserted.
4[(e)] Articles 135 4*** and 139 shall be omitted.
5* * * * *
1. Subs. by C.O. 98, for cls. (a) and (b).
2. Ins., by C.O. 98
3. Cls. (c) and (d) relettered as cls. (d) and (e), by C.O. 98.
4. The figures “136” omitted by C.O. 60.
5. Cls. (f) and (g) omitted by C.O. 56.
1[(5A) PART VI.
2[(a) Articles 153 to 217, article 219, article 221, articles 223, 224, 224A and 225 and articles 227 to 237 shall be omitted.]
(b) In article 220, references to the commencement of the Constitution shall be construed as references to the commencement of the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Amendment Order, 1960.
3[(c) In article 222, after clause (1), the following new clause shall be inserted, namely: -
“(1A) Every such transfer from the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir or to that High Court shall be made after consultation with the Governor.”.]]
1. Ins. by C.O. 60 (w.e.f. 26-1-1960).
2. Subs. by C.O. 89, for cl.(a).
3. Subs. by C.O. 74, for cl. (c) (w.e.f. 24-11-1965).
(6) PART XI.
1[(a) In article 246, for the words, brackets and figures “clauses (2) and (3)” occurring in clause (1), the word, brackets and figure “clause (2)” shall be substituted, and the words, brackets and figure “Notwithstanding anything in clause (3),” occurring in clause (2) and the whole of clauses (3) and (4) shall be omitted.]
2[3[(b) For article 248, the following article shall be substituted, namely: -
“248. Residuary powers of legislation. -
Parliament has exclusive power to make any law with respect to-
4[(a) Prevention of activities involving terrorist acts directed towards overawing the Government as by law established or striking terror in the people or any section of the people or alienating any section of the people or adversely affecting the harmony amongst different sections of the people;]
5[(aa)] 6[Prevention of other activities] directed towards disclaiming, questioning or disrupting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India or bringing about cession of a part of the territory of India or secession of a part of the territory of India from the Union or causing insult to the Indian National Flag, the Indian National Anthem and this Constitution; and
(b) Taxes on-
(i) Foreign travel by sea or air;
(ii) Inland air travel;
(iii) Postal articles, including money orders, phonograms and telegrams.”.]
6[Explanation. -
In this article, “terrorist act” means any act or thing by using bombs, dynamite or other explosive substances or inflammable substances or firearms or other lethal weapons or poisons or noxious gases or other chemicals or any other substances (whether biological or otherwise) of a hazardous nature.]
7[(bb) In article 249, in clause (1), for the words “any matter enumerated in the State List specified in the resolution”, the words “any matter specified in the resolution, being a matter which is not enumerated in the Union List or in the Concurrent List” shall be substituted.]]
(c) In article 250, for the words “to any of the matters enumerated in the State List”, the words “also to matters not enumerated in the Union List” shall be substituted.
8* * * * *
(e) To article 253, the following proviso shall be added, namely: -
“Provided that after the commencement of the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1954, no decision affecting the disposition of the State of Jammu and Kashmir shall be made by the Government of India without the consent of the Government of that State.”.
9* * * * *
10[(f)] article 255 shall be omitted.
11[(g)] Article 256 shall be re-numbered as clause (1) of that article, and the following new clause shall be added thereto, namely: -
“(2) The State of Jammu and Kashmir shall so exercise its executive power as to facilitate the discharge by the Union of its duties and responsibilities under the Constitution in relation to that State; and in particular, the said State shall, if so required by the Union, acquire or requisition property on behalf and at the expense of the Union, or if the property belongs to the State, transfer it to the Union on such terms as may be agreed, or in default of agreement, as may be determined by an arbitrator appointed by the Chief Justice of India.”.
12* * * * *
13[(h)] In clause (2) of article 261, the words “made by Parliament” shall be omitted.
1. Subs. by C.O. 66, for cl. (a).
2. Cls. (b) and (bb) subs. by C.O. 85, for original cl.(b).
3. Subs. by C.O. 93, for cl. (b).
4. Ins. by C.O. 122.
5. Cl. (a) relettered as cl.(aa) , C.O. 122. 6. Subs., C.O. 122., for “Prevention of activities”.
7. Ins., C.O. 122.
8. Subs. by C.O. 129, for cl.(bb).
9. Cl. (d) omitted, C.O. 129.
10. Cl. (f) omitted by C.O. 66.
11. Cls. (g) and (h) relettered as cls. (f) and (g), C.O. 66.
12. Cl. (i) omitted by C.O. 56.
13. Cl. (j) relettered as cl. (i) by C.O. 56 and again relettered as cl. (h) by C.O. 66.
(7) PART XII.
1* * * * *
2[(a)] Clause (2) of article 267 , article 273, clause (2) of article 283 3[and article 290] shall be omitted.
2[(b)] In articles 266 , 282, 284, 298, 299 and 300, references to the State or States shall be construed as not including references to the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
2[(c)] In articles 277 and 295, references to the commencement of the Constitution shall be construed as references to the commencement of this order.
1. Cls. (a) and (b) ins. by C.O. 55 have been omitted by C.O. 56.
2. Cls. (a), (b) and (c) [relettered as cls. (c), (d) and (e) respectively by C.O. 55] have again been relettered as cls. (a), (b) and (c) respectively by C.O. 56.
3. Subs. by C.O. 94, for “articles 290 and 291”.
(8) PART XIII.
1***In clause (1) of article 303, the words “by virtue of any entry relating to trade and commerce in any of the Lists in the Seventh Schedule” shall be omitted.
1* * * * *
1. Brackets and letter `(a)’ and cl. (b) omitted by C.O. 56.
(9) PART XIV.
1[In article 312, after the words “the States”, the brackets and words “(including the State of Jammu and Kashmir)” shall be inserted.]
1. Subs., by C.O. 56, for the previous modification.
1[(10) PART XV.
(a) In clause (1) of article 324, the reference to the Constitution shall, in relation to elections to either House of the Legislature of Jammu and Kashmir, be construed as a reference to the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir.
2[(b) In articles 325, 326, 327 and 329, the reference to a State shall be construed as not including a reference to the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
(c) Article 328 shall be omitted.]
(d) In article 329, the words and figures “or article 328” shall be omitted.]]
3[(e) In article 329A, clauses (4) and (5) shall be omitted.]
1. Subs. by C.O. 60, for sub-paragraph (10) (w.e.f. 26-1-1960).
2. Subs. by C.O. 75, for cls. (b) and (c).
3. Ins. by C.O. 105.
(11) PART XVI.
1* * * * *
2[(a)] Articles 331, 332, 333,3[336 and 337] shall be omitted.
2[(b)] In articles 334 and 335, references to the State or the States shall be construed as not including references to the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
4[(c) In clause (1) of article 339, the words “the administration of the Scheduled Areas and” shall be omitted.]
1. Cl. (a) omitted by C.O. 124.
2. Cls. (b) and (c) relettered as cls. (a) and (b), C.O. 124.
3. Subs., C.O. 124., for “336, 337, 339 and 342”.
4. Ins., C.O. 124.
(12) PART XVII.
The provisions of the Part shall apply only in so far as they relate to-
(i) The official language of the Union;
(ii) The official language for communication between one State and another, or between a State and the Union; and
(iii) The language of the proceedings in the Supreme Court.
(13) PART XVIII.
(a) To article 352, the following new clause shall be added, namely: -
“1[(6)] No Proclamation of Emergency made on grounds only of internal disturbance or imminent danger thereof shall have effect in relation to the State of Jammu and Kashmir (except as respects article 354) 2[unless-
(a) It is made at the request or with the concurrence of the Government of that State, or
(b) Where it has not been so made, it is applied subsequently by the President to that State at the request or with the concurrence of the Government of that State.]”;.
3[(b) In clause (1) of article 356, references to provisions or provision of this Constitution shall, in relation to the State of Jammu and Kashmir, be construed as including references to provisions or provision of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir.
4[(bb) In clause (4) of article 356, after the second proviso, the following proviso shall be inserted, namely: -
“Provided also that in the case of the Proclamation issued under clause (1) on the 18th day of July, 1990 with respect to the State of Jammu and Kashmir, the reference in the first proviso to this clause to “three years” shall be construed as a reference to 5[“seven years”].]
(c) Article 360 shall be omitted.]
1. Subs. by C.O. 104, for “(4)”.
2. Subs. by C.O. 100, for certain words.
3. Subs. by C.O. 71, for cl. (b).
4. Added by C.O. 151.
5. Subs. by C.O. 162, for “six years”.
(14) PART XIX.
1* * * * *
2[(a)] 3[Article 365] shall be omitted.
4* * * * *
2[(b)] To article 367, there shall be added the following clause, namely: -
“(4) For the purposes of this Constitution as it applies in relation to the State of Jammu and Kashmir-
(a) References to this Constitution or to the provisions thereof shall be construed as references to the Constitution or the provisions thereof as applied in relation to the said State;
5[(aa)] References to the person for the time being recognised by the President on the recommendation of the Legislative Assembly of the State as the Sadar-i-Riyasat of Jammu and Kashmir, acting on the advice of the Council of Ministers of the State for the time being in office, shall be construed as references to the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir;
(b) References to the Government of the said State shall be construed as including references to the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir acting on the advice of his Council of Ministers:
Provided that in respect of any period prior to the 10th day of April, 1965, such references shall be construed as including references to the Sadar-i-Riyasat acting on the advice of his Council of Ministers;]
(c) References to a High Court shall include references to the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir;
6* * * * *
7[(d)] References to the permanent residents of the said State shall be construed as meaning persons who, before the commencement of the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1954 were recognised as State subjects under the laws in force in the State or who are recognised by any law made by the Legislature of the State as permanent residents of the State; and
8[(e) References to a Governor shall include references to the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir:
Provided that in respect of any period prior to the 10th day of April, 1965, such references shall be construed as references to the person recognised by the President as the Sadar-i-Riyasat of Jammu and Kashmir and as including references to any person recognised by the President as being competent to exercise the powers of the Sadar-i-Riyasat.]”.
1. Cl. (a) omitted by C.O. 74.
2. Cls. (b) and (c) relettered as cls. (a) and (b), C.O. 74.
3. Subs. by C.O. 94, for “Articles 362 and 365”.
4. Original cl. (c) omitted by C.O. 56.
5. Subs. by C.O. 74, for cl. (b).
6. Cl. (d) omitted by C.O. 56.
7. Cl. (e) relettered as cl.(d), C.O. 74.
8. Subs. by C.O. 74, for cl. (e).
(15) PART XX.
1[(a) 2[To clause (2) of article 368], the following proviso shall be added, namely: -
“Provided further that no such amendment shall have effect in relation to the State of Jammu and Kashmir unless applied by order of the President under clause (1) of article 370.”.
3[(b) After clause (3) of article 368, the following clause shall be added, namely: -
“(4) No law made by the Legislature of the State of Jammu and Kashmir seeking to make any change in or in the effect of any provision of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir relating to-
(a) Appointment, powers, functions, duties, emoluments, allowances, privileges or immunities of the Governor; or
(b) Superintendence, direction and control of elections by the Election Commission of India, eligibility for inclusion in the electoral rolls without discrimination, adult suffrage and composition of the Legislative Council, being matters specified in sections 138, 139, 140 and 50 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir,
Shall have any effect unless such law has, after having been reserved for the consideration of the President, received his assent.”.]
1. Numbered as cl. (a) by C.O. 101.
2. Subs. by C.O. 91, for “To article 368”.
3. Ins. by C.O. 101
(16) PART XXI.
(a) Articles 369, 371, 1[371A], 2[372A], 373, clauses (1), (2), (3) and (5) of article 374 and 3[articles 376 to 378A and 392] shall be omitted.
(b) In article 372-
(i) Clauses (2) and (3) shall be omitted;
(ii) References to the laws in force in the territory of India shall include references to hidayats, ailans, ishtihars, circulars, robkars, irshads, yadashts, State Council Resolutions, Resolutions of the Constituent Assembly, and other instruments having the force of law in the territory of the State of Jammu and Kashmir; and
(iii) References to the commencement of the Constitution shall be construed as references to the commencement of this Order.
(c) In clause (4) of article 374, the reference to the authority functioning as the Privy Council of a State shall be construed as a reference to the Advisory Board constituted under the Jammu and Kashmir Constitution Act, 1996 and references to the commencement of the Constitution shall be construed as references to the commencement of this Order.
1. Ins. by C.O. 74.
2. Ins. by C.O. 56.
3. Subs., C.O. 56, for “articles 376 to 392”.
(17) PART XXII.
Articles 394 and 395 shall be omitted.
(18) FIRST SCHEDULE.
(19) SECOND SCHEDULE.
1* * * * *
1. Modification relating to paragraph 6 omitted by C.O. 56.
(20) THIRD SCHEDULE.
Forms V, VI, VII and VIII shall be omitted.
(21) FOURTH SCHEDULE.
1[(22) SEVENTH SCHEDULE.
(a) In the Union List-
(i) For entry 3, the entry “3. Administration of cantonments.” shall be substituted;
2[(ii) Entries 8, 9 3[and 34], 4*** entry 79, and the words “Inter-State migration” in entry 81 shall be omitted;]
5* * * * *
6[(iii) In entry 72, the reference to the States shall be construed, -
(a) In relation to appeals to the Supreme Court from any decision or order of the High Court of the State of Jammu and Kashmir made in an election petition whereby an election to either House of the Legislature of that State has been called in question, as including a reference to the State of Jammu and Kashmir;
(b) In relation to other matters, as not including a reference to that State]; 7[and]
8[(iv) For entry 97, the following entry shall be substituted, namely: -
9[97. Prevention of activities-
(a) Involving terrorist acts directed towards overawing the Government as by law established or striking terror in the people or any section of the people or alienating any section of the people or adversely affecting the harmony amongst different sections of the people;
(b) Directed towards disclaiming, questioning or disrupting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India or bringing about cession of a part of the territory of India or secession of a part of the territory of India from the Union or causing insult to the Indian National Flag, the Indian National Anthem and this Constitution;
Taxes on foreign travel by sea or air, on inland air travel and on postal articles, including money orders, phonograms and telegrams.
Explanation. -
In this entry, “terrorist act” has the same meaning as in the Explanation to article 248.]”.]
(b) The State List shall be omitted.
10[(c) In the Concurrent List-
11[(i) For entry 1, the following entry shall be substituted, namely: -
“1. Criminal law (excluding offences against laws with respect to any of the matters specified in List I and excluding the use of naval, military or air forces or any other armed forces of the Union in aid of the civil power) in so far as such criminal law relates to offences against laws with respect to any of the matters specified in the List.”];
12[13[(ia) For entry 2, the following entry shall be substituted, namely: -
“2. Criminal procedure (including prevention of offences and constitution and organisation of criminal courts, except the Supreme Court and the High Court) in so far as it relates to, -
(i) Offences against laws with respect to any matters being matters with respect to which Parliament has power to make laws; and
(ii) Administration of oaths and taking of affidavits by diplomatic and consular officers in any foreign country.”;
(ib) For entry 12, the following entry shall be substituted, namely: -
“12. Evidence and oaths in so far as they relate to, -
(i) Administration of oaths and taking of affidavits by diplomatic and consular officers in any foreign country; and
(ii) Any other matters being matters with respect to which Parliament has power to make laws.”];
(ic) For entry 13, the entry “13. Civil procedure in so far as it relates to administration of oaths and taking of affidavits by diplomatic and consular officers in any foreign country.” Shall be substituted;]
14* * * * *
15[16[(ii)] For entry 30, the entry “30. Vital statistics in so far as they relate to births and deaths including registration of births and deaths.” shall be substituted;]
17* * * * *
18[(iii) Entry 3, entries 5 to 10 (both inclusive), entries 14, 15, 17, 20, 21, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 37, 38, 41 and 44 shall be omitted;
(iiia) For entry 42, the entry “42. Acquisition and requisitioning of property, so far as regards acquisition of any property covered by entry 67 of List I or entry 40 of List III or of any human work of art which has artistic or aesthetic value.” shall be substituted; and]
19(iv) In entry 45, for the words and figures “List II or List III”, the words “this List” shall be substituted.]
1. Subs. by C.O. 66, for sub-paragraph (22).
2. Subs. by C.O. 85, for item (ii).
3. Subs. by C.O. 92, for “34 and 60”.
4. The words and figures `The words “and records” in entry 67’ omitted by C.O. 95.
5. Original item (iii) omitted by C.O. 74.
6. Subs. by C.O. 83, for item (iii).
7. Ins. by C.O. 85.
8. Subs. by C.O. 93, for item (iv).
9. Subs. by C.O. 122 for entry 97 (w.e.f. 4-6-1985)
10. Subs. by C.O. 69, for cl. (c).
11. Subs. by C.O. 70, for item (i).
12. Ins. by C.O. 94.
13. Subs. by C.O. 122, for sub-clauses (ia) and (ib) (w.e.f. 4-6-1985).
14. Item (ii) and (iii) omitted by C.O. 74.
15. Ins. by C.O. 70.
16. Item (iv) renumbered as item (ii) by C.O. 74.
17. Item (v) and (vi) omitted by C.O. 72.
18. Subs. by C.O. 95, for item (iii).
19. Item (vii) renumbered as item (iv) by C.O. 74
(23) EIGHTH SCHEDULE.
1[(24) NINTH SCHEDULE.
2[(a)] After entry 64, the following entries shall be added, namely: -
3[64A.] The Jammu and Kashmir State Kuth Act (No. I of Svt. 1978).
3[64B.] The Jammu and Kashmir Tenancy Act (No. II of Svt. 1980).
3[64C.] The Jammu and Kashmir Alienation of Land Act (No. V of Svt. 1995).
4* * * * *
5[64D.] The Jammu and Kashmir Big Landed Estates Abolition Act (No. XVII of Svt. 2007).
5[64E.] Order No. 6-H of 1951, dated the 10th March, 1951, regarding Resumption of Jagirs and other assignments of land revenue, etc.
6[64F. The Jammu and Kashmir Restitution of Mortgaged Properties Act, 1976 (Act XIV of 1976).
64G. The Jammu and Kashmir Debtors’ Relief Act, 1976 (Act XV of 1976).
7[(b) Entries 87 to 124, inserted by the Constitution (Thirty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1975, shall be renumbered as entries 65 to 102 respectively.]
8[(c) Entries 125 to 188 shall be renumbered as entries 103 to 166 respectively.]
1. Subs. by C.O. 74, for sub-paragraph 24.
2. Numbered by C.O. 105.
3. Renumbered by C.O. 98.
4. Omitted by C.O. 106.
5. Renumbered, by C.O. 106.
6. Ins. by C.O. 106.
7. Ins. by C.O. 105.
8. Ins. by C.O. 108(w.e.f. 31-12-1977)
1[(25) TENTH SCHEDULE.
(a) For the brackets, words and figures “[Articles 102(2) and 191(2)]”, the brackets, word and figures “[Article 102(2)]” shall be substituted;
(b) In clause (a) of paragraph 1, the words “or the Legislative Assembly or, as the case may be, either House of the Legislature of a State” shall be omitted;
(c) In paragraph 2, -
(i) In sub-paragraph (1), in sub-clause (ii) of clause (b) of the Explanation, the words and figures “or, as the case may be, article 188” shall be omitted;
(ii) In sub-paragraph (3), the words and figures “or, as the case may be, article 188” shall be omitted;
(iii) In sub-paragraph (4), the reference to the commencement of the Constitution (Fifty-second Amendment) Act, 1985 shall be construed as a reference to the commencement of the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Amendment Order, 1989;
(d) In paragraph 5, the words “or the Chairman or the Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council of a State or the Speaker or the Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of a State” shall be omitted;
(e) In sub-paragraph (2) of paragraph 6, the words and figures “or, as the case may be, proceedings in the Legislature of a State within the meaning of article 212” shall be omitted;
(f) In sub-paragraph (3) of paragraph 8, the words and figures “or, as the case may be, article 194,” shall be omitted.]
1. Ins by C.O. 136.
Section 409. APPENDIX II
APPENDIX II
RE-STATEMENT, WITH REFERENCE TO THE PRESENT TEXT OF THE CONSTITUTION, OF THE EXCEPTIONS AND MODIFICATIONS SUBJECT TO WHICH THE CONSTITUTION APPLIES TO THE STATE OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR
Note. -
The exceptions and modifications subject to which the Constitution applies to the State of Jammu and Kashmir are either those provided in the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1954 or those consequential to the non-application to the State of Jammu and Kashmir of certain amendments to the Constitution. All the exceptions and modifications, which have a practical significance, are included in the re-statement, which is only for facility of quick reference. For ascertaining the exact position, reference will have to be made to the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1954 and to the text of the Constitution on the 20th June, 1964, as amended by the subsequent amendments to the Constitution mentioned in clause 2 of the said Order.]
(1) THE PREAMBLE.
(a) In the first paragraph, omit “SOCIALIST SECULAR”;
(b) In the penultimate paragraph, omit “and integrity”.
(2) PART I.
Article 3. -
(a) Add the following further proviso, namely: -
“Provided further that no Bill providing for increasing or diminishing the area of the State of Jammu and Kashmir or altering the name or boundary of that State shall be introduced in Parliament without the consent of the Legislature of that State.”;
(b) Omit Explanation I and Explanation II.
(3) PART II.
(a) This Part shall be deemed to have been applicable in relation to the State of Jammu and Kashmir as from the 26th day of January, 1950.
(b) Article 7. -
Add the following further proviso, namely: -
“Provided further that nothing in this article shall apply to a permanent resident of the State of Jammu and Kashmir who, after having so migrated to the territory now included in Pakistan, returns to the territory of that State under a permit for resettlement in that State or permanent return issued by or under the authority of any law made by the Legislature of that State, and every such person shall be deemed to be a citizen of India.”.
(4) PART III.
(a) Article 13.
References to the commencement of the Constitution shall be construed as references to the commencement of the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1954 (C.O. 48), i.e., the 14th day of May, 1954.
(c) Article 16. -
In clause (3), reference to the State shall be construed as not including a reference to the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
(d) Article 19. -
(A) In clause (1), -
(i) In sub-clause (e), omit “and” at the end;
(ii) After sub-clause (e), insert the following clause, namely: -
“(f) To acquire, hold and dispose of property; and”;
(B) In clause (5), for “sub-clauses (d) and (e)”, substitute “sub-clauses (d), (e) and (f)”.
(e) Article 22. -
In clauses (4) and (7), for “Parliament”, substitute “the Legislature of the State”.
(f) Article 30. -
Omit clause (1A).
(g) After article 30, insert the following, namely: -
“Right to Property
31. Compulsory acquisition of property. -
(1) No person shall be deprived of his property save by authority of law.
(2) No property shall be compulsorily acquired or requisitioned save for a public purpose and save by authority of a law which provides for acquisition or requisitioning of the property for an amount which may be fixed by such law or which may be determined in accordance with such principles and given in such manner as may be specified in such law; and no such law shall be called in question in any court on the ground that the amount so fixed or determined is not adequate or that the whole or any part of such amount is to be given otherwise than in cash:
Provided that in making any law providing for the compulsory acquisition of any property of an educational institution established and administered by a minority, referred to in clause (1) of article 30, the State shall ensure that the amount fixed by or determined under such law for the acquisition of such property is such as would not restrict or abrogate the right guaranteed under that clause.
(2A) Where a law does not provide for the transfer of the ownership or right to possession of any property to the State or to a Corporation owned or controlled by the State, it shall not be deemed to provide for the compulsory acquisition or requisitioning of property, notwithstanding that it deprives any person of his property.
(2B) Nothing in sub-clause (f) of clause (1) of article 19 shall affect any such law as is referred to in clause (2). (5) Nothing in clause 2 shall affect-
(a) The provisions of any existing law; or
(b) The provisions of any law which the State may hereafter make-
(i) For the purpose of imposing or levying any tax or penalty; or
(ii) For the promotion of public health or the prevention of danger to life or property; or
(iii) With respect to property declared by law to be evacuee property.”.
(h) After article 31, omit the following sub-heading, namely: -
“Saving of Certain Laws”
(i) Article 31A. -
(A) In clause (1), -
(i) For “article 14 or article 19″, substitute “article 14, article 19 or article 31″;
(ii) Omit the first proviso to clause (1);
(iii) In the second proviso omit “further”;
(B) In clause (2), for sub-clause (a), substitute the following sub-clause, namely: -
(a) “Estate” shall mean land, which is occupied or has been let for agricultural purposes or for purposes subservient to agriculture, or for pasture, and includes-
(i) Sites of buildings and other structures on such land;
(ii) trees standing on such land;
(iii) forest land and wooded waste;
(iv) area covered by or fields floating over water;
(v) sites of jandars and gharats;
(ii) Any jagir, inam, muafi or mukarrari or other similar grant,
But does not include-
(i) The site of any building in any town, or town area or village abadi or any land appurtenant to any such building or site;
(ii) Any land which is occupied as the site of a town or village; or
(iii) Any land reserved for building purposes in a municipality or notified area or cantonment or town area or any area for which a town planning scheme is sanctioned;’.
(j) Article 31C. -
This article is not applicable to the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
(k) Article 32. -
Omit clause (3).
(l) Article 35. -
(A) References to the commencement of the Constitution shall be construed as references to the commencement of the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1954 (C.O. 48), i.e., the 14th day of May, 1954;
(B) In clause (a) (i), omit “clause (3) of article 16, clause (3) of article 32″;
(C) After clause (b), add the following clause, namely: -
“(c) No law with respect to preventive detention made by the Legislature of the State of Jammu and Kashmir, whether before or after the commencement of the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1954, shall be void on the ground that it is inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Part, but any such law shall, to the extent of such inconsistency, cease to have effect on the expiration of twenty-five years from the commencement of the said Order, except as respects things done or omitted to be done before the expiration thereof.”.
(m) After article 35, add the following article, namely: -
“35A. Saving of laws with respect to permanent residents and their rights. -
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Constitution, no existing law in force in the State of Jammu and Kashmir, and no law hereafter enacted by the Legislature of the State, -
(a) Defining the classes of persons who are, or shall be, permanent residents of the State of Jammu and Kashmir; or
(b) Conferring on such permanent residents any special rights and privileges or imposing upon other persons any restrictions as respects-
(i) Employment under the State Government;
(ii) Acquisition of immovable property in the State;
(iii) Settlement in the State; or
(iv) Right to scholarships and such other forms of aid as the State Government may provide,
Shall be void on the ground that it is inconsistent with or takes away or abridges any rights conferred on the other citizens of India by any provision of this Part.”.
(5) PART IV. -
This part is not applicable to the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
(6) PART IVA. -
This part is not applicable to the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
(7) PART V.
(a) Article 55. -
(A) For the purposes of this article, the population of the State of Jammu and Kashmir shall be deemed to be sixty-three lakhs;
(B) In the Explanation omit the proviso.
(b) Article 81. -
For clauses (2) and (3), substitute the following clauses, namely: -
“(2) For the purposes of sub-clause (a) of clause (1), -
(a) There shall be allotted to the State six seats in the House of the People;
(b) The State shall be divided into single-member territorial constituencies by the Delimitation Commission constituted under the Delimitation Act, 1972, in accordance with such procedure as the Commission may deem fit;
(c) The constituencies shall, as far as practicable, be geographically compact areas, and in delimiting them regard shall be had to physical features, existing boundaries of administrative units, facilities of communication and public convenience; and
(d) The constituencies into which the State is divided shall not comprise the area under the occupation of Pakistan.
(3) Nothing in clause (2) shall affect the representation of the State in the House of the People until the dissolution of the House existing on the date of publication in the Gazette of India of the final order or orders of the Delimitation Commission relating to the delimitation of parliamentary constituencies under the Delimitation Act, 1972.
(4) (a) The Delimitation Commission shall associate with itself for the purpose of assisting it in its duties in respect of the State, five persons who shall be members of the House of the People representing the State.
(b) The persons to be so associated from the State shall be nominated by the Speaker of the House of the People having due regard to the composition of the House.
(c) The first nominations to be made under sub-clause (b) shall be made by the Speaker of the House of the People within two months from the commencement of the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Second Amendment Order, 1974.
(d) None of the associate members shall have a right to vote or to sign any decision of the Delimitation Commission.
(e) If owing to death or resignation, the office of an associate member falls vacant, it shall be filled as soon as may be practicable by the Speaker of the House of the People and in accordance with the provisions of sub-clauses (a) and (b).”.
(c) Article 82. -
Omit the second and third provisos.
(d) Article 105. -
In clause (3), for “shall be those of that House and of its members and committees immediately before the coming into force of section 15 of the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978″ substitute “shall be those of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and of its members and committees, at the commencement of this Constitution”.
(e) For article 132, substitute the following article, namely: -
132. Appellate jurisdiction of Supreme Court in appeals from High Courts in certain cases. -
(1) An appeal shall lie to the Supreme Court from any judgment, decree or final order of a High Court in the territory of India, whether in a civil, criminal or other proceeding, if the High Court certifies that the case involves a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of this Constitution.
(2) Where the High Court has refused to give such a certificate, the Supreme Court may, if it is satisfied that the case involves a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of this Constitution, grant special leave to appeal from such judgment, decree or final order.
(3) Where such a certificate is given, or such leave is granted, any party in the case may appeal to the Supreme Court on the ground that any such question as aforesaid has been wrongly decided and, with the leave of the Supreme Court, on any other ground.
Explanation. -
For the purposes of this article, the expression “final order” includes an order deciding an issue which, if decided in favour of the appellant, would be sufficient for the final disposal of the case.’.
(f) Article 133. -
(A) In clause (1), omit “under article 134A”;
(B) After clause (1), insert the following clause, namely: -
(1A) The provisions of section 3 of the Constitution (Thirtieth Amendment) Act, 1972, shall apply in relation to the State of Jammu and Kashmir subject to the modification that references therein to “this Act”, “the commencement of this Act”, “this Act had not been passed” and “as amended by this Act” shall be construed respectively as references to “the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Second Amendment Order, 1974″, “the commencement of the said Order”, “the said Order had not been made” and “as it stands after the commencement of the said Order”.’.
(g) Article 134. -
(A) In clause (1), in sub-clause (c), omit “under article 134A”;
(B) In clause (2), after “Parliament may” insert “on the request of the Legislature of the State”.
(h) Articles 134A, 135, 139 and 139A. -
These articles are not applicable to the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
(i) Article 145. -
In clause (1), omit sub-clause (cc).
(j) Article 150. -
For “as the President may, on the advice of the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India, prescribe” substitute “as the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India may, with the approval of the President prescribe”.
(8) PART VI.
(a) Omit articles 153 to 217, article 219, article 221, articles 223, 224, 224A and 225, articles 227 to 233, article 233A and articles 234 to 237.
(b) Article 220. -
References to the commencement of the Constitution shall be construed as references to the commencement of the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Amendment Order, 1960, i.e., the 26th January, 1960.
(c) Article 222. -
After clause (1), insert the following clause, namely: -
“(1A) Every such transfer from the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir or to that High Court shall be made after consultation with the Governor.”.
(d) Article 226. -
(A) Renumber clause (2) as clause (1A);
(B) Omit clause (3);
(C) Renumber clause (4) as clause (2); and in clause (2) as so renumbered, for “this article” substitute “clause (1) or clause (1A)”.
(9) PART VIII. -
This part is not applicable to the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
(10) PART X. -
This part is not applicable to the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
(11) PART XI.
(a) Article 246. -
(A) In clause (1), for “clauses (2) and (3)” substitute “clause (2)”;
(B) In clause (2), omit “Notwithstanding anything in clause (3),”;
(C) Omit clauses (3) and (4).
(b) For article 248, substitute the following article, namely: -
248. Residuary powers of legislation. -
Parliament has exclusive power to make any law with respect to-
(a) Prevention of activities involving terrorist acts directed towards overawing the Government as by law established or striking terror in the people or any section of the people or alienating any section of the people or adversely affecting the harmony amongst different sections of the people;
(aa) Prevention of other activities directed towards disclaiming, questioning or disrupting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India or bringing about cession of a part of the territory of India or secession of a part of the territory of India from the Union or causing insult to the Indian National Flag, the Indian National Anthem and this Constitution; and
(b) Taxes on-
(i) Foreign travel by sea or air;
(ii) Inland air travel;
(iii) Postal articles, including money orders, phonograms and telegrams.
Explanation. -
In this article, “terrorist act” means any act or thing by using bombs, dynamite or other explosive substances or inflammable substances or firearms or other lethal weapons or poisons or noxious gases or other chemicals or any other substances (whether biological or otherwise) of a hazardous nature.’.
(bb) Article 249, in clause (1), for “any matter enumerated in the State List specified in the resolution”, substitute “any matter specified in the resolution, being a matter which is not enumerated in the Union List or in the Concurrent List”.
(c) Article 250. -
For “to any of the matters enumerated in the State List” substitute “also to matters not enumerated in the Union List”.
(d) Omit clause (d).
(e) Article 253. -
Add the following proviso, namely: -
“Provided that after the commencement of the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1954, no decision affecting the disposition of the State of Jammu and Kashmir shall be made by the Government of India without the consent of the Government of that State.”.
(f) Omit article 255.
(g) Article 256.
Renumber this article as clause (1) thereof, and add the following new clause thereto, namely: -
“(2) The State of Jammu and Kashmir shall so exercise its executive power as to facilitate the discharge by the Union of its duties and responsibilities under the Constitution in relation to that State; and in particular, the said State shall, if so required by the Union, acquire or requisition property on behalf and at the expense of the Union, or if the property belongs to the State, transfer it to the Union on such terms as may be agreed, or in default of agreement, as may be determined by an arbitrator appointed by the Chief Justice of India.”
(h) Article 261. -
In clause (2), omit “made by Parliament”.
(12) PART XII.
(a) Articles 266, 282, 284, 298, 299 and 300. -
In these articles references to the State or States shall be construed as not including references to the State of Jammu and Kashmir;
(b) Omit clause (2) of article 267, article 273, clause (2) of article 283 and article 290;
(c) Articles 277 and 295. -
In these articles references to the commencement of the Constitution shall be construed as references to the commencement of the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1954, i.e., the 14th day of May, 1954.
(d) Omit the sub-heading “Chapter IV. -
Right to Property” and article 300A.
(13) PART XIII.
In article 303, in clause (1), omit “by virtue of any entry relating to trade and commerce in any of the Lists in the Seventh Schedule”.
(14) PART XIV.
Except in article 312, reference to “State” in this Part does not include the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
(15) PART XIVA.
This Part is not applicable to the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
(16) PART XV.
(a) Article 324. -
In clause (1), the reference to the Constitution shall, in relation to elections to either House of the Legislature of Jammu and Kashmir, be construed as a reference to the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir.
(b) Articles 325, 326 and 327. -
In these articles the references to a State shall be construed as not including a reference to the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
(c) Omit article 328.
(d) Article 329. -
(A) Reference to a State shall be construed as not including a reference to the State of Jammu and Kashmir;
(B) Omit “or article 328″.
(17) PART XVI. -
Original clause (a) omitted and clauses (b) and (c) relettered as clauses (a) and (b).
(a) Omit articles 331, 332, 333, 336 and 337.
(b) Articles 334 and 335. -
References to the State or the States shall be construed as not including references to the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
(c) Article 339, in clause (1), omit “the administration of the Scheduled Areas and”.
(18) PART XVII. -
The provisions of this Part shall apply to the State of Jammu and Kashmir only in so far as they relate to-
(i) The official language of the Union;
(ii) The official language for communication between one State and another, or between a State and the Union; and
(iii) The language of the proceedings in the Supreme Court.
(19) PART XVIII. -
(a) For article 352, substitute the following article, namely: -
“352. Proclamation of Emergency. -
(1) If the President is satisfied that a grave emergency exists whereby the security of India or of any part of the territory thereof is threatened, whether by war or external aggression or internal disturbance, he may, by Proclamation, make a declaration to that effect.
(2) A Proclamation issued under clause (1)-
(a) May be revoked by a subsequent Proclamation;
(b) Shall be laid before each House of Parliament;
(c) Shall cease to operate at the expiration of two months unless before the expiration of that period it has been approved by resolutions of both Houses of Parliament:
Provided that if any such Proclamation is issued at a time when the House of the People has been dissolved or the dissolution of the House of the People takes place during the period of two months referred to in sub-clause (c), and if a resolution approving the Proclamation has been passed by the Council of States but no resolution with respect to such Proclamation has been passed by the House of the People before the expiration of that period, the Proclamation shall cease to operate at the expiration of thirty days from the date on which the House of the People first sits after its reconstitution unless before the expiration of the said period of thirty days a resolution approving the Proclamation has been also passed by the House of the People.
(3) A Proclamation of Emergency declaring that the security of India or of any part of the territory thereof is thereatened by war or by external aggression or by internal disturbance may be made before the actual occurrence of war or of any such aggression or disturbance if the President is satisfied that there is imminent danger thereof.
(4) The power conferred on the President by this article shall include the power to issue different Proclamations on different grounds, being war or external aggression or internal disturbance or imminent danger of war or external aggression or internal disturbance, whether or not there is a Proclamation already issued by the President under clause (1) and such Proclamation is in operation.
(5) Notwithstanding anything in the Constitution, -
(a) The satisfaction of the President mentioned in clause (1) and clause (3) shall be final and conclusive and shall not be questioned in any court on any ground;
(b) Subject to the provisions of clause (2), neither the Supreme Court nor any other Court shall have jurisdiction to entertain any question, on any ground, regarding the validity of-
(i) A declaration made by Proclamation by the President to the effect stated in clause (1); or
(ii) The continued operation of such Proclamation.
(6) No Proclamation of Emergency made on grounds only of internal disturbance or imminent danger thereof shall have effect in relation to the State of Jammu and Kashmir (except as respects article 354) unless-
(a) It is made at the request or with the concurrence of the Government of that State; or
(b) Where it has not been so made, it is applied subsequently by the President to that State at the request or with the concurrence of the Government of that State.”.
(b) Article 353. -
Omit the proviso.
(c) Article 356. -
(A) In clause (1), reference to provisions or provision of this Constitution shall, in relation to the State of Jammu and Kashmir, be construed as including references to provisions or provision of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir;
(B) In clause (4), -
(i) For the opening portion, substitute the following, namely: -
“A Proclamation so approved shall, unless revoked, cease to operate on the expiration of a period of six months from the date of the passing of the second of the resolutions approving the Proclamation under clause (3)”;
(ii) After the second proviso, the following proviso shall be inserted, namely: -
Provided also that in the case of the Proclamation issued under clause (1) on the 18th day of July, 1990 with respect to the State of Jammu and Kashmir, the reference in the first proviso to this clause to “three years” shall be construed as a reference to “seven years”.’.
(C) For clause (5), substitute the following clause, namely: -
“(5) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, the satisfaction of the President mentioned in clause (1) shall be final and conclusive and shall not be questioned in any court on any ground.”.
(d) Article 357. -
For clause (2), substitute the following clause, namely: -
“(2) Any law made in exercise of the power of the Legislature of the State by Parliament or the President or other authority referred to in sub-clause (a) of clause (1) which Parliament or the President or such other authority would not, but for the issue of a Proclamation under article 356, have been competent to make shall, to the extent of the incompetency, cease to have effect on the expiration of a period of one year after the Proclamation has ceased to operate except as respects things done or omitted to be done before the expiration of the said period, unless the provisions which shall so cease to have effect are sooner repealed or re-enacted with or without modification by Act of the appropriate Legislature.”.
(e) For article 358, substitute the following article, namely: -
“358. Suspension of provisions of article 19 during emergencies. -
While a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation, nothing in article 19 shall restrict the power of the State as defined in Part III to make any law or to take any executive action which the State would but for the provisions contained in that Part be competent to make or to take, but any law so made shall, to the extent of the incompetency, cease to have effect as soon as the Proclamation ceases to operate, except as respects things done or omitted to be done before the law so ceases to have effect.”.
(f) Article 359. -
(A) In clause (1) omit “(except articles 20 and 21)”;
(B) In clause (1A), -
(i) Omit “(except articles 20 and 21)”;
(ii) Omit the proviso;
(C) Omit clause (1B);
(D) In clause (2), omit the proviso.
(g) Omit article 360.
(20) PART XIX.
(a) Article 361A. -
This article is not applicable to the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
(b) Omit article 365.
(c) Article 367. -
After clause (3), add the following clause, namely: -
“(4) For the purposes of this Constitution as it applies in relation to the State of Jammu and Kashmir-
(a) References to this Constitution or to the provisions thereof shall be construed as references to the Constitution or the provisions thereof as applied in relation to the said State;
(aa) References to the person for the time being recognised by the President on the recommendation of the Legislative Assembly of the State as the Sadar-i-Riyasat of Jammu and Kashmir, acting on the advice of the Council of Ministers of the State for the time being in office, shall be construed as references to the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir;
(b) References to the Government of the said State shall be construed as including references to the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir acting on the advice of his Council of Ministers:
Provided that in respect of any period prior to the 10th day of April, 1965, such references shall be construed as including references to the Sadar-i-Riyasat acting on the advice of his Council of Ministers;
(c) References to a High Court shall include references to the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir;
(d) References to the permanent residents of the said State shall be construed as meaning persons who, before the commencement of the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1954, were recognised as State subjects under the laws in force in the State or who are recognised by any law made by the Legislature of the State as permanent residents of the State; and
(e) References to a Governor shall include references to the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir:
Provided that in respect of any period prior to the 10th day of April, 1965, such references shall be construed as references to the person recognised by the President as the Sadar-i-Riyasat of Jammu and Kashmir and as including references to any person recognised by the President as being competent to exercise the powers of the Sadar-i-Riyasat.”.
(21) PART XX.
Article 368. -
(a) In clause (2), add the following further proviso, namely: -
“Provided further that no such amendment shall have effect in relation to the State of Jammu and Kashmir unless applied by order of the President under clause (1) of article 370.”;
(b) Omit clauses (4) and (5) and after clause (3) add the following clause, namely: -
“(4) No law made by the Legislature of the State of Jammu and Kashmir seeking to make any change in or in the effect of any provision of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir relating to: -
(a) Appointment, powers, functions, duties, emoluments, allowances, privileges or immunities of the Governor; or
(b) Superintendence, direction and control of elections by the Election Commission of India, eligibility for inclusion in the electoral rolls without discrimination, adult suffrage and composition of the Legislative Council, being matters specified in sections 138, 139, 140 and 50 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir,
Shall have any effect unless such law has, after having been reserved for the consideration of the President, received his assent.”.
(22) PART XXI. -
(a) Omit articles 369, 371, 371A, 372A, 373 and articles 376 to 378A and 392.
(b) Article 372. -
(A) Omit clauses (2) and (3);
(B) References to the laws in force in the territory of India shall include references to hidayats, ailans, ishtihars, circulars, robkars, irshads, yadashts, State Council Resolutions, Resolutions of the Constituent Assembly, and other instruments having the force of law in the territory of the State of Jammu and Kashmir;
(C) References to the commencement of the Constitution shall be construed as references to the commencement of the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1954 (C.O. 48), i.e., the 14th day of May, 1954.
(c) Article 374. -
(A) Omit clauses (1), (2), (3) and (5);
(B) In clause (4), the reference to the authority functioning as the Privy Council of a State shall be construed as a reference to the Advisory Board constituted under the Jammu and Kashmir Constitution Act, Svt. 1996, and references to the commencement of the Constitution shall be construed as references to the commencement of the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1954, i.e., the 14th day of May, 1954.
(23) PART XXII. -
Omit articles 394 and 395.
(24) THIRD SCHEDULE. -
Omit forms V, VI, VII and VIII.
(25) FIFTH SCHEDULE. -
This Schedule is not applicable to the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
(26) SIXTH SCHEDULE. -
This Schedule is not applicable to the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
(27) SEVENTH SCHEDULE. -
(a) List I- Union List. -
(A) Omit entry 2A;
(B) For entry 3, substitute the following entry, namely: -
“3. Administration of cantonments.”;
(C) Omit entries 8, 9, 34 and 79;
(D) In entry 72, the reference to the States shall be construed, -
(i) In relation to appeals to the Supreme Court from any decision or order of the High Court of the State of Jammu and Kashmir made in an election petition whereby an election to either House of the Legislature of that State has been called in question, as including a reference to the State of Jammu and Kashmir;
(ii) In relation to other matters, as not including a reference to that State;
(E) In entry 81, omit “Inter-State migration”;
(F) For entry 97, substitute the following entry, namely: -
97. Prevention of activities-
(a) Involving terrorist acts directed towards overawing the Government as by law established or striking terror in the people or any section of the people or alienating any section of the people or adversely affecting the harmony amongst different sections of the people;
(b) Directed towards disclaiming, questioning or disrupting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India or bringing about cession of a part of the territory of India or secession of a part of the territory of India from the Union or causing insult to the Indian National Flag, the Indian National Anthem and this Constitution;
Taxes on foreign travel by sea or air, on inland air travel and on postal articles, including money orders, phonograms and telegrams.
Explanation. -
In this entry, “terrorist act” has the same meaning as in the Explanation to article 248.’.
(b) Omit List II- State List.
(c) List III- Concurrent List.
(A) For entry 1, substitute the following entry, namely: -
“1. Criminal law (excluding offences against laws with respect to any of the matters specified in List I and excluding the use of naval, military or air forces or any other armed forces of the Union in aid of the civil power) in so far as such criminal law relates to offences against laws with respect to any of the matters specified in this List.”;
(B) For entry 2, substitute the following entry, namely: -
“2. Criminal procedure (including prevention of offences and constitution and organisation of criminal courts, except the Supreme Court and the High Court) in so far as it relates to, -
(i) Offences against laws with respect to any matters being matters with respect to which Parliament has power to make laws; and
(ii) Administration of oaths and taking of affidavits by diplomatic and consular officers in any foreign country.”;
(C) Omit entry 3, entries 5 to 10 (both inclusive), entries 14, 15, 17, 20, 21, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 37, 38, 41 and 44
(D) Entries 11A, 17A, 17B, 20A and 33A are not applicable to the State of Jammu and Kashmir;
(E) For entry 12, substitute the following entry, namely: -
“12. Evidence and oaths in so far as they relate to, -
(i) Administration of oaths and taking of affidavits by diplomatic and consular officers in any foreign country; and
(ii) Any other matter being matters with respect to which Parliament has power to make laws.”;
(F) For entry 13, substitute the following entry, namely: -
“13. Civil procedure in so far as it relates to administration of oaths and taking of affidavits by diplomatic and consular officers in any foreign country.”;
(G) For entry 25, substitute the following entry, namely: -
“25. Vocational and technical training of labour.”;
(H) For entry 30, substitute the following entry, namely: -
“30. Vital statistics in so far as they relate to births and deaths including registration of births and deaths.”;
(I) For entry 42, substitute the following entry, namely: -
“42. Acquisition and requisitioning of property, so far as regards acquisition of any property covered by entry 67 of List I or entry 40 of List III or of any human work of art which has artistic or aesthetic value.”;
(J) In entry 45, for “List II or List III” substitute “this List”.
(28) NINTH SCHEDULE. -
(a) After entry 64, add the following entries, namely: -
“64A. The Jammu and Kashmir State Kuth Act (No. I of Svt. 1978).
64B. The Jammu and Kashmir Tenancy Act (No. II of Svt. 1980).
64C. The Jammu and Kashmir Alienation of Land Act (No. V of Svt. 1995).
64D. The Jammu and Kashmir Big Landed Estates Abolition Act (No. XVII of Svt. 2007).
64E. Order No. 6-H of 1951, dated the 10th March, 1951, regarding Resumption of Jagirs and other assignments of land revenue, etc.
64F. The Jammu and Kashmir Restitution of Mortgaged Properties Act, 1976 (Act XIV of 1976).
64G. The Jammu and Kashmir Debtors’ Relief Act, 1976 (Act XV of 1976).”;
(b) Entries 65 to 86 are not applicable to the State of Jammu and Kashmir;
(c) After entry 86, insert the following entry, namely: -
“87. The Representation of the People Act, 1951 (Central Act 43 of 1951), the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act, 1974 (Central Act 58 of 1974) and the Election Laws (Amendment) Act, 1975 (Central Act 40 of 1975).”;
(d) After entry 91, insert the following entry, namely: -
“92. The Maintenance of Internal Security Act, 1971 (Central Act 26 of 1971).”;
(e) After entry 129, insert the following entry, namely: -
“130. The Prevention of Publication of Objectionable Matter Act, 1976 (Central Act 27 of 1976).”;
(f) After insertion of the entries 87, 92 and 130 as indicated above, renumber entries 87 to 188 as entries 65 to 166 respectively.
(29) TENTH SCHEDULE. -
(a) For the brackets, words and figures “[Articles 102(2) and 191(2)]”, the brackets, word and figures “[Article 102(2)]” shall be substituted;
(b) In clause (a) of paragraph 1, the words “or the Legislative Assembly or, as the case may be, either House of the Legislature of a State” shall be omitted;
(c) In paragraph 2, -
(i) In sub-paragraph (1), in sub-clause (ii) of clause (b) of the Explanation, the words and figures “or, as the case may be, article 188″ shall be omitted;
(ii) In sub-paragraph (3), the words and figures “or, as the case may be, article 188″ shall be omitted;
(iii) In sub-paragraph (4), the reference to the commencement of the Constitution (Fifty-second Amendment) Act, 1985 shall be construed as a reference to the commencement of the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Amendment Order, 1989;
(d) In paragraph 5, the words “or the Chairman or the Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council of a State or the Speaker or the Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of a State” shall be omitted;
(e) In sub-paragraph (2) of paragraph 6, the words and figures “or, as the case may be, proceedings in the Legislature of a State within the meaning of article 212″ shall be omitted;
(f) In sub-paragraph (3) of paragraph 8, the words and figures “or, as the case may be, article 194,” shall be omitted.
Section 410. APPENDIX III
APPENDIX III
EXTRACTS FROM THE CONSTITUTION (FORTY-FOURTH AMENDMENT) ACT, 1978
1. Short title and Commencement. -
It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint and different dates may be appointed for different provisions of this Act.
3. Amendment of article 22. In article 22 of the Constitution, -
(a) For clause (4), the following clause shall be substituted, namely : -
(4) No law providing for preventive detention shall authorise the detention of a person for a longer period than two months unless an Advisory Board constituted in accordance with the recommendations of the Chief Justice of the appropriate High Court has reported before the expiration of the said period of two months that there is In its opinion sufficient cause for such detention:
Provided that an Advisory Board shtil consist of at Chairman and not less than two other members and the Chairman shall be a serving Judge of the appropriate High Court and the other members shall be serving or retired Judges of any High Court:
Provided further that nothing in this clause shall authorise the detention of any person beyond the maximum period prescribed by any law made bv Parliament under sub-clause (a) of clause (7).
Explanation. -
- In this clause, “appropriate High Court “means, -
(i) In the case of the detention of a person in pursuance of an order of detention made by the Government of India or an officer or authority subordinate to that Government, the High Court for the Union territory of Delhi;
(ii) In the case of the detention of a person in pursuance of an order of detention made by the Government of any State (other than a Union territory), the High Court for that State’, and
(iii) In the case of the detention of a person in pursuance of an order of detention made by the administrator of a Union territory or an officer or authority subordinate to such administrator, such High Court as may be specified by or under any law made by Parliament in this behalf.’;
(b) In clause (7), -
(i) Sub-clause (a) shall be omitted;
(ii) Sub-clause (b) shall be re-lettered as sub-clause (a); and
(iii) Sub-clause (c) shall be re-lettered as sub-clause (b) and in a sub-clause as so re-lettered, for the words, brackets, letter and figure “sub-clause (a) of clause (4)”, the word, brackets and figure “clause (4)” shall be substituted.
November 11, 2014
An Act to regulate the employment of women in certain establishments for certain
period before and after child-birth and to provide for maternity benefit and certain
other benefits. Be it enacted by Parliament in the Twelfth Year of the Republic of
India as follows:-
1. Short title extent and commencement.-(1) This Act may be called the
Maternity Benefit Act, 1961.
(2) It extends to the whole of India [1] [* * *].
(3) It shall come into force on such date [2] as may be notified in this behalf in the
Official Gazette,-
[3] (a) in relation to mines and to any other establishment wherein persons are
employed for the exhibition of equestrian, acrobatic and other performances, by the
Central Government; and]
(b) in relation to other establishments in a State, by the State Government.
2. Application of Act.- [4] [(1) It applies in the first instance,-
(a) to every establishment being a factory, mine or plantation including any such
establishment belonging to Government and to every establishment wherein persons
are employed for the exhibition of equestrian, acrobatic and other performances;
(b) to every shop or establishment within the meaning of any law for the time being
in force in relation to shops and establishments in a State, in which ten or more
persons are employed, or were employed, on any day of the preceding twelve
months:]
Provided that the State Government may, with the approval of the Central
Government, after giving not less than two month’s notice of its intention of so
doing, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare that all or any of the provisions
of this Act shall apply also to any other establishment or class of establishments,
industrial, commercial, agricultural or otherwise.
(2) [5] [Save as otherwise provided in [6] [Sections 5A and 5B] nothing contained in
this Act] shall apply to any factory or other establishment to which the provisions of
the Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948 (34 of 1948) apply for the time being.
3. Definitions.-In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-
(a) “appropriate Government- means, in relation to an establishment being a mine
[7] [or an establishment wherein persons are employed for the exhibition of
equestrian, acrobatic and other performances] the Central Government and in
relation to any other establishment the State Government;
(b) “child- includes a still-born child;
(c) “delivery- means the birth of a child;
(d) “employer- means-
(i) in relation to an establishment which is under the control of the Government a
person or authority appointed by the Government for the supervision and control of
employees or where no person or authority is so appointed, the head of the
department;
(ii) in relation to an establishment under any local authority, the person appointed by
such authority for the supervision and control of employees or where no person is so
appointed, the chief executive officer of the local authority;
(iii) in any other case, the person who, or the authority which, has the ultimate
control over the affairs of the establishment and where the said affairs and entrusted
to any other person whether called a manager, managing director, managing agent,
or by any other name, such person;
[8] [(e) establishment- means-
(i) a factory;
(ii) a mine;
(iii) a plantation;
(iv) an establishment wherein persons are employed for the exhibition of equestrian,
acrobatic and other performance; [9] [***]
[10] [(iva) a shop or establishment; or]
(v) an establishment to which the provisions of this Act have been declared under
sub-section (1) of Section 2 to be applicable;]
(f) “factory- means a factory as defined in clause (m) of Section 2 of the Factories
Act 1948 (63 of 1948);
(g) “Inspector- means an Inspector appointed under Section 14;
(h) “maternity benefit- means the payment referred to in sub-section (1) of Section
5;
[11] [(ha) “medical termination of pregnancy- means the termination of pregnancy
permissible under the provisions of Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971];
(i) “mine- means a mine as defined in clause (j) of Section (2) of the Mines Act,
1952 (35 of 1952);
(j) “miscarriage- means expulsion of the contents of a pregnant uterus at any period
prior to or during the twenty-sixth week of pregnancy but does not include any
miscarriage, the causing of which is punishable under the Indian Penal Code (45 of
1860);
(k) “plantation- means a plantation as defined in clause (f) of Section 2 of the
Plantations Labour Act, 1951 (69 of 1951);
(l) “prescribed- means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(m) “State Government-, in relation to a Union territory, means the Administrator
thereof;
(n) “wages- means all remuneration paid or payable in cash to a woman, if the terms
of the contract of employment, express or implied, were fulfilled and includes-
(1) such cash allowances (including dearness allowance and house rent allowance)
as a woman is for the time being entitled to,
(2) incentive bonus, and
(3) the money value of the concessional supply of foodgrains and other articles, but
does not include-
(i) any bonus other than incentive bonus;
(ii) over-time earnings and any deduction or payment made on account of fines;
(iii) any contribution paid or payable by the employer to any pension fund or
provident fund or for the benefit of the woman under any law for the time being in
force; and
(iv) any gratuity payable on the termination of service;
(o)“woman- means a woman employed, whether directly or through any agency, for
wages in any establishment.
4. Employment of or work by, women prohibited during certain periods.-(1)
No employer shall knowingly employ a woman in any establishment during the six
weeks immediately following the day of her delivery, [12] [miscarriage or medical
termination of pregnancy].
(2) No women shall work in any establishment during the six weeks immediately
following the day of her delivery [13] [miscarriage or medical termination or
pregnancy].
(3) Without prejudice to the provisions of Section 6, no pregnant women shall, on a
request being made by her in this behalf, be required by her employer to do during
the period specified in sub-section (4) any work which is of an arduous nature or
which involves long hours of standing, or which in any way is likely to interfere with
her pregnancy or the normal development of the foetus, or is likely to cause her
miscarriage or otherwise to adversely affect her health.
(4) The period referred to in sub-section (3) shall be-
(a) the period of one months immediately preceding the period of six weeks, before
the date of her expected delivery;
(b) any period during the said period of six weeks for which the pregnant woman
does not avail of leave of absence under Section 6.
5. Right to payment of maternity benefits.- [14] [(1) Subject to the provisions
of this Act, every woman shall be entitled to, and her employer shall be liable for,
the payment of maternity benefit at the rate of the average daily wage for the period
of her actual absence, that is to say, the period immediately preceding the day of her
delivery, the actual day of her delivery and any period immediately following that
day.]
Explanation.-For the purpose of this sub-section, the average daily wage means the
average of the woman’s wages payable to her for the days on which she has worked
during the period of three calendar months immediately preceding the date from
which she absents herself on account of maternity, [15] [the minimum rate of wage
fixed or revised under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 (11 of 1948) or ten rupees,
whichever is the highest].
(2) No woman shall be entitled to maternity benefit unless she has actually worked
in an establishment of the employer from whom she claims maternity benefit, for a
period of not less than [16] [eighty days] in the twelve months immediately
preceding the date of her expected delivery:
Provided that the qualifying period of [17] [eighty days] aforesaid shall not apply to
a woman who has immigrated into the State of Assam and was pregnant at the time
of the immigration.
Explanation.-For the purpose of calculating under the sub-section the days on which
a woman has actually worked in the establishment [18] [the days for which she has
been laid off or was on holidays declared under any law for the time being in force to
be holidays with wages] during the period of twelve months immediately preceding
the date of her expected delivery shall be taken into account.
[19] [(3) The maximum period for which any woman shall be entitled to maternity
benefit shall be twelve weeks of which not more than six weeks shall precede the
date of her expected delivery:]
Provided that where a woman dies during this period, the maternity benefit shall be
payable only for the days up to and including the day of her death:
[20] [Provided Further that where a woman, having been delivered of a child, dies
during her delivery or during the period immediately following the date of her
delivery for which she is entitled for the maternity benefit, leaving behind in either
case the child, the employer shall be liable for the maternity benefit for that entire
period but if the child also dies during the said period, then, for the days up to and
including the date of the death of the child.]
[21] [5A. Continuance of payment of maternity benefit in certain cases.-Every
woman entitled to the payment of maternity benefit under this Act shall,
notwithstanding the application of the Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948 (34 of
1948), to the factory or other establishment in which she is employed, continue to
be so entitled until she becomes qualified to claim maternity benefit under Section
50 of that Act.]
[22] [5B. Payment of maternity benefit in certain cases.-Every woman-
(a) who is employed in a factory or other establishment to which the provisions of
the Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948 (34 of 1948), apply;
(b) whose wages (excluding remuneration for over-time work) for a month exceed
the amount specified in sub-clause (b) of clause (9) of Section 2 of that Act; and
(c) who fulfils the conditions specified in sub-section (2) of Section 5,
shall be entitled to the payment of maternity benefit under this Act.]
6. Notice of claim for maternity benefit and payment thereof.-(1) Any woman
employed in an establishment and entitled to maternity benefit under the provisions
of this Act may give notice in writing in such form as may be prescribed, to her
employer, stating that her maternity benefit and any other amount to which she may
be entitled under this Act may be paid to her or to such person as she may nominate
in the notice and that she will not work in any establishment during the period for
which she receives maternity benefit.
(2) In the case of a woman who is pregnant, such notice shall state the date from
which she will be absent from work, not being a date earlier than six weeks from the
date of her expected delivery.
(3) Any woman who has not given the notice when she was pregnant may give such
notice as soon as possible after the delivery.
[23] [(4) On receipt of the notice, the employer shall permit such woman to absent
herself from the establishment during the period for which she receives the
maternity benefit.]
(5) The amount of maternity benefit for the period preceding the date of her
expected delivery shall be paid in advance by the employer to the woman on
production of such proof as may be prescribed that the woman is pregnant, and the
amount due for the subsequent period shall be paid by the employer to the woman
within forty-eight hours of production of such proof as may be prescribed that the
woman has been delivered of a child.
(6) The failure to give notice under this section shall not disentitle a woman to
maternity benefit or any other amount under thi7s Act if she is otherwise entitled to
such benefit or amount and in any such case an Inspector may either of his own
motion or on an application made to him by the woman, order the payment of such
benefit or amount within such period as may be specified in the order.
7. Payment of maternity benefit in case of death of a woman.-If a woman
entitled to maternity benefit or any other amount under this Act, dies before
receiving such maternity benefit or amount, or where the employer is liable for
maternity benefit under the second proviso to sub-section (3) of Section 5, the
employer shall pay such benefit or amount to the person nominated by the woman in
the notice given under Section 6 and in case there is no such nominee, to her legal
representative.
8. Payment of medical bonus.-Every woman entitled to maternity benefit under
this Act shall also be entitled to receive from her employer a medical bonus of [24]
[two hundred and fifty rupees], if no pre-natal confinement and post-natal care is
provided for by the employer free of charge.
[25] [9. Leave for miscarriage etc.-In case of miscarriage or medical termination
of pregnancy, a woman shall, on production of such proof as may be prescribed, be
entitled to leave with wages at the rate of maternity benefit, for a period of six
weeks immediately following the day of her miscarriage or, as the case may be, her
medical termination of pregnancy].
[26] [9A. Leave with wages for tubectomy operation.-In case of tubectomy
operation, a woman shall, on production of such proof as may be prescribed, be
entitled to leave with wages at the rate of maternity benefit for a period of two
weeks immediately following the day of her tubectomy operation].
10. Leave for illness arising out of pregnancy, delivery, premature birth of
child, [27] [miscarriage, medical termination of pregnancy or tubectomy
operation].-A woman suffering from illness arising out of pregnancy, delivery,
premature birth of child [28] [miscarriage, medical termination of pregnancy or
tubectomy operation] shall, on production of such proof as may be prescribed, be
entitled, in addition to the period of absence allowed to her under Section 6, or, as
the case may be, under Section 9, to leave with wages at the rate of maternity
benefit for a maximum period of one month.
11. Nursing breaks.-Every woman delivered of a child who returns to duty after
such delivery shall, in addition to the interval for rest allowed to her, be allowed in
the course of her daily work two breaks of the prescribed duration for nursing the
child until the child attains the age of fifteen months.
12. Dismissal during absence of pregnancy.-(1) When a woman absents herself
from work in accordance with the provisions of this Act, it shall be unlawful for her
employer to discharge or dismiss her during or on account of such absence or to give
notice of discharge or dismissal on such a day that the notice will expire during such
absence, or to vary to her disadvantage any of the conditions of her service.
(2)(a) The discharge or dismissal of a woman at any time during her pregnancy, if
the woman but for such discharge or dismissal would have been entitled to maternity
benefit or medical bonus referred to in Section 8, shall not have the effect of
depriving her of the maternity benefit or medical bonus:
Provided that where the dismissal is for any prescribed gross misconduct, the
employer may, by order in writing communicated to the woman, deprive her of the
maternity benefit or medical bonus or both.
[29] [(b) Any woman deprived of maternity benefit or medical bonus, or both, or
discharged or dismissed during or on account of her absence from work in
accordance with the provisions of this Act, may, within sixty days from the date on
which order of such deprivation on discharge or dismissal is communicated to her,
appeal to such authority as may be prescribed, and the decision of that authority on
such appeal, whether the woman should or should not be deprived of maternity
benefit or medical bonus, or both, or discharged or dismissed shall be final.]
(c) Nothing contained in this sub-section shall affect the provisions contained in subsection
(1).
13. No deduction of wages in certain cases.-No deduction from the normal and
usual daily wages of a woman entitled to maternity benefit under the provisions of
this Act shall be made by reason only of-
(a) the nature of work assigned to her by virtue of the provisions contained in subsection
(3) of Section 4; or
(b) breaks for nursing the child allowed to her under the provisions of Section 11.
14. Appointment of Inspectors.-The appropriate Government may, by notification
in the Official Gazette, appoint such officers as it thinks fit to be Inspectors for the
purposes of this Act and may define the local limits of the jurisdiction within which
they shall exercise their functions under this Act.
15. Powers and duties of Inspectors.-An Inspector may, subject to such
restrictions or conditions as may be prescribed, exercise all or any of the following
powers, namely:-
(a) enter at all reasonable times with such assistants, if any, being persons in the
service of the Government or any local or other public authority, as he thinks fit, any
premises or place where woman are employed or work is given to them in an
establishment, for the purposes of examining any register, records and notices
required to be kept or exhibited by or under this Act and require their production for
inspection;
(b) examine any person whom he finds in any premises or place and who, he has
reasonable cause to believe, is employed in the establishment:
Provided that no person shall be compelled under this section to answer any question
or give any evidence tending to incriminate himself;
(c) require the employer to give information regarding the names and addresses of
women employed, payments made to them, and applications or notices received
from them under this Act; and
(d) take copies of any registers and records or notices or any portions thereof.
16. Inspectors to be public servants.-Every Inspector appointed under this Act
shall be deemed to be a public servant within the meaning of Section 21 of the
Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860).
17. Power of Inspector to direct payments to be made.- [30] [(1) Any woman
claiming that-
(a) maternity benefit or any other amount to which she is entitled under this Act and
any person claiming that payment due under Section 7 has been improperly
withheld;
(b) her employer has discharged or dismissed her during or on account of her
absence from work in accordance with the provisions of this Act, may make a
complaint to the Inspector.
(2) The Inspector may, of his own motion or on receipt of a complaint referred to in
sub-section (1), make an inquiry or cause an inquiry to be made and if satisfied that-
(a) payment has been wrongfully withheld, may direct the payment to be made in
accordance with his orders;
(b) she has been discharged or dismissed during or on account of her absence from
work in accordance with the provisions of this Act, may pass such orders as are just
and proper according to the circumstances of the case.]
(3) Any person aggrieved by the decision of the Inspector under sub-section (2)
may, within thirty days from the date on which such decision is communicated to
such person, appeal to the prescribed authority.
(4) The decision of the prescribed authority where an appeal has been preferred to it
under sub-section (3) or of the Inspector where no such appeal has been preferred
shall be final.
[31] [(5) Any amount payable under this section shall be recoverable by the
Collector on a certificate issued for that amount by the Inspector as an arrear of land
revenue.]
18. Forfeiture of maternity benefit.-If a woman works in any establishment after
she has been permitted by her employer to absent herself under the provisions of
Section 6 for any period during such authorized absence, she shall forfeit her claim
to the maternity benefit for such period.
19. Abstract of Act and rules thereunder to be exhibited.-An abstract of the
provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder in the language or languages of
the locality shall be exhibited in a conspicuous place by the employer in every part of
the establishment in which women are employed.
20. Registers, etc.-Every employer shall prepare and maintain such registers,
records and muster-rolls and in such manner as may be prescribed.
[32] [21. Penalty for contravention of Act by employer.-(1) If any employer
fails to pay any amount of maternity benefit to a woman entitled under this Act or
discharges or dismisses such woman during or on account of her absence from work
in accordance with the provisions of this Act, he shall be punishable with
imprisonment which shall not be less than three months but which may extend to
one year and with fine which shall not be less than two thousand rupees but which
may extend to five thousand rupees:
Provided that the court may, for sufficient reasons to be recorded in writing, impose
a sentence of imprisonment for a lesser term or fine only in lieu of imprisonment.
(2) If any employer contravenes the provisions of this Act or the rules made
thereunder, he shall, if no other penalty is elsewhere provided by or under this Act
for such contravention, be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to one
year, or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees, or with both:
Provided that where the contraventions is of any provision regarding maternity
benefit or regarding payment of any other amount and such maternity benefit or
amount has not already been recovered, the court shall, in addition, recover such
maternity benefit or amount as if it were a fine and pay the same to the person
entitled thereto.]
22. Penalty for obstructing Inspector.-Whoever fails to produce on demand by
the Inspector any register or document in his custody kept in pursuance of this Act
or the rules made thereunder or conceals or prevents any person from appearing
before or being examined by an Inspector shall be punishable with imprisonment
which may extent to [33] [one year, or with fine which may extend to five thousand
rupees], or with both.
[34] [23. Cognizance of offences.-(1) Any aggrieved woman, an office-bearer of
a trade union registered under the Trade Unions Act, 1926 (16 of 1926) of which
such woman is a member or a voluntary organization registered under the Societies
Registration Act, 1860 (21 of 1860) or an Inspector, may file a complaint regarding
the commission of an offence under this Act in any court of competent jurisdiction
and no such complaint shall be filed after the expiry of one year from the date on
which the offence is alleged to have been committed.
(2) No court inferior to that of a Metropolitan Magistrate or a Magistrate of the first
class shall try any offence under this Act.]
24. Protection of action taken in good faith.-No suit, prosecution or other legal
proceeding shall lie against any person for anything which is in good faith done or
intended to be done in pursuance of this Act or of any rule or order made
thereunder.
25. Power of Central Government to give directions.-The Central Government
may give such directions as it may deem necessary to a State Government regarding
the carrying into execution of the provisions of this Act and the State Government
shall comply with such directions.
26. Power to exempt establishments.-If the appropriate Government is satisfied
that having regard to an establishment or a class of establishments providing for the
grant of benefits which are not less favorable than those provided in this Act, it is
necessary so to do, it may, by notification in the Official Gazette, exempt, subject to
such conditions and restrictions, if any, as may be specified in the notification, the
establishment or class of establishments from the operation of all or any of the
provisions of this Act or of any rule made thereunder.
27. Effect of laws and agreements inconsistent with this Act.-(1) The
provisions of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent
therewith contained in any other law or in the terms of any award, agreement or
contract of service, whether made before or after the coming into force of this Act:
Provided that where under any such award, agreement, contract of service or
otherwise, a woman is entitled to benefits in respect of any matter which are more
favourable to her than those to which she would be entitled under this Act, the
woman shall continue to be entitled to the more favourable benefits in respect of
that matter, notwithstanding that she is entitled to receive benefits in respect of
other matters under this Act.
(2) Nothing contained in this Act shall be construed to preclude a woman from
entering into an agreement with her employer for granting her rights or privileges in
respect of any matter which are more favourable to her than those to which she
would be entitled under this Act.
28. Power to make rules.-(1) The appropriate Government may, subject to the
condition of previous publication and by notification in the Official Gazette, make
rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act.
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power,
such rules may provide for-
(a) the preparation and maintenance of registers, records and muster-rolls;
(b) the exercise of powers (including the inspection of establishments) and the
performance of duties by Inspectors for the purposes of this Act;
(c) the method of payment of maternity benefit and other benefits under this Act
insofar as provision has not been made therefor in this Act;
(d) the form of notices under Section 6;
(e) the nature of proof required under the provisions of this Act;
(f) the duration of nursing-breaks referred to in Section 11;
(g) acts which may constitute gross misconduct for purposes of Section 12;
(h) the authority to which an appeal under clause (b) of sub-section (2) of Section
12 shall lie; the form and manner in which such appeal may be made and the
procedure to be followed in disposal thereof;
(i) the authority to which an appeal shall lie against the decision of the Inspector
under Section 17; the form and manner in which such appeal may be made and the
procedure to be followed in disposal thereof;
(j) the form and manner in which complaints may be made to Inspectors under subsection
(1) of Section 17 and the procedure to be followed by them when making
inquiries or causing inquiries to be made under sub-section (2) of that section;
(k) any other matter which is to be, or m ay be prescribed.
[35] [(3) Every rule made by the Central Government under this section shall be laid
as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parliament while it is in
session for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session [36]
[or in two or more successive sessions and if, before the expiry of the session
immediately following the session or the successive sessions, aforesaid] both Houses
agree in making any modification in the rule or both Houses agree that the rule
should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form
or be of no effect, as the case may be; so however, that any such modification or
annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done
under that rule.]
29. Amendment of Act 69 of 1951.-In Section 32 of the Plantations Labour Act,
1951,-
(a) in sub-section (1), the letter and brackets “(a)- before the words “in the case of
sickness-, the word “and- after the words “sickness allowances- and clause (b) shall
be omitted;
(b) in sub-section (2), the words “or maternity- shall be omitted.
30. Repeal.-On the application of this Act-
(i) to mines, the Mines Maternity Benefit Act, 1941 (19 of 1941); and
(ii) to factories situate in the Union territory of Delhi, the Bombay Maternity Benefit
Act, 1929 (Bombay Act VII of 1929); as in force in that territory, shall stand
repealed.
_____________
[1] . The words “except the State of Jammu and Kashmir- omitted by Act No. 51 of
1970 and Schedule (w.e.f. 1-9-1971).
[2] . 1st November, 1963: vide Notification No. S.O. 2920, dated 5th October, 1963,
Gazette of India, Pt.II, page 3735.
[3] . Subs. by Act No. 52 of 1973 (w.e.f. 1-3-1975).
[4] . Subs. by Act No. 61 of 1988 (w.e.f. 10-1-1989).
[5] . Subs. by Act No. 21 of 1972, for “Nothing contained in this Ac-.
[6] . Subs. by Act No. 53 of 1976 (w.e.f. 1-5-1976).
[7] . Ins. by Act No. 52 of 1973 (w.e.f. 1-3-1975).
[8] . Ins. by Act No. 52 of 1973 (w.e.f. 1-3-1975).
[9] . Word “or- omitted by Act No. 61 of 1988 (w.e.f. 10-1-1989).
[10] . Ins. by Act No. 61 of 1988 (w.e.f. 10-1-1989).
[11] . Ins. by Act No. 29 of 1995 (w.e.f. 1-2-1996).
[12] . Subs. by Act No. 29 of 1995 for “or her miscarriage- (w.e.f. 1-2-1996).
[13] . Subs. by Act No. 29 of 1995 for “or her miscarriage- (w.e.f. 1-2-1996).
[14] . Subs. by Act No. 61 of 1988 (w.e.f. 10-1-1989).
[15] . Subs. by Act No. 61 of 1988 (w.e.f. 10-1-1989).
[16] . Subs. by Act No. 61 of 1988, for “one hundred and sixty days- (w.e.f. 10-1-
1989).
[17] . Subs. by Act No. 61 of 1988, for “one hundred and sixty days- (w.e.f. 10-1-
1989).
[18] . Subs. by Act No. 61 of 1988 (w.e.f. 10-1-1989).
[19] . Subs. by Act No. 61 of 1988 (w.e.f. 10-1-1989).
[20] . Subs. by Act No. 61 of 1988 (w.e.f. 10-1-1989).
[21] . Ins. by Act No. 21 of 1972.
[22] . Ins. by Act No. 53 of 1976 (w.e.f. 1-5-1976).
[23] . Subs. by Act No. 61 of 1988 (w.e.f. 10-1-1989).
[24] . Subs. by Act No. 61 of 1988, for “twenty five rupees- (w.e.f. 10-1-1989).
[25] . Subs. by Act No. 29 of 1995 (w.e.f. 1-2-1996).
[26] . Ins. by Act No. 29 of 1995 (w.e.f. 1-2-1996).
[27] . Subs. by Act No. 29 of 1995, for “or miscarriage- (w.e.f. 1-2-1996).
[28] . Subs. by Act No. 29 of 1995, for “or miscarriage- (w.e.f. 1-2-1996).
[29] . Subs. by Act No. 61 of 1988 (w.e.f. 10-1-1989).
[30] . Subs. by Act No. 61 of 1988 (w.e.f. 10-1-1989).
[31] . Subs. by Act No. 61 of 1988 (w.e.f. 10-1-1989).
[32] . Subs. by Act No. 61 of 1988 (w.e.f. 10-1-1989).
[33] . Subs. by Act No. 61 of 1988 (w.e.f. 10-1-1989).
[34] . Subs. by Act No. 61 of 1988 (w.e.f. 10-1-1989).
[35] . Subs. by Act No. 52 of 1973 (w.e.f. 1-3-1975).
[36] . Subs. by Act No. 52 of 1973 (w.e.f. 1-3-1975).
November 11, 2014
[Act No. 57 of Year 1955 dated 30th. December, 1955]
1. Short title
This Act may be called the Citizenship Act, 1955.
2. Interpretation
(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-(a) “a Government in India” means the
Central Government or a State Government.
(b) “citizen” in relation to a country specified in Schedule I, means a person who, under the
citizenship or nationality law for the time being in force in that country, is a citizen or national of
that country;
(c) “citizenship or nationality law” in relation to a country specified in Schedule I, means an
enactment of the Legislature of that country which, at the request of the government of that
country, the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, have declared to be
an enactment making provision for the citizenship or nationality of that country:
PROVIDED that no such notification shall be issued in relation to the Union of South Africa
except with the previous approval of both Houses of Parliament.
(d) “Indian consulate” means the office of any consular officer of the Government of India where a
register of births is kept, or where there is no such office, such office as may be prescribed;
(e) “minor” means a person who has not attained the age of eighteen years;
(f) “person” does not include any company or association or body of individuals, whether
incorporated or not;,
(g) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(h) “undivided India” means India as defined in the Government of India Act, 1935, as originally
enacted.
(2) For the purposes of this Act, a person born aboard a registered ship or aircraft, or aboard an
unregistered ship or aircraft of the government of any country shall be deemed to have been born
in the place in which the ship or aircraft was registered or, as the case may be, in that country.
(3) Any reference in this Act to the status or description of the father of a person at the time of
that person’s birth shall, in relation to a person born after the death of his father, be construed as
a reference to the status or description of the father at the time of the father’s death; and where
that death occurred before, and the birth occurs after the commencement of this Act, the status or
description which would have been applicable to the father had he died after the commencement
of this Act shall be deemed to be the status or description applicable to him at the time of his
death.
(4) For the purposes of this Act, a person shall be deemed to be of full age if he is not a minor,
and of full capacity if he is not of unsound mind.
ACQUISITION OF CITIZENSHIP
3. Citizenship by birth
1[(1) Except as provided in sub-section (2), every person born in India,-
(a) on or after the 26th day of January, 1950, but before the commencement of the Citizenship
(Amendment) Act, 1986;
(b) on or after such commencement and either of whose parents is a citizen of India at the time of
his birth,
shall be a citizen of India by birth.]
(2) A person shall not be such a citizen by virtue of this section if at the time of his birth-
(a) his father possesses such immunity from suits and legal process as is accorded to an envoy
of a foreign sovereign power accredited to the President of India and is not a citizen of India; or
(b) his father is an enemy alien and the birth occurs in a place then under occupation by the
enemy.
2[4. Citizenship by descent
(1) A person born outside India,-
(a) on or after the 26th January, 1950, but before the commencement of the Citizenship
(Amendment) Act, 1992, shall be a citizen of India by descent if his father is a citizen of India at
the time of his birth; or
(b) on after such commencement, shall be a citizen of India by descent if either of his parents is a
citizen of India at the time of his birth:]
PROVIDED that if the father of such a person 3[referred to clause (a)] was a citizen of India by
descent only, that person shall not be a citizen of India by virtue of this section unless-
(a) his birth is registered at an Indian consulate within one year of its occurrence or the
commencement of this Act, whichever is later, or, with the permission of the Central Government,
after the expiry of the said period; or
(b) his father is, at the time of his birth, in service under a Government in India:
3[PROVIDED FURTHER that if either of the parents of such a person referred to in clause (b)
was a citizen of India by descent only, that person shall not be a citizen of India by virtue of this
section, unless-
(a) his birth is registered at an Indian consulate within one year of its occurrence or the
commencement of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 1992, whichever is later, or with the
permission of the Central Government, after the expiry of the said period; or
(b) either of his parents is, at the time of his birth, in service under a Government in India.
(2) If the Central Government so directs, a birth shall be deemed for the purposes of this section
to have been registered with its permission, notwithstanding that its permission was not obtained
before the registration.
(3) For the purposes of the proviso to sub-section (1), 4[any person] born outside undivided India
who was, or was deemed to be, a citizen of India at the commencement of the Constitution shall
be deemed to be a citizen of India by descent only.
5. Citizenship by registration
(1) Subject to the provisions of this section and such conditions and restrictions as may be
prescribed, the prescribed authority may, on application made in this behalf, register as a citizen
of India any person who is not already such citizen by virtue of the Constitution or by virtue of any
of the other provisions of this Act and belongs to any of the following categories,-
(a) persons of Indian origin who are ordinarily resident in India and have been resident for five
years immediately before making an application for registration;
(b) persons of Indian origin who are ordinarily resident in any country or place outside undivided
India;
(c) persons who are, or have been, married to citizens of India and are ordinarily resident in India
and have been so resident for five years immediately before making an application for
registration.
(d) minor children of persons who are citizens of India; and
(e) persons of full age and capacity who are citizens of a country specified in Schedule I:
PROVIDED that in prescribing the conditions and restrictions subject to which persons of any
such country may be registered as citizens of India under this clause, the Central Government
shall have due regard to the conditions subject to which citizens of India may, by law or practice
of that country, become citizens of that country by registration.
Explanation : For the purposes of this sub-section, a person shall be deemed to be of Indian
origin if he, or either of his parents, was born in undivided India.
(2) No person being of full age shall be registered as a citizen of India under sub-section (1) until
he has taken the oath of allegiance in the form specified in Schedule II.
(3) No person who has renounced, or has been deprived of his, Indian citizenship, or whose
Indian citizenship has terminated, under this Act shall be registered as a citizen of India under
sub-section (1) except by order of the Central Government.
(4) The Central Government may, if satisfied that there are special circumstances justifying such
registration, cause any minor to be registered as a citizen of India.
(5) A person registered under this section shall be a citizen of India by registration as from the
date on which he is so registered; and a person registered under the provisions of clause (b)(ii) of
Article 6 or Article 8 of the Constitution shall be deemed to be a citizen of India by registration as
from the commencement of the Constitution or the date on which he was so registered,
whichever may be later.
6. Citizenship by naturalisation
(1) Where an application is made in the prescribed manner by any person of full age and capacity
who is not a citizen of a country specified in Schedule I for the grant of a certificate of
naturalisation to him, the Central Government may, if satisfied that the applicant is qualified for
naturalisation under the provisions of Schedule III, grant to him, a certificate of naturalisation:
PROVIDED that, if in the opinion of the Central Government, the applicant is a person who has
rendered distinguished service to the cause of science, philosophy, art, literature, world peace or
human progress generally, it may waive all or any of the conditions specified in Third Schedule III.
(2) The person to whom a certificate of naturalisation is granted under sub-section (1) shall, on
taking the oath of allegiance in the form specified in Schedule II, be a citizen of India by
naturalisation as from the date on which that certificate is granted.
5[6A. Special provisions as to citizenship of persons covered by the Assam Accord
(1) For the purposes of this section-
(a) "Assam" means the territories included in the State of Assam immediately before the
commencement of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 1985;
(b) "detected to be a foreigner" means detected to be a foreigner in accordance with the
provisions of the Foreigners Act, 1946 (31 of 1946) and the Foreigners (Tribunals) Order, 1964 by
a Tribunal constituted under the said Order;
(c) "specified territory" means the territories included in Bangladesh immediately before the
commencement of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 1985;
(d) a person shall be deemed to be Indian origin, if he, or either of his parents or any of his
grandparents was born in India;
(e) a person shall be deemed to have been detected to be a foreigner on the date on which a
Tribunal constituted under the Foreigners (Tribunals) Order, 1964 submits its opinion to the effect
that he is a foreigner to the officer or authority concerned.
(2) Subject to the provisions of sub-sections (6) and (7), all persons of Indian origin who came
before the lst day of January, 1966 to Assam from the specified territory (including such of those
whose names were included in the electoral rolls used for the purposes of the General Election to
the House of the People held in 1967) and who have been ordinarily resident in Assam since the
dates of their entry into Assam shall be deemed to be citizens of India as from the lst day of
January, 1966.
(3) Subject to the provisions of sub-sections (6) and (7), every person of Indian origin who-
(a) came to Assam on or after the lst day of January, 1966 but before the 25th day of March,
1971 from the specified territory; and
(b) has, since the date of his entry into Assam, been ordinarily resident in Assam; and
(c) has been detected to be a foreigner;
shall register himself in accordance with the rules made by the Central Government in this behalf
under section 18 with such authority (thereafter in this sub-section referred to as the registering
authority) as may be specified in such rules and if his name is included in any electoral roll for any
Assembly or Parliamentary constituency in force on the date of such detection, his name shall be
deleted therefrom.
Explanation: In the case of every person seeking registration under this sub-section, the opinion
of the Tribunal constituted under the Foreigners (Tribunals) Order, 1964 holding such person to
be a foreigner, shall be deemed to be sufficient proof of the requirement under clause (c) of this
sub-section and if any question arises as to whether such person complies with any other
requirement under this sub-section, the registering authority shall,-
(i) if such opinion contains a finding with respect to such other requirement, decide the question in
conformity with such finding;
(ii) if such opinion does not contain a finding with respect to such other requirement, refer the
question to a Tribunal constituted under the said Order having jurisdiction in accordance with
such rules as the Central Government may make in this behalf under section 18 and decide the
question in conformity with the opinion received on such reference.
(4) A person registered under sub-section (3) shall have, as from the date on which he has been
detected to be a foreigner and till the expiry of a period of ten years from that date, the same
rights and obligations as a citizen of India (including the right to obtain a passport under the
Passport Act, 1967 (15 of 1967) and the obligations connected therewith), but shall not entitled to
have his name included in any electoral roll for any Assembly or Parliamentary constituency at
any time before the expiry of the said period of ten years.
(5) A person registered under sub-section (3) shall be deemed to be a citizen of India for all
purposes as from the date of expiry of a period of ten years from the date on which he has been
detected to be a foreigner.
(6) Without prejudice to the provisions of section 8,-
(a) if any person referred to in sub-section (2) submits in the prescribed manner and form and to
the prescribed authority within sixty days from the date of commencement of the Citizenship
(Amendment) Act, 1985, a declaration that he does not wish to be a citizen of India, such person
shall not be deemed to have become a citizen of India under that sub-section;
(b) if any person referred to in sub-section (3) submits in the prescribed manner and form and to
the prescribed authority within sixty days from the date of commencement of the Citizenship
(Amendment) Act, 1985 for year or from the date on which he has been detected to be a
foreigner, whichever is later, a declaration that he does not wish to be governed by the provisions
of that sub-section and sub-sections (4) and (5), it shall not be necessary for such person to
register himself under sub-section (3).
Explanation : Where a person required to file a declaration under this sub-section does not have
the capacity to enter into a contract, such declaration may be filed on his behalf by any person
competent under the law for the time being in force, to act in his behalf.
(7) Nothing in sub-sections (2) to (6) shall apply in relation to any person-
(a) who, immediately, before the commencement of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 1985, for
year is a citizen of India;
(b) who was expelled from India, before the commencement of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act,
1985, for year under the Foreigners Act, 1946 for year.
(8) Save as otherwise expressly provided in this section, the provisions of this section shall have
effect notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force.]
7. Citizenship by incorporation of territory
(1) If any territory becomes a part of India, the Central Government may, by order notified in the
Official Gazette, specify the persons who shall be citizens of India by reason of their connection
with that territory; and those persons shall be citizens of India as from the date to be specified in
the order.
TERMINATION OF CITIZENSHIP
8. Renunciation of citizenship
(1) If any citizen of India of full age and capacity, who is also a citizen or national of another
country, makes in the prescribed manner a declaration renouncing his Indian citizenship, the
declaration shall be registered by the prescribed authority, and, upon such registration, that
person shall cease to be a citizen of India:
PROVIDED that if any such declaration is made during any war in which India may be engaged,
registration thereof shall be withheld until the Central Government otherwise directs.
(2) Where 6[a person] ceases to be a citizen of India under sub-section (1) every minor child of
that person shall thereupon cease to be a citizen of India:
PROVIDED that any such child may, within one year after attaining full age, make a declaration
that he wishes to resume Indian citizenship and shall thereupon again become a citizen of India.
(3) For the purposes of this section, any woman who is, or has been, married shall be deemed to
be of full age.
9. Termination of citizenship
(1) Any citizen of India who by naturalisation, registration or otherwise voluntarily acquires, or has
at any time between the 26th January, 1950 and the commencement of this Act voluntarily
acquired, the citizenship of another country shall, upon such acquisition or, as the case may be,
such commencement, cease to be a citizen of India:
PROVIDED that nothing in this sub-section shall apply to a citizen of India who, during any war in
which India may be engaged, voluntarily acquires the citizenship of another country, until the
Central Government otherwise directs.
(2) If any question arises as to whether, when or how any person has acquired the citizenship of
another country, it shall be determined by such authority, in such manner, and having regard to
such rules of evidence, as may be prescribed in this behalf.
10. Deprivation of citizenship
(1) A citizen of India who is such by naturalisation or by virtue only of clause (c) of Article 5 of the
Constitution or by registration otherwise than under clause (b)(ii) of Article 6 of the Constitution or
clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 5 of this Act shall cease to be a citizen of India, if he is
deprived of that citizenship by an order of the Central Government under this section.
(2) Subject to the provisions of this section, the Central Government may, by order, deprive any
such citizen of Indian citizenship, if it is satisfied that-
(a) the registration or certificate of naturalisation was obtained by means of fraud, false
representation or the concealment of any material fact; or
(b) that citizen has shown himself by act or speech to be disloyal or disaffected towards the
Constitution of India as by law established; or
(c) that citizen has, during any war in which India may be engaged, unlawfully traded or
communicated with an enemy or been engaged in, or associated with, any business that was to
his knowledge carried on in such manner as to assist an enemy in that war; or
(d) that citizen has, within five years after registration or naturalisation, been sentenced in any
country to imprisonment for a term of not less than two years; or
(e) that citizen has been ordinarily resident, out of India for a continuous period of seven years,
and during that period, has neither been at any time a student of any educational institution in a
country outside India or in the service of a Government in India or of an international organisation
of which India is a member, not registered annually in the prescribed manner at an Indian
consulate his intention to retain his citizenship of India.
(3) The Central Government shall not deprive a person of citizenship under this section unless it
is satisfied that it is not conducive to the public good that person should continue to be a citizen of
India.
(4) Before making an order under this section, the Central Government shall give the person
against whom the order is proposed to be made, notice in writing informing him of the ground on
which it is proposed to be made and, if the order is proposed to be made on any of the grounds
specified in sub-section (2) other than clause (e) thereof, of his right, upon making application
therefor in the prescribed manner, to have his case referred to a committee of inquiry under this
section.
(5) If the order is proposed to be made against a person or any of the grounds specified in subsection
(2) other than clause (e) thereof and that person so applies in the prescribed manner, the
Central Government shall, and in any other case it may, refer the case to a Committee of Inquiry
consisting of a Chairman (being a person who has for at least ten years held a judicial office) and
two other members appointed by the Central Government in this behalf.
(6) The Committee of Inquiry shall, on such reference, hold the inquiry in such manner as may be
prescribed and submit its report to the Central Government, and the Central Government shall
ordinarily be guided by such report in making an order under this section.
SUPPLEMENTAL
11. Commonwealth citizenship
Every person who is a citizen of a Commonwealth country specified in Schedule I shall, by virtue
of that citizenship, have the status of a Commonwealth citizen of India.
12. Power to confer rights of Indian citizen on citizens of certain countries
(1) The Central Government may, by order notified in the Official Gazette, make provisions on a
basis of reciprocity for the conferment of all or any of the rights of a citizen of India on the citizens
of any country specified in Schedule I.
(2) Any order made under sub-section (1) shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent
therewith contained in any law other than the Constitution of India or this Act.
13. Certificate of citizenship in case of doubt
The Central Government may, in such cases as it thinks fit, certify that a person with respect to
whose citizenship of India a doubt exists, is a citizen of India; and a certificate issued under this
section shall, unless it is proved that it was obtained by means of fraud, false representation or
concealment of any material fact, be conclusive evidence that that person was such a citizen on
the date thereof, but without prejudice to any evidence that he was such a citizen at an earlier
date.
14. Disposal of application under sections 5 and 6
(1) The prescribed authority or the Central Government may, in its discretion, grant or refuse an
application under section 5 or section 6 and shall not be required to assign any reasons for such
grant or refusal.
(2) Subject to the provisions of section l5, the decision of the prescribed authority or the Central
Government on any such application as aforesaid shall be final and shall not be called in any
court.
15. Revision
(1) Any person aggrieved by an order made under this Act by the prescribed authority or any
officer or other authority (other than the Central Government) may, within a period of thirty days
from the date of the order, make an application to the Central Government for revision of that
order:
PROVIDED that the Central Government may entertain the application after the expiry of the said
period of thirty days, if it is satisfied that the applicant was prevented by sufficient cause from
making the application in time.
(2) On receipt of any such application under sub-section (1), the Central Government shall, after
considering the application of the aggrieved person and any report thereon which the officer or
authority making the order may submit, make such order in relation to the application as it deems
fit, and the decision of the Central Government shall be final.
16. Delegation of powers
The Central Government may, by order, direct that any power which is conferred on it by any of
the provisions of this Act other than those of section 10 and section 18 shall, in such
circumstances and under such conditions, if any, as may be specified in the order, be exercisable
also by such officer or authority as may be so specified.
17. Offences
Any person who, for the purpose of procuring anything to be done or not to be done under this
Act, knowingly makes any representation which is false in a material particular shall be
punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine, or with
both.
18. Power to make rules
(1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules to carry out
the purposes of this Act.
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may
provide for-
(a) the registration of anything required or authorised under this Act to be registered, and the
conditions and restrictions in regard to such registration;
(b) the forms to be used and the registers to be maintained under this Act;
(c) the administration and taking of oaths of allegiance under this Act, and the time within which,
and the manner in which, such oaths shall be taken and recorded;
(d) the giving of any notice required or authorised to be given by any person under this Act;
(e) the cancellation of the registration of, and the cancellation and amendment of certificates of
naturalisation relating to, persons deprived of citizenship under this Act, and the delivering up of
such certificates for those purposes;
(ee) the manner and form in which and the authority to whom declarations referred to in clauses
(a) and (b) of sub-section (6) of section 6A shall be submitted and other matters connected with
such declarations;
(f) the registration at Indian consulates of the births and deaths of persons of any class or
description born or dying outside India;
(g) the levy and collection of fees in respect of applications, registrations, declarations and
certificates under this Act, in respect of the taking of an oath of allegiance, and in respect of the
supply of certified or other copies of documents;
(h) the authority to determine the question of acquisition of citizenship of another country, the
procedure to be followed by such authority and rules of evidence relating to such cases;
(i) the procedure to be followed by the committees of inquiry appointed under section 10 and the
conferment on such committees of any of the powers, rights and privileges of civil courts;
(j) the manner in which applications for revision may be made and the procedure to be followed
by the Central Government in dealing with such applications; and
(k) any other matter which is to be, or may be, prescribed under the Act.
(3) In making any rule under this section, the Central Government may provide that breach
thereof shall be punishable with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees.
(4) Every rule made under this section shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made before
each House of Parliament, while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which may be
comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the
session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses
agree in making any modification in the rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not be
made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the
case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to
the validity of anything previously done under that rule.
19. Repeals
[Repealed by the Repealing and Amending Act, 1960 (58 of 1960)]
SCHEDULE I
[Sections 2(1)(b) and 5(1)(e)]
A. The following Commonwealth countries:
1. United Kingdom
2. Canada
3. Commonwealth of Australia
4. New Zealand
5. Union of South Africa
6. Pakistan
7. Ceylon
8. Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
9. Ghana
10. Federation of Malaya
11. Singapore
B. The Republic of Ireland
Explanation: In this Schedule, “United Kingdom” means the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland, and includes the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and all Colonies; and
“Commonwealth of Australia” includes the territories of Papua and the territory of Norfolk Island.
SCHEDULE II: OATH OF ALLEGIANCE
[Sections 5(2) and 6(2)]
I, A. B. _________ do solemnly affirm (or swear) that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the
Constitution of India as by law established, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of India and
fulfil my duties as a citizen of India.
SCHEDULE III: QUALIFICATIONS FOR NATURALISATION
[Section 6(1)]
The qualifications for naturalisation of a person who is not a citizen of a country specified in
Schedule I are:-
(a) that he is not a subject or citizen of any country where citizens of India are prevented by law
or practice of that country from becoming subjects or citizens or that country by naturalisation;
(b) that, if he is a citizen of any country he has renounced the citizenship of that country in
accordance with the law therein in force in that behalf and has notified such renunciation to the
Central Government;
(c) that he has either resided in India or been in the service of a Government in India or partly the
one and partly the other, throughout the period of twelve months immediately preceding the date
of the application;
(d) that during the twelve years immediately preceding the said period of twelve months, he has
either resided in India or been in the service of a Government in India, or partly the one and partly
the other, for periods amounting in the aggregate to not less than nine years;
(e) that he is of good character;
(f) that he has an adequate knowledge of a language specified in Schedule VIII to the
Constitution; and
(g) that in the event of a certificate of naturalisation being granted to him, he intends to reside in
India, or to enter into, or continue in, service under a Government in India or under an
international organisation of which India is a member or under a society, company or body of
persons established in India:
PROVIDED that the Central Government may, if in the special circumstances of any particular
case it thinks fit,-
(i) allow a continuous period of twelve months ending not more than six months before the date of
the application to be reckoned, for the purposes of clause (c) above, as if it had immediately
preceded that date;
(ii) allow periods of residence or service earlier than thirteen years before the date of the
application to be reckoned in computing the aggregate mentioned in clause (d) above.
November 11, 2014
- Section 1: Title and extent of operation of the Code
- Section 2: Punishment of offences committed within India
- Section 3: Punishment of offences committed beyond, but which by law may be tried within, India
- Section 4: Extension of Code to extra-territorial offences
- Section 5: Certain laws not to be affected by this Act
- Section 6: Definitions in the Code to be understood subject to exceptions
- Section 7: Sense of expression once explained
- Section 8: Gender
- Section 9: Number
- Section 10: “Man” “Woman”
- Section 11: “Person”
- Section 12: “Public”
- Section 13: Definition of “Queen” (Repealed)
- Section 14: “Servant of Government”
- Section 15: (Repealed)
- Section 16: Definition of “British India” (Repealed)
- Section 17: “Government”
- Section 18: “India”
- Section 19: “Judge”
- Section 20: “Court of Justice”
- Section 21: “Public servant”
- Section 22: “Movable property”
- Section 23: “Wrongful gain”
- Section 24: “Dishonestly”
- Section 25: “Fraudulently”
- Section 26: “Reason to believe”
- Section 27: Property in possession of wife, clerk or servant
- Section 28: “Counterfeit”
- Section 29: “Document”
- Section 30: “Valuable security”
- Section 31: “A will”
- Section 32: Words referring to acts include illegal omissions
- Section 33: “Act”. “Omission”
- Section 34: Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention -
- Section 35: When such an act is criminal by reason of its being done with a criminal knowledge or intention
- Section 36: Effect caused partly by act and partly by omission
- Section 37: Co-operation by doing one of several acts constituting an offence
- Section 38: Persons concerned in criminal Act may be guilty of different offences
- Section 39: “Voluntarily”
- Section 40: “Offence”
- Section 41: “Special law”
- Section 42: “Local law”
- Section 43: “Illegal”, “Legally bound to do”
- Section 44: “Injury”
- Section 45: “Life”
- Section 46: “Death”
- Section 47: “Animal”
- Section 48: “Vessel”
- Section 49: “Year”, “Month”
- Section 50: “Section”
- Section 51: “Oath”
- Section 52: “Good faith”
- Section 52A: “Harbour”
- Section 53: Punishments
- Section 53A: Construction of reference to transportation
- Section 54: Commutation of sentence of death
- Section 55: Commutation of sentence of imprisonment for life
- Section 55A: Definition of “appropriate Government”
- Section 56: Sentence of Europeans and Americans to penal servitude (Repealed)
- Section 57: Fractions of terms of punishment
- Section 58: Offenders sentenced to transportation how dealt with until transported (Repealed)
- Section 59: Transportation instead of imprisonment (Repealed)
- Section 60: Sentence may be (in certain cases of imprisonment) wholly or partly rigorous or simple
- Section 61: (Repealed) Sentence of forfeiture of property
- Section 62: (Repealed) Forfeiture of property in respect of offenders punishable with death, transportation or imprisonment
- Section 63: Amount of fine
- Section 64: Sentence of imprisonment for non-payment of fine
- Section 65: Limit to imprisonment for non-payment of fine, when imprisonment and fine awardable
- Section 66: Description of imprisonment for non-payment of fine
- Section 67: Imprisonment for non-payment of fine, when offence punishable with fine only
- Section 68: Imprisonment to terminate on payment of fine
- Section 69: Termination of imprisonment on payment of proportional part of fine
- Section 70: Fine leviable within six years, or during imprisonment – Death not to discharge property from liability
- Section 71: Limit of punishment of offence made up of several offences
- Section 72: Punishment of person guilty of one of several offences, the judgment stating that it is doubtful of which
- Section 73: Solitary confinement
- Section 74: Limit of solitary confinement
- Section 75: Enhanced punishment for certain offences under Chapter XII or Chapter XVII after previous conviction
- Section 76: Act done by a person bound, or by mistake of fact believing himself bound, by law
- Section 77: Act of Judge when acting judicially
- Section 78: Act done pursuant to the judgment or order of Court
- Section 79: Act done by a person justified, or by mistake of fact believing himself, justified, by law
- Section 80: Accident in doing a lawful act
- Section 81: Act likely to cause harm, but done without criminal intent, and to prevent other harm
- Section 82: Act of a child under seven years of age
- Section 83: Act of a child above seven and under twelve of immature understanding
- Section 84: Act of a person of unsound mind
- Section 85: Act of a person incapable of judgment by reason of intoxication caused against his will
- Section 86: Offence requiring a particular intent or knowledge committed by one who is intoxicated
- Section 87: Act not intended and not known to be likely to cause death or grievous hurt, done by consent
- Section 88: Act not intended to cause death, done by consent in good faith for person’s benefit
- Section 89: Act done in good faith for benefit of child or insane person, by or by consent of guardian
- Section 90: Consent known to be given under fear or misconception
- Section 91: Exclusion of acts which are offences independently of harm cause
- Section 92: Act done in good faith for benefit of a person without consent
- Section 93: Communication made in good faith
- Section 94: Act to which a person is compelled by threats
- Section 95: Act causing slight harm
- Section 96: Things done in private defence
- Section 97: Right of private defence of the body and of property
- Section 98: Right of private defence against the act of a person of unsound mind, etc.
- Section 99: Acts against which there is no right of private defence
- Section 100: When the right of private defence of the body extends to causing death
- Section 101: When such right extends to causing any harm other than death
- Section 102: Commencement and continuance of the right of private defence of the body
- Section 103: When the right of private defence of property extends to causing death
- Section 104: When such right to causing any harm other than death
- Section 105: Commencement and continuance of the right of private defence of property
- Section 106: Right of private defence against deadly assault when there is risk of harm to innocent person
- Section 107: Abetment of a thing
- Section 108: Abettor
- Section 108A: Abetment in India of offences outside India
- Section 109: Punishment of abetment if the act abetted is committed in consequence and where no express provision is made for its punishment
- Section 110: Punishment of abetment if person abetted does act with different intention from that of abettor
- Section 111: Liability of abettor when one act abetted and different act done
- Section 112: Abettor when liable to cumulative punishment for act abetted and for act done
- Section 113: Liability of abettor for an effect caused by the act abetted different from that intended by the abettor
- Section 114: Abettor present when offence is committed
- Section 115: Abetment of offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life if offence not committed
- Section 116: Abetment of offence punishable with imprisonment—if offence be not committed
- Section 117: Abetting commission of offence by the public or by more than ten persons
- Section 118: Concealing design to commit offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life
- Section 119: Public servant concealing design to commit offence which it is his duty to prevent
- Section 120: Concealing design to commit offence punishable with imprisonment
- Section 120A: Definition of criminal conspiracy
- Section 120B: Punishment of criminal conspiracy
- Section 121: Waging, or attempting to wage war, or abetting waging of war, against the Government of India
- Section 121A: Conspiracy to commit offences punishable by section 121
- Section 122: Collecting arms, etc., with intention of waging war against the Government of India
- Section 123: Concealing with intent to facilitate design to wage war
- Section 124: Assaulting President, Governor, etc., with intent to compel or restrain the exercise of any lawful power
- Section 124A: Sedition
- Section 125: Waging war against any Asiatic Power in alliance with the Government of India
- Section 126: Committing depredation on territories of Power at peace with the Government of India
- Section 127: Receiving property taken by war or depredation mentioned in sections 125 and 126
- Section 128: Public servant voluntarily allowing prisoner of state or war to escape
- Section 129: Public servant negligently suffering such prisoner to escape
- Section 130: Aiding escape of, rescuing or harbouring such prisoner
- Section 131: Abetting mutiny, or attempting to seduce a soldier, sailor or airman from his duty
- Section 132: Abetment of mutiny, if mutiny is committed in consequence thereof
- Section 133: Abetment of assault by soldier, sailor or airman on his superior officer, when in execution of his office
- Section 134: Abetment of such assault, if the assault committed
- Section 135: Abetment of desertion of soldier, sailor or airman
- Section 136: Harbouring deserter
- Section 137: Deserter concealed on board merchant vessel through negligence of master
- Section 138: Abetment of act of insubordination by soldier, sailor or airman
- Section 138A: Application of foregoing sections to the Indian Marine Service (Repealed)
- Section 139: Persons subject to certain Acts
- Section 140: Wearing garb or carrying token used by soldier, sailor or airman
- Section 141: Unlawful assembly
- Section 142: Being member of unlawful assembly
- Section 143: Punishment
- Section 144: Joining unlawful assembly armed with deadly weapon
- Section 145: Joining or continuing in unlawful assembly, knowing it has been commanded to disperse
- Section 146: Rioting
- Section 147: Punishment for rioting
- Section 148: Rioting, armed with deadly weapon
- Section 149: Every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object
- Section 150: Hiring, or conniving at hiring, of persons to join unlawful assembly
- Section 151: Knowingly joining or continuing in assembly of five or more persons after it has been commanded to disperse
- Section 152: Assaulting or obstructing public servant when suppressing riot, etc.
- Section 153: Want only giving provocation with intent to cause riot – if rioting be committed: if not committed
- Section 153A: Promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony
- Section 153AA: Promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony
- Section 153B: Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration
- Section 154: Owner or occupier of land on which an unlawful assembly is held
- Section 155: Liability of person for whose benefit riot is committed
- Section 156: Liability of agent of owner or occupier for whose benefit riot is committed
- Section 157: Harbouring persons hired for an unlawful assembly
- Section 158: Being hired to take part in an unlawful assembly or riot
- Section 159: Affray
- Section 160: Punishment for committing affray
- Section 161: (Repealed)
- Section 162: (Repealed)
- Section 163: (Repealed)
- Section 164: (Repealed)
- Section 165: (Repealed)
- Section 165A: (Repealed)
- Section 166: Public servant disobeying law, with intent to cause injury to any person
- Section 167: Public servant framing an incorrect document with intent to cause injury
- Section 168: Public servant unlawfully engaging in trade
- Section 169: Public servant unlawfully buying or bidding for property
- Section 170: Personating a public servant
- Section 171: Wearing garb or carrying token used by public servant with fraudulent intent
- Section 171A: “Candidate”, “Electoral right” defined
- Section 171B: Bribery
- Section 171C: Undue influence at elections
- Section 171D: Personation at elections
- Section 171E: Punishment for bribery
- Section 171F: Punishment for undue influence or personation at an election
- Section 171G: False statement in connection with an election
- Section 171H: Illegal payments in connection with an election
- Section 171I: Failure to keep election accounts
- Section 172: Absconding to avoid service of summons or other proceeding
- Section 173: Preventing service of summons or other proceeding, or preventing publication thereof
- Section 174: Non-attendance in obedience to an order from public servant
- Section 174A: Non-appearance in response to a proclamation under section 82 of Act 2 of 1974
- Section 175: Omission to produce document to public servant by person legally bound to produce it
- Section 176: Omission to give notice or information to public servant by person legally bound to give it
- Section 177: Furnishing false information
- Section 178: Refusing oath or affirmation when duly required by public servant to make it
- Section 179: Refusing to answer public servant authorized to question
- Section 180: Refusing to sign statement
- Section 181: False statement on oath or affirmation to public servant or person authorized to administer an oath or affirmation
- Section 182: False information, with intent to cause public servant to use his lawful power to the injury of another person
- Section 183: Resistance to the taking of property by the lawful authority of a public servant
- Section 184: Obstructing sale of property offered for sale by authority of public servant
- Section 185: Illegal purchase or bid for property offered for sale by authority of public servant
- Section 186: Obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions
- Section 187: Omission to assist public servant when bound by law to give assistance
- Section 188: Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant
- Section 189: Threat of injury to public servant
- Section 190: Threat of injury to induce person to refrain from applying for protection to public servant
- Section 191: Giving false evidence
- Section 192: Fabricating false evidence
- Section 193: Punishment for false evidence
- Section 194: Giving or fabricating false evidence with intent to procure conviction of capital offence
- Section 195: Giving or fabricating false evidence with intent to procure conviction of offence punishable with imprisonment for life or imprisonment
- Section 195A: Threatening any person to give false evidence
- Section 196: Using evidence known to be false
- Section 197: Issuing or signing false certificate
- Section 198: Using as true a certificate known to be false
- Section 199: False statement made in declaration which is by law receivable as evidence
- Section 200: Using as true such declaration knowing it to be false
- Section 201: Causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender
- Section 202: Intentional omission to give information of offence by person bound to inform
- Section 203: Giving false information respecting an offence committed
- Section 204: Destruction of document to prevent its production as evidence
- Section 205: False personation for purpose of act or proceeding in suit or prosecution
- Section 206: Fraudulent removal or concealment of property to prevent its seizure as forfeited or in execution
- Section 207: Fraudulent claim to property to prevent its seizure as forfeited or in execution
- Section 208: Fraudulently suffering decree for sum not due
- Section 209: Dishonesty making false claim in Court
- Section 210: Fraudulently obtaining decree for sum not due
- Section 211: False charge of offence made with intent to injure
- Section 212: Harbouring offender
- Section 213: Taking gift, etc., to screen an offender from punishment
- Section 214: Offering gift or restoration of property in consideration of screening offender
- Section 215: Taking gift to help to recover stolen property, etc
- Section 216: Harbouring offender who has escaped from custody or whose apprehension has been ordered (Repealed)
- Section 216A: Penalty for harbouring robbers or dacoits
- Section 216B: (Repealed) Definition of “harbour” in sections 212, 216 and 216A
- Section 217: Public servant disobeying direction of law with intent to save person from punishment or property from forfeiture
- Section 218: Public servant framing incorrect record or writing with intent to save person from punishment or property from forfeiture
- Section 219: Public servant in judicial proceeding corruptly making report, etc., contrary to law
- Section 220: Commitment for trial or confinement by person having authority who knows that he is acting contrary to law
- Section 221: Intentional omission to apprehend on the part of public servant bound to apprehend
- Section 222: Intentional omission to apprehend on the part of public servant bound to apprehend person under sentence or lawfully committed
- Section 223: Escape from confinement or custody negligently suffered by public servant
- Section 224: Resistance or obstruction by a person to his lawful apprehension
- Section 225: Resistance or obstruction to lawful apprehension of another person
- Section 225A: Omission to apprehend, or sufferance of escape, on part of public servant, in cases not otherwise, provided for
- Section 225B: Resistance or obstruction to lawful apprehension, or escape or rescue in cases not otherwise provided for
- Section 226: (Repealed) Unlawful return from transportation.
- Section 227: Violation of condition of remission of punishment
- Section 228: Intentional insult or interruption to public servant sitting in judicial proceeding
- Section 228A: Disclosure of identity of the victim of certain offences, etc.
- Section 229: Personation of a juror or assessor
- Section 229A: Failure by person released on bail or bond to appear in Court
- Section 230: “Coin” defined
- Section 231: Counterfeiting coin
- Section 232: Counterfeiting Indian coin
- Section 234: Making or selling instrument for counterfeiting coin
- Section 235: Possession of instrument or material for the purpose of using the same for counterfeiting coin
- Section 236: Abetting in India the counterfeiting out of India of coin
- Section 237: Import or export of counterfeit coin
- Section 238: Import or export of counterfeits of the Indian coin
- Section 239: Delivery of coin possessed with knowledge that it is counterfeit
- Section 240: Delivery of Indian coin, possessed with knowledge that it is counterfeit
- Section 241: Delivery of coin as genuine, which, when first possessed, the deliverer did not know to be counterfeit
- Section 242: Possession of counterfeit coin by person who knew it to be counterfeit when he became possessed thereof
- Section 243: Possession of Indian coin by person who knew it to be counterfeit when he became possessed thereof
- Section 244: Person employed in mint causing coin to be of different weight or composition from that fixed by law
- Section 245: Unlawfully taking coining instrument from mint
- Section 246: Fraudulently or dishonestly diminishing weight or altering composition of coin
- Section 247: Fraudulently or dishonestly diminishing weight or altering composition of Indian coin
- Section 248: Altering appearance of coin with intent that it shall pass as coin of different description
- Section 249: Altering appearance of Indian coin with intent that it shall pass as coin of different description
- Section 250: Delivery of coin possessed with knowledge that it is altered
- Section 251: Delivery of Indian coin, possessed with knowledge that it is altered
- Section 252: Possession of coin by person who knew it to be altered when he became possessed thereof
- Section 253: Possession of Indian coin by person who knew it to be altered when he became possessed thereof
- Section 254: Delivery of coin as genuine which, when first possessed, the deliverer did not know to be altered
- Section 255: Counterfeiting Government stamp
- Section 256: Having possession of instrument or material for counterfeiting Government stamp
- Section 257: Making or selling instrument for counterfeiting Government stamp
- Section 258: Sale of counterfeit Government stamp
- Section 259: Having possession of counterfeit Government stamp
- Section 260: Using as genuine a Government stamp known to be counterfeit
- Section 261: Effacing writing from substance bearing Government stamp, or removing from document a stamp used for it, with intent to cause loss to Government
- Section 262: Using Government stamp known to have been before used
- Section 263: Erasure of mark denoting that stamp has been used
- Section 263A: Prohibition of fictitious stamps
- Section 264: Fraudulent use of false instrument for weighing
- Section 265: Fraudulent use of false weight or measure
- Section 266: Being in possession of false weight or measure
- Section 267: Making or selling false weight or measure
- Section 268: Public nuisance
- Section 269: Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life
- Section 270: Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life
- Section 271: Disobedience to quarantine rule
- Section 272: Adulteration of food or drink intended for sale
- Section 273: Sale of noxious food or drink
- Section 274: Adulteration of drugs
- Section 275: Sale of adulterated drugs
- Section 276: Sale of drug as a different drug or preparation
- Section 277: Fouling water of public spring or reservoir
- Section 278: Making atmosphere noxious to health
- Section 279: Rash driving or riding on a public way
- Section 280: Rash navigation of vessel
- Section 281: Exhibition of false light, mark or buoy
- Section 282: Conveying person by water for hire in unsafe or overloaded vessel
- Section 283: Danger or obstruction in public way or line of navigation
- Section 284: Negligent conduct with respect to poisonous substance
- Section 285: Negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter
- Section 286: Negligent conduct with respect to explosive substance
- Section 287: Negligent conduct with respect to machinery
- Section 288: Negligent conduct with respect to pulling down or repairing buildings
- Section 289: Negligent conduct with respect to animal
- Section 290: Punishment for public nuisance in cases not otherwise provided for
- Section 291: Continuance of nuisance after injunction to discontinue
- Section 292: Sale, etc., of obscene books, etc.
- Section 293: Sale, etc., of obscene objects to young person
- Section 294: Obscene acts and songs
- Section 294A: Keeping lottery office
- Section 295: Injuring or defiling place of worship, with intent to insult the religion of any class
- Section 295A: Deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs
- Section 296: Disturbing religious assembly
- Section 297: Trespassing on burial places, etc
- Section 298: Uttering words, etc., with deliberate intent to wound religious feelings
- Section 299: Culpable homicide
- Section 300: Murder
- Section 301: Culpable homicide by causing death of person other than person whose death was intended
- Section 303: Punishment for murder by life-convict
- Section 304: Punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder
- Section 304A: Causing death by negligence
- Section 304B: Dowry death
- Section 305: Abetment of suicide of child or insane person
- Section 306: Abetment of suicide
- Section 307: Attempt to murder
- Section 308: Attempt to commit culpable homicide
- Section 309: Attempt to commit suicide
- Section 310: Thug
- Section 311: Punishment
- Section 312: Causing miscarraige
- Section 313: Causing miscarriage without woman’s consent
- Section 314: Death caused by act done with intent to cause miscarriage
- Section 315: Act done with intent to prevent child being born alive or to cause it to die after birth
- Section 316: Causing death of quick unborn child by act amounting to culpable homicide-
- Section 317: Exposure and abandonment of child under twelve years, by parent or person having care of it
- Section 318: Concealment of birth by secret disposal of dead body
- Section 319: Hurt
- Section 320: Grievous hurt
- Section 321: Voluntarily causing hurt
- Section 322: Voluntarily causing grievous hurt
- Section 324: Voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means
- Section 325: Punishment for voluntarily causing grievous hurt
- Section 326: Voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means
- Section 326A: Voluntarily causing grievous hurt by use of acid, etc.
- Section 326B: Voluntarily causing grievous hurt by use of acid, etc.
- Section 327: Voluntarily causing hurt to extort property, or to constrain to an illegal act
- Section 328: Causing hurt by means of poison, etc., with intent to commit and offence
- Section 329: Voluntarily causing grievous hurt to extort property, or to constrain to an illegal act
- Section 330: Voluntarily causing hurt to extort confession or to compel restoration of property
- Section 331: Voluntarily causing grievous hurt to extort confession, or to compel restoration of property
- Section 332: Voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty
- Section 333: Voluntarily causing grievous hurt to deter public servant from his duty
- Section 334: Voluntarily causing hurt on provocation
- Section 335: Voluntarily causing grievous hurt on provocation
- Section 336: Act endangering life or personal safety of others
- Section 337: Causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others
- Section 338: Causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others
- Section 339: Wrongful restraint
- Section 340: Wrongful confinement
- Section 341: Punishment for wrongful restraint
- Section 342: Punishment for wrongful confinement
- Section 343: Wrongful confinement for three or more days
- Section 344: Wrongful confinement for ten or more days
- Section 345: Wrongful confinement of person for whose liberation writ has been issued
- Section 346: Wrongful confinement in secret
- Section 347: Wrongful confinement to extort property, or constrain to illegal act
- Section 348: Wrongful confinement to extort confession, or compel restoration of property
- Section 349: Force
- Section 350: Criminal force
- Section 351: Assault
- Section 352: Punishment for assault or criminal force otherwise than on grave provocation
- Section 353: Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty
- Section 354: Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty
- Section 354A: Sexual harassment and punishment for sexual harassment
- Section 354B: Assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe
- Section 354C: Voyeurism
- Section 354D: Stalking
- Section 355: Assault or criminal force with intent to dishonour person, otherwise than on grave provocation
- Section 356: Assault or criminal force in attempt to commit theft of property carried by a person
- Section 357: Assault or criminal force in attempting wrongfully to confine a person
- Section 358: Assault or criminal force on grave provocation
- Section 359: Kidnapping
- Section 360: Kidnapping from India
- Section 361: Kidnapping from lawful guardianship
- Section 362: Abduction
- Section 363: Punishment for kidnapping
- Section 363A: Kidnapping or maiming a minor for purposes of begging
- Section 364: Kidnapping or abducting in order to murder
- Section 364A: Kidnapping for ransom, etc.
- Section 365: Kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine person
- Section 366: Kidnapping, abducting or inducing woman to compel her marriage, etc.
- Section 366A: Procreation of minor girl
- Section 366B: Importation of girl from foreign country
- Section 367: Kidnapping or abducting in order to subject person to grievous hurt, slavery, etc.
- Section 368: Wrongfully concealing or keeping in confinement, kidnapped or abducted person
- Section 369: Kidnapping or abducting child under ten years with intent to steal from its person
- Section 370: Trafficking of persons[1]
- Section 370A: Exploitation of a trafficked person
- Section 371: Habitual dealing in slaves
- Section 372: Selling minor for purposes of prostitution, etc.
- Section 373: Buying minor for purposes of prostitution, etc.
- Section 374: Unlawful compulsory labour
- Section 375: Rape
- Section 376: Punishment for rape [1]
- Section 376A: Punishment for causing death or resulting in persistent vegetative state of victim
- Section 376B: Sexual intercourse by husband upon his wife during separation
- Section 376C: Sexual intercourse by person in authority
- Section 376D: Gang rape
- Section 376E: Punishment for repeat offenders
- Section 378: Theft
- Section 379: Punishment for theft
- Section 380: Theft in dwelling house, etc.
- Section 381: Theft by clerk or servant of property in possession of master
- Section 382: Theft after preparation made for causing death, hurt or restraint in order to the committing of the theft
- Section 383: Extortion
- Section 384: Punishment for extortion
- Section 385: Putting person in fear of injury in order to commit extortion
- Section 386: Extortion by putting a person in fear of death or grievous hurt
- Section 387: Putting person in fear of death or of grievous hurt, in order to commit extortion
- Section 388: Extortion by threat of accusation of an offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life, etc
- Section 389: Putting person in fear or accusation of offence, in order to commit extortion
- Section 390: Robbery
- Section 391: Dacoity
- Section 392: Punishment for robbery
- Section 393: Attempt to commit robbery
- Section 394: Voluntarily causing hurt in committing robbery
- Section 395: Punishment for dacoity
- Section 396: Dacoity with murder
- Section 397: Robbery or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt
- Section 398: Attempt to commit robbery or dacoity when armed with deadly weapon
- Section 399: Making preparation to commit dacoity
- Section 400: Punishment for belonging to gang of dacoits
- Section 401: Punishment for belonging to gang of thieves
- Section 402: Assembling for purpose of committing dacoity
- Section 403: Dishonest misappropriation of property
- Section 404: Dishonest misappropriation of property possessed by deceased person at the time of his death
- Section 405: Criminal breach of trust
- Section 407: Criminal breach of trust by carrier, etc.
- Section 408: Criminal breach of trust by clerk or servant
- Section 409: Criminal breach of trust by public servant, or by banker, merchant or agent
- Section 410: Stolen property
- Section 411: Dishonestly receiving stolen property
- Section 412: Dishonestly receiving property stolen in the commission of a dacoity
- Section 413: Habitually dealing in stolen property
- Section 414: Assisting in concealment of stolen property
- Section 415: Cheating
- Section 416: Cheating by personation
- Section 417: Punishment for cheating
- Section 418: Cheating with knowledge that wrongful loss may ensue to person whose interest offender is bound to protect
- Section 419: Punishment for cheating by personation
- Section 421: Dishonest or fraudulent removal or concealment of property to prevent distribution among creditors
- Section 422: Dishonestly or fraudulently preventing debt being available for creditors
- Section 423: Dishonest or fraudulent execution of deed of transfer containing false statement of consideration
- Section 424: Dishonest or fraudulent removal or concealment of property
- Section 425: Mischief
- Section 426: Punishment for mischief
- Section 427: Mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees
- Section 428: Mischief by killing or maiming animal of the value of ten rupees
- Section 429: Mischief by killing or maiming cattle, etc., of any value or any animal of the value of fifty rupees
- Section 430: Mischief by injury to works of irrigation or by wrongfully diverting water
- Section 431: Mischief by injury to public road, bridge, river or channel
- Section 432: Mischief by causing inundation or obstruction to public drainage attended with damage
- Section 433: Mischief by destroying, moving or rendering less useful a light-house or sea-mark
- Section 434: Mischief by destroying or moving, etc., a land-mark fixed by public authority
- Section 435: Mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to cause damage to amount of one hundred or (in case of agricultural produce) ten rupees
- Section 436: Mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent destroy house, etc.
- Section 437: Mischief with intent to destroy or make unsafe a decked vessel or one of twenty tons burden
- Section 438: Punishment for the mischief described in section 437 committed by fire or explosive substance
- Section 439: Punishment for intentionally running vessel aground or ashore with intent to commit theft, etc.
- Section 440: Mischief committed after preparation made for causing death or hurt
- Section 441: Criminal trespass
- Section 442: House-trespass
- Section 443: Lurking house-trespass
- Section 444: Lurking house-trespass by night
- Section 445: House-breaking
- Section 446: House-breaking by night
- Section 447: Punishment for criminal trespass
- Section 448: Punishment for house-trespass
- Section 449: House-trespass in order to commit offence punishable with death
- Section 450: House-trespass in order to commit offence punishable with imprisonment for life
- Section 451: House-trespass in order to commit offence punishable with imprisonment
- Section 452: House-trespass alter preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint
- Section 453: Punishment for lurking house-trespass or house-breaking
- Section 454: Lurking house-trespass or house-breaking in order to commit offence punishable with imprisonment
- Section 455: Lurking house-trespass or house-breaking after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint
- Section 456: Punishment for lurking house-trespass or house-breaking by night
- Section 457: Lurking house-trespass or house-breaking by night in order to commit offence punishable with imprisonment
- Section 458: Lurking house-trespass or house-breaking by night after preparation for hurt, assault, or wrongful restraint
- Section 459: Grievous hurt caused whilst committing lurking house-trespass or house-breaking
- Section 460: All persons jointly concerned in lurking house-trespass or house-breaking by night punishable where death or grievous hurt caused by one of them
- Section 461: Dishonestly breaking open receptacle containing property
- Section 462: Punishment for same offence when committed by person entrusted with custody
- Section 463: Forgery
- Section 464: Making a false document
- Section 465: Punishment for forgery
- Section 466: Forgery of record of Court or of public register, etc.
- Section 467: Forgery of valuable security, will, etc.
- Section 468: Forgery for purpose of cheating
- Section 469: Forgery for purpose of harming reputation
- Section 470: Forged document
- Section 471: Using as genuine a forged document
- Section 472: Making or possessing counterfeit seal, etc., with intent to commit forgery punishable under section 467
- Section 473: Making or possessing counterfeit seal, etc., with intent to commit forgery punishable otherwise
- Section 474: Having possession of document described in section 466 or 467, knowing it to be forged and intending to use it genuine
- Section 475: Counterfeiting device or mark used for authenticating documents described in section 467, or possessing counterfeit marked material
- Section 476: Counterfeiting device or mark used for authenticating documents other than those described in section 467, or possessing counterfeit marked material
- Section 477: Fraudulent cancellation, destruction, etc., of will, authority to adopt, or valuable security
- Section 477A: Falsification of accounts
- Section 478: (Repealed) Trade Mark.
- Section 479: Property mark
- Section 480: (Repealed) Using a false trade mark.
- Section 481: Using a false property mark
- Section 482: Punishment for using a false property mark
- Section 483: Counterfeiting a property mark used by another
- Section 484: Counterfeiting a mark used by a public servant
- Section 485: Making or possession of any instrument for counterfeiting a property mark
- Section 486: Selling goods marked with a counterfeit property mark
- Section 487: Making a false mark upon any receptacle containing goods
- Section 488: Punishment for making use of any such false mark
- Section 489: Tampering with property mark with intent to cause injury
- Section 489A: Counterfeiting currency-notes or bank-notes
- Section 489B: Using as genuine, forged or counterfeit currency-notes or bank-notes
- Section 489C: Possession of forged or counterfeit currency-notes or bank-notes
- Section 489D: Making or possessing instruments or materials for forging or counterfeiting currency notes or bank-notes
- Section 489E: Making or using documents resembling currency-notes or bank-notes
- Section 490: (Repealed) Breach of contract of service during voyage or journey
- Section 491: Breach of contract to attend on and supply wants of helpless person
- Section 492: (Repealed) Breach of contract to serve at distant place to which servant is conveyed at master’s expense.
- Section 493: Cohabitation caused by a man deceitfully inducing a belief of lawful marriage
- Section 494: Marrying again during lifetime of husband or wife
- Section 495: Same offence with concealment of former marriage from person with whom subsequent marriage is contracted
- Section 496: Marriage ceremony fraudulently gone through without lawful marriage
- Section 497: Adultery
- Section 498: Enticing or taking away or detaining with criminal intent a married woman
- Section 499: Defamation
- Section 500: Punishment for defamation
- Section 501: Printing or engraving matter known to be defamatory
- Section 502: Sale of printed or engraved substance containing defamatory matter
- Section 503: Criminal intimidation
- Section 504: Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace
- Section 505: Statements conducing public mischief
- Section 507: Criminal intimidation by an anonymous communication
- Section 508: Act caused by inducing person to believe that he will be rendered an object of the Divine displeasure
- Section 509: Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman
- Section 510: Misconduct in public by a drunken person
- Section 511: Punishment for attempting to commit offences punishable with imprisonment for life or other imprisonment
Indian Penal Code
Section 1. Title and extent of operation of the Code
Act No. 45 of 1860.
This Act shall be called the Indian Penal Code, and shall 1[extend to the whole of India 2[except the State of Jammu and Kashmir].]
1. The original words have successively been amended by Act 12 of 1891, sec. 2 and Sch. I, the A.O. 1937, the A.O. 1948 and the A.O. 1950 to read as above.
2. Subs. by Act 3 of 1951, sec. 3 and Sch., for “except Part B States”.
Section 2. Punishment of offences committed within India
Every person shall be liable punishment under this Code and not otherwise for every act or omission contrary to the provisions thereof, of which, he shall be guilty within 1[India] 2[***].
1. The original words “the said territories” have successively been amended by the A.O. 1937, the A.O. 1948, the A.O. 1950 and Act 3 of 1951, sec. 3 and Sch., to read as above.
2. The words and figures “on or after the said first day of May, 1861” rep. by Act 12 of 1891, sec. 2 and Sch. I.
Section 3. Punishment of offences committed beyond, but which by law may be tried within, India
Any person liable, by any 1(Indian law) to be tried for an offence committed beyond 2(India) shall be dealt with according to the provisions of this Code for any act committed beyond 2(India) in the same manner as if such act had been committed within 3[India].
1. Subs. by the A.O. 1937 for “law passed by the Governor General of India in Council”.
2. The original words “the limits of the said territories” have successively been amended by the A.O. 1937, the A.O. 1948, the A.O. 1950 and Act 3 of 1951, sec. 3 and Sch., to read as above.
3. The original words “the said territories” have successively been amended by the A.O. 1937, the A.O. 1948, the A.O. 1950 and Act 3 of 1951, sec. 3 and Sch., to read as above.
Section 4. Extension of Code to extra-territorial offences
1[4. Extension of Code to extra-territorial offences.
The provisions of this Code apply also to any offence committed by
2[(1) Any citizen of India in any place without and beyond India;
(2) Any person on any ship or aircraft registered in India wherever it may be.]
Explanation. -In this section the word “offence” includes every act committed outside 3[India] which, If committed in 3[India], would be punishable under this code.
4[Illustration]
5[*** A, 6[who is 7[a citizen of India]], commits a murder in Uganda. He can be tried and convicted of murder in any place in 3[India] in which he may be found.
8[* * *]
1 Subs. by Act 4 of 1898, sec. 2, for the original section.
2 Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for clauses (1) to (4).
3 The words “British India” have been successively amended by the A.O. 1948, the A.O. 1950 and Act 3 of 1951, sec. 3 and Sch. to read as above.
4 Subs. by Act 36 of 1957, sec. 3 and Sch. II, for “Illustrations” (w.e.f. 17-9-1957).
5 The brackets and letter “(a)” omitted by Act 36 of 1957, sec. 3 and Sch. II (w.e.f. 17-9-1957).
6 Subs. by the A.O. 1948, for “a coolie, who is a Native Indian subject”.
7 Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “a British subject of Indian domicile”.
8 Illustrations (b), (c) and (d) omitted by the A.O. 1950.
Section 5. Certain laws not to be affected by this Act
15. Certain laws not to be affected by this Act.- Nothing in this Act shall affect the provisions of any Act for punishing mutiny and desertion of officers, soldiers, sailors or airmen in the service of the Government of India or the provisions of any special or local law.
1. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for the original section.
Section 6. Definitions in the Code to be understood subject to exceptions
Throughout this Code every definition of an offence, every penal provision, and every illustration of every such definition or penal provision shall be understood subject to the exceptions contained in the Chapter entitled “General Exceptions”, though those exceptions are not repeated in such definition, penal provision, or illustration.
Illustrations
(a) The sections, in this Code, which contain definitions of offences, do not express that a child under seven years of age can not commit such offences; but the definitions are to be understood subject to the general exception which provides that nothing shall be an offence which is done by a child under seven years of age.
(b) A, a police officer, without warrant, apprehends Z, who has committed murder. Here A is not guilty of the offence of wrongful confinement for he was bound by law to apprehend Z and therefore the case falls within the general exception which provides that “nothing is an offence which is done by a person who is bound by law to do it”.
Section 7. Sense of expression once explained
Every expression, which is explained in any part of this Code, is used in every part of this Code in conformity with the explanation.
Section 8. Gender
The pronoun “he” and its derivatives are used of any person, whether male or female.
Section 9. Number
Unless the contrary appears from the context, words importing the singular number include the plural number, and words importing the plural number include the singular number.
Section 10. Man, Woman
The word “man” denotes a male human being of any age; the word “woman” denotes a female human being of any age.
Section 11. Person
The word “person” includes any Company or Association or body of persons, whether incorporated or not.
Section 12. Public
The word “public” includes any class of the public or any community.
Section 13. Queen
[Definition of “Queen”.] Rep. by the A. O. 1950.
Section 14. Servant of Government
114. “Servant of Government”.- The words “servant of Government” denote any officer or servant continued, appointed or employed in India by or under the authority of Government.
1. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for the original section.
Section 15. British India
[Definition of “British India”.] Rep. by the A. O. 1937.
Section 16. Government of India
Rep. By the A.O. 1937.
Section 17. Government
117. “Government”.- The word “Government” denotes the Central Government or the Government of a 2[***] State.
1. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for the original section.
2. The word and letter “Part A” omitted by Act 3 of 1951, sec. 3 and Sch.
Section 18. India
118. India.- “India” means the territory of India excluding the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
1 Subs. by Act 3 of 1951, sec. 3 and Sch., for the former section which was ins. by the A.O. 1950. The original section 18 was rep. by the A.O. 1937.
Section 19. Judge
“Judge”.–The word “Judge” denotes not only every person who is officially designated as a Judge, but also every person who is empowered by law to give, in any legal proceeding, civil or criminal, a definitive judgment, or a judgment which, if not appealed against, would be definitive, or a judgment which, if confirmed by some other authority, would be definitive, or
who is one of a body of persons, which body of persons is empowered by law to give such a judgment.
Illustrations
(a) A Collector exercising jurisdiction in a suit under Act 10 of 1859, is a judge.
(b) A Magistrate exercising jurisdiction in respect of a charge on which he has power to sentence to fine or imprisonment, with or without appeal, is a judge.
(c) A member of a Panchayat which has power, under 1Regulation VII, 1816, of the Madras Code, to try and determine suits, is a judge.
(d) A Magistrate exercising jurisdiction in respect of a charge on which he has power only to commit for trial to another Court, is not a judge.
–
1. Rep. by the Madras Civil Courts Act, 1873 (3 of 1873).
Section 20. Court of Justice
The words “Court of Justice” denote a judge who is empowered by law to act judicially alone, or a body of judges, which is empowered by law to act judicially as a body, when such judge or body of judges is acting judicially
Illustration
A panchayat acting under 1Regulation VII, 1816, of the Madras Code, having power to try and determine suits, is a Court of Justice.
–
1. Rep. by the Madras Civil Courts Act, 1873 (3 of 1873).
Section 21. Public Servant
The words “public servant” denote a person falling under any of the descriptions hereinafter following namely:-
1[* ****]
Second.- Every Commissioned Officer in the Military, 2[Naval or Air] Forces 3[4[* * *] of India];
5[Third.- Every Judge including any person empowered by law to discharge, whether by himself or as a member of any body of persons, any adjudicatory function;]
Fourth.- Every officer of a Court of justice 6[(including a liquidator, receiver or commissioner)] whose duty it s, as such officer, to investigate or report on any matter of law or fact, or to make, authenticate, or keep any document, or to take charge or dispose of any property, or to execute any judicial process, or to administer any oath, or to interpret, or to preserve order in the Court, and every person specially authorized by a Court of Justice to perform any of such duties.
Fifth.- Every juryman, assessor, or member of a panchayat assisting a Court of justice or public servant;
Sixth.- Every arbitrator or other person to whom any cause or matter has been referred for decision or report by any Court of justice, or by any other competent public authority;
Seventh.- Every person who holds any office by virtue of which he is empowered to place or keep any person in confinement;
Eight. -Every officer of 7[the Government] whose duty it is, as such officer, to prevent offences, to give information of offences, to bring offenders to justice, or to protect the public health, safety or convenience;
Ninth.- Every officer whose duty it is, as such officer, to take, receive, keep or extend any property on behalf of 7[the Government], or to make any survey, assessment or contract on behalf of the 7[the Government], or to execute any revenue process, or to investigate, or to report, on any matter affecting the pecuniary interests of 7[the Government], or to make, authenticate or keep any document relating to the pecuniary interests of 7[the Government], or to prevent the infraction of any law for the protection of the pecuniary interests of 7[the Government]8[***];.
Tenth. – Every officer whose duty it is, as such officer, to take, receive, keep or expend any property, to make any survey or assessment or to levy any rate or tax for any secular common purpose of any village, town or district, or to make, authenticate or keep any document for the ascertaining of the rights of the people of any village, town or district;
9[Eleventh.- Every persons who holds any office in virtue of which he is empowered to prepare, publish maintain or revise an electoral roll or to conduct an election or part of an election; ]
10[twelfth.- Every person.
(a) In the service or pay of the Government or remunerated by fees or commission for the performance of any public duty by the Government;
(b) In the service or pay of a local authority, a corporation established by or under a Central, Provincial or State Act or a Government company as defined in section 617 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956.]
Illustration
A Municipal Commissioner is a public servant.
Explanation 1
Persons falling under any of the above descriptions are public servants, whether appointed by the Government or not.
Explanation 2
Wherever the words “public servant” occur, they shall be understood of every person who is in actual possession of the situation of a public servant, whatever legal defect there may be in his right to hold that situation.
11Explanation 3
The word “election” denotes an election for the purpose of selecting members of any legislative, municipal or other public authority, of whatever character, the method of selection to which is by, or under, any law prescribed as by election.
12[***]
STATE AMENDMENT
State of Rajasthan
In Section 21 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Central Act 45 of 1860), in its application to the State of Rajasthan, after clause twelfth, the following new clause shall be added namely: -
“Thirteenth.- Every person employed or engaged by any public body in the conduct and supervision of any examination recognized or approved under any law.
Explanation
The expression ‘Public Body’ includes:-
(a) A University, Board of Education, or other body, either established by or under a Central or State Act or under the provisions of the Constitution of India or constituted by the Government; and
(b) A local authority.”
[Vide Rajasthan Act, 1993 4 of 1993, Sec. 2 (w.e.f. 11-2-1993)].
1. Clause First omitted by the A.O. 1950.
2. Subs. by Act 10 of 1927, sec. 2 and Sch. I, for “or Naval”.
3. The original words “of the Queen while serving under the Government of India, or any Government” have successively been amended by the A.O. 1937, the A.O. 1948 and the A.O. 1950 to read as above.
4. The words “of the Dominion” omitted by the A.O. 1950.
5. Subs. by Act 40 of 1964, sec. 2, for the former clause (w.e.f. 18-12-1964).
6. Ins. by Act 40 of 1964, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 18-12-1964).
7. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “the Crown” which had been subs. by the A.O. 1937, for “Government”.
8. Certain words omitted by Act 40 of 1964, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 18-12-1964).
9. Ins. by Act 39 of 1920, sec. 2.
10. Subs. by Act 40 of 1964, sec. 2, for the former clause (w.e.f. 18-12-1964).
11. Ins. by Act 39 of 1920, sec. 2.
12. Explanation 4 ins. by Act 2 of 1958, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 12-2-1958) and omitted by Act 40 of 1964, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 18-12-1964).
Section 22. Moveable property
The words “moveable property” are intended to include corporeal property of every description, except land and things attached to the earth or permanently fastened to anything, which is attached to the earth.
Section 23. Wrongful gain
23. “Wrongful gain”.–“Wrongful gain” is gain by unlawful meansof property to which the person gaining is not legally entitled.
“Wrongful loss”.–“Wrongful loss” is the loss by unlawful meansof property to which the person losing it is legally entitled. Gaining wrongfully.
Losing wrongfully.–A person is said to gainwrongfully when such person retains wrongfully, as well as when suchperson acquires wrongfully.
A person is said to lose wrongfully whensuch person is wrongfully kept out of any property, as well as whensuch person is wrongfully deprived of property.
Section 24. Dishonestly
Whoever does anything with the intention of causing wrongful gain to one person or wrongful loss to another person, is said to do that thing “dishonestly”.
Section 25. Fraudulently
A person is said to do a thing fraudulently if he does that thing with intent to defraud but not otherwise.
Section 26. Reason to believe
A person is said to have “reason to believe” a thing, if he has sufficient cause to believe that thing but not otherwise.
Section 27. Property in possession of wife, clerk or servant
When property is in the possession of a person’s wife, clerk or servant, on account of that person, it is in that person’s possession within the meaning of this Code.
Explanation
A person employed temporarily or on a particular occasion in the capacity of a clerk or servant, is a clerk or servant within the meaning of this section.
Section 28. Counterfeit
A person is said to “counterfeit” who causes one thing to resemble another thing, intending by means of that resemblance to practice deception, or knowing it to be likely that deception will thereby be practiced.
1Explanation 1
It is not essential to counterfeiting that the imitation should be exact.
Explanation 2
When a person causes one thing to resemble another thing, and the resemblance is such that a person might be deceived thereby, it shall be presumed, until the contrary is proved, that the person so causing the one thing to resemble the other thing intended by means of that resemblance to practice deception or knew it to be likely that deception would thereby be practiced.
1. Subs. by Act 1 of 1889, sec. 9, for the original Explanation.
Section 29. Document
The word “document” denotes any matter expressed or described upon any substance by means of letters, figures, or marks, or by more than one of those means, intended to be used, or which may be used, as evidence of that matter.
Explanation 1
It is immaterial by what means or upon what substance the letters, figures or marks are formed, or whether the evidence is intended for, or may be used in, a Court of Justice, or not.
Illustrations
A writing expressing the terms of a contract, which may be used as evidence of the contract, is a document.
A cheque upon a banker is a document.
A power-of-attorney is a document.
A map or plan which is intended to be used or which may be used as evidence, is a document.
A writing containing directions or instructions is a document.
Explanation 2
Whatever is expressed by means of letters, figures or marks as explained by mercantile or other usage, shall be deemed to be expressed by such letters, figures or marks within the meaning of this section, although the same may not be actually expressed.
Illustration
A writes his name on the back of a bill of exchange payable to his order. The meaning of the endorsement, as explained by mercantile usage, is that the bill is to be paid to the holder. The endorsement is a document, and must be construed in the same manner as if the words “pay to the holder” or words to that effect had been written over the signature.
Section 29A. Electronic record
129A. Electronic record.- The words “electronic record” shall have the meaning assigned to them in clause (t) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
1. Ins. by Act 21 of 2000, sec. 91 and Sch. I, (w.e.f. 17-10-2000).
Section 30. Valuable security
The words “valuable security” denote a document which is, or purports to be, a document whereby any legal right is created, extended, transferred, restricted, extinguished or released, or where by any person acknowledges that he lies under legal liability, or has not a certain legal right.
Illustration
A writes his name on the back of a bill of exchange. As the effect of this endorsement is transfer the right to the bill to any person who may become the lawful holder of it, the endorsement is a “valuable security”.
Section 31. A will
The words “a will” denote any testamentary document.
Section 32. Words referring to acts include illegal omissions
In every part of this Code, except where a contrary intention appears from the context, words which refer to acts done extend also to illegal omissions.
Section 33. Act Omission
The word “act” denotes as well a series of acts as a single act: the word “omission” denotes as well as series of omissions as a single omission.
Section 34. Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention
134. Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention.- When a criminal act is done by several persons in furtherance of the common intention of all, each of such persons is liable for that act in the same manner as if it were done by him alone.
Distinction between ’common intention’ and ‘common object’
A clear distinction is made out between common intention and common object is that common intention denotes action in concert and necessarily postulates the existence of a pre-arranged plan implying a prior meeting of the minds, while common object does not necessarily require proof of prior meeting of minds or pre-concert. Though there is a substantial difference between the two sections namely 34 and 149, they also to some extent overlap and it is a question to be determined on the facts of each case; Chittarmal v. State of Rajasthan, AIR 2003 SC 796.
Difference in operation of section 34 and section 149
(i) Both sections 149 and 34 deal with a combination of persons who become liable to be punished as sharers in the commission of offences. The non-applicability of section is, therefore, no bar in convicting the accused under substantive section read with section 34 if the evidence discloses commission of an offence in furtherance of the common intention of them all; Nethala Pothuraju v. State of Andhra Pradesh, (1991) Cr LJ 3133 (SC).
(ii) In order to convict a person vicariously liable under section 34 or section 149 it is not necessary to prove that each and everyone of them had indulged in overts acts; Ram Blias Singh v. State of Bihar, (1989) Cr LJ 1782: AIR 1989 SC 1593.
Ingredients
(i) When an offence is sought to be proved only on circumstantial evidence, the allegations of common intention under section 34 normally cannot be established in absence of meeting of mind, the overt act of the accused, by their conduct, by using the weapons by their utterance of words; Santosh Desai v. State of Goa, (1997) 2 Crimes 666 (Bom).
(ii) In order to bring a case under section 34 it is not necessary that there must be a prior conspiracy or pre-meditation, the common intention can be formed in the course of occurrence; Hari Om v. State of Uttar Pradesh, (1993) 1 Crimes 294 (SC).
(iii) Mere surrender by appellant alongwith accused before police does not show meeting of minds as to bring the case within ambit of section 34; Rangaswami v. State of Tamil Nadu, (1989) Cr LJ 875: AIR 1989 SC 1137.
(iv) It has been held that the requirement of statute is sharing the common intention upon being present at the place of occurrence. Mere distancing from the scene cannot absolve the accused; Lallan Bhai v. State of Bihar, AIR 2003 SC 333.
Participation in the Criminal Act
(i) To apply section 34, apart from the fact that there should be two or more accused, two factors must be established: (i) common intention, and (ii) participation of accused in the commission of an offence. If common intention is proved but no overt act is attributed to the individual accused, section 34 will be attracted as essentially it involves vicarious liability but if participation of the accused in the crime is proved and common intention is absent, section 34 cannot be invoked; Jai Bhagwan v. State of Haryana, AIR 1999 SC 1083.
(ii) It requires a pre-arranged plan and pre-supposes prior concert therefore there must be prior meeting of mind. It can also be developed at the spur of moment but there must be pre-arrangement or premeditated concert: Ramashish Yadav v. State of Bihar, 1999 (8) SCC 555: 1999(6) JT 560: 1999 (2) JCC (SC) 471.
(iii) If some act is done by the accused person in furtherance of common intention of his co-accused, he is equally liable like his co-accused; State of Punjab v. Fauja Singh, (1997) 3 Crimes 170 (P&H).
(iv) In the instant case, there was a long standing enmity between two rival factions in a village, and proceedings under the Criminal Procedure Code were pending against members of both factions. On the day fixed for a hearing in the Magistrate’s Court in a neighbouring town, members of both factions left their village armed with sticks and lathis. While one faction was waiting on the roadside for a bus, the other faction arrived and a fight ensued in which severe injuries were caused on both sides, as a result of which one man died. The members of the opposite faction were charged and convicted under sections 302/34 I.P.C. It was held that the mere presence of a person armed with a deadly weapon at the spot of a crime does not necessarily make him a participator in a joint crime in every case, because for the purpose of section 34 only such presence makes a man a participant in a joint crime as is established to be with the intention of lending weight to the commission of a joint crime; Jamun v. State of Punjab, AIR 1957 SC 469.
–
1. Subs. by Act 27 of 1870, sec. 1, for the original section.>
Section 35. When such an act is criminal by reason of its being done with a criminal knowledge or intention
Whenever an act, which is criminal only be reason of its being done with a criminal knowledge or intention, is done by several persons, each of such persons who joins in the act with such knowledge or intention is liable for the act in the same manner as if the act were done by him alone with that knowledge or intention.
Section 36. Effect caused partly by act and partly by omission
Wherever the causing of a certain effect, or an attempt to cause that effect, by an act or by an omission, is an offence, it is to be understood that the causing of that effect partly by an act and partly by an omission is the same offence.
Illustration
A intentionally causes Z’s death, partly by illegally omitting to give Z food, and partly by beating Z. A has committed murder.
Section 37. Co-operation by doing one of several acts constituting an offence
When an offence is committed by means of several acts, whoever intentionally co-operates in the commission of that offence by doing any one of those acts, either singly or jointly with any other person commits that offence.
Illustrations
(a) A and B agree to murder Z by severally and at different times giving him small doses of poison. A and B administer the poison according to the agreement with intent to murder Z. Z dies from the effects of the several doses of poison so administered to him. Here A and B intentionally co-operates in the commission of murder and as each of them does an act by which the death is caused, they are both guilty of the offence though their acts are separate.
(b) A and B are joint jailors, and as such have the charge of Z, a prisoner, alternately for six hours at a time. A and B, intending to cause Z’s death, knowingly co-operate in causing that effect by illegally omitting, each during the time of his attendance, to furnish Z with food supplied to them for that purpose. Z dies of hunger. Both A and B are guilty of the murder of Z.
(c) A, a jailor, has the charge of Z, a prisoner. A, intending to cause Z’s death illegally omits to supply Z with food in consequence of which Z is much reduced in strength, but the starvation is not sufficient to cause his death. A is dismissed from his office, and B succeeds him. B, without collusion or co-operation with A, illegally omits to supply Z with food, knowing that he is likely thereby to cause Z’s death. Z dies of hunger. B is guilty of murder, but, as A did not co-operate with B. A is guilty only of an attempt to commit murder.
Section 38. Persons concerned in criminal act may be guilty of different offences
Where several persons are engaged or concerned in the commission of a criminal act, they may be guilty of different offences by means of that act.
Illustration
A attacks Z under such circumstances of grave provocation that his killing of Z would be only culpable homicide not amounting to murder. B, having ill-will towards Z and intending to kill him, and not having been subject to the provocation, assists A in killing Z. Here, though A and B are both engaged in causing Z’s death, B is guilty of murder, and A is guilty only of culpable homicide.
Section 39. Voluntarily
A person is said to cause an effect “voluntarily” when he causes it by means whereby he intended to cause it, or by means which, at the time of employing those means, he knew or had reason to believe to be likely to cause it.
Illustration
A sets fire, by night, to an inhabited house in a large town, for the purpose of facilitating a robbery and thus causes the death of a person. Here, A may not have intended to cause death; and may even be sorry that death has been caused by his act; yet, if he knew that he was likely to cause death, he has caused death voluntarily.
Section 40. Offence
140 “Offence”.- Except in the 2[Chapters] and sections mentioned in clauses 2 and 3 of this section, the word “offence” denotes a thing made punishable by this code.
In Chapter IV, 3[Chapter V A] and in the following sections, namely Sections 4[64, 65, 66, 5[67], 71], 109, 110, 112, 114, 115, 116, 117, 187, 194, 195, 203, 211, 213, 214, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 327, 328, 329, 330, 331, 347, 348, 388, 389 and 445, the words “offence” denotes a thing punishable under this Code, or under any special or local law as hereinafter defined.
And in Sections 141, 176, 177, 201, 202, 212, 216 and 441, the word “offence” has the same meaning when the thing punishable under the special or local law is punishable under such law with imprisonment for a term of six months or upwards, whether with or without fine.
1. Subs. by Act 27 of 1870, sec. 1, for the original section.
2. Subs. by Act 8 of 1930, sec. 2 and Sch. I, for “Chapter”.
3. Ins. by Act 8 of 1913, sec. 2.
4. Ins. by Act 8 of 1882, sec. 1.
5. Ins. by Act 10 of 1886, sec. 21(1).
Section 41. Special law
A “special law” is a law applicable to a particular subject.
Section 42. Local law
A “local law” is a law applicable only to a particular part of 1[2[***] 3[India]].
–
1. Subs. by the A.O. 1948, for “British India”.
2. The words “the territories comprised in” omitted by Act 48 of 1952, sec. 3 and Sch. II (w.e.f. 2-8-1952).
3. Subs. by Act 3 of 1951, sec. 3 and Sch., for “the States” which had been subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “the Provinces”.
Section 43. Illegal, Legally bound to do
The word “illegal” is applicable to everything which is an offence or which is prohibited by law, or which furnishes ground for a civil action; and a person is said to be “legally bound to do” whatever it is illegal in him to omit.
Section 44. Injury
The word “injury” denotes any harm whatever illegally caused to any person, in body, mind, reputation or property.
Section 45. Life
The word “life” denotes the life of a human being, unless the contrary appears from the context.
Section 46. Death
The word “death” denotes the death of a human being unless the contrary appears from the context.
Section 47. Animal
The word “animal” denotes any living creature, other than a human being.
Section 48. Vessel
The word “vessel” denotes anything made for the conveyance by water of human beings or of property.
Section 49. Year, Month
Wherever the word “year” or the word “month” is used, it is to be understood that the year or the month is to be reckoned according to the British calendar.
Section 50. Section
The word “section” denotes one of those portions of a chapter of this Code which are distinguished by prefixed numeral figures.
Section 51. Oath
The word “oath” includes a solemn affirmation substituted by law for an oath, and any declaration required or authorized by law to be made before a public servant or to be used for the purpose of proof, whether in a Court of Justice or not.
Section 52. Good faith
Nothing is said to be done or believed in “good faith” which is done or believed without due care and attention.
Section 52A. Harbour
152A “Harbour”.- Except in Section 157, and in Section 130 in the case in which the harbour is given by the wife or husband of the person harboured, the word “harbour” includes the supplying a person with shelter, food, drink, money, clothes, arms, ammunition or means of conveyance, or the assisting a person by any means, whether of the same kind as those enumerated in this section or not, to evade apprehension.
1. Ins. by Act 8 of 1942, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 14-2-1942).
Section 53. Punishment
The punishments to which offenders are liable under the provisions of this Code are
First.— Death;
1[Secondly.—Imprisonment for life;]
2[***]
Fourthly. —Imprisonment, which is of two descriptions, namely:
(1) Rigorous, that is, with hard labour;
(2) Simple;
Fifthly. —Forfeiture of property;
Sixthly. —Fine.
Reformative theory
(i) The reformative approach to punishment should be the object of criminal law, in order to promote rehabilitation without offending communal conscience and to secure social justice; Narotam Singh v. State of Punjab, AIR 1978 SC 1542.
(ii) The punishment till the rising of the Court, for the offence of grievous hurt and related offences, committed conjointly on a group by an accused person which had resulted in the hospitalisation of victim for four weeks, did not conform to any rational legal theory of behaviour, much less the reformatory theory of punishment; Raman v. Francis, (1988) Cr LJ 1359 (Ker).
1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “Secondly—Transportation” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
2. Clause “Thirdly” omitted by Act 17 of 1949, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 6-4-1949).
Section 53A. Construction of reference to transportation
153A. Construction of reference to transportation.- (1) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (2) and sub-section (3), any reference to “transportation for life” in any other law for the time being in force or in any instrument or order having effect by virtue of any such law or of any enactment repealed shall be construed as a reference to “imprisonment for life”.
(2) In every case in which a sentence of transportation for a term has been passed before the commencement of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act, 2[1955] (26 of 1955), the offender shall be dealt with in the same manner as if sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for the same term.
(3) Any reference to transportation for a term or to transportation for any shorter term (by whatever name called) in any other law for the time being in force shall be deemed to have been omitted.
(4) Any reference to “transportation” in any other law for the time being in force shall,-
(a) If the expression means transportation for life, be construed as a reference to imprisonment for life;
(b) If the expression means transportation for any shorter term, be deemed to have been omitted.
1. Ins. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch. (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
2. Subs. by Act 36 of 1957, sec. 3 and Sch. II, for “1954” (w.e.f. 17-9-1957).
Section 54. Commutation of sentence of death
In every case in which sentence of death shall have been passed, 1[the appropriate Government] may, without the consent of the offender, commute the punishment for any other punishment provided by this code.
1. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “the Central Government or the Provincial Government of the Province within which the offender shall have been sentenced”. The words in italics were subs. by the A.O. 1937, for “the Government of India or the Government of the place”.
Section 55. Commutation of sentence of imprisonment for life
In every case in which sentence of 1[imprisonment] for life shall have been passed, 2[the appropriate Government] may, without the consent of the offender, commute the punishment for imprisonment of either description for a term not exceeding fourteen years.
–
1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
2. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “the Provincial Government of the Province within which the offender shall have been sentenced”. The words in italics were subs. by the A.O. 1937, for “the Government of India or the Government of the place”.
Section 55A. Definition of appropriate Government
155A. Definition of “appropriate Government”.- In sections fifty-four and fifty-five the expression “appropriate Government” means, –
(a) In case where the sentence is a sentence of death or is for an offence against any law relating to a matter to which the executive power of the Union extends, the Central Government; and
(b) In case where the sentence (whether of death or not) is for an offence against any law relating to a matter to which the executive power of the State extends, the Government of the State within which the offender is sentenced.
1. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for section 55A which had been ins. by the A.O. 1937.
Section 56. Sentence of Europeans and Americans to penal servitude.
Proviso as to sentence for term exceeding ten years but not for life
[Rep. by the Criminal Law (Removal of Racial Discriminations) Act, 1949 (17 of 1949) (w.e.f. 6-4-1949).]
Section 57. Fractions of terms of punishment
In calculating fractions of terms of punishment, 1[imprisonment] for life shall be reckoned as equivalent to 1[imprisonment] for twenty years.
1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 58. Offenders sentenced to transportation how dealt with until transported
[Rep. by the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act, 1955 (26 of 1955), see. 117and Sch. (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 59. Transportation instead of imprisonment.
[Rep. by the Code of Criminal procedure(Amendment) Act, 1955(26 0f 1955), s.117 and Sch.. (w.e.f. 1.1.1956).]
Section 60. Sentence may be (in certain cases of imprisonment) wholly or partly rigorous or simple
In every case in which an offender is punishable with imprisonment which may be of either description, it shall be competent to the Court which sentences such offender to direct in the sentence that such imprisonment shall be wholly rigorous, or that such imprisonment shall be wholly simple, or that any part of such imprisonment shall be rigorous and the rest simple
Section 61. Sentence of forfeiture of property
[Rep. by the Indian Penal Code (Amendment) Act, 1921 (16 of 1921), sec. 4.]
Section 62. Forfeiture of property, in respect of offenders punishable with death, transportation or imprisonment
Rep. by the Indian Penal Code (Amendment) Act, 1921 (16of 1921), sec. 4.
Section 63. Amount of fine
Where no sum is expressed to which a fine may extend, the amount of fine to which the offender is liable is unlimited, but shall not be excessive.
Section 64. Sentence of imprisonment for non-payment of fine
1[In every case, of an offence punishable with imprisonment as well as fine, in which the offender is sentenced to a fine, whether with or without imprisonment,
and in every case of an offence punishable 2[with imprisonment or fine, or] with fine only, in which the offender is sentenced to a fine,]
it shall be competent to the Court which sentences such offender to direct by the sentence that, in default of payment of the fine, the offender shall suffer imprisonment for a certain term, in which imprisonment shall be in excess of any other imprisonment to which he may have been sentenced or to which he may be liable under a commutation of a sentence.
–
1. Subs. by Act 8 of 1882, sec. 2, for “In every case in which an offender is sentenced to a fine”.
2. Ins. by Act 10 of 1886, sec. 21(2).
Section 65. Limit to imprisonment for non-payment of fine, when imprisonment and fine awardable
The term for which the Court directs the offender to be imprisoned in default of payment of a fine shall not exceed one-fourth of the term of imprisonment which is the maximum fixed for the offence, if the offence be punishable with imprisonment as well as fine.
Section 66. Description of imprisonment for non-payment of fine
The imprisonment which the Court imposes in default of payment of a fine may be of any description to which the offender might have been sentenced for the offence.
Section 67. Imprisonment for non-payment of fine when offence punishable with fine only
If the offence be punishable with fine only, 1[the imprisonment which the Court imposes in default of payment of the fine shall be simple, and] the term for which the Court directs the offender to be imprisoned, in default of payment of fine, shall not exceed the following scale, that is to say, for any terms not exceeding two months when the amount of the fine shall not exceed fifty rupees, and for any terms not exceeding four months when the amount shall not exceed one hundred rupees, and for any term not exceeding six months in any other case.
–
1. Ins. by Act 8 of 1882, sec. 3.
Section 68. Imprisonment to terminate on payment of fine
The imprisonment which is imposed in default of payment of a fine shall terminate when ever that fine is either paid or levied by process of law.
Section 69. Termination of imprisonment on payment of proportional part of fine
If, before the expiration of the term of imprisonment fixed in default of payment, such a proportion of the fine be paid or levied that the term of imprisonment suffered in default of payment is not less than proportional to the part of the fine still unpaid, the imprisonment shall terminate.
Illustration
A is sentenced to a fine of one hundred rupees and to four month’ imprisonment in default of payment. Here, if seventy-five rupees of the fine be paid or levied before the expiation of one month of the imprisonment. A will be discharged as soon as the first month has expired. If seventy-five rupees be paid or levied at the time of the expiration of the first month, or at any later time while A continues in imprisonment. A will be immediately discharged. If fifty rupees of the fine be paid or levied before the expiration of two months of the imprisonment, A will be discharged as soon as the two months are completed. If fifty rupees be paid or levied at the time of the expiration of those two months, or at any later time while A continues in imprisonment, A will be immediately discharged.
Section 70. Fine levied within six years, or during imprisonment- Death not to discharge property from liability
The fine, or any part thereof which remains unpaid, may e levied at any time within six years after the passing of the sentence, and if, under the sentence, the offender be liable to imprisonment for a longer period than six years, then at any time previous to the expiration of that period; and the death of the offender does not discharge from the liability any property which would, after his death, be legally liable for his debts.
Section 71. Limit of punishment of offence made up of several offences
Where anything which is an offence is made up of parts, any of which parts is itself an offence, the offender shall not be punished with the punishment of more than one of such his offences, unless it be so expressly provided.
1[Where anything is an offence falling within two or more separate definitions of any law in force for the time being by which offences are defined or punished, or
where several acts, of which one or more than one would by itself or themselves constitute an offence, constitute, when combined, a different offence,
the offender shall not be punished with a more severe punishment than the Court which tries him could award for any one of such offences.]
Illustrations
(a) A gives Z fifty strokes with a stick. Here A may have committed the offence of voluntarily causing hurt to Z by the whole beating, and also by each of the blows which make up the whole beating. If A were liable to punishment for every blow, he might be imprisoned for fifty years, one for each blow. But he is liable only to one punishment for the whole beating.
(b) But if, while A is beating Z, Y interferes, and A intentionally strikes Y, here, as the blow given to Y is no part of the act whereby A voluntarily causes hurt to Z, A is liable to one punishment for voluntarily causing hurt to Z, and to another for the blow given to Y.
1. Added by Act 8 of 1882, sec. 4.
Section 72. Punishment of person guilty of one of several offences, the judgment stating that it is doubtful of which
In all cases in which judgment is given that a person is guilty of one of several offences specified in the judgment, but that it is doubtful of which of these offences he is guilty, the offender shall be punished for the offence for which the lowest punishment is provided if the same punishment is not provided for all.
Section 73. Solitary confinement
Whenever any person is convicted of an offence for which under this Code the Court has power to sentence him to rigorous imprisonment, the Court may, by its sentence, order that the offender shall be kept in solitary confinement for any portion or portions of the imprisonment to which he is sentenced, not exceeding three months in the whole, according to the following scale, that is to say
a time not exceeding one month if the term of imprisonment shall not exceed six months;
a time not exceeding two months if the term of imprisonment shall exceed six months and 1[shall not exceed one] year;
a time not exceeding three months if the term of imprisonment shall exceed one year.
1. Subs. by Act 8 of 1882, sec. 5, for “be less than a”.
Section 74. Limit of solitary confinement
In executing a sentence of solitary confinement, such confinement shall in no case exceed fourteen days at a time, with intervals between the periods of solitary confinement of not less duration than such periods: and when the imprisonment awarded shall exceed three months, the solitary confinement shall not exceed seven days in any one month of the whole imprisonment awarded, with intervals between the periods of solitary confinement of not less duration than such periods.
Section 75. Enhanced punishment for certain offences under Chapter XII or Chapter XVII after previous conviction
175. Enhanced punishment for certain offences under Chapter XII or Chapter XVII after previous conviction.- Whoever, having been convicted,
(a) by a Court in 2[India], of an offence punishable under Chapter XII or Chapter XVII of this Code with imprisonment of either description for a term of three years or upwards, 3[***]
3[***]
shall be guilty of any offence punishable under either of those Chapters with like imprisonment for the like term, shall be subject for every such subsequent offence to 4[imprisonment for life], or to imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years.]
1. Subs. by Act 3 of 1910, sec. 2, for the original section.
2. The words “British India” have successively been subs. by the A.O. 1948, the A.O. 1950 and Act 3 of 1951, sec. 3 and Sch., to read as above.
3. The word “or” at the end of clause (a) and clause (b) omitted by Act 3 of 1951, sec. 3 and Sch.
4. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 76. Act done by a person bound, or by mistake of fact believing himself bound, by law
Nothing is an offence which is done by a person who is, or who by reason of a mistake of fact and not by reason of a mistake of law in good faith believes himself to be, bound by law to do it.
Illustrations
(a) A, a soldier, fires on a mob by the order of his superior officer, in conformity with the commands of the law. A has committed no offence.
(b) A, an officer of a Court of Justice, being ordered by that Court to arrest Y, and, after due enquiry, believing Z to be Y, arrests Z. A has Committed no offence.
Section 77. Act of Judge when acting judicially
Nothing is an offence which is done by a Judge when acting judicially in the exercise of any power which is, or which in good faith he believes to be, given to him by law.
Section 78. Act done pursuant to the judgment or order of Court
Nothing which is done in pursuance of, or which is warranted by the judgment or order of, a Court of Justice ; if done whilst such judgment or order remains in force, is an offence, notwithstanding the Court may have had no jurisdiction to pass such judgment or order, provided the person doing the act in good faith believes that the Court had such jurisdiction.
Section 79. Act done by a person justified, or by mistake of fact believing himself justified, by law
Nothing is an offence which is done by any person who is justified by law, or who by reason of a mistake of fact and not by reason of a mistake of law in good faith, believes himself to be justified by law, in doing it.
Illustration
A sees Z commit what appears to A to be a murder. A, in the exercise, to the best of his judgment exerted in good faith, of the power which the law gives to all person of apprehending murderers in the fact, seizes Z, in order to bring Z before the proper authorities. A has committed no offence, though it may turn out that Z was acting in self-defence.
Section 80. Accident in doing a lawful act
Nothing is an offence which is done by accident or misfortune, and without any criminal intention or knowledge in the doing of a lawful act in a lawful manner by lawful means and with proper care and caution.
Illustration
A is at work with a hatchet; the head flies off and kills a man who is standing by. Here, if there was no want of proper caution on the part of A, his act is excusable and not an offence.
Section 81. Act likely to cause harm, but done without criminal intent, and to prevent other harm
Nothing is an offence merely by reason of its being done with the knowledge that it is likely to cause harm, it if be done without any criminal intention to cause harm, and in good faith for the purpose of preventing or avoiding other harm to person or property.
Explanation
It is question of fact in such a case whether the harm to be prevented or avoided was of such a nature and so imminent as to justify or excuse the risk of doing the act with the knowledge that it was likely to cause harm.
Illustrations
(a) A, the captain of a steam vessel, suddenly and without any fault or negligence on his part, finds himself in such a position that, before he can stop his vessel, he must inevitably run down a boat B, with twenty or thirty passengers on board, unless he changes the course of his vessel, and that, by changing his course, he must incur risk of running down a boat C with only two passengers on board, which he may possibly clear. Here, if A alters his course without any intention to run down the boat C and in good faith for the purpose of avoiding the danger to the passengers in the boat B, he is not guilty of an offence, though he may run down the boat C by doing an act which he knew was likely to cause that effect, if it be found as a matter of fact that the danger which he intended to avoid was such as to excuse him in incurring the risk of running down the boat C.
(b) A, in great fire, pulls down houses in order to prevent the conflagration from spreading. He does this with the intention in good faith of saving human life or property. Here, if it be found that the harm to be prevented was of such a nature and so imminent as to excuse A’s act. A is not guilty of the offence.
Section 82. Act of a child under seven years of age
Nothing is an offence which is done by a child under seven years of age.
Section 83. Act of a child above seven and under twelve of immature understanding
Nothing is an offence which is done by a child above seven years of age and under twelve, who has not attained sufficient maturity of understanding to judge of the nature and consequences of his conduct on that occasion
Section 84. Act of a person of unsound mind
Nothing is an offence which is done by a person who, at the time of doing it, by reason of unsoundness of mind, is incapable of knowing the nature of the act, or that he is doing what is either wrong or contrary to law.
Section 85. Act of a person incapable of judgment by reason of intoxication caused against his will
Nothing is an offence which is done by a person who, at the time of doing it, is, by reason of intoxication, incapable of knowing the nature of the act, or that he is doing what is either wrong, or contrary to law: provided that the thing which intoxicated him was administered to him without his knowledge or against his will.
Section 86. Offence requiring a particular intent of knowledge committed by one who is intoxicated
In cases where an act done is not an offence unless done with a particular knowledge or intent, a person who does the act in a state of intoxication shall be liable to be dealt with as if he had the same knowledge as he would have had if he had not been intoxicated, unless the thing which intoxicated him was administered to him without his knowledge or against his will.
Section 87. Act not intended and not known to be likely to cause death or grievous hurt, done by consent
Nothing which is not intended to cause death, or grievous hurt, and which is not known by the doer to be likely to cause death or grievous hurt, is an offence by reason of any harm which it may cause, or be intended by the doer to cause, to any person, above eighteen years of age, who has given consent, whether express or implied, to suffer that harm; or by reason of any harm which it may be known by the doer to be likely to cause to any such person who has consented to take the risk of that harm.
Illustration
A and Z agrees to fence with each other for amusement. This agreement implies the consent of each to suffer any harm which, in the course of such fencing, may be caused without foul play ; and if A, while playing fairly, hurts Z, A commits no offence.
Section 88. Act not intended to cause death, done by consent in good faith for person’s benefit.
Nothing which is not intended to cause death, is an offence by reason of any harm which it may cause, or be intended by the doer to cause, or be known by the doer to be likely to cause, to any person for whose benefit it is done in good faith, and who has given a consent, whether express or implied, to suffer that harm, or to take the risk of that harm
Illustration
A, a surgeon, knowing that a particular operation is likely to cause the death of Z, who suffers under a painful complaint, but not intending to cause Z’s death, and intending in good faith, Z’s benefit performs that operation on Z, with Z’s consent. A has committed no offence.
Section 89. Act done in good faith for benefit of child or insane person, by or by consent of guardian
Nothing which is done in good faith for the benefit of a person under twelve years of age, or of unsound mind, by or by consent, either express or implied, of the guardian or other person having lawful charge of that person, is an offence by reason of any harm which it may cause, or be intended by the doer to cause or be known by the doer to be likely to cause to that person :
Provisos—Provided
First.— That this exception shall not extend to the intentional causing of death, or to the attempting to cause death;
Secondly.—That this exception shall not extend to the doing of anything which the person doing it knows to be likely to cause death, for any purpose other than the preventing of death or grievous hurt, or the curing of any grievous disease or infirmity;
Thirdly.— That this exception shall not extend to the voluntary causing of grievous hurt, or to the attempting to cause grievous hurt, unless it be for the purpose of preventing death or grievous hurt, or the curing of any grievous disease or infirmity;
Fourthly.—That this exception shall not extend to the abetment of any offence, to the committing of which offence it would not extend.
Illustration
A, in good faith, for his child’s benefit without his child’s consent, has his child cut for the stone by a surgeon. Knowing it to be likely that the operation will cause the child’s death, but not intending to cause the child’s death. A is within the exception, inasmuch as his object was the cure of the child.
Section 90. Consent known to be given under fear or misconception
A consent is not such a consent as it intended by any section of this Code, if the consent is given by a person under fear of injury, or under a misconception of fact, and if the person doing the act knows, or has reason to believe, that the consent was given in consequence of such fear or misconception ; or
Consent of insane person
if the consent is given by a person who, from unsoundness of mind, or intoxication, is unable to understand the nature and consequence of that to which he gives his consent; or
Consent of child
unless the contrary appears from the context, if the consent is given by a person who is under twelve years of age.
Section 91. Exclusion of acts which are offences independently of harm caused
The exceptions in sections 87, 88 and 89 do not extend to acts which are offences independently of any harm which they may cause, or be intended to cause, or be known to be likely to cause, to the person giving the consent, or on whose behalf the consent is given.
Illustration
Causing miscarriage (unless caused in good faith for the purpose of saving the life of the woman) is an offence independently of any harm which it may cause or be intended to cause to the woman. Therefore, it is not an offence “by reason of such harm”; and the consent of the woman or of her guardian to the causing of such miscarriage does not justify the act.
Section 92. Act done in good faith for benefit of a person without consent
Nothing is an offence by reason of any harm which it may cause to a person for whose benefit it is done in good faith, even without that person’s consent, if the circumstances are such that it is impossible for that person to signify consent, or if that person is incapable of giving consent, and has no guardian or other person in lawful charge of him from whom it is possible to obtain consent in time for the thing to be done with benefit:
Provisos – Provided-
First.— That this exception shall not extend to the intentional causing of death, or the attempting to cause death;
Secondly.—That this exception shall not extend to the doing of anything which the person doing it knows to be likely to cause death, for any purpose other than the preventing of death or grievous hurt, or the curing of any grievous disease or infirmity;
Thirdly.-— That this exception shall not extend to the voluntary causing of hurt, or to the attempting to cause hurt, for any purpose other than the preventing of death or hurt;
Fourthly.—That this exception shall not extend to the abetment of any offence, to the committing of which offence it would not extend.
Illustrations
(a) Z is thrown from his horse, and is insensible. A, a surgeon, finds that Z requires to be trepanned. A, not intending Z’s death, but in good faith, for Z’s benefit, performs the trepan before Z recovers his power of judging for himself. A has committed no offence.
(b) Z is carried off by a tiger. A fires at the tiger knowing it to be likely that the shot may kill Z, but not intending to kill Z, and in good faith intending Z’s benefit. A’s ball gives Z a mortal wound. A has committed on offence.
(c) A, a surgeon, sees a child suffer an accident which is likely to prove fatal unless an operation be immediately performed. There is not time to apply to the child’s guardian. A performs the operation in spite of the entreaties of the child, intending, in good faith, the child’s benefit. A has committed no offence.
(d) A is in a house which is on fire, with Z, a child. People below hold out a blanket. A drops the child from the housetop, knowing it to be likely that the fall may kill the child, but not intending to kill the child, and intending, in good faith, the child’s benefit. Here, even if the child is killed by the fall, A has committed no offence.
Explanation
Mere pecuniary benefit is not benefit within the meaning of Sections 88, 89 and 92.
Section 93. Communication made in good faith
No communication made in good faith is an offence by reason of any harm to the person to whom it is made, if it is made for the benefit of that person.
Illustration
A, a surgeon in good faith, communicates to a patient his opinion that he cannot live. The patient dies in consequence of the shock. A has committed no offence, though he knew it to be likely that the communication might cause the patient’s death.
Section 94. Act to which a person is compelled by threats
Except murder, and offences against the State punishable with death, nothing is an offence which is done by a person who is compelled to do it by threats, which, at the time of doing it, reasonably cause the apprehension that instant death to that person will otherwise be the consequence:
Provided the person doing the act did not of his own accord, or from a reasonable apprehension of harm to himself short of instant death, place himself in the situation by which he became subject to such constraint.
Explanation 1
A person who, of his own accord, or by reason of a threat of being beaten, joins a gang of dacoits, knowing their character, is not entitled to the benefit of this exception, on the ground of his having been compelled by his associates to do anything that is an offence by law.
Explanation 2
A person seized by a gang of dacoits, and forced, by threat of instant death, to do a thing which is an offence by law ; for example, a smith compelled to take his tools and to force the door of a house for the dacoits to enter and plunder it, is entitled to the benefit of this exception.
Section 95. Act causing slight harm
Nothing is an offence by reason that it causes, or that it is intended to cause, or that it is known to be likely to cause, any harm, if that harm is so slight that no person of ordinary sense and temper would complain of such harm.
Section 96. Things done in private defence
Nothing is an offence which is done in the exercise of the right of private defence.
Private defence: object
(i) In judging whether accused has exceeded his right to private defence or not the court has to take into account the weapons used; Madan Mohan Pandey v. State of Uttar Pradesh, (1991) Cr LJ 467 (SC).
(ii) The defence version regarding accused acting in self defence was liable to be proved by accused; Rasikbhai Ram Singh Rana v. State of Gujarat, 1999 (1) Guj CR 176.
(iii) Where the right of private defence is pleaded, the defence must be a reasonable and probable version satisfying the cast that the harm caused by the accused was necessary for either warding off the attack or for forestalling the further reasonable apprehension from the side of the accused. The burden of establishing the plea of self-defence is on the accused and the burden stands discharged by showing preponderance of probabilities in favour of that plea on the basis of the material on record; Rizan v. State of Chattisgarh, AIR 2003 SC 976.
Right to private defence
(i) The accused is not required to prove the plea of private defence of person beyond reasonable manner of doubt. The onus on the accused is only to show that the defence version is probable one which is reflected from the salient features and the circumstances in the prosecution case itself; Sawai Ram v. State of Rajasthan, (1997) 2 Crimes 148 (Raj).
(ii) Divergent views expressed by court where prosecution failed to explain the injuries sustained by accused in same occurrence. Hence referred to larger Bench; Ram Sunder Yadav v. State of Bihar, 1999 Cr LJ 3671 (SC).
Section 97. Right of private defence of the body and of property
Every person has a right, subject to the restrictions contained in section 99, to defend
First.— His own body, and the body of any other person, against any offence affecting the human body;
Secondly.—The property, whether movable or immovable, of himself or of any other person, against any act which is an offence falling under the definition of theft, robbery, mischief or criminal trespass, or which is an attempt to commit theft, robbery, mischief or criminal trespass.
Section 98. Right of private defence against the act of a person of unsound mind, etc.
When an act, which would otherwise be a certain offence, is not that offence, by reason of the youth, the want of maturity of understanding, the unsoundness of mind or the intoxication of the person doing that act, or by reason of any misconception on the part of that person, every person has the same right of private defence against that act which he would have if the act were that offence.
Illustrations
(a) Z, under the influence of madness, attempts to kill A; Z is guilty of no offence. But A has the same right of private defence which he would have if Z were sane.
(b) A enters by night a house which he is legally entitled to enter Z, in good faith, taking A for a house-breaker, attacks A. Here Z, by attacking A under this misconception, commits no offence. But A has the same right of private defence against Z, which he would have if Z were not acting under that misconception.
Section 99. Act against which there is no right of private defence
There is no right of private defence against an act which does not reasonable cause the apprehension of death or of grievous hurt, if done, or attempted to be done, by a public servant acting in good faith under colour of his office, though that act, may not be strictly justifiable by law.
There is no right of private defence against an act which does not reasonable cause the apprehension of death or of grievous hurt, if done, or attempted to be done, by the direction of a public servant acting in good faith under colour of his office, though that direction may not be strictly justifiable by law.
There is no right of private defence in cases in which there is time to have recourse to the protection of the public authorities.
Extent to which the right may be exercised
The right to private defence in no case extends to the inflicting of more harm that it is necessary to inflict for the purpose of defence.
Explanation 1
A person is not deprived of the right of private defence against an act done, or attempted to be done, by a public servant, as such, unless he knows or has reason to believe, that the person doing the act is such public servant.
Explanation 2
A person is not deprived of the right of private defence against an act done, or attempted to be done, by the direction of a public servant, unless he knows, or has reason to believe, that the person doing the act is acting by such direction, or unless such person states the authority under which he acts, or if he has authority in writing, unless he produces such authority, if demanded.
Section 100. When the right of private defence of the body extends to causing death
The right of private defence of the body extends, under the restrictions mentioned in the last preceding section, to the voluntary causing of death or of any other harm to the assailant, if the offence which occasions the exercise of the right be of any of the descriptions hereinafter enumerated, namely:
First.— Such an assault as may reasonably cause the apprehension that death will otherwise be the consequence of such assault;
Secondly.—Such an assault as may reasonably cause the apprehension that grievous hurt will otherwise be the consequence of such assault;
Thirdly.— An assault with the intention of committing rape;
Fourthly.—An assault with the intention of gratifying unnatural lust;
Fifthly.— An assault with the intention of kidnapping or abducting;
Sixthly.— An assault with the intention of wrongfully confining a person, under circumstances which may reasonably cause him to apprehend that he will be unable to have recourse to the public authorities for his release.
1[Seventhly.–– An act of throwing or administering acid or an attempt to throw or administer acid which may reasonably cause the apprehension that grievous hurt will otherwise be the consequence of such act]
Ingredients
(i) Self inflicted injuries not explained by prosecution except the reliance on medical evidence acquittal of accused not justified; Chuhar Singh v. State of Punjab, AIR 1999 SC 1052: 1991 SCC (Cr) 1066: 1998 (4) JT 449.
(ii) The inmates clearly had a right of private defence against the intruders who tried to extract money by force; Kishore Shambhudatta Mishra v. State of Maharashtra, (1989) Cr LJ 1149: AIR 1989 SC 1173.
Right of private defence to cause death
(i) Under what circumstances accused gave knife blow to the deceased could not be explained by accused, acquittal on ground of self defence not justified; State of Uttar Pradesh v. Laeeg, AIR 1999 SC 1942: 1999 (5) SCC 588.
(ii) While being chased by deceased appellant attacked on deceased caused fire incised wound, held exceeded the right of private defence, conviction under section 304 Part I proper; Suresh Singh v. State, AIR 1999 SC 1773: 1999 (2) Crimes 42.
(iii) Attack by single blow on the neck of deceased proved fatal. Held accused exceeded right of private defence; Amar Singh v. State of Madhya Pradesh, 1997 SCC (Cr) 630.
1. Inserted by Section 2 of ‘The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013′
Section 101. When such right extends to causing any harm other than death
If the offence be not of any of the descriptions enumerated in the last preceding section, the right of private defence of the body does not extend to the voluntary causing of death to the assailant, but does extend, under the restrictions mentioned in Section 99, to the voluntary causing to the assailant of any harm other than death.
Section 102. Commencement and continuance of the right of private defence of the body
The right of private defence of the body commences as soon as a reasonable apprehension of danger to the body arises from an attempt or threat to commit the offence though the offence may not have been committed; and it continues as long as such apprehension of danger to the body continues.
Section 103. When the right of private defence of property extends to causing death
The right of private defence of property extends, under the restrictions mentioned in section 99, to the voluntary causing of death or of any other harm to the wrong-doer, if the offence, the committing of which, or the attempting to commit which, occasions the exercise of the right, be an offence of any of the descriptions hereinafter enumerated, namely:
First.— Robbery;
Secondly.—House-breaking by night;
Thirdly.— Mischief by fire committed on any building, tent or vessel, which building, tent or vessel is used as a human dwelling, or as a place for the custody of property;
Fourthly.—Theft, mischief, or house-trespass, under such circumstances as may reasonably cause apprehension that death or grievous hurt will be the consequence, if such right of private defence is not exercised.
STATE AMENDMENTS
Karnataka
(1) In section 103, in clause Thirdly,
(i) after the words “mischief by fire”, insert the words “or any explosive substance”;
(ii) after the words “as a human dwelling, or” insert the words “as a place of worship, or”.
(2) After clause Fourthly, insert the following clause, namely:
“Fifthly.—Mischief by fire or any explosive substance committed on any property used or intended to be used for the purpose of Government or any local authority, statutory body or company owned or controlled by Government or railway or any vehicle used or adapted to be used for the carriage of passengers for hire or reward.”
[Vide Karnataka Act 8 of 1972, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 7-10-1972)].
Maharashtra
In section 103, add the following at the end, namely:
“Fifthly.—Mischief by fire or any explosive substance committed on any property used or intended to be used for the purposes of Government or any local authority, statutory body, company owned or controlled by Government, railway or tramway, or on any vehicle used or adapted to be used, for the carriage of passengers for hire or reward”.
[Vide Maharashtra Act 19 of 1971, sec. 26 (w.e.f. 31-12-1971)].
Uttar Pradesh
In section 103, after clause fourthly, add the following clause, namely:
“Fifthly.—Mischief by fire or any explosive substance committed on
(a) Any property used or intended to be used for the purpose of Government, or any local authority or other corporation owned or controlled by the Government, or
(b) any railway as defined in clause (4) of section 3 of the Indian Railways Act, 1890 or railways stores as defined in the Railways Stores (Unlawful Possession) Act, 1955, or
(c) any transport vehicle as defined in *clause (33) of section 2 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1939.”
[Vide Uttar Pradesh Act 29 of 1970, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 17-7-1970)].
* See clause (47) of sec. 2 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
Section 104. When such right extends to causing any harm other than death
If the offence , the committing of which, or the attempting to commit which, occasions the exercise of the right of private defence, be theft, mischief, or criminal trespass, not of any of the descriptions enumerated in the last preceding section, that right does not extend to the voluntary causing of death, but does extend, subject to the restrictions mentioned in section 99, to the voluntary causing to the wrong -doer of any harm other than death.
Section 105. Commencement and continuance of the right of private defence of property
The Right of private defence of property commences when a reasonable apprehension of danger to the property commences.
The right of private defence of property against theft continues till the offender has effected his retreat with the property or either the assistance of the public authorities is obtained, or the property has been recovered.
The right of private defence of property against robbery continues as long as the offender causes or attempts to cause to any person death or hurt or wrongful restraint of as long as the fear of instant death or of instant hurt or of instant personal restraint continues.
The right of private defence of property against criminal trespass or mischief continues as long as the offender continues in the commission of criminal trespass or mischief.
The right of private defence of property against house-breaking by night continues as long as the house-trespass which has been begun by such house-breaking continues.
Section 106. Right of private defence against deadly assault when there is risk of harm to innocent person
If in the exercise of the right of private defence against an assault which reasonably causes the apprehension of death, the defender be so situated that he cannot effectually exercise that right without risk of harm to an innocent person his right or private defence extends to the running of that risk.
Illustration
A is attacked by a mob who attempt to murder him. He cannot effectually exercise his right of private defence without firing on the mob, and he cannot fire without risk of harming young children who are mingled with the mob. A commits no offence if by so firing he harms any of the children.
Section 107. Abetment of a thing
A person abets the doing of a thing, who
First.— Instigates any person to do that thing; or
Secondly.—Engages with one or more other person or persons in any conspiracy for the doing of that thing, if an act or illegal omission takes place in pursuance of that conspiracy, and in order to the doing of that thing; or
Thirdly.— Intentionally aids, by any act or illegal omission, the doing of that thing.
Explanation 1
A person who, by wilful misrepresentation, or by wilful concealment of a material fact which he is bound to disclose, voluntarily causes or procures, or attempts to cause or procure, a thing to be done, is said to instigate the doing of that thing.
Illustration
A, a public officer, is authorized by a warrant from a Court of Justice to apprehend Z. B, knowing that fact and also that C is not Z, wilfully represents to A that C is Z, and thereby intentionally causes A to apprehend C. Here B abets by instigation the apprehension of C.
Explanation 2
Whoever, either prior to or at the time of the commission of an act, does anything in order to facilitate the commission of that act, and thereby facilitate the commission thereof, is said to aid the doing of that act.
Section 108. Abettor
A person abets an offence, who abets either the commission of an offence, or the commission of an act which would be an offence, if committed by a person capable of law of committing an offence with the same intention or knowledge as that of the abettor.
Explanation 1
The abetment of the illegal omission of an act may amount to an offence although the abettor may not himself be bound to do that act.
Explanation 2
To constitute the offence of abetment it is not necessary that the act abetted should be committed, or that the effect requisite to constitute the offence should be caused.
Illustrations
(a) A instigates B to murder C. B refuses to do so. A is guilty of abetting B to commit murder.
(b) A instigates B to murder D. B in pursuance of the instigation stabs D. D recovers from the wound. A is guilty of instigating B to commit murder.
Explanation 3
It is not necessary that the person abetted should be capable by law of committing an offence, or that he should have the same guilty intention or knowledge as that of abettor, or any guilty intention or knowledge.
Illustrations
(a) A, with a guilty intention, abets a child or a lunatic to commit an act which would be an offence, if committed by a person capable by law of committed an offence, and having the same intention as A. Here A, whether the act be committed or not, is guilty of abetting an offence.
(b) A, with the intention of murdering Z, instigates B, a child under seven years of age, to do an act which causes Z’s death. B, in consequence of the abetment, does the act in the absence of A and thereby causes Z’s death. Here, though B was not capable by law of committing an offence. A is liable to be punished in the same manner as if B had been capable by law of committing an offence, and had committed murder, and he is therefore subject to the punishment of death.
(c) A instigates B to set fire to a dwelling-house, B, in consequence of the unsoundness of his mind, being incapable of knowing the nature of the act, or that he is doing what is wrong or contrary to law, sets fire to the house in consequence of A’s instigation. B has committed no offence, but A is guilty of abetting the offence of setting fire to a dwelling house, and is liable to the punishment provided for that offence.
(d) A, intending to cause a theft to be committed, instigates B to take property belonging to Z out of Z’s possession. A induces B to believe that the property belongs to A. B takes the property out of Z’s possession, in good faith, believing it to be A’s property. B, acting under this misconception, does not take dishonestly, and therefore does not commit theft. But A is guilty of abetting theft, and is liable to the same punishment as if B had committed theft.
Explanation 4
The abetment of an offence being an offence, the abetment of such an abetment is also as offence.
Illustration
A instigates B to instigate C to murder Z. B accordingly instigates C to murder Z, and C commits that offence in consequence of B’s instigation. B is liable to be punished for his offence with the punishment for murder; and, as A instigated B to commit the offence, A is also liable to the same punishment.
Explanation 5
It is not necessary to the commission of the offence of abetment by conspiracy that the abettor should concert the offence with the person who commits it. It is sufficient if he engages in the conspiracy in pursuance of which the offence is committed.
Illustration
A concerts with B a plan for poisoning Z. It is agreed that A shall administer the poison. B then explains the plan to C mentioning that a third person is to administer the poison, but without mentioning A’s name. C agrees to procure the poison, and procures and delivers it to B for the purpose of its being used in the manner explained. A administers the poison; Z dies in consequence. Here, though A and C have not conspired together, yet C has been engaged in the conspiracy in pursuance of which Z has been murdered. C has therefore committed the offence defined in this section and is liable to the punishment for murder.
Section 108A. Abetment in India of offences outside India
1108A. Abetment in India of offences outside India.- A person abets an offence within the meaning of this Code who, in 2[India], abets the commission of any act without and beyond 2[India] which would constitute an offence if committed in 2[India].
Illustration
A, in 2[India], instigates B, a foreigner in Goa, to commit a murder in Goa.
A is guilty of abetting murder.
1. Added by Act 4 of 1898, sec. 3.
2. The words “British India” have successively been subs. by the A.O. 1948, the A.O. 1950 and Act 3 of 1951, sec. 3 and Sch., to read as above.
Section 109. Punishment of abetment if the act abetted is committed in consequence, and where no express provision is made for its punishment
Whoever abets any offence shall, if the act abetted is committed in consequence of the abetment, and no express provision is made by this Code for the punishment of such abetment, be punished with the punishment provided for the offence.
Explanation
An act or offence is said to be committed in consequence of abetment, when it is committed in consequence of the instigation or in pursuance of the conspiracy, or with the aid, which constitutes the abetment.
Illustrations
(a) A offers a bribe to B, a public servant, as a reward for showing A some favour in the exercise of B’s official functions. B accepts the bribe. A has abetted the offence defined in Section 161.
(b) A instigates B to give false evidence. B, in consequence of the instigation, commits that offence. A is guilty of abetting that offence, and is liable to the same punishment as B.
(c) A and B conspire to poison Z. A in pursuance of the conspiracy, procures the poison and delivers it to B in order that he may administer it to Z. B in pursuance of the conspiracy, administers the poison to Z in A’s absence and thereby causes Z’s death. Here B is guilty of murder. A is guilty of abetting that offence by conspiracy, and is liable to the punishment for murder.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Same as for offence abetted—According as offence abetted is cognizable or non-cognizable—According as offence abetted is bailable or non-bailable—Triable by court by which offence abetted is triable—Non-compoundable.
Section 110. Punishment of abetment if person abetted does act with different intention from that of abettor
Whoever abets the commission of an offence shall, if the person abetted does the act with a different intention or knowledge from that of the abettor, be punished with the punishment provided for the offence which would have been committed if the act had been done with the intention or knowledge of the abettor and with no other.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Same as for offence abetted—According as offence abetted is cognizable or non-cognizable—According as offence abetted is bailable or non-bailable—Triable by court by which offence abetted is triable—Non-compoundable.
Section 111. Liability of abettor when one act abetted and different act done
When an act is abetted and a different act is done, the abettor is liable for the act done, in the same manner and to the same extent as if he had directly abetted it:
Proviso
Provided the act done was a probable consequence of the abetment, and was committed under the influence of the instigation, or with the aid or in pursuance of the conspiracy which constituted the abetment.
Illustrations
(a) A instigates a child to put poison into the food of Z, and gives him poison for that purpose. The child, in consequence of the instigation, by mistake puts the poison into the food of Y, which is by the side of that of Z. Here, if the child was acting under the influence of A’s instigation, and the act done was under the circumstances a probable consequence of the abetment. A is liable in the same manner and to the same extent as if he had instigated the child to put the poison into the food of Y.
(b) A instigates B to burn Z’s house. B sets fire to the house and at the same time commits theft of property there. A, though guilty of abetting the burning of the house, is not guilty of abetting the theft; for the theft was a distinct act, and not a probable consequence of the burning.
(c) A instigates B and C to break into an inhabited house at midnight for the purpose of robbery, and provides them with arms for that purpose. B and C break into the house, and being resisted by Z, one of the inmates, murder Z. Here, if that murder was the probable consequence of the abetment, A is liable to the punishment provided for murder.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Same as for offence intended to be abetted—According as offence abetted is cognizable or non-cognizable—According as offence abetted is bailable or non-bailable—Triable by court by which offence abetted is triable—Non-compoundable.
Section 112. Abettor when liable to cumulative punishment for act abetted and for act done
If the act for which the abettor is liable under the last preceding section is committed in addition to the act abetted, and constitutes a distinct offence, the abettor is liable to punishment for each of the offences.
Illustration
A instigates B to resist by force a distress made by a public servant. B, in consequence, resists that distress. In offering the resistance, B voluntarily causes grievous hurt to the officer executing the distress. As be has committed both the offence of resisting the distress, and the offence of voluntarily causing grievous hurt, B is liable to punishment for both these offences; and, if A knew that B was likely voluntarily to cause grievous hurt in resisting the distress A will Also be liable to punishment for each of the offences.
Section 113. Liability of abettor for an effect caused by the act abetted different from that intended by the abettor
When an act is abetted with the intention on the part of the abettor of causing a particular effect, and an act for which the abettor is liable in consequence of the abetment, cause a different effect from that intended by the abettor, the abettor is liable for the effect caused, in the same manner and to the same extent as if he had abetted the act with the intention of causing that effect, provided he knew that the act abetted was likely to cause that effect.
Illustration
A instigates B to cause grievous hurt to Z. B, in consequence of the instigation, causes grievous hurt to Z. Z dies in consequence. Here, if A knew that the grievous hurt abetted was likely to cause death, A is liable to be punished with the punishment provided for murder.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Same as for offence committed—According as offence abetted is cognizable or non-cognizable—According as offence abetted is bailable or non-bailable—Triable by court by which offence abetted is triable—Non-compoundable.
Section 114. Abettor present when offence is committed
Whenever any person, who is absent would be liable to be punished as an abettor, is present when the act or offence for which he would be punishable in consequence of the abetment is committed, he shall be deemed to have committed such act or offence.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Same as for offence committed—According as offence abetted is cognizable or non-cognizable—According as offence abetted is bailable or non-bailable—Triable by court by which offence abetted is triable—Non-compoundable.
Section 115. Abetment of offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life-if offence not committed
Whoever abets the commission of an offence punishable with death or 1[imprisonment for life], shall, if that offence be not committed in consequence of the abetment, and no express provision is made by this Code for the punishment of such abetment, be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine;
If act causing harm be done in consequence- and if any act for which the abettor is liable in consequence of the abetment, and which causes hurt to any person, is done, the abettor shall be liable to imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to fourteen years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Illustration
A instigates B to murder Z. The offence is not committed. If B had murdered Z, he would have been subject to the punishment of death or 1[imprisonment for life]. Therefore A is liable to imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and also to a fine; and if any hurt be done to Z in consequence of the abetment, he will be liable to imprisonment for a term which may extend to fourteen years, and to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—According as offence abetted is cognizable or non-cognizable—non-bailable—Triable by court by which offence abetted is triable—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Imprisonment for 14 years and fine—According as offence abetted is cognizable or non-cognizable—non-bailable—Triable by court by which offence abetted is triable—Non-compoundable.
-
1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 116. Abetment of offence punishable with imprisonment-if offence be not committed
Whoever abets an offence punishable with imprisonment shall, if that offence be not committed in consequence of the abetment, and no express provision is made by this Code for the punishment of such abetment, be punished with imprisonment of any description provided for that offence for a term which may extend to one-fourth part of the longest term provided for that offence; or with such fine as is provided for the offence, or with both ;
If abettor or person abetted be a public servant whose duty it is to prevent offence.— and if the abettor or the person abetted is a public servant, whose duty it is to prevent the commission of such offence, the abettor shall be punished with imprisonment of any description provided for that offence, for a term which may extend to one-half of the longest term provided for that offence, or with such fine as is provided for the offence, or with both.
Illustrations
(a) A offers a bribe to B, a public servant, as a reward for showing A some favour in the exercise of B’s official functions. B refuses to accept the bribe. A is punishable under this section.
(b) A instigates B to give false evidence. Here, if B does not give false evidence, A has s nevertheless committed the offence defined in this section, and is punishable accordingly.
(c) A, a police-officer, whose duty it is to prevent robbery, abets the commission of robbery. Here, though the robbery be not committed, A is liable to one-half of the longest term of imprisonment provided for that offence, and also to fine.
(d) B abets the commission of a robbery by A, a police-officer, whose duty it is to prevent that offence. Here, though the robbery be not committed, B is liable to one-half of the longest term of imprisonment provided for the offence of robbery, and also to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Imprisonment extending to a quarter part of the longest term, provided for the offence, or fine, or both—According to offence abetted is cognizable or non-cognizable—According as offence abetted is bailable or non-bailable—Triable by court by which offence abetted is triable—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Imprisonment extending to half of the longest term, provided for the offence, or fine, or both—According as offence abetted is cognizable or non-cognizable—According as offence abetted is bailable or non-bailable—Triable by court by which offence abetted is triable—Non-compoundable.
Section 117. Abetting commission of offence by the public or by more than ten persons
Whoever abets the commission of an offence by the public generally or by any number or class of persons exceeding ten, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
Illustration
A affixes in a public place a placard instigating a sect consisting of more than ten members to meet at a certain time and place, for the purpose of attacking the members of an adverse sect, while engaged in a procession. A has committed the offence defined in this section.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years, or fine, or both—According as offence abetted is cognizable or non-cognizable—According as offence abetted is bailable or non-bailable—Triable by court by which offence abetted is triable—Non-compoundable.
Section 118. Concealing design to commit offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life
Whoever intending to facilitate or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby facilitate the commission of an offence punishable with death or 1[imprisonment for life];
2[Voluntarily conceals by any act or omission or by the use of encryption or any other information hiding tool, the existence of a design] to commit such offence or makes any representation which he knows to be false respecting such design,
If offence be committed—if offence be not committed.—shall, if that offence be committed, be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, or, if the offence be not committed, with imprisonment of either description, for a term which may extend to three years; and in either case shall also be liable to fine.
Illustration
A, knowing that dacoity is about to be committed at B, falsely informs the Magistrate that a dacoity is about to be committed at C, a place in an opposite direction, and thereby misleads the Magistrate with intent to facilitate the commission of the offence. The dacoity is committed at B in pursuance of the design. A is punishable under this section.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—According as offence abetted is cognizable or non-cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by court by which offence abetted is triable—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years and fine—According as offence abetted is cognizable or non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by court by which offence abetted is triable—Non-compoundable.
–
1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
2. Subs. by Act 10 of 2009, sec. 51(c), for “Voluntarily conceals, by any act or illegal omission,, the existence of a design”.
Section 119. Public servant concealing design to commit offence which it is his duty to prevent
Whoever, being a public servant, intending to facilitate or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby facilitate the commission of an offence which it is his duty as such public servant to prevent;
1[Voluntarily conceals by any act or omission or by the use of encryption or any other information hiding tool, the existence of a design] to commit such offence or makes any representation which he knows to be false respecting such design,
If offence be committed.—shall, if the offence be committed, be punished with imprisonment of any description provided for the offence, for a term which may extend to one-half of the longest term of such imprisonment, or with such fine as is provided for that offence, or with both;
If offence be punishable with death, etc.—or, if the offence be punishable with death or 2[imprisonment for life], with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years;
If offence be not committed.—or if the offence be not committed, shall be punished with imprisonment of any description provided for the offence for a term which may extend to one-fourth part of the longest term of such imprisonment or with such fine as is provided for the offence, or with both.
Illustration
A, an officer of police, being legally bound to give information of all designs to commit robbery which may come to his knowledge, and knowing that B designs to commit robbery, omits to give such information, with intent to facilitate the commission of that offence. Here A has by an illegal omission concealed the existence of B’s design, and is liable to punishment according to the provision of this section.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Imprisonment extending to half of the longest term provided for the offence, or fine, or both—According as offence abetted is cognizable or non-cognizable—According as offence abetted is bailable or non-bailable—Triable by court which offence abetted is triable—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Imprisonment for 10 years—According as offence abetted is cognizable or non-cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by court by which offence abetted is triable—Non-compoundable.
Para III
Punishment—Imprisonment extending to a quarter part of the longest term provided for the offence, or fine, or both—According as offence abetted is cognizable or non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by court by which offence abetted is triable—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by Act 10 of 2009, sec. 51(d), “voluntarily conceals,” by any Act or illegal ommission, the existence of a design”.
2. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f 1-1-1956).
Section 120. Concealing design to commit offence punishable with imprisonment
Whoever, intending to facilitate or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby facilitate the commission of an offence punishable with imprisonment,
voluntarily conceals, by any act or illegal omission, the existence of a design to commit such offence, or makes any representation which he knows to be false respecting such design,
If offence be committed—if offence be not committed.—shall, if the offence be committed, be punished with imprisonment of the description provided for the offence, for a term which may extend to one-fourth, and, if the offence be not committed, to one-eighth, of the longest term of such imprisonment, or with such fine as is provided for the offence, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Imprisonment extending to a quarter part of the longest term provided for the offence, or fine, or both—According as offence abetted is cognizable or non-cognizable—According as offence abetted is bailable or non-bailable—Triable by court by which offence abetted is triable—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Imprisonment extending to one-eighth part of the longest term provided for the offence, or fine, or both—According as offence abetted is cognizable or non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by court by which offence abetted is triable—Non-compoundable.
Section 120A. Definition of criminal conspiracy.
1120A. Definition of criminal conspiracy.- When two or more persons agree to do, or cause to be done,
(1) an illegal act, or
(2) an act which is not illegal by illegal means, such an agreement is designated a criminal conspiracy:
Provided that no agreement except an agreement to commit an offence shall amount to a criminal conspiracy unless some act besides the agreement is done by one or more parties to such agreement in pursuance thereof.
Explanation
It is immaterial whether the illegal act is the ultimate object of such agreement, or is merely incidental to that object.]
1. Ins. by Act 8 of 1913, sec. 3.
Section 120B. Punishment of criminal conspiracy
1120B. Punishment of criminal conspiracy.—(1) Whoever is a party to a criminal conspiracy to commit an offence punishable with death, 2[imprisonment for life] or rigorous imprisonment for a term of two years or upwards, shall, where no express provision is made in this Code for the punishment of such a conspiracy, be punished in the same manner as if he had abetted such offence.
(2) Whoever is a party to a criminal conspiracy other than a criminal conspiracy to commit an offence punishable as aforesaid shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term not exceeding six months, or with fine or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Same as for abetment of the offence which is the object of the conspiracy—According as the offence which is the object of conspiracy is cognizable or non-cognizable—According as offence which is object of conspiracy is bailable or non-bailable—Triable by court by which abetment of the offence which is the object of conspiracy is triable—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Imprisonment for six months or fine, or both—non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
1. Ins. by Act 8 of 1913, sec. 3.
2. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 121. Waging, or attempting to wage war, or abetting waging of war, against the Government of India
Whoever wages war against the 1[Government of India], or attempts to wage such war, or abets the waging of such war, shall be punished with death, or 2[imprisonment for life] 3[and shall also be liable to fine].
4[Illustration]
5[***] A joins an insurrection against the 6[Government of India]. A has committed the offence defined in this section.
7[* * *]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Death or imprisonment for life and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
-
1. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “Queen”.
2. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
3. Subs. by Act 16 of 1921, sec. 2, for “and shall forfeit all his property”.
4. Subs. by Act 36 of 1957, sec. 3 and Sch. II, for “Illustrations” (w.e.f. 17-9-1957).
5. The brackets and letter “(a)” omitted by Act 36 of 1957, sec. 3 and Sch. II (w.e.f. 17-9-1957).
6. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “Queen”.
7. Illustration (b) omitted by the A.O. 1950.
Section 121A. Conspiracy to commit offences punishable by section 121
1121A. Conspiracy to commit offences punishable by section 121.— Whoever within or without 2[India] conspires to commit any of the offences punishable by Section 121, 3[***] or conspires to overawe, by means of criminal force or the show of criminal force, 4[the Central Government or any 5[State] Government 6[***], shall be punished with 7[imprisonment for life], or with imprisonment of either description which may extend to ten years, 8[and shall also be liable to fine].
Explanation
To constitute a conspiracy under this section, it is not necessary that any act or illegal omission shall take place in pursuance thereof.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
1. Ins. by Act 27 of 1870, sec. 4.
2. The words “British India” have successively been subs. by the A.O. 1948, the A.O. 1950 and Act 3 of 1951, sec. 3 and Sch., to read as above.
3. The words “or to deprive the Queen of the sovereignty of the Provinces or of any part thereof” omitted by the A.O. 1950.
4. Subs. by the A.O. 1937, for “the Government of India” or any “Local Government”.
5. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “Provincial”.
6. The words “or the Government of Burma” omitted by the A.O. 1948.
7. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life or any shorter term” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
8. Subs. by Act 16 of 1921, sec. 3, for “and shall forfeit all his property”.
Section 122. Collecting arms, etc., with intention of waging war against the Government of India
Whoever collects men, arms or ammunition or otherwise prepares to wage war with the intention of either waging or being prepared to wage war against the 1[Government of India], shall be punished with 2[imprisonment for life] or imprisonment of either description for a term not exceeding ten years, 3[and shall also be liable to fine].
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “Queen”.
2. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
3. Subs. by Act 16 of 1921, sec. 3, for “and shall forfeit all his property”.
Section 123. Concealing with intent to facilitate design to wage war
Whoever by any act, or by any illegal omission, conceals the existence of a design to wage war against the 1[Government of India], intending by such concealment to facilitate, or knowing it to be likely that such concealment will facilitate, the waging of such war, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by court of Session—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “Queen”.
Section 124. Assaulting President, Governor, etc., with intent to compel or restrain the exercise of any lawful power
Whoever, with the intention of including or compelling the 1[President] of India, or the 2[Governor 3[* * *]] of any 4[State], 5[* * *] 6[* * * ] 7[* * *] to exercise or refrain from exercising in any manner any of the lawful powers of such 8[President] or 2[Governor 3[* * *]],
Assault or wrongfully restrains, or attempts wrongfully to restrain, or overawes, by means of criminal force or the show of criminal force, or attempts so to overawe, such 8[President or 2[Governor 3[* * *]],
Shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “Governor General”.
2. Subs. by Act 3 of 1951, sec. 3 and Sch., for “Governor”.
3. The words “or Rajpramukh” omitted by the A.O. 1956.
4. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “Province” which had been subs. by the A.O. 1937, for “Presidency”.
5. The words “or a Lieutenant-Governor” omitted by the A.O. 1937.
6. The words “or a Member of the Council of the Governor General of India” omitted by the A.O. 1948.
7. The words “or of the Council of any Presidency” omitted by the A.O. 1937.
8. The original words “Governor General, Governor, Lieutenant-Governor or Member of Council” have successfully been amended by the A.O. 1937, the A.O. 1948 and the A.O. 1950 to read as above.
Section 124A. Sedition
1124A. Sedition.— Whoever, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards. 2[* * *] the Government established by law in 3[India], 4[* * *] shall be punished with 5[imprisonment for life], to which fine may be added, or with imprisonment which may extend to three years, to which fine may be added, or with fine.
Explanation 1
The expression “disaffection” includes disloyalty and all feelings of enmity.
Explanation 2
Comments expressing disapprobation of the measures of the Government with a view to obtain their alteration by lawful means, without exciting or attempting to excite hatred, contempt or disaffection, do not constitute an offence under this section.
Explanation 3
Comments expressing disapprobation of the administrative or other action of the Government without exciting or attempting to excite hatred, contempt or disaffection, do not constitute an offence under this section.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for life and fine, or imprisonment for 3 years and fine, or fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by Act 4 of 1898, sec. 4, for section 124A which had been ins. by Act 27 of 1870, sec. 5.
2. The words “Her Majesty or” omitted by the A.O. 1950. The words “or the Crown Representative ins. after the word “Majesty” by the A.O. 1937 were omitted by the A.O. 1948.
3. The words “British India” have successively been subs. by the A.O. 1948, the A.O. 1950 and Act 3 of 1951, sec. 3 and Sch., to read as above.
4 The words “or British Burma” ins. by the A.O. 1937 omitted by the A.O. 1948.
5. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life or any shorter term” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 125. Waging war against any Asiatic Power in alliance with the Government of India.
Whoever wages war against the Government of any Asiatic Power in alliance or at peace with the 1[Government of India] or attempts to wage such war, or abets the waging of such war, shall be punished with 2[imprisonment for life], to which fine may be added, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, to which fine may be added, or with fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for life and fine, or imprisonment for 7 years and fine, or fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “Queen”.
2. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 126. Committing depredation on territories of Power at peace with the Government of India
Whoever commits depredation, or makes preparation to commit depredation, on the territories of any Power in alliance or at peace with the 1[Government of India], shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine and to forfeiture of any property used or intended to be used in committing such depredation, or acquired by such depredation.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine, and forfeiture of certain property—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “Queen”.
Section 127. Receiving Property taken by war on depredation mention in Sections 125 and 126
Whoever receives any property knowing the same to have been taken in the commission of any of the offences mentioned in Sections 125 and 126, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine and to forfeiture of the property so received.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine, and forfeiture of certain property—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
Section 128. Public servant voluntary allowing prisoner of State or war to escape
Whoever, being a public servant and having the custody of any State prisoner or prisoner of war, voluntarily allows such prisoner to escape from any place in which such prisoner is confined, shall be punished with 1[imprisonment for life], or imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 129. Public servant negligently suffering such prisoner to escape
Whoever, being a public servant and having the custody of any State prisoner or prisoner of war, negligently suffers such prisoner to escape from any place of confinement in which such prisoner is confined, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Simple Imprisonment for 3 years and fine—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 130. Aiding escape of, rescuing or harbouring such prisoner
Whoever knowingly aids or assists any State prisoner or prisoner of war in escaping from lawful custody, or rescues or attempts to rescue any such prisoner, or harbours or conceals any such prisoner who has escaped from lawful custody, or offers or attempts to offer any resistance to the recapture of such prisoner, shall be punished with 1[imprisonment for life], or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Explanation
A State prisoner or prisoner of war, who is permitted to be at large on his parole within certain limits in 2[India], is said to escape from lawful custody if he goes beyond the limits within which he is allowed to be at large.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
2. The words “British India” have sucessively been subs. by the A.O. 1948, the A.O. 1950 and Act 3 of 1951, sec. 3 and Sch., to read as above.
Section 131. Abetting mutiny, or attempting to seduce a soldier, sailor or airman from his duty
Whoever abets the committing of mutiny by an officer, soldier, 1[sailor or airman], in the Army, 2[Navy or Air Force] of the 3[Government of India] or attempts to seduce any such officer, soldier, 4[sailor or airman] from his allegiance or his duty, shall be punished with 5[imprisonment for life], or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
6[Explanation.—In this section the words “officer”, 7[“soldier”, 8[“sailor”] and “airman”] include any person subject to the 9[Army Act, 10[the Army Act, 1950 (46 of 1950, 11[the Naval Discipline Act, 12[***] the 11[Indian Navy (Discipline) Act, 1934 (34 of 1934)] 13[the Air Force Act or 14[the Air Force Act, 1950 (45 of 1950)], as the case may be]].
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by Act 10 of 1927, sec. 2 and Sch. I, for “or sailor”.
2. Subs. by Act 10 of 1927, sec. 2 and Sch. I, for “or Navy”.
3. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “Queen”.
4. Subs. by Act 10 of 1927, sec. 2 and Sch. I, for “or sailor”.
5. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
6. Ins. by Act 27 of 1870, sec. 6.
7. Subs. by Act 10 of 1927, sec. 2 and Sch. I, for “and soldier”.
8. Ins. by Act 35 of 1934, sec. 2 and Sch.
9. Subs. by Act 10 of 1927, sec. 2 and Sch. I, for “Articles of War for the better government of Her Majesty’s Army, or to the Articles of War contained in Act No. 5 of 1869″.
10. Subs. by Act 3 of 1951, sec. 3 and Sch., for “the Indian Army Act, 1911”.
11. Now see the Navy Act, 1957 (62 of 1957).
12. The words “or that Act as modified by” omitted by the A.O. 1950.
13. Subs. by Act 14 of 1932, sec. 130 and Sch., for “or the Air Force Act”.
14. Subs. by Act 3 of 1951, sec. 3 and Sch., for “the Indian Air Force Act, 1932”.
Section 132. Abetment of mutiny, if mutiny is committed in consequence thereof
Whoever abets the committing of mutiny by an officer, soldier, 1[sailor or airman] in the Army, 2[Navy or Air Force] of the 3[Government of India], shall, if mutiny be committed in consequence of that abetment, be punished with death or with 4[imprisonment for life], or imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Death, or imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 10 years and fine-Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by Act 10 of 1927, sec. 2 and Sch. I, for “or sailor”.
2. Subs. by Act 10 of 1927, sec 2 and Sch. I, for “or Navy”.
3. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “Queen”.
4. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 133. Abetment of assault by soldier, sailor or airman on his superior officer, when in execution of his office
Whoever abets an assault by an office, soldier, 1[sailor or airman], in the Army, 2[Navy or Air force] of the 3[Government of India], on any superior officer being in the execution of his office, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by Act 10 of 1927, sec. 2 and Sch. I, for “or sailor”.
2. Subs. by Act 10 of 1927, sec 2 and Sch. I, for “or Navy”.
3. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “Queen”.
Section 134. Abetment of such assault, if the assault is committed
Whoever abets an assault by an officer, soldier, 1[sailor, or airman], in the Army, 2[navy or Air force] of the 3[Government of India], on any superior officer being in the execution of his office, shall, if such assault be committed in consequence of that abetment be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by Act 10 of 1927, sec. 2 and Sch. I, for “or sailor”.
2. Subs. by Act 10 of 1927, sec. 2 and Sch. I, for “or Navy”.
3. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “Queen”.
Section 135. Abetment of desertion of soldier, sailor or airman
Whoever abets the desertion of any officer, soldier, 1[sailor or airman], in the Army, 2[Navy or Air Force] of the 3[Government of India], shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by Act 10 of 1927, sec. 2 and Sch. I, for “or sailor”.
2. Subs. by Act 10 of 1927, sec. 2 and Sch. I, for “or Navy”.
3. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “Queen”.
Section 136. Harbouring deserter
Whoever, except as hereinafter expected, knowing or having reason to believe that an officer, soldier, 1[sailor or airman], in the Army, 2[Navy or air force] of the 3[Government of India], has deserted, harbours such officer, soldier, 1[sailor airman], shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
Exception
This provision does not extend to the case in which the harbour is given by a wife to her husband.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by Act 10 of 1927, sec. 2 and Sch. I, for “or sailor”.
2. Subs. by Act 10 of 1927, sec. 2 and Sch. I, for “or Navy”.
3. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “Queen”.
Section 137. Deserter concealed on board merchant vessel through negligence of master
The master or person in charge of a merchant vessel, on board of which any deserter from the Army, 1[Navy or Air force] of the 2[Government of India] is concealed, shall, though ignorant of such concealment, be liable to a penalty not exceeding five hundred rupees, if he might have known of such concealment but for some neglect of his duty as such master or person in charge, or but for some want of discipline on board of the vessel.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Fine of 500 rupees—Non-Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by Act 10 of 1927, sec. 2 and Sch. I, for “or Navy”.
2. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “Queen”.
Section 138. Abetment of act of insubordination by soldier, sailor or airman
Whoever abets what he knows to be an act of insubordination by an officer, soldier, 1[sailor or airman], in the Army,2[Navy or Air Force] of the 3[Government of India], shall, if such act of insubordination be committed in consequence of that abetment, be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 6 months, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by Act 10 of 1927, sec. 2 and Sch. I, for “or sailor”.
2. Subs. by Act 10 of 1927, sec. 2 and Sch. I, for “or Navy”.
3. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “Queen”.
Section 138A. Application of foregoing sections to the Indian Marine Service
[Ins. by Act 14 of 1887, sec.79 and Rep. by the Amending Act, 1934 (35 of 1934), s. 2 and Sch.]
Section 139. Persons subject to certain Acts
No person subject to 1[the Army Act, 2[the Army Act, 1950 (46 of 1950), or the Naval Discipline Act, 3[4[***] 5[the Indian Navy (Discipline) Act, 1934 (34 of 1934)], 6[the Air Force Act 7[the Air Force Act, 1950 (45 of 1950)]]], is subject to punishment under this Code for any of the offences defined in this Chapter.
1. Subs. by Act 10 of 1927, sec. 2 and Sch. I, for “any Article of War for the Army or Navy of the Queen, or for any part of such Army or Navy”.
2. Subs. by Act 3 of 1951, sec. 3 and Sch., for “the Indian Army Act, 1911”.
3. Ins. by Act 35 of 1934, sec. 2 and Sch.
4. The words “or that Act as modified” omitted by the A.O. 1950.
5. Now see the Navy Act, 1957 (62 of 1957).
6. Subs. by Act 14 of 1932, sec. 130 and Sch., for “or the Air Force Act”.
7. Subs. by Act 3 of 1951, sec. 3 and Sch., for “the Indian Air Force Act, 1932”.
Section 140. Wearing garb or carrying token used by soldier, sailor or airman
Whoever, not being a soldier, 1[sailor or airman] in the Military, 2[Naval or Air] service of the 3[Government of India], wears any garb or carries any token resembling any garb or token used by such a soldier, 1[sailor or airman] with the intention that it may be believed that he is such a soldier, 1[sailor or airman], shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three month, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 months, or fine of 500 rupees, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non- compoundable.
1. Subs. by Act 10 of 1927, sec. 2 and Sch. I, for “or sailor”.
2. Subs. by Act 10 of 1927, sec. 2 and Sch. I, for “or Navy”.
3. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “Queen”.
Section 141. Unlawful assembly
An assembly of five or more persons is designated an “unlawful assembly”, if the common object of the persons composing that assembly is
First.— To overawe by criminal force, or show of criminal force, 1[the Central or any State Government or Parliament or the Legislature of any State], or any public servant in the exercise of the lawful power of such public servant; or
Second.— To resist the execution of any law, or of any legal process; or
Third.— To commit any mischief or criminal trespass, or other offence; or
Fourth.— By means of criminal force, or show of criminal force, to any person, to take or obtain possession of any property, or to deprive any person of the enjoyment of a right of way, or of the use of water or other incorporeal right of which he is in possession or enjoyment, or to enforce any right or supposed right; or
Fifth.— By means of criminal force, or show of criminal force, to compel any person to do what he is not legally bound to do, or to omit to do what he is legally entitled to do.
Explanation
An assembly which was not unlawful when it assembled, may subsequently become an unlawful assembly.
1. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “Central or any Provincial Government or Legislature”.
Section 142. Being member of unlawful assembly
Whoever, being aware of facts which render any assembly an unlawful assembly, intentionally joins that assembly, or continues in it, is said to be a member of an unlawful assembly.
Section 143. Punishment
Whoever is a member of an unlawful assembly, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six month, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 6 months, or fine, or both—cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 144. Joining unlawful assembly armed with deadly weapon
Whoever, being armed with any deadly weapon, or with anything which, used as a weapon of offence, is likely to cause death, is a member of an unlawful assembly, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 145. Joining or continuing in unlawful assembly, knowing it has been commanded to disperse
Whoever joins or continues in an unlawful assembly, knowing that such unlawful assembly has been commanded in the manner prescribed by law to disperse, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 146. Rioting
Whenever force or violence is used by an unlawful assembly, or by any member thereof, in prosecution of the common object of such assembly, every member of such assembly is guilty of the offence of rioting.
Section 147. Punishment for rioting
Whoever is guilty of rioting, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 148. Rioting, armed with deadly weapon
Whoever is guilty of rioting, being armed with a deadly weapon or with anything which, used as a weapon of offence, is likely to cause death, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 149. Every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object
If an offence is committed by any member of an unlawful assembly in prosecution of the common object of that assembly, or such as the members or that assembly knew to be likely to be committed in prosecution of that object, every person who, at the time of the committing of that offence, is a member of the same assembly, is guilty of that offence.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—The same as for the offence—According as offence is cognizable or non-cognizable—According as offence is bailable or non-bailable—Triable by court by which the offence is triable—Non-compoundable.
Section 150. Hiring, or conniving at hiring, of persons to join unlawful assembly
Whoever hires or engages, or employs, or promotes, or connives at the hiring, engagement or employment of any person to join or become a member of any unlawful assembly, shall be punishable as a member of such unlawful assembly, and for any offence which may be committed by any such person as a member of such unlawful assembly in pursuance of such hiring, engagement or employment, in the same manner as if he had been a member of such unlawful assembly, or himself had committed such offence.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—The same as for a member of such assembly, and for any offence committed by any members of such assembly—Cognizable—According as offence is bailable or non-bailable—Triable by court by which the offence is triable—Non-compoundable.
Section 151. Knowingly joining or continuing in assembly of five or more persons after it has been commanded to disperse
Whoever knowingly joins or continues in any assembly of five or more persons likely to cause a disturbance of the public peace, after such assembly has been lawfully commanded to disperse, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine, or with both.
Explanation
If the assembly is an unlawful assembly with the meaning of section 141, the offender will be punishable under section 145.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 6 months, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 152. Assaulting or obstructing public servant when suppressing riot, etc.
Whoever assaults or threatens to assault, or obstructs or attempts to obstruct, any public servant in the discharge of his duty as such public servant, in endeavouring to disperse an unlawful assembly, or to suppress a riot or affray, or uses, or threatens, or attempts to use criminal force to such public servant, shall be punishable with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 153. Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot-if rioting be committed-if not committed
Whoever malignantly, or wantonly, by doing anything which is illegal, gives provocation to any person intending of knowing it to be likely that such provocation will cause the offence of rioting to be committed, shall, if the offence of rioting be committed in consequence of such provocation, be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both ; and if the offence of rioting be not committed, imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Imprisonment for 1 year, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Imprisonment for 6 months, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 153A. Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony
1[153A. Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony.—(1) Whoever
(a) By words, either spoken or written, or by signs or by visible representations or otherwise, promotes or attempts to promote, on grounds of religion, race, place or birth, residence, language, caste or community or any other ground whatsoever, disharmony or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will between different religious, racial, language or regional groups or castes or communities, or
(b) Commits any act which is prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony between different religious, racial, language or regional groups or castes or communities, and which disturbs or is likely to disturb the public tranquility, 2[or]
2[(c) Organizes any exercise, movement, drill or other similar activity intending that the participants in such activity shall use or be trained to use criminal force or violence of knowing it to be likely that the participants in such activity will use or be trained to use criminal force or violence, or participates in such activity intending to use or be trained to use criminal force or violence or knowing it to be likely that the participants in such activity will use or be trained to use criminal force or violence, against any religious, racial, language or regional group or caste or community and such activity for any reason whatsoever causes or is likely to cause fear or alarm or a feeling of insecurity amongst members of such religious, racial, language or regional group or caste or community,]
Shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
Offence committed in place of worship, etc.— (2) Whoever commits an offence specified in sub-section (1) in any place of worship or in any assembly engaged in the performance of religious worship or religious ceremonies, shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to five years and shall also be liable to fine.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by any Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Imprisonment for 5 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
1. Section 153A subs. by Act 41 of 1961, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 12-9-1961) and again subs. by Act 35 of 1969, sec. 2, for the former section (w.e.f. 4-9-1969).
2. Ins. by Act 31 of 1972, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 14-6-1972).
Section 153AA. Punishment for knowingly carrying arms in any procession or organising, or holding or taking part in any mass drill or mass training with arms
1[153AA. Punishment for knowingly carrying arms in any procession or organising, or holding or taking part in any mass drill or mass training with arms.—Whoever knowingly carries arms in any procession or organizes or holds or takes part in any mass drill or mass training with arms in any public place in contravention of any public notice or order issued or made under section 144A of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months and with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees.
Explanation
”Arms” means articles of any description designed or adapted as weapons for offence or defence and includes fire-arms, sharp edged weapons, lathis, dandas and sticks.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 6 months and fine of 2000 rupees—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
1. Ins. by Act 25 of 2005, sec. 44.
Section 153B. Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national-integration
1[153B. Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national-integration.— (1) Whoever, by words either spoken or written or by signs or by visible representations or otherwise, -
(a) Makes or publishes any imputation that any class of persons cannot, by reason or their being members of any religious, racial, language or regional group or caste or community, bear true faith and allegiance to Constitution of India as by law established or uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India, or
(b) Asserts, counsels, advises, propagates or publishes that any class or persons shall, by reason of their being members of any religious, racial, language or regional group or caste or community, be denied or deprived of their rights as citizens of India or
(c) makes or publishes any assertion, counsel, plea or appeal concerning the obligation of any class of persons, by reason of their being members of any religious, racial, language or regional group or caste or community, and such assertion, counsel, plea or appeal causes or is likely to cause disharmony or feelings of enmity or hatred or ill-will between such members and other persons,
shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
(2) Whoever commits an offence specified in sub-section (1), in any place of worship or in any assembly engaged in the performance of religious worship or religious ceremonies, shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to five years and shall also be liable to fine.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Imprisonment for 5 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
1. Ins. by Act 31 of 1972, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 14-6-1972).
Section 154. Owner or occupier of land on which an unlawful assembly is held
Whenever any unlawful assembly or riot takes place, the owner or occupier of the land upon which such unlawful assembly is held, or such riot is committed, and any person having or claiming an interest in such land, shall be punishable with fine not exceeding one thousand rupees, if he or his agent or manager, knowing that such offence is being or has been committed, or having reason to believe it is likely to be committed, do not give the earliest notice thereof in his or their power to the principal officer at the nearest police-station, and do not, in the case of his or their having reason to believe that it was about to be committed, use all lawful means in his or their power to prevent, it and, in the event of its taking place, do not use all lawful means in his or their power to disperse or suppress the riot or unlawful assembly.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Fine of 1,000 rupees—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 155. Liability of person for whose benefit riot is committed
Whenever a riot is committed for the benefit or on behalf of any person who is the owner or occupier of any land, respecting which such riot takes place or who claims any interest in such land, or in the subject of any dispute which gave rise to the riot, or who has accepted or derived any benefit there from, such person shall be punishable with fine, if he or his agent of manage, having reason to believe that such riot was likely to be committed or that the unlawful assembly by which such riot was committed was likely to be held, shall not respectively use all lawful means in his or their power to prevent such assembly or riot from taking place, and for suppressing and dispersing the same.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Fine—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 156. Liability of agent of owner of occupier for whose benefit riot is committed
Whenever a riot is committed for the benefit or on behalf of any person who is the owner or occupier of any land respecting which such riot takes place, or who claims any interest in such land, or in the subject or nay dispute which gave rise to the riot, or who has accepted or derived any benefit there from,
the agent or manager or such person shall be punishable with fine, if such agent or manager, having reason to believe that such riot was likely to be committed, or that the unlawful assembly by which such riot was committed was likely to be held, shall not use all lawful means in his power to prevent such riot or assembly from taking place and for suppressing and dispersing the same.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Fine—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 157. Harbouring persons hired for an unlawful assembly
Whoever harbours, receives or assembles, in any house or premises in his occupation or charge, or under his control any persons, knowing that such persons have been hired, engaged or employed, or are about to be hired, engaged or employed, to join or become members of an unlawful assembly, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 6 months, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 158. Being hired to take part in an unlawful assembly or riot
Whoever is engaged, or hired, or offers or attempts to be hired or engaged, to do or assist in doing any of the acts specified in Section 141, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine, or with both,
or to go armed.— and whoever, being so engaged or hired as aforesaid, goes armed, or engages or offers to go armed, with any deadly weapon or with anything which used as a weapon of offence is likely to cause death, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Imprisonment for 6 months, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 159. Affray
When two or more persons, by fighting in a public place, disturb the public peace, they are said to “commit an affray”.
Section 160. Punishment for committing affray
Whoever commits an affray, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one month, or with fine which may extend to one hundred rupees, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for one month, or fine of 100 rupees, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 161-165A. Repealed
[Rep. by the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (49 or 1988), sec. 31.]
Section 166. Public servant disobeying law, with intent to cause injury to any person
Whoever, being a public servant, knowingly disobeys any direction of the law as to the way in which he is to conduct himself as such public servant, intending to cause, or knowing it to be likely that he will, by such disobedience, cause injury to any person, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.
Illustration
A, being an officer directed by law to take property in execution, in order to satisfy a decree pronounced in Z’s favour by a Court of Justice, knowingly disobeys that direction of law, with the knowledge that he is likely thereby to cause injury to Z. A has committed the offence defined in this section.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Simple imprisonment for 1 year, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
1 Section 166A.
Whoever, being a public servant,–
(a) knowingly disobeys any direction of the law which prohibits him from requiring the attendance at any place of any person for the purpose of investigation into an offence or any other matter, or
(b) knowingly disobeys, to the prejudice of any person, any other direction of the law regulating the manner in which he shall conduct such investigation, or
(c) fails to record any information given to him under sub-section (1) of section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, in relation to cognizable offence punishable under section 326A, section 326B, section 354, section 354B, section 370, section 370A, section 376, section 376A, section 376B, section 376C, section 376D, section 376E or section 509, shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to two years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Section 166B.
Whoever, being in charge of a hospital, public or private, whether run by the Central Government, the State Government, local bodies or any other person, contravenes the provisions of section 357C of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine or with both]
1 Inserted by Section 3 of ‘The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013′
Section 167. Public servant farming an incorrect document with intent to cause injury
Whoever, being a public servant, and being, as 1[such public servant, charged with the preparation or translation of any document or electronic record, frames, prepares or translates that document or electronic record] in a manner which he knows or believes to be incorrect, intending thereby to cause or knowing it to be likely that he may thereby cause injury to any person, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by Act 21 of 2000, sec. 91 and Sch. I, for certain words (w.e.f. 17-10-2000).
Section 168. Public servant unlawfully engaging in trade
Whoever, being a public servant, and being legally bound as such public servant not to engage in trade, engages in trade, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Simple imprisonment for 1 year, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 169. Public servant unlawfully buying or bidding for property
Whoever, being a public servant, and being legally bound as such public servant, not to purchase or bid for certain property, purchases or bids for that property, either in his own name or in the name of another, or jointly, or in shares with others, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both; and the property, if purchased, shall be confiscated.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Simple imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both and confiscation of property, if purchased—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 170. Personating a public servant
Whoever pretends to hold any particular office as a public servant, knowing that he does not hold such office or falsely personates any other person holding such office, and in such assumed character does or attempts to do any act under colour of such office, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non Compoundable.
Section 171. Wearing garb or carrying token used by public servant with fraudulent intent
Whoever, not belonging to a certain class of public servants, wear any garb or carries any token resembling any garb or token used by that class of public servants, with the intention that it may be believed, or with the knowledge that it is likely to be believed, that he belongs to that class of public servants, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 months, or fine of 200 rupees, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 171A. Candidate, Electoral right defined
1[171A. “Candidate”, “Electoral right” defined.— For the purposes of this Chapter
2[(a) “candidate” means a person who has been nominated as a candidate at an election;]
(b) “electoral right” means the right of a person to stand, or not to stand as, or to withdraw from being, a candidate or to vote or refrain from voting at any election.]
1. Section 171A ins. by Act 39 of 1920, sec. 2.
2. Subs. by Act 40 of 1975, sec. 9, for clause (a) (w.e.f. 6-8-1975).
Section 171B. Bribery
1[171B. Bribery.—(1) Whoever
(i) gives a gratification to any person with the object of inducing him or any other person to exercise any electoral right or of rewarding any person for having exercised any such right; or
(ii) accepts either for himself or for any other person any gratification as a reward for exercising any such right or for inducing or attempting to induce any other person to exercise any such right;
commits the offence of bribery:
Provided that a declaration of public policy or a promise of public action shall not be an offence under this section.
(2) A person who offers, or agrees to give, or offers or attempts to procure, a gratification shall be deemed to give a gratification.
(3) A person who obtains or agrees to accept or attempts to obtain a gratification shall be deemed to accept a gratification, and a person who accepts a gratification as a motive for doing what he does not intend to do, or as a reward for doing what he has not done, shall be deemed to have accepted the gratification as a reward.]
1. Section 171B ins. by Act 39 of 1920, sec. 2.
Section 171C. Undue influence at elections
1[171C. Undue influence at elections.— (1) Whoever voluntarily interferes or attempts to interfere with the free exercise of any electoral right commits the offence of undue influence at an election.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of sub-section (1), whoever
(a) threatens any candidate or voter, or any person in whom a candidate or voter is interested, with injury of any kind, or
(b) induces or attempts to induce a candidate or voter to believe that he or any person in whom he is interested will become or will be rendered an object of Divine displeasure or of spiritual censure,
shall be deemed to interfere with the free exercise of the electoral right of such candidate or voter, within the meaning of sub-section (1).
(3) A declaration of public policy or a promise of public action, or the mere exercise of a legal right without intent to interfere with an electoral right, shall not be deemed to be interference within the meaning of this section.]
1. Section 171C ins. by Act 39 of 1920, sec. 2.
Section 171D. Personation at elections
1[171D. Personation at elections.— Whoever at an election applies for a voting paper or votes in the name of any other person, whether living or dead, or in a fictitious name, or who having voted once at such election applies at the same election for a voting paper in his own name, and whoever abets, procures or attempts to procure the voting by any person in any such way, commits the offence or personation at an election:
2[Provided that nothing in this section shall apply to a person who has been authorised to vote as proxy for an elector under any law for the time being in force in so far as he votes as a proxy for such elector.]]
1. Section 171D ins. by Act 39 of 1920, sec. 2.
2. Ins. by Act 24 of 2003, sec. 5 (w.e.f. 22-9-2003)
Section 171E. Punishment for bribery
1[171E. Punishment for bribery.— Whoever commits the offence of bribery shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both:
Provided that bribery by treating shall be punished with fine only.
Explanation
“Treating” means that form of bribery where the gratification consists in food, drink, entertainment, or provision.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 1 year, or fine, or both or if treating only, fine only—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
1. Section 171E ins. by Act 39 of 1920, sec. 2.
Section 171F. Punishment for undue influence or personation at an election
1[171F. Punishment for undue influence or personation at an election.— Whoever commits the offence of undue influence or personation at an election shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year or with fine, or with both.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Imprisonment for 1 year, or fine, or both or if treating only, fine only—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Imprisonment for 1 year, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
1. Section 171F ins. by Act 39 of 1920, sec. 2.
Section 171G. False statement in connection with an election
1[171G. False statement in connection with an election.— Whoever with intent to affect the result of an election makes or publishes any statement purporting to be a statement of fact which is false and which he either knows or believes to be false or does not believe to be true, in relation to the personal character or conduct of any candidate shall be punished with fine.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Fine—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
1. Section 171G ins. by Act 39 of 1920, sec. 2.
Section 171H. Illegal payments in connection with an election
1[171H. Illegal payments in connection with an election.— Whoever without the general or special authority in writing of a candidate incurs or authorises expenses on account of the holding of any public meeting, or upon any advertisement, circular or publication, or in any other way whatsoever for the purpose of promoting or procuring the election of such candidate, shall be punished with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees:
Provided that if any person having incurred any such expenses not exceeding the amount of ten rupees without authority obtains within ten days from the date on which such expenses were incurred the approval in writing of the candidate, he shall be deemed to have incurred such expenses with the authority of the candidate.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Fine of 500 rupees—Non cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
1. Section 171H ins. by Act 39 of 1920, sec. 2.
Section 171I. Failure to keep election accounts
1[171-I. Failure to keep election accounts.— Whoever being required by any law for the time being in force or any rule having the force of law to keep accounts of expenses incurred at or in connection with an election fails to keep such accounts shall be punished with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Fine of 500 rupees—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
1. Section 171-I ins. by Act 39 of 1920, sec. 2.
Section 172. Absconding to avoid service of summons or other proceeding
Whoever absconds in order to avoid being served with a summons, notice or order, proceeding from any public servant legally competent, as such public servant, to issue such summons, notice or order, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both;
or, if the summons or notice or order is to attend in person or by agent, or to 1[produce a document or an electronic record in a Court of Justice], with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Simple imprisonment for 1 month, or fine of 500 rupees, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Simple imprisonment for 6 months, or fine of 1,000 rupees, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by Act 21 of 2000, sec. 91 and Sch. I, for “produce a document in a Court of Justice” (w.e.f. 17-10-2000).
Section 173. Preventing service of summons or other proceeding, or preventing publication thereof
Whoever in any manner intentionally prevents the serving on himself, or on any other person, of any summons, notice or order proceeding from any public servant legally competent, as such public servant, to issue such summons, notice or order,
or intentionally prevents the lawful affixing to any place of any such summons, notice or order,
or intentionally removes any such summons, notice or order from any place to which it is lawfully affixed,
or intentionally prevents the lawful making of any proclamation, under the authority of any public servant legally competent, as such public servant, to direct such proclamation to be made,
shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both;
or, if the summons, notice, order or proclamation is to attend in person or by agent, or 1[to produce a document or electronic record in a Court of Justice], with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Simple imprisonment for 1 month, or fine of 500 rupees, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Simple imprisonment for 6 months, or fine of 1,000 rupees, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
–
1. Subs. by Act 21 of 2000, sec. 91 and Sch. I, for “to produce a document in a Court of Justice” (w.e.f. 17-10-2000).
Section 174. Non-attendance in obedience to an order form public servant
Whoever, being legally bound to attend in person or by an agent at a certain place and time in obedience to a summons, notice, order or proclamation proceeding from any public servant legally competent, as such public servant, to issue the same,
intentionally omits to attend at that place or time, or departs from the place where he is bound to attend before the time at which it is lawful for him to depart,
shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both,
or, if the summons, notice, order or proclamation is to attend in person or by agent in a Court of Justice, with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
Illustrations
(a) A, being legally bound to appear before the 1[High Court] at Calcutta, in obedience to a subpoena issuing from that Court, intentionally omits to appear. A has committed the offence defined in this section
(b) A, being legally bound to appear before a 2[District Judge], as a witness, in obedience to a summons issued by that 2[District Judge] intentionally omits to appear. A has committed the offence defined in this section.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Simple imprisonment for 1 month, or fine of 500 rupees, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Simple imprisonment for 6 months, or fine of 1,000 rupees, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “Supreme Court”.
2. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “Zila Judge”.
Section 174A. Non-appearance in response to a proclamation under section 82 of Act 2 of 1974
1[174A. Non-appearance in response to a proclamation under section 82 of Act 2 of 1974.— Whoever fails to appear at the specified place and the specified time as required by a proclamation published under sub‑section (1) of section 82 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine or with both, and where a declaration has been made under sub‑section (4) of that section pronouncing him as a proclaimed offender, he shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to fine.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years or fine, or with both—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
1. Ins. by Act 25 of 2005, sec. 44 (w.e.f. 23-6-2006).
Section 175. Omission to produce document or electronic record to public servant by person legally bound to produce it.
175. Omission to produce 1[document or electronic record] to public servant by person legally bound to produce it.—Whoever, being legally bound to produce or deliver up any 1[document or electronic record] of any public servant, as such, intentionally omits so to produce or deliver up the same, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both,
or, if the 1[document or electronic record] is to be produced or delivered up to a Court of Justice, with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
Illustration
A, being legally bound to produce a document before a 2[District Court], intentionally omits to produce the same. A has committed the offence defined in this section.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Simple imprisonment for 1 month, or fine of 500 rupees, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by the Court in which the offence is committed, subject to the provisions of Chapter XXVI or, if not committed in a Court, any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Simple imprisonment for 6 months, or fine of 1,000 rupees, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by the Court in which the offence is committed, subject to the provisions of Chapter XXVI; or, if not committed in a Court, any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by Act 21 of 2000, sec. 91 and Sch. I, for “document” (w.e.f. 17-10-2000).
2 Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “Zila Court”.
Section 176. Omission to give notice or information to public servant by person legally bound to give it
Whoever, being legally bound to give any notice or to furnish information on any subject to any public servant, as such, intentionally omits to give such notice or to furnish such information in the manner and at the time required by law, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both;
or, if the notice or information required to be given respects the commission of an offence, or is required for the purpose of preventing the commission of an
offence, or in order to the apprehension of an offender, with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both;
1[or, if the notice or information required to be given is required by an order passed under sub-section (1) of section 565 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (5 of 1898) with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Simple imprisonment for 1 month, or fine of 500 rupees, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Simple imprisonment for 6 months, or fine of 1,000 rupees, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Para III
Punishment—Imprisonment for 6 months, or fine of 1,000 rupees, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
1. Added by Act 22 of 1939, sec. 2.
Section 177. Furnishing false information
Whoever, being legally bound to furnish information on any subject to any public servant, as such, furnishes, as true, information on the subject which he knows or has reason to believe to be false, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both;
or, if the information which he is legally bound to give respects the commission of an offence, or is required for the purpose of preventing the commission of an offence, or in order to the apprehension of an offender, with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
Illustrations
(a) A, a landholder, knowing of the commission of a murder within the limits of his estate, willfully misinforms the Magistrate of the district that the death has occurred by accident in consequence of the bite of a snake. A is guilty of the offence defined in this section
(b) A, a village watchman, knowing that a considerable body of strangers has passed through his village in order to commit a dacoity in the house of Z, a wealthy merchant residing in a neighbouring place, and being being bound under clause 5, section VII, 1[Regulation III, 1821], of the Bengal Code, to give early and punctual information of the above fact to the officer of the nearest police-station, willfully misinforms the police-officer that a body of suspicious characters passed through the village with a view to commit dacoity in a certain distant place in a different direction. Here A is guilty of the offence defined in the later part of this section.
2Explanation
In section 176 and in this section the word “offence” includes any act committed at any place out of 3[India], which, if committed in 3[India], would be punishable under any of the following sections, namely, 302, 304, 382, 392, 393, 394, 395, 396, 397, 398, 399, 402, 435, 436, 449, 450, 457, 458, 459 and 460; and the word “offender” includes any person who is alleged to have been guilty of any such act.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Imprisonment for 6 months, or fine of 1,000 rupees, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
1. Rep. by Act 17 of 1862.
2. Added by Act 3 of 1894.
3. The words “British India” have successively been subs. by the A.O. 1948, the A.O. 1950 and Act 3 of 1951, sec. 3 and Sch. to read as above.
Section 178. Refusing oath or affirmation when duly required by public servant to make it
Whoever refuses to bind himself by an oath 1[or affirmation] to state the truth, when required so to bind himself by a public servant legally competent to require that he shall so bind himself, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Simple imprisonment for 6 months, or fine of 1,000 rupees, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by the court in which the offence is committed, subject to the provisions of Chapter XXVI; or, if not committed in a court, any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
1. Rep. by Act 17 of 1862.
Section 179. Refusing to answer public servant authorised to question
Whoever, being legally bound to state the truth on any subject to any public servant, refuses to answer any question demanded of him touching that subject by such public servant in the exercise of the legal powers of such public servant, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Simple imprisonment for 6 months, or fine of 1,000 rupees, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by the court in which the offence is committed, subject to the provisions of Chapter XXVI; or, if not committed in a court, any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 180. Refusing to sign statement
Whoever refuses to sign any statement made by him, when required to sign that statement by a public servant legally competent to require that he shall sign that statement, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Simple imprisonment for 3 months, or fine of 500 rupees, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by the court in which the offence is committed, subject to the provisions of Chapter XXVI; or, if not committed in a court, any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 181. False statement on oath or affirmation to public servant or person authorised to administer an oath or affirmation
Whoever, being legally bound by an oath 1[or affirmation] to state the truth on any subject to any public servant or other person authorized by law to administer such oath 2[or affirmation], makes, to such public servant or other person as aforesaid, touching the subject, any statement which is false, and which he either knows or believes to be false or does not believe to be true, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years and fine—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
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1. Ins. by Act 10 of 1873, sec. 15.
2. Ins. by Act 10 of 1873, sec. 15.
Section 182. False information, with intent to cause public servant to use his lawful power to the injury of another person
1[182. False information, with intent to cause public servant to use his lawful power to the injury of another person.— Whoever gives to any public servant any information which he knows or believes to be false, intending thereby to cause, or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby cause, such public servant
(a) to do or omit anything which such public servant ought not to do or omit if the true state of facts respecting which such information is given were known by him, or
(b) to use the lawful power of such public servant to the injury or annoyance of any person,
shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
Illustrations
(a) A informs a Magistrate that Z, a police-officer, subordinate to such Magistrate, has been guilty of neglect of duty or misconduct, knowing such information to be false, and knowing it to be likely that the information will cause the Magistrate to dismiss Z. A has committed the offence defined in this section.
(b) A falsely informs a public servant that Z has contraband salt in a secret place knowing such information to be false, and knowing that it is likely that the consequence of the information will be a search of Z’s premises, attended with annoyance to Z. A has committed the offence defined in this section.
(c) A falsely informs a policeman that he has been assaulted and robbed in the neighbourhood of a particular village. He does not mention the name of any person as one of his assistants, but knows it to be likely that in consequence of this information the police will make enquiries and institute searches in the village to the annoyance of the villages or some of them. A has committed an offence under this section.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 6 months or fine of 1,000 rupees, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by Act 3 of 1895, sec. 1, for the original section.
Section 183. Resistance to the taking of property by the lawful authority of a public servant
Whoever offers any resistance to the taking of any property by the lawful authority of any public servant, knowing or having reason to believe that he is such public servant, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 6 months or fine of 1,000 rupees, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 184. Obstructing sale of property offered for sale by authority of public servant
Whoever intentionally obstructs any sale of property offered for sale by the lawful authority of any public servant as such, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one month, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 1 month or fine of 500 rupees, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 185. Illegal purchase or bid for property offered for sale by authority of public servant
Whoever, at any sale of property held by the lawful authority of a public servant, as such, purchases or bids for any property on account of any person, whether himself or any other, whom he knows to be under a legal incapacity to purchase that property at that sale, or bids for such property not intending to perform the obligations under which he lays himself by such bidding, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one month, or with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 1 month, or fine of 200 rupees, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 186. Obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions
Whoever voluntarily obstructs any public servant in the discharge of his public functions, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 months, or fine of 500 rupees, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
State Amendment
Andhra Pradesh
Offence under section 186 is cognizable.
[Vide A.P.G.O. Ms. No. 732, dated 5th December, 1991]
Section 187. Omission to assist public servant when bound by law to give assistance
Whoever, being bound by law to render or furnish assistance to any public servant in the execution of his public duty, intentionally omits to give such assistance, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month, or with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees, or with both;
and if such assistance be demanded to him by a public servant legally competent to make such demand for the purposes of executing any process lawfully issued by a Court of Justice, or of preventing the commission of an offence, or of suppressing a riot, or affray, or of apprehending a person charged with or guilty of an offence, or of having escaped from lawful custody, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Simple imprisonment for 1 month, or the fine of 200 rupees, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Simple imprisonment for 6 months, or fine of 500 rupees, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 188. Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant
Whoever, knowing that, by an order promulgated by a public servant lawfully empowered to promulgate such order, he is directed to abstain from a certain act, or to take certain order with certain property in his possession or under his management, disobeys such direction,
shall, if such disobedience causes to tender to cause obstruction, annoyance or injury, or risk of obstruction, annoyance of injury, to any persons lawfully employed, be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month or with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees, or with both;
and if such disobedience causes or trends to cause danger to human life, health or safety, or causes or tends to cause a riot or affray, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
Explanation
It is not necessary that the offender should intend to produce harm, or contemplate his disobedience as likely to produce harm. It is sufficient that he knows of the order which he disobeys, and that his disobedience produces, or is likely to produce, harm.
Illustration
An order is promulgated by a public servant lawfully empowered to promulgate such order, directing that a religious procession shall not pass down a certain street. A knowingly disobeys the order, and thereby causes danger of riot. A has committed the offence defined in this section.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Simple imprisonment for 1 month, or fine of 200 rupees, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Imprisonment for 6 months, or fine of 1,000 rupees, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 189. Threat of injury to public servant
Whoever holds out any threat of injury to any public servant, or to any person in whom he believes that public servant to be interested, for the purpose of inducing that public servant to do any act, or to forbear or delay to do any act, connected with the exercise of the public functions of such public servant, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
State Amendments
Andhra Pradesh
In Andhra Pradesh offence under section 189 is cognizable.
[Vide A.P.G.O. Ms. No. 732, dated 5th December, 1991]
Section 190. Threat of injury to induce person to refrain from applying for protection to public servant
Whoever holds out any threat of injury to any person for the purpose of inducing that person to refrain or desist from making a legal application for protection against any injury to any public servant legally empowered as such to give such protection, or to cause such protection to be given, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 1 year, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
State Amendment
Andhra Pradesh
Offence under section 190 is cognizable.
[Vide A.P.G.O. Ms. No. 732, dated 5th December, 1991].
Section 191. Giving false evidence
Whoever, being legally bound by an oath or by an express provision of law to state the truth, or being bound by law to make a declaration upon any subject, makes any statement which is false, and which he either knows or believes to be false or does not believe to be true, is said to give false evidence.
Explanation 1
A statement is within the meaning of this section, whether it is made verbally or otherwise.
Explanation 2
A false statement as to the belief of the person attesting is within the meaning of this section, and a person may be guilty of giving false evidence by stating that he believes a thing which he does not believe, as well as by stating that he knows a thing which he does not know.
Illustrations
(a) A, in support of a just claim which B has against Z for one thousand rupees, falsely swears on a trial that he heard Z admit the justice of B’s claim. A has given false evidence.
(b) A, being bound by an oath to state the truth, states that he believes a certain signature to be the handwriting of Z, when he does not believe it to be the handwriting of Z. Here A states that which he knows to be false, and therefore gives false evidence.
(c) A, knowing the general character of Z’s handwriting, states that he believes a certain signature to be the handwriting of Z; A in good faith believing it to be so. Here A’s statement is merely as to his belief, and is true as to his belief, and therefore, although the signature may not be the handwriting of Z, A has not given false evidence.
(d) A, being bound by an oath to state the truth, states that he knows that Z was at a particular place on a particular day, not knowing anything upon the subject. A gives false evidence whether Z was at that place on the day named or not.
(e) A, an interpreter or translator, gives or certifies as a true interpretation or translation of a statement or document which he is bound by oath to interpret or translate truly, that which is not and which he does not believed to be a true interpretation or translation. A has given in false evidence.
Section 192. Fabricating false evidence
Whoever causes any circumstance to exist or 1[makes any false entry in any book or record or Electronic Record, or makes any document or Electronic Rercord containing a false statement], intending that such circumstance, false entry or false statement may appear in evidence in a judicial proceeding, or in a proceeding taken by law before a public servant as such, or before an arbitrator, and that such circumstance, false entry or false statement, so appearing in evidence, may cause any person who in such proceeding is to form an opinion upon the evidence, to entertain an erroneous opinion touching any point material to the result of such proceeding, is said “to fabricate false evidence”.
Illustrations
(a) A puts jewels into a box belonging to Z, with the intention that they may be found in that box, and that this circumstance may cause Z to be convicted of theft. A has fabricated false evidence.
(b) A makes a false entry in his shop-book for the purpose of using it as corroborative evidence in a Court of Justice. A has fabricated false evidence.
(c) A, with the intention of causing Z to be convicted of a criminal conspiracy, writes a letter in imitation of Z’s handwriting, purporting to be addressed to an accomplice in such criminal conspiracy, and puts the letter in a place which he knows that the officers of the Police are likely to search. A has fabricated false evidence.
–
1. Subs. by Act 21 of 2000, sec. 91 and Sch. I, for certain words (w.e.f. 17-10-2000).
Section 193. Punishment for false evidence
Whoever intentionally gives false evidence in any stage of a judicial proceeding, or fabricates false evidence for the purpose of being used in any stage of a judicial proceeding, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine,
and whoever intentionally gives or fabricates false evidence in any other case, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Explanation 1
A trial before a Court-martial; 1[* * *] is a judicial proceeding.
Explanation 2
An investigation directed by law preliminary to a proceeding before a Court of Justice, is a stage of a judicial proceeding, though that investigation may not take place before a Court of Justice.
Illustration
A, in an enquiry before a Magistrate for the purpose of ascertaining whether Z ought to be committed for trial, makes on oath a statement which he knows to be false. A this enquiry is a stage of a judicial proceeding, A has given false evidence.
Explanation 3
An investigation directed by a Court of Justice, according to law, and conducted under the authority of a Court of Justice, is a stage of a judicial proceeding, though that investigation may not take place before a Court of Justice.
Illustration
A, in any enquiry before an officer deputed by a Court of Justice to ascertain on the spot the boundaries of land, makes on oath a statement which he knows to be false. As this enquiry is a stage of a judicial proceeding. A has given false evidence.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years and fine—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate.
-
1. The words “or before a Military Court of Request” omitted by Act 13 of 1889, sec. 2 and Sch.
Section 194. Giving or fabricating false evidence with intent to procure conviction of capital offence
Whoever gives or fabricates false evidence, intending thereby to cause, or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby cause, any person to be convicted of an offence which is capital 1[by the law for the time being in force in 2[India]] shall be punished with 3[imprisonment for life], or with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine;
if innocent person be thereby convicted and executed.— and if an innocent person be convicted and executed in consequence of such false evidence, the person who gives such false evidence shall be punished either with death or the punishment hereinbefore described.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Imprisonment for life, or rigorous imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Non-cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Death or as above—Non-cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by the A.O. 1948, for “by the law of British India or England”.
2. Subs. by Act 3 of 1951, sec. 3 and Sch., for “the States”.
3. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 195. Giving or fabricating false evidence with intent to procure conviction of offence punishable with imprisonment for life or imprisonment
Whoever gives or fabricates false evidence intending thereby to cause, or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby cause, any person to be convicted of an offence which 1[by the law for the time being in force in 2[India] is not capital, but punishable with 3[imprisonment for life], or imprisonment for a term of seven years or upwards, shall be punished as a person convicted of that offence would be liable to be punished.
Illustration
A gives false evidence before a Court of Justice intending thereby to cause Z to be convicted of a dacoity. The punishment of dacoity is 3[imprisonment for life], or rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years, with or without fine. A, therefore, is liable to 3[imprisonment for life] or imprisonment, with or without fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—The same as for the offence—Non-cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by the A.O. 1948, for “by the law of British India or England”.
2. Subs. by Act 3 of 1951, sec. 3 and Sch., for “the States”.
3. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 195A. Threatening any person to give false evidence
1[195A. 2[Threatening any person to give false evidence].— Whoever threatens another with any injury to his person, reputation or property or to the person or reputation of any one in whom that person is interested, with intent to cause that person to give false evidence shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, or with fine, or with both;
and if innocent person is convicted and sentenced in consequence of such false evidence, with death or imprisonment for more than seven years, the person who threatens shall be punished with the same punishment and sentence in the same manner and to the same extent such innocent person is punished and sentenced.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years or fine or both—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court by which offence of giving false evidence is triable—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Same as for the offence for which the false evidence was given—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court by which offence of giving false evidence is triable—Non-compoundable.
1. Ins. by Act 2 of 2006, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 16-4-2006).
2. Corrected vide Corrigendum, dated 3rd March, 2006.
Section 196. Using evidence known to be false
Whoever corruptly uses or attempts to use as true or genuine evidence any evidence which he knows to be false or fabricated, shall be punished in the same manner as if he gave or fabricated false evidence.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—The same as for the giving or fabricating false evidence—Non-cognizable—According as offence of giving such evidence is bailable or non-bailable—Triable by court by which offence of giving or fabricating false evidence is triable—Non-compoundable.
Section 197. Issuing or signing false certificate
Whoever issues or signs any certificate required by law to be given or signed, or relating to any fact of which such certificate is by law admissible in evidence, knowing or believing that such certificate is false in any material point, shall be punished in the same manner as if he gave false evidence.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—The same as for the giving or fabricating false evidence—Non-cognizable—Bailable.—Triable by court by which offence of giving false evidence is triable—Non-compoundable.
Section 198. Using as true a certificate known to be false
Whoever corruptly uses or attempts to use any such certificate as a true certificate, knowing the same to be false in any material point, shall be punished in the same manner as if he gave false evidence.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—The same as for the giving or fabricating false evidence—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by court by which offence of giving false evidence is triable—Non-compoundable.
Section 199. False statement made in declaration which is by law receivable as evidence
Whoever, in any declaration made or subscribed by him, which declaration any Court of Justice, or any public servant or other person, is bound or authorized by law to receive as evidence of any fact, makes any statement which is false, and which he either knows or believes to be false or does not believe to be true, touching any point material to the object for which the declaration is made or used, shall be punished in the same manner as if he gave false evidence.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—The same as for the giving or fabricating false evidence—Non-cognizable-Bailable—Triable by court by which offence of giving false evidence is triable—Non-compoundable.
Section 200. Using as true such declaration knowing it to be false
Whoever corruptly uses or attempts to use as true any such declaration, knowing the same to be false in any material point, shall be punished in the same manner as if he gave false evidence.
Explanation
A declaration which is inadmissible merely upon the ground of some informality, is a declaration within the meaning of sections 199 to 200.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—The same as for giving or fabricating false evidence—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by court by which offence of giving false evidence is triable—Non-compoundable.
Section 201. Causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender
Whoever, knowing or having reason to believe that an offence has been committed, causes any evidence of the commission of that offence to disappear, with the intention of screening the offender from legal punishment, or with that intention gives any information respecting the offence which he knows or believes to be false;
if a capital offence.—shall, if the offence which he knows or believes to have been committed is punishable with death, be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine;
if punishable with imprisonment for life.—and if the offence is punishable with 1[imprisonment for life], or with imprisonment which may extend to ten years, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine;
if punishable with less than ten years’ imprisonment.—and if the offence is punishable with imprisonment for any term not extending to ten years, shall be punished with imprisonment of the description provided for the offence, for a term which may extend to one-fourth part of the longest term of the imprisonment provided for the offence, or with fine, or with both.
Illustration
A, knowing that B has murdered Z, assists B to hide the body with the intention of screening B from punishment. A is liable to imprisonment of either description for seven years, and also to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—According as the offence in relation to which disappearance of evidence is caused is cognizable or non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years and fine—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Para III
Punishment—Imprisonment for a quarter of the longest term provided for the offence, or fine or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by court by which the offence is triable—Non-compoundable.
–
1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 202. Intentional omission to give information of offence by person bound to inform
Whoever, knowing or having reason to believe that an offence has been committed, intentionally omits to give any information respecting that offence which he is legally bound to give, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 6 months, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 203. Giving false information respecting an offence committed
Whoever knowing or having reason to believe that an offence has been committed, gives any information respecting that offence which he knows or believes to be false, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two year, or with fine, or with both.
1[Explanation.—In sections 201 and 202 and in this section the word “offence”, includes any act committed at any place out of 2[India], which, if committed in 2[India], would be punishable under any of the following sections, namely, 302, 304, 382, 392 393, 394, 395, 396, 397, 398, 399, 402, 435, 436, 449, 450, 457, 458, 459 and 460.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
-
1. Added by Act 3 of 1894, sec. 6.
2. The words “British India” have successively been subs. by the A.O. 1948, the A.O. 1950 and Act 3 of 1951, sec. 3 and Sch., to read as above.
Section 204. Destruction of document or electronic record to prevent its production as sevidence
Destruction of 1[document or electronic record] to prevent its production as sevidence.— Whoever secretes or destroys any 1[document or Electronic Record] which he may be lawfully compelled to produce as evidence in a Court of Justice, or in any proceeding lawfully held before a public servant, as such, or obliterates or renders illegible the whole or any part of such 1[document or Electronic Record] with the intention of preventing the same from being produced or used as evidence before such Court or public servant as aforesaid, or after he shall have been lawfully summoned or required to produce the same for that purpose, shall be punishable with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
-
1. Subs. by Act 21 of 2000, sec. 91 and Sch. I, for “document” (w.e.f. 17-10-2000).
Section 205. False personation for purpose of act or proceeding in suit or prosecution
Whoever falsely personates another, and in such assumed character makes any admission or statement, or confesses judgment, or causes any process to be issued or becomes bail or security, or does any other act in any suit or criminal prosecution, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 206. Fraudulent removal or concealment of property to prevent its seizure as forfeited or in execution
Whoever fraudulently removes, conceals, transfers or delivers to any person any property or any interest therein, intending thereby to prevent that property or interest therein from being taken as a forfeiture or in satisfaction of a fine, under a sentence which has been pronounced, or which he knows to be likely to be pronounced, by a Court of Justice or other competent authority, or from being taken in execution of a decree or order which has been made, or which he knows to be likely to be made by a Court of Justice in a civil suit, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 207. Fraudulent claim to property to prevent its seizure as forfeited or in execution
Whoever fraudulently accepts, receives or claims any property or any interest therein, knowing that he has no right or rightful claim to such property or interest, or practices any deception touching any right to any property or any interest therein, intending thereby to prevent that property or interest therein from being taken as a forfeiture or a satisfaction of a fine, under a sentence which has been pronounced, or which he knows to be likely to be pronounced by a Court of Justice or other competent authority, or from being taken in execution of a decree or order which has been made or which knows to be likely to be made by a Court of Justice in a civil suit, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 208. Fraudulently suffering decree for sum not due
Whoever fraudulently causes or suffer a decree or order to be passed against him at the suit of any person for a sum not due or for a larger sum than is due to such person or for any property or interest in property to which such person is not entitled, or fraudulently causes or suffers a decree order to be executed against him after it has been satisfied, or for anything in respect of which it has been satisfied, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
Illustration
A institutes a suit against Z. Z knowing that A is likely to obtain a decree against him, fraudulently suffers a judgment to pass against him for a larger amount at the suit of B, who has no just claim against him, in order that B, either on his own account or for the benefit of Z, may share in the proceeds of any sale of Z’s property which may be made under A’s decree. Z has committed an office under this section.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 209. Dishonestly making false claim in Court
Whoever fraudulently or dishonestly, or with intent to injure or any person, makes in a Court of Justice any claim which he knows to be false, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 210. Fraudulently obtaining decree for sum not due
Whoever fraudulently obtains a decree or order against any person for a sum not due or for a larger sum than is due, or for any property or interest in property to which he is not entitled, or fraudulently causes a decree or order to be executed against any person after it has been satisfied or for anything in respect of which it has been satisfied, or fraudulently suffers or permits any such act to be done in his name, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 211. False charge of offence made with intent to injure
Whoever, with intent to cause injury to any person, institutes or causes to be instituted any criminal proceeding against that person, or falsely charges any person with having committed an offence, knowing that there is no just or lawful ground for such proceeding or charge against that person, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both;
and if such criminal proceeding be instituted on a false charge of an offence punishable with death 1[imprisonment for life], or imprisonment for seven years or upwards, shall be punishable with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Para III
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years, and fine—No
n-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
—–
1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 212. Harbouring offender
Whenever an offence has been committed, whoever harbours or conceals a person whom he knows or has reason to believe to be the offender, with the intention of screening him from legal punishment;
if a capital offence.—shall, if the offence is punishable with death, be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years, and shall also be liable to fine;
if punishable with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment.—and if the offence is punishable with 1[imprisonment for life], or with imprisonment which may extend to ten years, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine;
and if the offence is punishable with imprisonment which may extend to one year, and not to ten years, shall be punished with imprisonment of the description provided for the offence for a term which may extend to one-fourth part of the longest term of imprisonment provided for the offence, or with fine, or with both.
2[“Offence” in this section includes any act committed at any place out of 3[India], which, if committed in 3[India], would be punishable under any of the following sections, namely, 302, 304, 382, 392, 393, 394, 395, 396, 397, 398, 399, 402, 435, 436, 449, 450, 457, 458, 459 and 460; and every such act shall, for the purposes of this section, be deemed to be punishable as if the accused person had been guilty of it in 3[India].]
Exception.—This provision shall not extend to any case in which the harbour or concealment is by the husband or wife of the offender.
Illustration
A, knowing that B has committed dacoity, knowingly conceals B in order to screen him from legal punishment. Here, as B is liable to 1[imprisonment for life], A is liable to imprisonment of either description for a term not exceeding three years, and is also liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Imprisonment for 5 years and fine—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years and fine—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Para III
Punishment—Imprisonment for a quarter of the longest term, and of the description, provided for the offence, or fine, or both—Cognizance—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
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1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
2. Ins. by Act 3 of 1894, sec. 7.
3. The words “British India” have successively been subs. by the A.O. 1948, the A.O. 1950 and Act 3 of 1951, sec. 3 and Sch., to read as above.
Section 213. Taking gift, etc., to screen an offender from punishment
Whoever accepts or attempts to obtain, or agrees to accept, any gratification for himself or any other person, or any restitution of property to himself or any other person, in consideration of his concealing an offence or of his screening any person from legal punishment for any offence, or of his not proceeding against any person for the purpose of bringing him to legal punishment,
if a capital offence.—shall, if the offence is punishable with death, be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine;
if punishable with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment.—and if the offence is punishable with 1[imprisonment for life], or with imprisonment which may extend to ten years, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine;
and if the offence is punishable with imprisonment not extending to ten years, shall be punished with imprisonment of the description provided for the offence for a term which may extend to one-fourth part of the longest term of imprisonment provided for the offence, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years and fine—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Para III
Punishment—Imprisonment for a quarter of the longest term, provided for the offence, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
–
1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 214. Offering gift or restoration of property in consideration of screening offender
Whoever gives or causes, or offers or agrees to give or cause, any gratification to any person, or 1[restores or causes the restoration of] any property to any person, in consideration of that person’s concealing an offence, or of his screening any person from legal punishment for any offence, or of his not proceeding against any person for the purpose of bringing him to legal punishment;
if a capital offence.—shall, if the offence is punishable with death, be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine;
if punishable with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment.—and if the offence is punishable with 2[imprisonment for life], or with imprisonment which may extend to ten years, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine;
and if the offence is punishable with imprisonment not extending to ten years, shall be punished with imprisonment of the description provided for the offence for a term which may extend to one-fourth part of the longest term of imprisonment provided for the offence, or with fine, or with both.
3[Exception.—The provisions of sections 213 and 214 do not extend to any case in which the offence may lawfully be compounded.]
4[***]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years and fine-—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Para III
Punishment—Imprisonment for a quarter of the longest term provided for the offence, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
—-
1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
2. Subs. by Act 42 of 1953, sec. 4 and Sch. III, for “to restore or cause the restoration of” (w.e.f. 23-12-1953).
3. Subs. by Act 8 of 1882, sec. 6, for the original Exception.
4. Illustrations rep. by Act 10 of 1882, sec. 2 and Sch. I.
Section 215. Taking gift to help to recover stolen property, etc.
Whoever takes or agrees or consents to take any gratification under pretence or on account of helping any person to recover any movable property of which he shall have been deprived by any offence punishable under this Code, shall, unless he uses all means in his power to cause the offender to be apprehended and convicted of the offence, be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 216. Harbouring offender who has escaped from custody or whose apprehension has been ordered
Whenever any person convicted of or charged with an offence, being in lawful custody for that offence, escapes from such custody;
or whenever a public servant, in the exercise of the lawful powers of such public servant, orders a certain person to be apprehended for an offence, whoever, knowing of such escape or order for apprehension, harbours of conceals that person with the intention of preventing him from being apprehended, shall be punished in the manner following that is to say,
if a capital offence.—if the offence for which the person was in custody or is ordered to be apprehended is punishable with death, he shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine;
if punishable with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment.—if the offence is punishable with 1[imprisonment for life], or imprisonment for ten years, he shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, with or without fine;
and if the offence is punishable with imprisonment which may extend to one year and not to ten years, he shall be punished with imprisonment of the description provided for the offence for a term which may extend to one-fourth part of the longest term of the imprisonment provided for such offence, or with fine, or with both.
2[“Offence” in this section includes also any act or omission of which a person is alleged to have been guilty out of 3[India], which, if he had been guilty of it in 3[India], would have been punishable as an offence, and for which he is, under any law relating to extradition, 4[***] or otherwise, liable to be apprehended or detained in custody in 3[India]; and every such act or omission shall, for the purposes of this section, be deemed to be punishable as if the accused person had been guilty of it in 3[India].]
Exception.—This provision does not extend to the case in which the harbour or concealment is by the husband or wife of the person to be apprehended.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years, with or without fine—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Para III
Punishment—Imprisonment for a quarter of the longest term provided for the offence, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
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1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
2. Ins. by Act 10 of 1886, sec. 23.
3. The words “British India” have successively been subs. by the A.O. 1948, the A.O. 1950 and Act 3 of 1951, sec. 3 and Sch., to read as above.
4. The words “or under the Fugitive Offenders Act, 1881,” omitted by Act 3 of 1951, sec. 3 and Sch.
Section 216A. Penalty for harbouring robbers or dacoits
1[216A. Penalty for harbouring robbers or dacoits.— Whoever, knowing or having reason to believe that any persons are about to commit or have recently committed robbery or dacoity, harbours them or any of them, with the intention of facilitating the commission of such robbery or dacoity or of screening them or any of them from punishment, shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Explanation
For the purposes of this section it is immaterial whether the robbery or dacoity is intended to be committed, or has been committed, within or without 2[India]
Exception.— This provision does not extend to the case in which the harbour is by the husband or wife of the offender.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Rigorous imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
—–
1. Ins. by Act 3 of 1894, sec. 8.
2. The words “British India” have successively been subs. by the A.O. 1948, the A.O. 1950 and Act 3 of 1951, sec. 3 and Sch., to read as above.
Section 216B. Definition of “harbour” in sections 212, 216 and 216A
1[216B. Definition of “harbour” in sections 212, 216 and 216A.— [Rep. by the Indian Penal Code (Amendment) Act, 1942 (8 of 1942), sec. 3.]]
–
1. Ins. by Act 3 of 1894, sec. 8.
Section 217. Public servant disobeying direction of law with intent to save person from punishment or property from forfeiture
Whoever, being a public servant, knowingly disobeys any direction of the law as to the way in which he is conduct himself as such public servant, intending thereby to save, or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby save, any person from legal punishment, or subject him to a less punishment than that to which he is liable, or with intent to save, or knowing that he is likely thereby to save, any property from forfeiture or any charge to which it is liable by law, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 218. Public servant framing incorrect record or writing with intent to save person from punishment or property from forfeiture
Whoever, being a public servant, and being as such public servant, charged with the preparation of any record or other writing, frames that record or writing in a manner which he knows to be incorrect, with intent to cause, or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby cause, loss or injury to the public or to any person, or with intent thereby to save, or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby save, any person from legal punishment, or with intent to save, or knowing that he is likely thereby to save, any property from forfeiture or other charge to which it is liable by law, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 219. Public servant in judicial proceeding corruptly making report, etc., contrary to law
Whoever, being a public servant, corruptly or maliciously makes or pronounces in any stage of a judicial proceeding, any report, order, verdict, or decision which he knows to be contrary to law, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years, or fine, or both—Non-Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable
Section 220. Commitment for trial or confinement by person having authority who knows that he is acting contrary to law
Whoever, being in any office which gives legal authority to commit persons for trial or to confinement, or to keep persons in confinement, corruptly or maliciously commits any person for trial or to confinement, or keeps any person in confinement, in the exercise of that authority knowing that in so doing he is acting contrary to law, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 221. Intentional omission to apprehend on the part of public servant bound to apprehend
Whoever, being a public servant, legally bound as such public servant to apprehend or to keep in confinement any person charged with or liable to apprehended for an offence, intentionally omits to apprehend such person, or intentionally suffers such person to escape, or intentionally aids such person in escaping or attempting to escape from such confinement, shall be punished as follows, that is to say:
with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, with or without fine, if the person in confinement, or who ought to have been apprehended, was charged with, or liable to be apprehended for, an offence punishable with death; or
with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, with or without fine, if the person in confinement, or who ought to have been apprehended, was charged with, or liable to be apprehended for, an offence punishable with 1[imprisonment for life] or imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years; or
with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, with or without fine, if the person in confinement, or who ought to have been apprehended, was charged with, or liable to be apprehended for, an offence punishable with imprisonment for a term less than ten years.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years, with or without fine—According as the offence in relation to which such omission has been made in cognizable or non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years, with or without fine—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Para III
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, with or without fine—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 222. Intentional omission to apprehend on the part of public servant bound to apprehend person under sentence or lawfully committed
Whoever, being a public servant, legally bound as such public servant to apprehend or to keep in confinement any person under sentence of a Court of Justice for any offence 1[or lawfully committed to custody], intentionally omits to apprehend such person, or intentionally suffers such person to escape, or intentionally aids such person in escaping or attempting to escape from such confinement, shall be punished as follows, that is to say :
with 2[imprisonment of life] or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to fourteen years, with or without fine, if the person in confinement, or who ought to have been apprehended, is under sentence of death; or
with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, with or without fine, if the person in confinement or who ought to have been apprehended, is subject, by a sentence of a Court of Justice, or by virtue of a commutation of such sentence, to 2[imprisonment for life]3[***] 4[***] 5[***] 6[***] or imprisonment for a term of ten years or upwards; or
with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both, if the person in confinement, or who ought to have been apprehended is subject, by a sentence of a Court of Justice, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding to ten years 7[or if the person was lawfully committed to custody].
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 14 years, with or without fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years, with or without fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Para III
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
1. Ins. by Act 27 of 1870, sec. 8.
2. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
3. The words “or penal servitude for life” omitted by Act 17 of 1949, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 6-4-1949).
4. The words “or to” omitted by Act 36 of 1957, sec. 3 and Sch. II (w.e.f. 17-9-1957).
5. The word “transportation” omitted by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch. (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
6. The words “or penal servitude” omitted by Act 17 of 1949, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 6-4-1949).
7. Ins. by Act 27 of 1870, sec. 8.
Section 223. Escape from confinement or custody negligently suffered by public servant
Whoever, being a public servant legally bound as such public servant to keep in confinement any person charged with or convicted of any offence 1[or lawfully committed to custody], negligently suffers such person to escape from confinement, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Simple imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
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1. Ins. by Act 27 of 1870, sec. 8.
Section 224. Resistance or obstruction by a person to his lawful apprehension
Whoever intentionally offers any resistance or illegal obstruction to the lawful apprehension of himself for any offence with which he is charged or of which he has been convicted, or escapes or attempts to escape from custody in which he is lawfully detained for any such offence, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
Explanation
The punishment in this section is in addition to the punishment for which the person to be apprehended or detained in custody was liable for the offence with which he was charged, or of which he was convicted.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 225. Resistance or obstruction to lawful apprehension of another person
Whoever intentionally offers any resistance or illegal obstruction to the lawful apprehension of any other person for an offence, or rescues or attempts to rescue any other person from any custody in which that person is lawfully detained for an offence, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both;
or, if the person to be apprehended, or the person rescued or attempted to be rescued, is charged with or liable to be apprehended for an offence punishable with 1[imprisonment for life] or imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine;
or, if the person to be apprehended, or the person attempted to be rescued, is charged with or liable to be apprehended for an offence punishable with death, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine;
or, if the person to be apprehended or rescued, or attempted to be rescued, is liable under the sentence of a Court of Justice, or by virtue of a commutation of such a sentence, to 1[imprisonment for life] 2[***] 3[***] 4[***] or imprisonment, for a term of ten years or upwards, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine;
or, if the person to be apprehended or rescued, or attempted to be rescued, is under sentence of death, shall be punished with 1[imprisonment for life] or imprisonment of either description for a term not exceeding ten years, and shall also be liable to fine
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Para III & IV
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class.
Para V
Punishment—Imprisonment for life or imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session.
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1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
2. The words “or to” omitted by Act 36 of 1957, sec. 3 and Sch. II (w.e.f. 17-9-1957).
3. The word “transportation” omitted by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch. (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
4. The words “penal servitude” omitted by Act 17 of 1949, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 6-4-1949).
Section 225A. Omission to apprehend, or sufferance of escape, on part of public servant, in cases not otherwise, provided for
1[225A. Omission to apprehend, or sufferance of escape, on part of public servant, in cases not otherwise, provided for.— Whoever, being a public servant legally bound as such public servant to apprehend, or to keep in confinement, any person in any case not provided for in section 221, section 222 or section 223, or in any other law for the time being in force, omits to apprehend that person or suffers him to escape from confinement, shall be punished
(a) if he does so intentionally, with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both; and
(b) if he does so negligently, with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Simple imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate.
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1. Sections 225A and 225B subs. by Act 10 of 1886, sec. 24(1), for section 225A which had been ins. by Act 27 of 1870, sec. 9.
Section 225B. Resistance or obstruction to lawful apprehension, or escape or rescue in cases not otherwise provided for
1[225B. Resistance or obstruction to lawful apprehension, or escape or rescue in cases not otherwise provided for.— Whoever, in any case not provided for in section 224 or section 225 or in any other law for the time being in force, intentionally offers any resistance or illegal obstruction to the lawful apprehension of himself or of any other person, or escapes or attempts to escape from any custody in which he is lawfully detained, or rescues or attempts to rescue any other person from any custody in which that person is lawfully detained, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine, or with both.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 6 months, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
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1. Sections 225A and 225B subs. by Act 10 of 1886, sec. 24(1), for section 225A which had been ins. by Act 27 of 1870, sec. 9.
Section 226. Unlawful return from transportation
[Rep. by the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act, 1995 (26 of 1995), sec. 117 and Sch. (w.e.f. 1.1.1956).]
Section 227. Violation of condition of remission of punishment
Whoever, having accepted any conditional remission of punishment, knowingly violates any condition on which such remission was granted, shall be punished with the punishment to which he was originally sentenced, if he has already suffered no part of that punishment, and if he has suffered any part of that punishment, then with so much of that punishment as he has not already suffered.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Punishment of original sentence, or if part of the punishment has been undergone, the residue—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by the court by which the original offence was triable—Non-compoundable.
Section 228. Intentional insult or interruption to public servant sitting in judicial proceeding
Whoever intentionally offers any insult, or causes any interruption to any public servant, while such public servant is sitting in any stage of a judicial proceeding, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
State Amendment
Andhra Pradesh
In Andhra Pradesh offence under section 228 is cognizable.
[Vide A.P.G.O. Ms. No. 732, dated 5th December, 1991].
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Simple Imprisonment for 6 months, or fine of 1,000 rupees or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by the Court in which the offence is committed, subject to the provisions of Chapter XXVI—Non-compoundable.
Section 228A. Disclosure of identity of the victim of certain offences etc
1[228A. Disclosure of identity of the victim of certain offences etc.— (1) Whoever prints or publishes the name or any matter which may make known the identity of any person against whom an 2[“offence under section 376, section 376A, section 376B, section 376C, section 376D or section 376E”] is alleged or found to have been committed (hereafter in this section referred to as the victim) shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years and shall also be liable to fine.
(2) Nothing in sub-section (1) extends to any printing or publication of the name or any matter which may make known the identity of the victim if such printing or publication is
(a) by or under the order in writing of the officer-in-charge of the police station or the police officer making the investigation into such offence acting in good faith for the purposes of such investigation; or
(b) by, or with the authorisation in writing of, the victim; or
(c) where the victim is dead or minor or of unsound mind, by, or with the authorisation in writing of, the next of kin of the victim:
Provided that no such authorisation shall be given by the next of kin to anybody other than the chairman or the secretary, by whatever name called, of any recognised welfare institution or organisation.
Explanation
For the purposes of this sub-section, “recognised welfare institution or organisation” means a social welfare institution or organisation recognised in this behalf by the Central or State Government.
(3) Whoever prints or publishes any matter in relation to any proceeding before a court with respect to an offence referred to in sub-section (1) without the previous permission of such Court shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years and shall also be liable to fine.
Explanation
The printing or publication of the judgment of any High Court or the Supreme Court does not amount to an offence within the meaning of this section.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Imprisonment for two years and fine—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Imprisonment for two years and fine—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
1. Ins. by Act 43 of 1983, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 25-12-1983).
2. Inserted by Section 4 of ‘The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013′
Section 229. Personation of a juror or assessor
Whoever by personation or otherwise, shall intentionally cause, or knowingly suffer himself to be returned, empanelled or sworn as a juryman or assessor in any case in which he knows that he is not entitled by law to be so returned, empanelled or sworn, or knowing himself to have been so returned, empanelled or sworn contrary to law, shall voluntarily serve on such jury or as such assessor, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 229A. Failure by person released on bail or bond to appear in Court
1[229A. Failure by person released on bail or bond to appear in Court.— Whoever, having been charged with an offence and released on bail or on bond without sureties, fails without sufficient cause (the burden of proving which shall lie upon him), to appear in Court in accordance with the terms of the bail or bond, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.
Explanation
The punishment under this section is
(a) in addition to the punishment to which the offender would be liable on a conviction for the offence with which he has been charged; and
(b) without prejudice to the power of the Court to order forfeiture of the bond.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 1 year, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
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1. Ins. by Act 25 of 2005, sec. 44 (w.e.f. 23-6-2006)
Section 230. Coin defined
1[Coin is metal used for the time being as money, and stamped and issued by the authority of some State or Sovereign Power in order to be so used.]
Indian coin.—2[Indian coin is metal stamped and issued by the authority of the Government of India in order to be used as money; and metal which has been so stamped and issued shall continue to be Indian coin for the purposes of this Chapter, notwithstanding that it may have ceased to be used as money.]
Illustrations
(a) Cowries are not coin.
(b) Lumps of unstamped copper, though used as money, are not coin.
(c) Medals are not coin, in as much as they are not intended to be used as money.
(d) The coin denominated as the Company’s rupee is 3[Indian coin].
4[(e) The “Farukhabad rupee” which was formerly used as money under the authority of the Government of India is 4[Indian coin] although it is no longer so used].
1. Subs. by Act 19 of 1872, sec. 1, for the original first paragraph.
2. Subs. by A.O. 1950, for the former paragraph.
3. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “the Queen’s coin”
4. Ins. by Act 6 of 1896, sec. 1.
Section 231. Counterfeiting coin
Whoever counterfeits or knowingly performs any part of the process of counterfeiting coin, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Explanation
A person commits this offence who intending to practice deception, or knowing it to be likely that deception will thereby be practiced, causes a genuine coin to appear like a different coin.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 232. Counterfeiting Indian coin
Whoever counterfeits, or knowingly performs any part of the process of counterfeiting 1[Indian coin], shall be punished with 2[imprisonment for life], or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extent to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
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1. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “the Queen’s coin”.
2. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 233. Making or selling instrument for counterfeiting coin
Whoever makes or mends, or performs any part of the process of making or mending, or buys, sells or disposes of, any die or instrument, for the purpose of being used, or knowing or having reason to believe that it is intended to be used, for the purpose of counterfeiting coin, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 234. Making or selling instrument for counterfeiting Indian coin
Whoever makes or mends, or performs any part of the process of making or mending, or buys, sells or disposes of , any die or instrument, for the purpose of being used, or knowing or having reason to believe that it is intended to be used, for the purpose of counterfeiting 1[Indian coin], shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
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1. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “the Queen’s coin”.
Section 235. Possession of instrument, or material for the purpose of using the same for counterfeiting coin
Whoever is in possession of any instrument or material, for the purpose of using the same for counterfeiting coin, or knowing or having reason to believe that the same is intended to be used for that purpose, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine;
if Indian coin.—and if the coin to be counterfeited is 1[Indian coin], shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
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1. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “the Queen’s coin”.
Section 236. Abetting in India the counterfeiting out of India of coin
Whoever, being within 1[India], abets the counterfeiting of coin out of 1[India], shall be punished in the same manner as if he abetted the counterfeiting of such coin within 1[India].
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—The punishment provided for abetting the counterfeiting of such coin within India—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
1. The words “British India” have successively been subs. by the A.O. 1948, the A.O. 1950 and Act 3 of 1951, sec. 3 and Sch., to read as above.
Section 237. Import or export of counterfeit coin
Whoever imports into 1[India],or exports there from, any counterfeit coin, knowing or having reason to believe that the same is counterfeit, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
1. The words “British India” have successively been subs. by the A.O. 1948, the A.O. 1950 and Act 3 of 1951, sec. 3 and Sch., to read as above.
Section 238. Import or export of counterfeits of the India coin
Whoever imports into 1[India], or exports there from any counterfeit coin, which he knows or has reason to believe to be a counterfeit of 2[Indian coin], shall be punished with imprisonment with 3[imprisonment for life], or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
1. The words “British India” have successively been subs. by the A.O. 1948, the A.O. 1950 and Act 3 of 1951, sec. 3 and Sch., to read as above.
2. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “the Queen’s coin”.
3. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 239. Delivery of coin, possessed with knowledge that it is counterfeit
Whoever, having any counterfeit coin, which at the time when he became possessed of it knew to be counterfeit, fraudulently or with intent that fraud may be committed, delivers the same to any person, or attempts to induce any person to receive it shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 5 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 240. Delivery of Indian coin, possessed with knowledge that it is counterfeit
Whoever, having any counterfeit coin which is a counterfeit of 1[Indian coin], and which, at the time when he became possessed of it, he knew to be a counterfeit of 1[Indian coin], fraudulently or with intent that fraudulently or with intent that fraud may be committed, delivers the same to any person, or attempts to induce any person to receive it shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
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1. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “Queen’s coin”.
Section 241. Delivery of coin as genuine, which, when first possessed, the deliverer did not know to be counterfeit
Whoever delivers to any other person as genuine, or attempts to induce any other person to receive as genuine, any counterfeit coin which he knows to be counterfeit, but which he did not know to be counterfeit at the time when he took it into his possession, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine to an amount which may extend to ten times the value of the coin counterfeited, or with both.
Illustration
A, a coiner, delivers counterfeit Company’s rupees to his accomplice B, for the purpose of uttering them. B sells the rupees to C, another utterer, who buys them knowing them to be counterfeit. C pays away the rupees for good to D, who receives them, not knowing them to be counterfeit. D, after receiving the rupees, discovers that they are counterfeit and pays them away as if they were good. Here D is punishable only under his section, but B and C are punishable under section 239 or 240, as the case may be.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or 10 times the value of the coin counterfeited, or both—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 242. Possession of counterfeit coin by person who knew it to be counterfeit when he became possessed thereof
Whoever, fraudulently or with intent that fraud may be committed, is in possession of counterfeit coin, having known at the time when he became possessed thereof that such coin was counterfeit, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 243. Possession of Indian coin by person who knew it to be counterfeit when he became possessed thereof
Whoever, fraudulently or with intent that fraud may be committed, is in possession of counterfeit coin, which is a counterfeit of 1[Indian coin], having known at the time when he became possessed of it that it was counterfeit, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “Queen’s coin”.
Section 244. Person employed in mint causing coin to be of different weight or composition from that fixed by law
Whoever, being employed in any mint lawfully established in 1[India], does any act, or omits what he is legally bound to do, with the intention of causing any coin issued from that mint to be of a different weight or composition from the weight or composition fixed by law, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
1. The words “British India” have successively been subs. by the A.O. 1948, the A.O. 1950 and Act 3 of 1951, sec. 3 and Sch., to read as above.
Section 245. Unlawfully taking coining instrument from mint
Whoever, without lawful authority, takes out of any mint, lawfully established in 1[India], any coining tool or instrument, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
1. The words “British India” have successively been subs. by the A.O. 1948, the A.O. 1950 and Act 3 of 1951, sec. 3 and Sch., to read as above.
Section 246. Fraudulently or dishonestly diminishing weight or altering composition of coin
Whoever fraudulently or dishonestly performs on any coin any operation which diminishes the weight or alters the composition of that coin, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Explanation
A person who scoops out part of the coin and puts anything else into the cavity alters the composition of that coin.
Section 247. Fraudulently or dishonestly diminishing weight or altering composition of Indian coin
Whoever fraudulently or dishonestly performs on 1[any Indian coin] any operation which diminishes the weight or alters the composition of that coin, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “any of the Queen’s coin”.
Section 248. Altering appearance of coin with intent that it shall pass as coin of different description
Whoever performs on any coin any operation which alters the appearance of that coin, with the intention that the said coin shall pass as a coin of a different description, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 249. Altering appearance of Indian coin with intent that it shall pass as coin of different description
whoever performs on 1[any Indian coin] any operation which alters the appearance of that coin, with the intention that the said coin shall pass as a coin of a different description, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
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1. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “any of the Queen’s coin”.
Section 250. Delivery of coin, possessed with knowledge that it is altered
Whoever, having coin in his possession with respect to which the offence defined in section 246 or 248 has been committed, and having known at the time when he became possessed of such coin that such offence had been committed with respect to it, fraudulently or with intent that fraud may be committed, delivers such coin to any other person, or attempts to induce any other person to receive the same, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 5 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 251. Delivery of Indian coin, possessed with knowledge that it is altered
Whoever, having coin in his possession with respect to which the offence defined in section 247 or 249 has been committed, and having known at the time when he became possessed of such coin that such offence had been committed, delivers such coin to any other person, or attempts to induce any other person to receive the same, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
Section 252. Possession of coin by person who knew it to be altered when he became possessed thereof
Whoever, fraudulently or with intent that fraud may be committed, is in possession of coin with respect to which the offence defined in either of the section 246 or 248 has been committed, having known at the time of becoming possessed thereof that such offence had been committed with respect to such coin, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 253. Possession of Indian coin by person who knew it to be altered when he became possessed thereof
Whoever, fraudulently or with intent that fraud may be committed, is in possession of coin with respect to which the offence defined in either of the section 247 or 249 has been committed, having known at the time of becoming possessed thereof, that such offence had been committed with respect to such coin, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 5 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 254. Delivery of coin as genuine, which, when first possessed, the deliverer did not know to be altered
Whoever delivers to any other person as genuine or as a coin of a different description from what it is, or attempts to induce any person to receive as genuine, or as a different coin from what it is, any coin in respect of which he knows that any such operation as that mentioned in section 246, 247, 248 or 249 has been performed, but in respect of which he did not, at the time when he took it into his possession, know that such operation had been performed, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine to an amount which may extend to ten times the value of the coin for which the altered coin is passed, or attempted to be passed.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or 10 times the value of the coin—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 255. Counterfeiting Government stamp
Whoever counterfeits, or knowingly performs any part of the process of counterfeiting, any stamp issued by Government for the purpose of revenue, shall be punished with 1[imprisonment for life], or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Explanation
A person commits this offence who counterfeits by causing a genuine stamp of one denomination to appear like a genuine stamp of a different denomination.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 10 years, and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
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1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 256. Having possession of instrument or material for counterfeiting Government stamp
Whoever has in his possession any instrument or material for the purpose of being used, or knowing or having reason to believe that it is intended to be used, for the purpose of counterfeiting any stamp issued by Government for the purpose of revenue, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 257. Making or selling instrument for counterfeiting Government stamp
Whoever makes or performs any part of the process of making, or buys, or sells, or dispose of, any instrument for the purpose of being used, or knowing or having reason to believe that it is intended to be used, for the purpose of counterfeiting any stamp issued by Government for the purpose of revenue, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.Section 258. Sale of counterfeit Government stamp
Whoever, sells, or offers for sale, any stamp which he knows or has reason to believe to be a counterfeit of any stamp issued by the Government for the purpose of revenue, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 259. Having possession of counterfeit Government stamp
Whoever has in his possession any stamp which he knows to be a counterfeit of any stamp issued by Government for the purpose of revenue, intending to use, or dispose of the same as a genuine stamp, or in order that it may be used as a genuine stamp, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 260. Using as genuine a Government stamp known to be a counterfeit
Whoever uses a s genuine any stamp, knowing it to be counterfeit of any stamp issued by Government for the purpose of revenue, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 261. Effacing, writing from substance bearing Government stamp, or removing from document a stamp used for it, with intent to cause loss to Government
Whoever, fraudulently or with intent to cause loss to the Government, removes or effaces from any substance, bearing any stamp issued by Government for the purpose of revenue, any writing or document for which such stamp has been used, or removes from any writing or document a stamp which has been used for such writing or document, in order that such stamp may be used for a different writing or document, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 262. Using Government stamp known to have been before used
Whoever, fraudulently or with intent to cause loss to the Government, uses for any purpose a stamp issued by Government for the purpose of revenue, which he knows to have been before used, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 263. Erasure of mark denoting that stamp has been used
Whoever, fraudulently or with intent to cause loss to Government, erase or removes from a stamp issued by the Government for the purpose of revenue, any mark, put or impressed upon such stamp for the purpose of denoting that the same has been used, or knowingly has in his possession or sells or disposes of any such stamp from which such mark has been erased or removed, or sell or disposes of any such stamp which he knows to have been used, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 263A. Prohibition of fictitious stamps
1[263A. Prohibition of fictitious stamps.—(1) Whoever
(a) makes, knowingly utters, deals in or sells any fictitious stamps, or knowingly uses for any postal purpose any fictitious stamp, or
(b) has in his possession, without lawful excuse, any fictitious stamp, or
(c) makes or, without lawful excuse, has in his possession any die, plate, instrument or materials for making any fictitious stamp,
shall be punished with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees.
(2) Any such stamps, die, plate, instrument or materials in the possession of any person for making any fictitious stamp 2[may be seized and, if seized] shall be forfeited.
(3) In this section “fictitious stamp” means any stamp falsely purporting to be issued by the Government for the purpose of denoting a rate of postage, or any facsimile or imitation or representation, whether on paper or otherwise, of any stamp issued by Government for that purpose.
(4) In this section and also in sections 255 to 263, both inclusive, the word “Government”, when used in connection with, or in reference to, any stamp issued for the purpose of denoting a rate of postage, shall, notwithstanding anything in section 17, be deemed to include the person or persons authorized by law to administer executive Government in any part of India, and also in any part of Her Majesty’s dominions or in any foreign country.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Fine of 200 rupees—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
–
1. Ins. by Act 3 of 1895, sec. 2.
2. Subs. by Act 42 of 1953, sec. 4 and Sch. III, for “may be seized and” (w.e.f. 23-12-1953).
Section 264. Fraudulent use of false instrument for weighing
Whoever fraudulently uses any instrument for weighing which he knows to be false, shall be punished with imprisonment or either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 1 year, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 265. Fraudulent use of false weight or measure
Whoever fraudulently uses any false weight or false measure of length or capacity, or fraudulently uses any weight or any measure of length or capacity as different weight or measure form what it is, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 1 year, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 266. Being in possession of false weight or measure
Whoever is in possession of any instrument for weighing, or of any weight, or of any measure of length or capacity, which he knows to be false, 1[* * *] intending that the same may be fraudulently used, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 1 year, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
–
1. The word “and” omitted by Act 42 of 1953, sec. 4 and Sch. III (w.e.f. 23-12-1953).
Section 267. Making or selling false weight or measure
Whoever makes, sells or disposes of any instrument for weighing, or any weight, or any measure of length or capacity which he knows to be false, in order that the same may be used as true, or knowing that the same is likely to be used as true, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 1 year, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 268. Public nuisance
A person is guilty of a public nuisance who does not act or is guilty of an illegal omission which causes any common injury, danger or annoyance to the public or to the people in general who dwell or occupy property in the vicinity, or which must necessarily cause injury, obstruction, danger or annoyance to persons who may have occasion to use any public right.
A common nuisance is not excused on the ground that it causes some convenience or advantage.
Section 269. Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life
Whoever unlawfully or negligently does any act which is, and which he knows or has reason to believe to be, likely to spread the infection of any disease dangerous to life, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six month, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 6 months, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 270. Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life
Whoever malignantly does any act which is, and which he knows or has reason to believe to be, likely to spread the infection of any disease dangerous to life, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 271. Disobedience to quarantine rule
Whoever knowingly disobeys any rule made and promulgated 1[by the 2[* * *] Government 3[* * *] for putting any vessel into a state of quarantine, or for regulating the intercourse of vessels in a state of quarantine with the shore or with other vessels, or for regulating the intercourse between places where an infectious disease prevails and other places, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 6 months, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
–
1. Subs. by the A.O. 1937, for “by the Government of India or by any Government”.
2. The words “Central or any Provincial” omitted by the A.O. 1950.
3. The words “or the Crown Representative” omitted by the A.O. 1948.
272. Adulteration of food or drink intended for sale
Whoever adulterates any article of food or drink, so as to make such article noxious as food or drink, intending to sell such article as food or drink, or knowing it to be likely that the same will be sold as food or drink, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 6 months, or fine of 1,000 rupees, or both—Non-Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
STATE AMENDMENTS
Orissa
In section 272 for the words “shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both”, the following shall be substituted, namely:
“shall be punished with imprisonment for life and shall also be liable to fine:
Provided that the Court may, for adequate and special reasons to be mentioned in the judgment, impose a sentence of imprisonment which is less than imprisonment for life.”
[Vide Orissa Act 3 of 1999, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 27-1-1999)].
Uttar Pradesh
In section 272 for the words “shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both” the following shall be substituted, namely:
“shall be punished with imprisonment for life and shall also be liable to fine:
Provided that the court may, for adequate reasons to be mentioned in the judgment, impose a sentence of imprisonment which is less than imprisonment for life.”
[Vide Uttar Pradesh Act 47 of 1975, sec. 3 (w.e.f. 15-9-1975)].
West Bengal
In section 272 for the words “of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both” the following shall be substituted, namely:
“for life with or without fine:
Provided that the Court may, for adequate and special reasons to be mentioned in the judgment, impose a sentence of imprisonment which is
less than imprisonment for life.”
[Vide West Bengal Act 42 of 1973, sec. 3 (w.e.f. 29-4-1973)].
Section 273. Sale of noxious food or drink
Whoever sells, or offers or exposes for sale, as food or drink, any article which has been rendered or has become noxious, or is in a state unfit for food or drink, knowing or having reason to believe that the same is noxious as food or drink, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 6 months, or fine of 1,000 rupees, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
State Amendments
In section 273, State Amendments are the same as under section 272.
Section 274. Adulteration of drugs
Whoever adulterates any drug or medical preparation in such a manner as to lessen the efficacy or change the operation of such drug or medical preparation, or to make it noxious, intending that it shall be sold or used for, or knowing it to be likely that it will be sold or used for, any medicinal purpose, as if it had not undergone such adulteration, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 6 months, or fine of 1,000 rupees, or both—Non-cognizable—Non-Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
State Amendments
In section 274, State Amendments are the same as under section 272.
Section 275. Sale of adulterated drugs
Whoever, knowing any drug or medical preparation to have been adulterated in such a manner as to lessen its efficacy, to change its operation, or to render it noxious, sells the same, or offers or exposes it for sale, or issues it from any dispensary for medicinal purposes as unadulterated, or causes it to be used for medicinal purposes by any person not knowing of the adulteration, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 6 months, or fine of 1,000 rupees, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
State Amendments
In section 275, State Amendments are the same as under section 272.
Section 276. Sale of drug as a different drug or preparation
Whoever knowingly sells, or offers or exposes for sale, or issues from a dispensary for medicinal purposes, any drug or medical preparation, as a different drug or medical preparation, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 6 months, or fine of 1,000 rupees, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
State Amendments
In section 276, State Amendments are the same as under section 272.
Section 277. Fouling water of public spring or reservoir
Whoever voluntarily corrupts or fouls the water of any public spring or reservoir, so as to render it less fit for the purpose for which it is ordinarily used, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 months, or fine of 500 rupees, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 278. Making atmosphere noxious to health
Whoever voluntarily vitiates the atmosphere in any place so as to make it noxious to the health of persons in general dwelling or carrying on business in the neighborhood or passing along a public way, shall be punished with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Fine of 500 rupees—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 279. Rash driving or riding on a public way
Whoever drives any vehicle, or rides, on any public way in a manner so rash or negligent as to endanger human life, or to be likely to cause hurt or injury to any other person, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 6 months, or fine of 1,000 rupees, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 279. Rash driving or riding on a public way
Whoever drives any vehicle, or rides, on any public way in a manner so rash or negligent as to endanger human life, or to be likely to cause hurt or injury to any other person, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 6 months, or fine of 1,000 rupees, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 280. Rash navigation of vessel
Whoever navigates any vessel in a manner so rash or negligent as to endanger human life, or to be likely to cause hurt or injury to any other person, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 6 months, or fine of 1,000 rupees, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 281. Exhibition of false light, mark or buoy
Whoever exhibits any false light, mark or buoy, intending or knowing it to be likely that such exhibition will mislead any navigator, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 282. Conveying person by water for hire in unsafe or overloaded vessel
Whoever knowingly or negligently conveys, or causes to be conveyed for hire, any person by water in any vessel, when that vessel is in such a state or so loaded as to endanger the life of that person , shall be punished with imprisonment or either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 6 months, or fine of 1,000 rupees, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 283. Danger or obstruction in public way or line of navigation
Whoever, by doing any act, or by omitting to take order with any property in his possession or under his charge, causes danger, obstruction or injury to any person in any public way or public line of navigation, shall be punished with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Fine of 200 rupees—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 284. Negligent conduct with respect to poisonous substance
Whoever does, with any poisonous substance, any act in a manner so rash or negligent as to endanger human life, or to be likely to cause hurt or injury to any person,
or knowingly or negligently omits to take such order with any poisonous substance in his possession as is sufficient to guard against any probable danger to human life from such poisonous substance,
shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 6 months, or fine of 1,000 rupees, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 285. Negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter
Whoever does, with fire or any combustible matter, any act so rashly or negligently as to endanger human life, or to be likely to cause hurt or injury to any other person,
or knowingly or negligently omits to take such order with any fire or any combustible matter in his possession as is sufficient to guard against any probable danger to human life from such fire or combustible matter,
shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 6 months, or fine of 1,000 rupees, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 286. Negligent conduct with respect to explosive substance
Whoever does, with any explosive substance, any act so rashly or negligently as to endanger human life, or to be likely to cause hurt or injury to any other person,
or knowingly or negligently omits to take such order with any explosive substance in his possession as is sufficient to guard against any probable danger to human life from that substance,
shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 6 months, or fine of 1,000 rupees, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 287. Negligent conduct with respect to machinery
Whoever does, with any machinery, any act so rashly or negligently as to endanger human life or to be likely to cause hurt or injury to any other person,
or knowingly or negligently omits to take such order with any machinery in his possession or under his care as is sufficient to guard against any probable danger to human life from such machinery,
shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 6 months, or fine of 1,000 rupees, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 288. Negligent conduct with respect to pulling down or repairing buildings
Whoever, in pulling down or repairing any building, knowingly or negligently omits to take such order with that building as is sufficient to guard against any probable danger to human life from the fall of that building, or of any part thereof, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 6 months, or fine of 1,000 rupees, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable
Section 289. Negligent conduct with respect to animal
Whoever knowingly or negligently omits to take such order with any animal in his possession as is sufficient to guard against any probable danger to human life, or any probable danger of grievous hurt from such animal, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 6 months, or fine of 1,000 rupees, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 290. Punishment for public nuisance in cases not otherwise provided for
Whoever commits a public nuisance in any case not otherwise punishable by this Code, shall be punished with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Fine of 200 rupees—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 291. Continuance of nuisance after injunction to discontinue
Whoever repeats or continues a public nuisance, having been enjoined by any public servant who has lawful authority to issue such injunction not to repeat or continue such nuisance, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Simple imprisonment for 6 months, or fine, or both—Cognizable-Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 292. Sale, etc., or obscene books, etc
1[292. Sale, etc., of obscene books, etc.— 2[(1) For the purposes of sub-section (2), a book, pamphlet, paper, writing, drawing, painting, representation, figure or any other object, shall be deemed to be obscene if it is lascivious or appeals to the prurient interest or if its effect, or (where it comprises two or more distinct items) the effect of any one of its items, is, if taken as a whole, such as to tend to deprave and corrupt person, who are likely, having regard to all relevant circumstances, to read, see or hear the matter contained or embodied in it.]
3[(2)] Whoever
(a) sells, lets to hire, distributes, publicly exhibits or in any manner puts into circulation, or for purposes of sale, hire, distribution, public exhibition or circulation, makes, produces or has in his possession any obscene book, pamphlet, paper, drawing, painting, representation or figure or any other obscene object whatsoever, or
(b) imports, exports or conveys any obscene object for any of the purposes aforesaid, or knowing or having reason to believe that such object will be sold, let to hire, distributed or publicly exhibited or in any manner put into circulation, or
(c) takes part in or receives profits from any business in the course of which he knows or has reason to believe that any such obscene objects are for any of the purposes aforesaid, made, produced, purchased, kept, imported, exported, conveyed, publicly exhibited or in any manner put into circulation, or
(d) advertises or makes known by any means whatsoever that any person is engaged or is ready to engage in any act which is an offence under this section, or that any such obscene object can be procured from or through any person, or
(e) offers or attempts to do any act which is an offence under this section,
shall be punished 4[on first conviction with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, and with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees, and, in the event of a second or subsequent conviction, with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years, and also with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees].
5[Exception.—This section does not extend to
(a) any book, pamphlet, paper, writing, drawing, painting, representation or figure
(i) the publication of which is proved to be justified as being for the public good on the ground that such book, pamphlet, paper, writing, drawing, painting, representation or figure is in the interest of science, literature, art or learning or other objects of general concern, or
(ii) which is kept or used bona fide for religious purposes;
(b) any representation sculptured, engraved, painted or otherwise represented on or in
(i) any ancient monument within the meaning of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 (24 of 1958), or
(ii) any temple, or on any car used for the conveyance of idols, or kept or used for any religious purpose.]]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—On first conviction, with imprisonment for 2 years, and with fine of 2,000 rupees, and, in the event of second of subsequent conviction, with imprisonment for five years and with fine of 5,000 rupees—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
STATE AMENDMENTS
Orissa
Same as in Tamil Nadu.
[Vide Orissa Act 13 of 1962, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 16-5-1962)].
Tamil Nadu
In section 292, for the words “shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three months or with fine or with both” substitute the following, namely:
“shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years or with fine or with both:
Provided that for a second or any subsequent offence under this section, he shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than six months and not more than two years and with fine.
[Vide Tamil Nadu Act 25 of 1960, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 9-11-1960)].
Orissa
Section 292A
Same as in Tamil Nadu.
[Vide Orissa Act 13 of 1962, sec. 3 (w.e.f. 16-5-1962)].
Tamil Nadu
After section 292, insert the following new section namely:
292A. Printing, etc., of grossly indecent or scurrilous matter or matter intended for blackmail.—Whoever,
(a) prints or causes to be printed in any newspaper, periodical or circular, or exhibits or causes to be exhibited, to public view or distributes or causes to be distributed or in any manner puts into circulation any picture or any printed or written document which is grossly indecent, or in scurrilous or intended for blackmail; or
(b) sells or lets for hire, or for purposes of sale or hire makes, produces or has in his possession, any picture or any printed or written document which is grossly indecent or is scurrilous or intended for blackmail; or
(c) conveys any picture or any printed or written document which is grossly indecent or is scurrilous or intended for blackmail knowing or having reason to believe that such picture or document will be printed, sold, let for hire distributed or publicly exhibited or in any manner put into circulation; or
(d) takes part in, or receives profits from, any business in the course of which he knows or has reason to believe that any such newspaper, periodical, circular, picture or other printed or written document is printed, exhibited, distributed, circulated, sold, let for hire, made, produced, kept, conveyed or purchased; or
(e) advertises or makes known by any means whatsoever that any person is engaged or is ready to engage in any Act which is an offence under this section, or that any such newspaper, periodical, circular, picture or other printed or written document which is grossly indecent or is scurrilous or intended for blackmail, can be procured from or through any person; or
(f) offers or attempts to do any act which is an offence under this section *[shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both]:
Provided that for a second or any subsequent offence under this section, he shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than six months **[and not more than two years].
Explanation I
For the purposes of this section, the word scurrilous shall be deemed to include any matter which is likely to be injurious to morality or is calculated to injure any person:
Provided that it is not scurrilous to express in good faith anything whatever respecting the conduct of
(i) a public servant in the discharge of his public functions or respecting his character so far as his character appears in that conduct and no further; or
(ii) any person touching any public question, and respecting his character, so far as his character appears in that conduct and no further.
Explanation II
In deciding whether any person has committed an offence under this section, the court shall have regard inter alia, to the following considerations
(a) The general character of the person charged, and where relevant the nature of his business;
(b) the general character and dominant effect of the matter alleged to be grossly indecent or scurrilous or intended for blackmail;
(c) any evidence offered or called by or on behalf of the accused person as to his intention in committing any of the acts specified in this section.
[Vide Tamil Nadu Act 25 of 1960, sec. 3 (w.e.f. 9-11-1960)].
* Subs. by Tamil Nadu Act 30 of 1984.
** Ins. by Tamil Nadu Act 30 of 1984, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 28-6-1984).
—–
1. Subs. by Act 8 of 1925, sec. 2, for the original section.
2. Ins. by Act 36 of 1969, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 7-9-1969).
3. Section 292 renumbered as sub-section (2) thereof by Act 36 of 1969, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 7-9-1969).
4. Subs. by Act 36 of 1969, sec. 2, for certain words (w.e.f. 7-9-1969).
5. Subs. by Act 36 of 1969, sec. 2, for Exception (w.e.f. 7-9-1969).
Section 293. Sale, etc., of obscene objects to young person
1[293. Sale, etc., of obscene objects to young person.—Whoever sells, lets to hire, distributes, exhibits or circulates to any person under the age of twenty years any such obscene object as is referred to in the last preceding section, or offers or attempts so to do, shall be punished 2[on first conviction with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees, and, in the event of a second or subsequent conviction, with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and also with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees].]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—On first conviction, with imprisonment for 3 years, and with fine of 2,000 rupees, and, in the event of second of subsequent conviction, with imprisonment for 7 years, and with fine of 5,000 rupees—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
STATE AMENDMENTS
Orissa
Same as in Tamil Nadu.
[Vide Orissa Act 13 of 1962, sec. 4 (w.e.f. 16-5-1962)].
Tamil Nadu
In Section 293,
(a) for the words “any such obscene object as is referred to in the last preceding section” the words, figures and letter “any such obscene object as is referred to in section 292 or any such newspaper, periodical, circular, picture or other printed or written document as is referred to in section 292-A” shall be substituted;
(b) for the words “which may extend to six months” the words “which may extend to three years” shall be substituted;
(c) in the marginal note, after the words “obscene objects” the words “any grossly indecent or scurrilous matter intended for blackmail shall be inserted.”
[Vide Tamil Nadu Act 25 of 1960, sec. 4 (w.e.f. 9-11-1960)].
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1. Subs. by Act 8 of 1925, sec. 2, for the original section.
2. Subs. by Act 36 of 1969, sec. 2, for certain words (w.e.f. 7-9-1969).
Section 294. Obscene acts and songs
1[294. Obscene acts and songs.—Whoever, to the annoyance of others
(a) does any obscene act in any public place, or
(b) sings, recites or utters any obscene song, ballad or words, in or near any public place,
shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine, or with both.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 months, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by Act 3 of 1895, sec. 3, for the original section.
Section 294A. Keeping lottery office
1[294A. Keeping lottery office.—Whoever keeps any office or place for the purpose of drawing any lottery 2[not being 3[a State lottery] or a lottery authorised by the 4[State] Government], shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine, or with both.
And whoever publishes any proposal to pay any sum, or to deliver any goods, or to do or forbear doing anything for the benefit of any person, on any event or contingency relative or applicable to the drawing of any ticket, lot, number or figure in any such lottery, shall be punished with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Imprisonment for 6 months, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Fine of 1,000 rupees—Non-Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
STATE AMENDMENTS
Andhra Pradesh
Section 294A is repealed.
[Vide Andhra Pradesh Act 16 of 1968, sec. 27 (w.e.f. 1-2-1969)].
Gujarat
Section 294A is repealed.
[Vide Bombay Act 82 of 1958, sec. 33 read with Bombay Act 11 of 1960, sec. 87].
Karnataka
In Karnataka area except Ballary District, section 294A is repealed.
[Vide Mysore Act 27 of 1957, sec. 33].
Maharashtra
Section 294A is repealed.
[Vide Bombay Act 82 of 1958, sec. 33 (w.e.f. 1-5-1959)]
Manipur
Section 294A is repealed.
[Vide Manipur Act 2 of 1992, sec. 30 (w.e.f. 6-8-1992)].
Uttar Pradesh
Section 294A Omitted.
[Vide Uttar Pradesh Act 24 of 1995, sec. 11].
1. Ins. by Act 27 of 1870, sec. 10.
2. Subs. by the A.O. 1937, for “not authorised by Government”.
3. Subs. by Act 3 of 1951, sec. 3 and Sch., for “a lottery organised by the Central Government or the Government of a Part A State or a Part B State”.
4. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “Provincial”.
Section 295. Injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class
Whoever destroys, damages or defiles any place of worship, or any object held sacred by any class of persons with the intention of thereby insulting the religion of any class of persons or with the knowledge that any class of persons is likely to consider such destruction, damage or defilement as a insult to their religion, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 295A. Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings or any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs
1[295A. Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings or any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs.— Whoever, with deliberate and malicious intention of outraging the religious feelings of any class of 2[citizens of India], 3[by words, either spoken or written, or by signs or by visible representations or otherwise], insults or attempts to insult the religion or the religious beliefs of that class, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to 4[three years], or with fine, or with both.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
1. Ins. by Act 25 of 1927, sec. 2.
2. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “His Majesty’s subjects”.
3. Subs. by Act 41 of 1961, sec. 3, for certain words (w.e.f. 27-9-1961).
4. Subs. by Act 41 of 1961, sec. 3, for “two years” (w.e.f. 27-9-1961).
Section 296. Disturbing religious assembly
Whoever voluntarily causes disturbance to any assembly lawfully engaged in the performance of religious worship, or religious ceremonies, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 1 year, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 297. Trespassing on burial places, etc.
Whoever, with the intention of wounding the feelings of any person, or of insulting the religion of any person, or with the knowledge that the feelings of any person are likely to be wounded, or that the religion or any person is likely to be insulted thereby,
commits any trespass in any place of worship or on any place of sepulture, or any place set apart from the performance of funeral rites or as a depository for the remains of the dead, or offers any indignity to any human corpse, or causes disturbance to any persons assembled for the performance of funeral ceremonies,
shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 1 year, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 298. Uttering, words, etc., with deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings of any person
Whoever, with the deliberate intention of wounding the religious feelings of any person, utters any word or makes any sound in the hearing of that person or makes any gesture in the sight of that person or places any object in the sight of that person, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 1 year, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Compounded by the person whose religious feelings are intended to be wounded.
State Amendment
Andhra Pradesh
In Andhra Pradesh offence under section 298 is cognizable.
[Vide A.P.G.O. Ms. No. 732, dated 5th December, 1991].
Section 299. Culpable homicide
Who ever causes death by doing an act with the intention of causing death, or with the intention of causing such bodily injury as is likely to cause death, or with the knowledge that he is likely by such act to cause death, commits the offence of culpable homicide.
Illustrations
(a) A lays sticks and turf over a pit, with the intention of there by causing death, or with the knowledge that death is likely to be thereby caused. Z believing the ground to be firm, treads on it, falls in and is killed. A has committed the offence of culpable homicide.
(b) A knows Z to be behind a bush. B does not know it A, intending to cause, or knowing it to be likely to cause Z’s death, induces B fires and kills Z. Here B may be guilty of no offence; but A has committed the offence of culpable homicide.
(c) A, by shooting at a fowl with intent to kill and steal it, kills B who is behind a bush; A not knowing that he was there. Here, although A was doing an unlawful act, he was not guilty of culpable homicide, as he did not intend to kill B, or to cause death by doing an act that he knew was likely to cause death.
Explanation 1
A person who causes bodily injury to another who is labouring under a disorder, disease or bodily infirmity, and thereby accelerates the death of that other, shall be deemed to have caused his death.
Explanation 2
Where death is caused by bodily injury, the person who causes such bodily injury shall be deemed to have caused the death, although by resorting to proper remedies and skilful treatment the death might have been prevented.
Explanation 3
The causing of the death of child in the mother’s womb is not homicide. But it may amount to culpable homicide to cause the death of a living child, if any part of that child has been brought forth, though the child may not have breathed or been completely born.
Section 300. Murder
Except in the cases hereinafter excepted, culpable homicide is murder, if the act by which the death is caused is done with the intention of causing death, or
Secondly.—If it is done with the intention of causing such bodily injury as the offender knows to be likely to cause the death of the person to whom the harm is caused, or
Thirdly.—If it is done with the intention of causing bodily injury to any person and the bodily injury intended to be inflicted is sufficient in the ordinary course of nature to cause death, or
Fourthly.—If the person committing the act knows that it is so imminently dangerous that it must, in all probability, cause death or such bodily injury as is likely to cause death, and commits such act without any excuse for incurring the risk of causing death or such injury as aforesaid.
Illustrations
(a) A shoots Z with the intention of killing him. Z dies in consequence. A commits murder.
(b) A, knowing that Z is labouring under such a disease that a blow is likely to cause his death, strikes him with the intention of causing bodily injury. Z dies in consequence of the blow. A is guilty of murder, although the blow might not have been sufficient in the ordinary course of nature to cause the death of a person in a sound state of health. But if A, not knowing that Z is labouring under any disease, gives him such a blow as would not in the ordinary course of nature kill a person in a sound state of health, here A, although he may intend to cause bodily injury, is not guilty of murder, if he did not intend to cause death, or such bodily injury as in the ordinary course of nature would cause death.
(c) A intentionally gives Z a sword-cut or club-wound sufficient to cause the death of a man in the ordinary course of nature. Z dies in consequence. Here, A is guilty of murder, although he may not have intended to cause Z’s death.
(d) A without any excuse fires a loaded cannon into a crowd of persons and kills one of them. A is guilty of murder, although he may not have had a premeditated design to kill any particular individual.
Exception 1.—When culpable homicide is not murder.—Culpable homicide is not murder if the offender, whilst deprived of the power of self-control by grave and sudden provocation, causes the death of the person who gave the provocation or causes the death of any other person by mistake or accident.
The above exception is subject to the following provisos:
First.—That the provocation is not sought or voluntarily provoked by the offender as an excuse for killing or doing harm to any person.
Secondly.—That the provocation is not given by anything done in obedience to the law, or by a public servant in the lawful exercise of the powers of such public servant.
Thirdly.—That the provocation is not given by anything done in the lawful exercise of the right of private defence.
Explanation
Whether the provocation was grave and sudden enough to prevent the offence from amounting to murder is a question of fact.
Illustrations
(a) A, under the influence of passion excited by a provocation given by Z, intentionally kills. Y, Z’s child. This is murder, in as much as the provocation was not given by the child, and the death of the child was not caused by accident or misfortune in doing an act caused by the provocation.
(b) Y gives grave and sudden provocation to A. A, on this provocation, fires a pistol at Y, neither intending nor knowing himself to be likely to kill Z, who is near him, but out of sight. A kills Z. Here A has not committed murder, but merely culpable homicide.
(c) A is lawfully arrested by Z, a bailiff. A is excited to sudden and violent passion by the arrest, and kills Z. This is murder, in as much as the provocation was given by a thing done by a public servant in the exercise of his powers.
(d) A appears as witness before Z, a Magistrate, Z says that he does not believe a word of A’s deposition, and that A has perjured himself. A is moved to sudden passion by these words, and kills Z. This is murder.
(e) A attempts to pull Z’s nose, Z, in the exercise of the right of private defence, lays hold of A to prevent him from doing so. A is moved to sudden and violent passion in consequence, and kills Z. This is murder, in as much as the provocation was given by a thing done in the exercise of the right of private defence.
(f) Z strikes B. B is by this provocation excited to violent rage. A, a bystander, intending to take advantage of B’s rage, and to cause him to kill Z, puts a knife into B’s hand for that purpose. B kills Z with the knife. Here B may have committed only culpable homicide, but A is guilty of murder.
Exception 2.—Culpable homicide is not murder if the offender, in the exercise in good faith of the right of private defence of person or property, exceeds the power given to him by law and causes the death of the person against whom he is exercising such right of defence without premeditation, and without any intention of doing more harm than is necessary for the purpose of such defence.
Illustration
Z attempts to horsewhip A, not in such a manner as to cause grievous hurt to A. A draws out a pistol. Z persists in the assault. A believing in good faith that he can by no other means prevent himself from being horsewhipped, shoots Z dead. A has not committed murder, but only culpable homicide.
Exception 3.—Culpable homicide is not murder if the offender, being a public servant or aiding a public servant acting for the advancement of public justice, exceeds the powers given to him by law, and causes death by doing an act which he, in good faith, believes to be lawful and necessary for the due discharge of his duty as such public servant and without ill-will towards the person whose death is caused.
Exception 4.—Culpable homicide is not murder if it is committed without premeditation in a sudden fight in the heat of passion upon a sudden quarrel and without the offender having taken undue advantage or acted in a cruel or unusual manner.
Explanation
It is immaterial in such cases which party offers the provocation or commits the first assault.
Exception 5.—Culpable homicide is not murder when the person whose death is caused, being above the age of eighteen years, suffers death or takes the risk of death with his own consent.
Illustration
A, by instigation, voluntarily causes, Z, a person under eighteen years of age to commit suicide. Here, on account of Z’s youth, he was incapable of giving consent to his own death; A has therefore abetted murder.
‘And commits such act without any excuse for incurring the risk of causing death’
Merely causing death, by doing an act with the knowledge that is so imminently dangerous that it must, in all probability cause death, is not murder. In order that an act, done with such knowledge, should constitute murder, it is necessary that it should be committed without any excuse for incurring the risk of causing the death or bodily injury. An act, done with the knowledge of its consequences, is not prima facie murder, it becomes murder only if it can be positively affirmed that there was no excuse. The requirements of the section are not satisfied by the act of homicide being one of extreme recklessness. It must, in addition, be wholly in inexcusable. When a risk in incurred even a risk of the gravest possible character which must normally result in death, the taking of that risk is not murder unless it was inexcuatble to take it; Emperor v. Dhirajia, AIR 1940 All 486; Gyarsibai w/o Jagannath v. State, AIR 1953 MB 61.
Clause ‘thirdly’ of section 300 distinguished from the second clause of section 299
The difference between the second clause of section 299 and clause ‘thirdly’ of section 300 to one of degree of probability of death resulting from the intended bodily injury. To put it more broadly, it is the degree of probability of death which determines whether a culpable homicide is of the gravest, medium, or lowest degree. The word likely in second clause of section 299 conveys the sense of probable as distinguished from a mere possibility. The words ‘bodily injury ………… sufficient in the ordinary course of nature to cause death’, in clause thirdly of section 300, mean that death will be the most probable result of the injury having regard to the ordinary course of nature; State of Andhra Pradesh v. Rayavarpu Punayya, AIR 1977 SC 45.
Consent
Circumstantial evidence is not sufficient to convict accused when possibility of deceased receiving fatal injury by fall cannot be ruled out; State of Rajasthan v. Kamla, (1991) Cr LJ 602 (SC).
Essential of murder
(i) Having regard to the number of injuries inflicted on the deceased it was not possible to uphold the contention that there was no intention to kill; Prabhu v. State of Madhya Pradesh, (1991) Cr LJ 1373 (1373-1374) (SC).
(ii) When there was no evidence as to how death came about, evidence relating to charge of murder was held to be insufficient and unacceptable; Kedar Nath v. State of Madhya Pradesh, (1991) Cr LJ 989 (SC).
Exception 4: Heat of passion
Mere sudden quarrel would not entitle the accused to seek for Exception 4 to section 300; Samuthram alias Samudra Rajan v. State of Tamil Nadu, (1997) 2 Crimes 185 (Mad).
Exception 4: Scope and applicability of
To invoke Exception 4 to section 300, four requirements must be satisfied, namely (i) it was a sudden fight; (ii) there was no premeditation; (iii) the act was done in a heat of passion; and (iv) the assailant had not taken any undue advantage or acted in a cruel manner… The number of wounds caused during the occurrence is not a decisive factor but what is important is that the occurrence must have been sudden and unpremeditated and the offender must have acted in a fit of anger. Of course, the offender must not have taken any undue advantage or acted in a cruel manner. Where, on a sudden quarrel, a person in the heat of the moment picks up a weapon which is handy and causes injuries, one of which proves fatal, he would be entitled to the benefit of this Exception provided he has not acted cruelly; Samuthram alias Samudra Rajan v. State of Tamil Nadu, (1997) 2 Crimes 185 (Mad).
Fight
Where a mutual conflict develops and there is no reliable and acceptable evidence as to how it started and as to who was the aggressor, it will not be correct to assume private defence for both sides. Such a case will be a case of sudden fight and conflict and has to be dealt with under Exception 4 to section 300 of the Code; Januram v. State of Madhya Pradesh, (1997) 2 Crimes 582 (MP).
Injuries on vital and non-vital parts of body of the deceased
Infliction of the injury on the vital part of the body with the agricultural instrument by the enraged accused in a sudden quarrel—Held, accused did not cause the injury intentionally; Patel Rasiklal Becharbhai v. State of Gujarat, AIR 1992 SC 1150.
Injury which is likely to cause death and injury which is sufficient in ordinary course of nature to cause death
(i) Accused inflicted 18 injuries in the arms and legs of the deceased with a gandasa. None of the injuries was on a vital part of the body of the deceased. The obvious motive was revenge because the deceased’s son had caused a serious leg injury which resulted in the amputations of the leg of P, the son of appellant. The Court held that one of the injuries inflicted by the appellant was on a vital part of the body of the deceased whom the appellant had no intention to kill, at the same time though he had no intention to kill, the appellant must have known that he was inflicting such bodily injuries as were likely to cause death as a consequence of which death did happen. The appellants conviction for murder was accordingly altered to one for culpable homicide; Kapur Singh v. State of Pepsu, AIR 1956 SC 654.
(ii) It was held by the Supreme Court that whether the injury intended by the accused and actually inflicted by him is sufficient in the ordinary course of nature to cause death or not, must be determined in each case on the basis of the facts and circumstances. In the instant case, the injury caused was the result of blow with a knife in the stomach which was given with such force that the weapon had penetrated the abdomen and had injured the bowels. According to the doctor the injury was sufficient in the ordinary course of nature to cause death. Therefore, in the absence of any circumstances to show that the injury was caused accidentally or unintentionally, it had to be presumed that the accused had intended to cause the inflicted injury and the condition of cl. (3) of section 300, I.P.C. were satisfied. Conviction under section 302 was upheld; Virsa Singh v. State of Punjab, AIR 1958 SC 465.
(iii) The appellant had given six blows with a lathi stick on the head of the deceased, one of which fractured his skull. The deceased died three weeks after the incident. The injury which broke the skull had caused a depression in the brain and death was due to brain hemorrhage. It was held that the accused was liable under section 304 for culpable homicide. The Court held that even though the blows were inflicted by the appellant on the head of the deceased with force, the lathi not being an iron rod and the deceased being a young man strongly built the appellant could not under the circumstances be held to have been actuated with the intention of causing the death of the deceased nor do one could think despite the medical evidence that the injury was sufficient in the ordinary course of nature to cause death. Seeing that he survived for three weeks and looking on the doctor’s admission that an injury of that kind is not incurable; Inder Singh Bagga Singh v. State of Pepsu, AIR 1955 SC 439.
Intention and knowledge
It is fallacious to contend that when death is caused by a single blow, clause thirdly is not attracted and, therefore, it would not amount to murder. The ingredient ‘intention’ in that clause gives clue in a given case whether offence involved is murder or not; Jai Prakash v. State (Delhi Administration), (1991) 1 Crimes 474 (SC).
Proof of sufficiency of the injury to cause death
(i) Where evidence of both eye witnesses reliable and well corroborated by medical and other evidence on record inspires confidence that accused had intention to kill deceased then conviction is liable to be sustained; Robba Ramanna Dora v. State of Andhra Pradesh, 2000 Cr LJ 118 (AP).
(ii) Where the ocular evidence is explicit and fully supported by medical evidence and evidence of other witnesses and evidence of witnesses who apprehended the accused after some hours of occurrence with blood stained weapon then absence of proof of motive will not render the entire prosecution case unbelievable, therefore, charge of murder against accused proved beyond all reasonable doubt; Ram Nath Novia v. State of Bihar, 2000 Cr LJ 318 (Pat).
(iii) Where the evidence of eye witnesses regarding assault to deceased by accused persons was truthful, reliable and clearly corroborated by medical evidence and common intention of accused persons to commit murder of deceased also proved therefore conviction under section 300/34 is proper; Ratan Debnath v. State of Tripura, 2000 Cr LJ 237 (Gau).
(iv) Chain of evidence must be complete with fully established circumstances not to leave any reasonable ground for a conclusion consistent with the innocence of accused. It should be of conclusive nature; Arvind v. State (Delhi Admn.), 1999 (4) SCC 4861: 1999 (3) JT 554.
Provocation must be grave
The test of “grave and sudden” provocation is whether a reasonable man, belonging to the same class of society as the accused, placed in the situation in which the accused was placed would be so provoked as to lose his self-control. (2) In India, words and gestures may also, under certain circumstances, cause grave and sudden provocation to an accused so as to bring his act within the First Exception to section 300. (3) The mental background created by the previous act of the victim may be taken into consideration in ascertaining whether the subsequent act caused grave and sudden provocation for committing the offence; Venkatesan v. State of Tamil Nadu, (1997) 3 Crimes 146 (Mad).
Reasonable man’s—Test
The accused, a naval officer, was charged with the murder of P, a businessman of Bombay, for having illicit intimacy with his wife. On coming to know from his wife about the illicit relationship with the deceased, he went to the ship, took from the stores a semi-automatic revolver and six cartridges on a false pretext, loaded the same, went to the flat of P entered in his bedroom and shot him dead after a heated exchange of words. The court held that the test to be applied is that of the effect of the provocation on a reasonable man; and in applying that test it is of particular importance to consider whether a sufficient interval has elapsed since the receiving of the information which caused the provocation to allow a reasonable man to cool down; K.M. Nanavati v. State of Maharasthra, AIR 1962 SC 605.
Scope
It is now well settled principle of law that if two views are possible, one in favour of the accused and the other adversely against it, the view favouring the accused must be accepted; Raghunath v. State of Haryana, AIR 2003 SC 165.
With the knowledge that he is likely, by such act, to cause death
(i) In case of murder in which the conclusion of guilt is drawn by prosecution it must be fully established beyond all reasonable doubt and consistent with the guilt of the accused; S.D. Soni v. State of Gujarat, (1991) Cr LJ 330 (SC).
(ii) Legislature had advisedly used the words: “bodily injury as the offender knows to be likely to cause death”. Therefore, from an understanding of the legislative intent of section 300, I.P.C., a culpable homicide becomes murder if the attacker causes an injury which he knows is likely to cause death and, of course, consequent to such injury, the victim should die; State of Rajashtan v. Dhool Singh, AIR 2004 SC 1264.
Section 301. Culpable homicide by causing death of person other than person whose death was intended
If a person, by doing anything which he intends or knows to be likely to cause death, commits culpable homicide by causing the death of any person, whose death he neither intends nor knows himself to be likely to cause, the culpable homicide committed by the offender is of the description of which it would have been if he had caused the death of the person whose death he intended or knew himself to be likely to cause.
Section 302. Punishment for murder
Whoever commits murder shall be punished with death, or 1[imprisonment for life] and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Death, or imprisonment for life, and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 303. Punishment for murder by life-convict
Whoever, being under sentence of 1[imprisonment for life], commits murder, shall be punished with death.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Death—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
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1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 304. Punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder
Whoever commits culpable homicide not amounting to murder shall be punished with 1[imprisonment for life], or imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine, if the act by which the death is caused is done with the intention of causing death, or of causing such bodily injury as is likely to cause death,
or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, or with fine, or with both, if the act is done with the knowledge that it is likely to cause death, but without any intention to cause death, or to cause such bodily injury as is likely to cause death.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Imprisonment for 10 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 304A. Causing death by negligence
1[304A. Causing death by negligence.—Whoever causes the death of any person by doing any rash or negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
1. Ins. by Act 27 of 1870, sec. 12.
Section 304B. Dowery death
1[304B. Dowry death.—(1) Where the death of a woman is caused by any burns or bodily injury or occurs otherwise than under normal circumstances within seven years of her marriage and it is shown that soon before her death she was subjected to cruelty or harassment by her husband or any relative of her husband for, or in connection with, any demand for dowry, such death shall be called “dowry death”, and such husband or relative shall be deemed to have caused her death.
Explanation
For the purpose of this sub-section, “dowry” shall have the same meaning as in section 2 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 (28 of 1961).
(2) Whoever commits dowry death shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than seven years but which may extend to imprisonment for life.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment of not less than 7 years but which may extend to imprisonment for life—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
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1 Ins. by Act 43 of 1986, sec. 10 (w.e.f. 19-11-1986).
Section 305. Abetment of suicide of child or insane person
If any person under eighteen years of age, any insane person, any delirious person, any idiot, or any person in a state of intoxication, commits suicide, whoever abets the commission of such suicide, shall be punished with death or 1[ imprisonment for life], or imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Death, or imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
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1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 306. Abetment of suicide
If any person commits suicide, whoever abets the commission of such suicide, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
Section 307. Attempt to murder
Whoever does any act with such intention or knowledge, and under such circumstances that, if he by that act caused death, he would be guilty of murder, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine; and if hurt is caused to any person by such act, the offender shall be liable either to 1[imprisonment for life], or to such punishment as is hereinbefore mentioned.
Attempts by life convicts.—2[When any person offending under this section is under sentence of 1[imprisonment for life], he may, if hurt is caused, be punished with death.]
llustrations
(a) A shoots at Z with intention to kill him, under such circumstances that, if death ensued. A would be guilty of murder. A is liable to punishment under this section.
(b) A, with the intention of causing the death of a child of tender years, exposes it in a desert place. A has committed the offence defined by this section, though the death of the child does not ensue.
(c) A, intending to murder Z, buys a gun and loads it. A has not yet committed the offence. A fires the gun at Z. He has committed the offence defined in this section, and if by such firing he wounds Z, he is liable to the punishment provided by the latter part of 3[the first paragraph of] this section.
(d) A, intending to murder Z by poison, purchases poison and mixes the same with food which remains in A’s keeping; A has not yet committed the offence defined in this section. A places the food on Z’s table or delivers it to Z’s servant to place it on Z’s table. A has committed the offence defined in this section.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
Para III
Punishment—Death, or imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
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1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
2. Ins. by Act 27 of 1870, sec. 11.
3. Ins. by Act 12 of 1891, sec. 2 and Sch. II.
Section 308. Attempt to commit culpable homicide
Whoever does any Act with such intention or knowledge and under such circumstances that, if he by that Act caused death, he would be guilty of culpable homicide not amount to murder, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both, and if hurt is caused to any person by such Act, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, or with fine, or with both.
Illustration
A, on grave and sudden provocation, fires a pistol at Z, under such circumstances that if he thereby caused death he would be guilty of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. A has committed the offence defined in this section.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years, or fine, or both Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
Section 309. Attempt to commit suicide
Whoever attempts to commit suicide and does any act towards the commission of such offence, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for term which may extend to one year 1[ or with fine, or with both].
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Simple imprisonment for 1 year, or fine or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by Act 8 of 1882, sec. 7, for “and shall also be liable to fine”.
Section 310. Thug
Whoever, at any time after the passing of this act, shall have been habitually associated with any other or others for the purpose of committing robbery or child-stealing by means of or accompanied with murder, is a thug.
Section 311. Punishment
Whoever is a thug, shall be punished with 1[imprisonment for life] and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for life and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
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1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 312. Causing miscarriage
Whoever voluntarily causes a woman with child to miscarry, shall, if such miscarriage be not caused in good faith for the purpose of saving the life of the woman, be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both, and, if the woman be quick with child, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Explanation
A woman who causes herself to miscarry, is within the meaning of this section.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years, or fine or both—Non-cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 313. Causing miscarriage without woman’s consent
Whoever commits the offence defined in the last preceding section without the consent of the woman, whether the woman is quick with child or not, shall be punished with 1[ imprisonment for life] or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
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1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 314. Death caused by act done with intent to cause miscarriage-
Whoever, with intent to cause the miscarriage of woman with child, does any act which causes the death of such woman, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
If act done without woman’s consent.— And if the act is done without the consent of the woman, shall be punished either with 1[imprisonment for life] or with the punishment above mentioned
Explanation
It is not essential to this offence that the offender should know that the act is likely to cause death.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Imprisonment for life, or as above—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
—-
1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 315. Act done with intent to prevent child being born alive or to cause it to die after birth
Whoever before the birth of any child does any act with the intention of thereby preventing that child from being born alive or causing it to die after its birth, and does by such act prevent that child from being born alive, or causes it to die after its birth, shall, if such act be not caused in good faith for the purpose of saving the life of the mother, be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 10 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
Section 316. Causing death of quick unborn child by act amounting to culpable homicide
Whoever does any act under such circumstances, that if he thereby caused death he would be guilty of culpable homicide, and does by such act cause the death of a quick unborn child, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Illustration
A, knowing that he is likely to cause the death of a pregnant woman, does an act which, if it caused the death of the woman, would amount to culpable homicide. The woman is injured, but does not die, but the death of an unborn quick child with which she is pregnant is thereby caused. A is guilty of the offence defined in this section.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
Section 317. Exposure and abandonment of child under twelve years, by parent or person having care of it.
Whoever being the father or mother of a child under the age of twelve years, having the care of such child, shall expose or leave such child in any place with the intention of wholly abandoning such child, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years; or with fine, or with both.
Explanation
This section is not intended to prevent the trial of the offender for murder or culpable homicide, as the case may be, if the child dies in consequence of the exposure.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 318. Concealment of birth by secret disposal of dead body.
Whoever, by secretly burying or otherwise disposing of the death body of a child whether such child die before or after or during its birth, intentionally conceals or endeavours to conceal the birth of such child, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 319. Hurt.
Whoever causes bodily pain, disease or infirmity to any person is said to cause hurt.
Section 320. Grievous hurt.
The following kinds of hurt only are designated as “grievous”:
First.— Emasculation.
Secondly.—Permanent privation of the sight of either eye.
Thirdly.— Permanent privation of the hearing of either ear,
Fourthly.—Privation of any member or joint.
Fifthly.— Destruction or permanent impairing of the powers of any member or joint.
Sixthly.— Permanent disfiguration of the head or face.
Seventhly.—Fracture or dislocation of a bone or tooth.
Eighthly.—Any hurt which endangers life or which causes the sufferer to be during the space of twenty days in severe bodily pain, or unable to follow his ordinary pursuits.
Section 321. Voluntarily causing hurt.
Whoever does any act with the intention of thereby causing hurt to any person, or with the knowledge that he is likely thereby to cause hurt to any person, and does thereby cause hurt to any person, is said “voluntarily to cause hurt”.
Section 322. Voluntarily causing grievous hurt
Whoever voluntarily causes hurt, if the hurt which the intends to cause or knows himself to be likely to cause is grievous hurt, and if the hurt which he causes is grievous hurt, is said “voluntarily to cause grievous hurt”.
Explanation
A person is not said voluntarily to cause grievous hurt except when he both causes grievous hurt and intends or knows himself to be likely to cause grievous hurt. But he is said voluntarily to cause grievous hurt, if intending or knowing himself to be likely to cause grievous hurt of one kind; he actually causes grievous hurt of another kind.
Illustration
A, intending or knowing himself to be likely permanently to disfigure Z’s face, gives Z a blow which does not permanently disfigure Z’s face, but which cause Z to suffer severe bodily pain for the space of twenty days. A has voluntarily caused grievous hurt.
Section 323. Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt
Whoever, except in the case provided for by section 334,voluntarily causes hurt, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 1 year, or fine of 1,000 rupees, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Compounded by the person to whom the hurt is caused.
Section 324. Voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means
Whoever, except in the case provided for by section 334, voluntarily causes hurt by means of any instrument for shooting, stabbing or cutting, or any instrument which, used as weapon of offence, is likely to cause death, or by means of fire or any heated substance, or by means of any poison or any corrosive substance, or by means of any explosive substance or by means of any substance which it is deleterious to the human body to inhale, to swallow, or to receive into the blood, or by means of any animal, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Non-Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Compoundable by the person to whom hurt is caused with the permission of the court.
Section 325. Punishment for voluntarily causing grievous hurt
Whoever, except in the case provided for by section 335, voluntarily causes grievous hurt, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years, and fine—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Compoundable by the person to whom hurt is caused with the permission of the court.
Section 326. Voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means
Whoever, except in the case provided for by section 335, voluntarily causes grievous hurt by means of any instrument for shooting, stabbing or cutting, or any instrument which, used as a weapon of offence, is likely to cause death, or by means of fire or any heated substance, or by means of any poison or any corrosive substance, or by means of any explosive substance, or by means of any substance which it is deleterious to the human body inhale, to swallow, or to receive into the blood, or by means of any animal, shall be punished with 1[imprisonment for life], or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
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1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
1[326A. Whoever causes permanent or partial damage or deformity to, or burns or maims or disfigures or disables, any part or parts of the body of a person or causes grievous hurt by throwing acid on or by administering acid to that person, or by using any other means with the intention of causing or with the knowledge that he is likely to cause such injury or hurt, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than ten years but which may extend to imprisonment for life, and with fine:
Provided that such fine shall be just and reasonable to meet the medical expenses of the treatment of the victim:
Provided further that any fine imposed under this section shall be paid to the victim.
- Whoever throws or attempts to throw acid on any person or attempts to administer acid to any person, or attempts to use any other means, with the intention of causing permanent or partial damage or deformity or burns or maiming or disfigurement or disability or grievous hurt to that person, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than five years but which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Explanation 1.—For the purposes of section 326A and this section, “acid” includes any substance which has acidic or corrosive character or burning nature, that is capable of causing bodily injury leading to scars or disfigurement or temporary or permanent disability.
Explanation 2.— For the purposes of section 326A and this section, permanent or partial damage or deformity shall not be required to be irreversible.]
1 Inserted by Section 5 of ‘The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013′
Section 327. Voluntarily causing hurt to extort property, or to constrain to an illegal act
Whoever voluntarily causes hurt, for the purpose of extorting from the sufferer, or from any person interested in the sufferer, any property or valuable security, or of constraining the sufferer or any person interested in such sufferer to do anything which is illegal or which may facilitate the commission of an offence, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 328. Causing hurt by means of poison, etc., with intent to commit an offence
Whoever administers to or causes to be taken by any person any poison or any stupefying, intoxicating or unwholesome drug, or other thing with intent to cause hurt such person, or with intent to commit or to facilitate the commission of an offence or knowing in to be likely that he will thereby cause hurt, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
Section 329. Voluntarily causing grievous hurt to extort property, or to constrain to an illegal act
Whoever voluntarily causes grievous hurt for the purpose of extorting from the sufferer or from any person interested in the sufferer any property or valuable security, or of constraining the sufferer or any person interested in such sufferer to do anything that is illegal or which may facilitate the commission of an offence, shall be punished with 1[imprisonment for life], or imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 330. Voluntarily causing hurt to extort confession, or to compel restoration of property
Whoever voluntarily causes hurt for the purpose of extorting from the sufferer or from any person interested in the sufferer, any confession or any information which may lead to the detection of an offence or misconduct, or for the purpose of constraining the sufferer or any person interested in the sufferer to restore or to cause the restoration of any property or valuable security or to satisfy any claim or valuable security, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, shall also be liable to fine.
Illustrations
(a) A, a police-officer, tortures Z in order to induce Z to confess that he committed a crime. A guilty of an offence under this section.
(b) A, a police officer, tortures B to induce him to point out where certain stolen property is deposited. A is guilty of an offence under this section.
(c) A, a revenue officer, tortures Z in order to compel him to pay certain arrears of revenue due from Z. A is guilty of an offence under this section.
(d) A, a zamindar, tortures a raiyat in order to compel him to pay his rent. A is guilty of an offence under this section.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 331. Voluntarily causing grievous hurt to extort confession, or to compel restoration of property
Whoever voluntarily causes grievous hurt for the purpose of extorting from the sufferer or from any person interested in the sufferer any confession or any information which may lead to the detection of an offence or misconduct, or for the purpose of constraining the sufferer or any person interested in the sufferer to restore or to cause the restoration of any property or valuable security, or to satisfy any claim or demand or to give information which may lead to the restoration of any property or valuable security, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
Section 332. Voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty
Whoever voluntarily causes hurt to any person being a public servant in the discharge of his duty as such public servant, or with intent to prevent or deter that person or any other public servant from discharging his duty as such public servant, or in consequence of anything done or attempted to be done by that person in the lawful discharge of his duty as such public servant, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Non-Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 333. Voluntarily causing grievous hurt to deter public servant from his duty
Whoever voluntarily causes grievous hurt to any person being a public servant in the discharge of his duty as such public servant, or with intent to prevent or deter that person or any other public servant from discharging his duty as such public servant, or in consequence of anything done or attempted to be done by that person in the lawful discharge of his duty as such public servant, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Section 334. Voluntarily causing hurt on provocation
Whoever voluntarily causes hurt on grave and sudden provocation, if he neither intends nor knows himself to be likely to cause hurt to any person other than the person who gave the provocation, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one month, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 1 month, or fine of 500 rupees, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Compoundable by the person to whom the hurt is caused.
Section 335. Voluntarily causing grievous hurt on provocation
Whoever 1[voluntarily] causes grievous hurt on grave and sudden provocation, if he neither intends nor knows himself to be likely to cause grievous hurt to any person other than the person who gave the provocation, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to four years or with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees, or with both
Explanation
The last two sections are subject to the same provisos as Explanation 1, section 300.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 4 years, or fine of 2000 rupees, or both—Cognizable-Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Compoundable by the person to whom hurt is caused with the permission of the court.
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1. Ins. by Act 8 of 1882, sec. 8.
Section 336. Act endangering life or personal safety of others
Whoever does any act so rashly or negligently as to endanger human life or the personal safety of others, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to two hundred and fifty rupees, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 months, or fine of 250 rupees, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 337. Causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others
Whoever causes hurt to any person by doing any act so rashly or negligently as to endanger human life, or the personal safety of others, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 6 months, or fine of 500 rupees, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Compoundable by the person to whom hurt is caused with the permission of the court.
Section 338. Causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others
Whoever causes grievous hurt to any person by doing any act so rashly or negligently as to endanger human life, or the personal safety of others, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine of 1,000 rupees, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Compoundable by the person to whom hurt is caused with the permission of the court.
Section 339. Wrongful restraint
Whoever voluntarily obstructs any person so as to prevent that person from proceeding in any direction in which that person has right to proceed, is said wrongfully to restrain that person.
Exception: – The obstruction of a private way over land or water which a person in good faith believes himself to have lawful right to obstruct, is not an offence within the meaning of this section.
Illustration
A obstructs a path along which Z has a right to pass. A not believing in good faith that he has a right to stop the path. Z is thereby prevented from passing. A wrongfully restrains Z.
Section 340. Wrongful confinement.
Whoever wrongfully restrains any person in such a manner as to prevent that person from proceedings beyond certain circumscribing limits, is said “wrongfully to confine” that person.
Illustrations
(a) A causes Z to go within a walled space, and locks Z in. A is thus prevented from proceeding in any direction beyond the circumscribing line of wall. A wrongfully confines Z.
(b) A places men with firearms at the outlets of a building, and tells Z that they will fire at Z if Z attempts to leave the building. A wrongfully confines Z.
Section 341. Punishment for wrongful restraint
Whoever wrongfully restrains any person shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term, which may extend to one month, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Simple imprisonment for 1 month, or fine of 500 rupees, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Compoundable by the person restrained or confined.
Section 342. Punishment for wrongful Confinement
Whoever wrongfully confines any person shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 1 year, or fine of 1,000 rupees, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Compoundable by the person restrained or confined.
Section 343. Wrongful confinement for three or more days
Whoever wrongfully confines any person for three days, or more, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Compoundable by the person confined with the permission of the court.
Section 344. Wrongful confinement for ten or more days
Whoever wrongfully confines any person for ten days, or more, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which any extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years and fine—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Compoundable by the person confined with the permission of court.
Section 345. Wrongful confinement of person for whose liberation writ has been issued
Whoever keeps any person in wrongful confinement, knowing that a writ for the liberation of that person has been duly issued, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years in addition to any term of imprisonment to which he may be liable under any other section of this chapter.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years in addition to imprisonment under any other section—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 346. Wrongful confinement in secret
Whoever wrongfully confines any person in such manner as to indicate an intention that the confinement of such person may not be known to any person interested in the person so confined, or to any public servant, or that the place of such confinement may not be known to or discovered by any such person or public servant as hereinbefore mentioned, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years in addition to any other punishment to which he may be liable for such wrongful confinement.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, in addition to imprisonment under any other section—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Compoundable by the person confined with the permission of the court.
Section 347. Wrongful confinement to extort property, or constrain to illegal act
Whoever wrongfully confines any person for the purpose of extorting from the person confined, or from any person interested in the person confined, any property or valuable security or of constraining the person confined or any person interested in such person to do anything illegal or to give any information which may facilitate the commission of an offence, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years and fine—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 348. Wrongful confinement to extort confession, or compel restoration of property
Whoever wrongfully confines any person for the purpose of extorting from the person confined or any person interested in the person confined any confession or any information which may led to the detection of an offence or misconduct, or for the purpose of constraining the person confined or any person interested in the person confined to restore or to cause the restoration of any property or valuable security or to satisfy any claim or demand, or to give information which may lead to the restoration of any property or valuable security, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years and fine—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 349. Force
A person is said to use force to another if he causes motion, change of motion, or cessation of motion to that other, or if he causes to any substance such motion, or change of motion, or cessation of motion as brings that substance into contact with any part of that other’s body, or with anything which that other is wearing or carrying, or with anything so situated that such contact affects that other’s sense of feeling: Provided that the person causing the motion, or change of motion, or cessation of motion, causes that motion, change of motion, or cessation of motion in one of the three ways hereinafter described.
First.— By his own bodily power.
Secondly.—By disposing any substance in such a manner that the motion or change or cessation of motion takes place without any further act on his part, or on the part of any other person.
Thirdly.— By inducing any animal to move, to change its motion, or to cease to move.
Section 350. Criminal force
Whoever intentionally uses force to any person, without that person’s consent, in order to the committing of any offence, or intending by the use of such force to cause, or knowing it to be likely that by the use of such force he will cause injury, fear or annoyance to the person to whom the force is used, is said to use criminal force to that other.
Illustrations
(a) Z is sitting in a moored boat on a river. A unfastens the moorings, and thus intentionally causes the boat to drift down the stream. Here A intentionally causes motion to Z, and he does this by disposing substances in such a manner that the motion is produced without any other act on any person’s part, A has therefore intentionally used force to Z; and if he has done so without Z’s consent, in order to the committing of any offence, or intending or knowing in to be likely that this use of force will cause injury, fear or annoyance to Z, A has used criminal force to Z.
(b) Z is reading in a chariot. A lashes Z’s horses, and thereby causes them to quicken there pace. Here Z has caused change of motion to Z by inducing the animals to change their motion. A has therefore used force to Z; and if A has done this without Z’s consent, intending or knowing it to be likely that he may thereby injure, frighten or annoy Z, A has used criminal force to Z.
(c) Z is riding in a palanquin. A, intending to rob Z, seizes the pole and stops the palanquin. Here A has caused therefore used force to Z; and as A has acted thus intentionally, without Z’s consent, in order to the commission of an offence. A has used criminal force to Z.
(d) A intentionally pushes against Z in the street. Here A has by his own bodily power moved his own person so as to bring it into contact with Z. He has therefore intentionally used force to Z; and if he has done so without Z’s consent, intending or knowing it to be likely that he may thereby injure, frighten or annoy Z, he has used criminal force to Z.
(e) A throws a stone intending or knowing it to be likely that the stone will be thus brought in to contact with Z, or with Z’s clothes, or with something carried by Z, or that it will strike water and dash up the water against Z’s clothes or something carried by Z. Here, if the throwing of the stone produce the effect of causing any substance to come into contact with Z, or Z’s clothes. A has used force to Z; and if he did so without Z’s consent, intending thereby to injure, frighten or annoy Z, he has criminal force by Z.
(f) A intentionally pulls up a woman’s veil. Here A intentionally uses force to her, and if he does so without her consent intending or knowing it to be likely that he may thereby injure, frighten or annoy her, he has used criminal force to her.
(g) Z is bathing, A pours into the bath water which he knows to be boiling. Here A intentionally by his own bodily power causes such motion in the boiling water as brings that water into contact with Z, or with that water so situated that such contact must affect Z’s sense of feeling; A has therefore intentionally used force to Z; and he has done this without Z’s consent intending or knowing it to be likely that he may thereby cause injury, fear, or annoyance to Z, A has used criminal force.
(h) A incites a dog to spring upon Z, without Z; s consent. Here, if A intends to cause injury, fear or annoyance to Z, he uses criminal force to Z.
Section 351. Assault
Whoever makes any gesture, or any preparation intending or knowing it to be likely that such gesture or preparation will cause any person present to apprehend that he who makes that gesture or preparation is about to use criminal force to that person, is said to commit as assault.
Explanation
Mere words do not amount to an assault. But the words which a person uses may give to his gestures or preparation such a meaning as may make those gestures or preparations amount to an assault.
Illustrations
(a) A shakes his fist at Z, intending or knowing it to be likely that he may thereby cause Z to believe that A is about to strike Z, A has committed an assault.
(b) A begins to unloose the muzzle of a ferocious dog, intending or knowing it to be likely that he may thereby cause Z to believe that he is about to cause the dog to attack Z. A has committed an assault upon Z.
(c) A takes up a stick, saying to Z, “I will give you a beating” Here, though the words used by A could in no case amount to an assault, and though the mere gesture, unaccompanied by any other circumstances, might not amount to an assault, the gesture explained by the words may amount to an assault.
Section 352. Punishment for assault or criminal force otherwise than on grave provocation
Whoever assaults or uses criminal force to any person otherwise than on grave and sudden provocation given by that person, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both.
Explanation
Grave and sudden provocation will not mitigate the punishment for an offence under this section. If the provocation is sought or voluntarily provoked by the offender as an excuse for the offence, or
if the provocation is given by anything done in obedience to the law, or by a public servant, in the lawful exercise of the powers of such public servant, or
if the provocation is given by anything done in the lawful exercise of the right of private defence.
Whether the provocation was grave and sudden enough to mitigate the offence, is a question of fact.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 months, or fine of 500 rupees, or both—Non-Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Compoundable by the person assaulted or to whom criminal force is used.
Section 353. Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty
Whoever assaults or uses criminal force to any person being a public servant in the execution of his duty as such public servant, or with intent to prevent or deter that person from discharging his duty as such public servant, or in consequence of anything done or attempted to be done by such person in the lawful discharge of his duty as such public servant, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Non-Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 354. Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty
Whoever assaults or uses criminal force to any woman, intending to outrage or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby outrage her modesty, 1[shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than one year but which may extend to five years, and shall also be liable to fine.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
State Amendments
Andhra Pradesh
For section 354, the following section shall be substituted, namely
354. Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty.—Whoever assaults or uses criminal force to any woman intending to outrage or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby outrage her modesty, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than five years but which may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to fine:
Provided that the court may, for adequate and special reasons to be mentioned in the judgment, impose a sentence of imprisonment of either description for a term which may be less than five years but which shall not be less than two years.
[Vide Andhra Pradesh Act 6 of 1991].
Madhya Pradesh
After section 354, the following new section shall be inserted, namely
354A. Assault or use Criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe her.—Whoever assaults or uses criminal force to any woman or abets or conspires to assault or uses such criminal force to any woman intending to outrage or knowing it to be likely that by such assault, he will thereby outrage or causes to be outraged the modesty of the woman by disrobing or compel her to be naked on any public place, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than one year but which may extend to ten years and shall also be liable to fine.”.
[Vide Madhya Pradesh Act 14 of 2004, sec. 3 (w.e.f. 2-12-2004)].
Orissa
In the First Schedule to the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 in the entry under column 5 relating to section 354 of the Indian Penal Code 1860 for the word ‘bailable’ the word ‘non-bailable’ shall be substituted.
[Vide Orissa Act 6 of 1995, sec. 3 (w.e.f. 10-3-1995)].
1. Inserted by Section 7 of ‘The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013′
Section 355. Assault or criminal force with intent to dishonour person, otherwise than on grave provocation
Whoever assaults or uses criminal force to any person, intending thereby to dishonour that person, otherwise than on grave and sudden provocation given by that person, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Non-Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Compounded by the person assaulted or to whom criminal force is used.
State Amendment
Andhra Pradesh
Offence under section 355 is non-cognizable, bailable and triable by any Magistrate.
[Vide Andhra Pradesh Act 3 of 1992, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 15-2-1992)].
Section 356. Assault or criminal force in attempt to commit theft of property carried by a person
Whoever assault or uses criminal force to any person, in attempting to commit theft on any property which that person is then wearing or carrying, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 357. Assault or criminal force in attempt wrongfully to confine a person
Whoever assaults or uses criminal force to any person, in attempting wrongfully to confine that person, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 1 year, or fine of 1,000 rupees, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Compoundable by the person assaulted or to whom the force was used with the permission of the court.
Section 358. Assault or criminal force on grave provocation
Whoever assaults or uses criminal force to any person on grave and sudden provocation given by that person, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month, or with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees, or with both.
Explanation
The last section is subject to the same Explanation as section 352.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Simple imprisonment for one month, or fine of 200 rupees, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Compoundable by the person assaulted or to whom criminal force is used.
Section 359. Kidnapping
Kidnapping is of two kinds: kidnapping from 1[India], and kidnapping from lawful guardianship.
—–
1. The words “British India” have successively been subs. by the A.O. 1948, the A.O. 1950 and Act 3 of 1951, sec. 3 and Sch. to read as above.
Section 360. Kidnapping from India
Whoever conveys any person beyond the limits of 1[India] without the consent of that person, or of some person legally authorised to consent on behalf of that person, is said to kidnap that person from 1[India].
—-
1. The words “British India” have successively been subs. by the A.O. 1948, the A.O. 1950 and Act 3 of 1951, sec. 3 and Sch. to read as above.
Section 361. Kidnapping from lawful guardianship
Whoever takes or entices any minor under 1[sixteen] years of age if a male, or under 2[eighteen] years of age if a female, or any person of unsound mind, out of the keeping of the lawful guardian of such minor or person of unsound mind, without the consent of such guardian, is said to kidnap such minor or person from lawful guardianship.
Explanation
The words “lawful guardian” in this section include any person lawfully entrusted with the care or custody of such minor or other person.
Exception
This section does not extend to the act of any person who in good faith believes himself to be the father of an illegitimate child, or who in good faith believes himself to be entitled to lawful custody of such child, unless such act is committed for an immoral or unlawful purpose.
STATE AMENDMENT
Manipur
In section 361 for the words ‘eighteen’ substitute the word ‘fifteen’.
[Vide Manipur Act 30 of 1950, sec. 3 (w.e.f. 16-4-1950), read with Act 81 of 1971, sec. 3 (w.e.f. 25-1-1972)].
1. Subs. by Act 42 of 1949, sec. 2, for “fourteen”.
2. Subs. by Act 42 of 1949, sec. 2, for “sixteen”.
Section 362. Abduction
Whoever by force compels, or by any deceitful means induces, any person to go from any place, is said to abduct that person.
Section 363. Punishment for kidnapping
Whoever kidnaps any person from 1[India] or from lawful guardianship, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
State Amendment
Uttar Pradesh
In Uttar Pradesh the offence under section 363, I.P.C. is non-bailable.
[Vide Uttar Pradesh Act 1 of 1984, sec. 12 (w.e.f. 1-5-1984)].
-
1. The words “British India” have successively been subs. by the A.O. 1948, the A.O. 1950 and Act 3 of 1951, sec. 3 and Sch., to read as above.
Section 363A. Kidnapping or maiming a minor for purposes of begging
1[363A. Kidnapping or maiming a minor for purposes of begging.—(1) Whoever kidnaps any minor or, not being the lawful guardian of a minor, obtains the custody of the minor, in order that such minor may be employed or used for the purpose of begging shall be punishable with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
(2) Whoever maims any minor in order that such minor may be employed or used for the purposes of begging shall be punishable with imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine.
(3) Where any person, not being the lawful guardian of a minor, employs or uses such minor for the purposes of begging, it shall be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, that he kidnapped or otherwise obtained the custody of that minor in order that the minor might be employed or used for the purposes of begging.
(4) In this section,
(a) ‘begging’ means
(i) soliciting or receiving alms in a public place, whether under the pretence of singing, dancing, fortune-telling, performing tricks or selling articles or otherwise;
(ii) entering on any private premises for the purpose of soliciting or receiving alms;
(iii) exposing or exhibiting, with the object of obtaining or extorting alms, any sore, wound, injury, deformity or disease, whether of himself or of any other person or of an animal;
(iv) using a minor as an exhibit for the purpose of soliciting or receiving alms;
(b) ‘minor’ means
(i) in the case of a male, a person under sixteen years of age; and
(ii) in the case of a female, a person under eighteen years of age.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Imprisonment for life and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
1. Ins. by Act 52 of 1959, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 15-1-1960).
Section 364. Kidnapping or abducting in order to murder
Whoever kidnaps or abducts any person in order that such person may be murdered or may be so disposed of as to be put in danger of being murdered, shall be punished with 1[imprisonment for life] or rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Illustrations
(a) A kidnaps Z from 2[India], intending or knowing it to be likely that Z may be sacrificed to an idol. A has committed the offence defined in this section.
(b) A forcibly carries or entices B away from his home in order that B may be murdered. A has committed the offence defined in this section..
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for life, or rigorous imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
–
1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
2. The words “British India” have successively been subs. by the A.O. 1948, the A.O. 1950 and Act 3 of 1951, sec. 3 and Sch. to read as above.
Section 364A. Kidnapping for ransom, etc.
1[364A. Kidnapping for ransom, etc.—Whoever kidnaps or abducts any person or keeps a person in detention after such kidnapping or abduction and threatens to cause death or hurt to such person, or by his conduct gives rise to a reasonable apprehension that such person may be put to death or hurt, or causes hurt or death to such person in order to compel the Government or 2[any foreign State or international inter-governmental organization or any other person] to do or abstain from doing any act or to pay a ransom, shall be punishable with death, or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine].
Classification of Offence
Punishment—Death, or imprisonment for life and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
–
1. Ins. by Act 42 of 1993, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 22-5-1993).
2. Subs. by Act 24 of 1995, for “any other person” (w.e.f. 26-5-1995).
Section 365. Kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine person
Whoever kidnaps or abducts any person with intent to cause that person to be secretly and wrongfully confined, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 366. Kidnapping, abducting or inducing woman to compel her marriage, etc.
Whoever kidnaps or abducts any woman with intent that she may be compelled, or knowing it to be likely that she will be compelled, to marry any person against her will, or in order that she may be forced or seduced to illicit intercourse, or knowing it to be likely that she will be forced or seduced to illicit intercourse shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine; 1[and whoever, by means of criminal intimidation as defined in this Code or of abuse of authority or any other method of compulsion, induces any woman to go from any place with intent that she may be, or knowing that it is likely she will be, forced or seduced to illicit intercourse with another person shall be punished as aforesaid].
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
–
1. Added by Act 20 of 1923, sec. 2.
Section 366A. Procreation of minor girl
1[366A. procreation of minor girl.—Whoever, by any means whatsoever, induces any minor girl under the age of eighteen years to go from any place or to do any act with intent that such girl may be, or knowing that it is likely that she will be, forced or seduced to illicit intercourse with another person shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
–
1. Ins. by Act 20 of 1923, sec. 3.
Section 366B. Importation of girl from foreign country
1[366B. Importation of girl from foreign country.—Whoever imports into 2[India] from any country outside India 3[or from the State of Jammu and Kashmir] any girl under the age of twenty-one years with intent that she may be, or knowing it to be likely that she will be, forced or seduced to illicit intercourse with another person, 4[***] shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to ten years and shall also be liable to fine.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
-
1. Ins. by Act 20 of 1923, sec. 3.
2. The words “British India” have successively been subs. by the A.O. 1948, the A.O. 1950 and Act 3 of 1951, sec. 3 and Sch., to read as above.
3. Ins. by Act 3 of 1951, sec. 3 and Sch.
4. Certain words omitted by Act 3 of 1951, sec. 3 and Sch.
Section 367. Kidnapping or abducting in order to subject person to grievous hurt, slavery, etc.
Whoever kidnaps or abducts any person in order that such person may be subjected, or may be so disposed of as to be put in danger of being subject to grievous hurt, or slavery, or to unnatural lust of any person, or knowing it to be likely that such person will be so subjected or disposed of, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
Section 368. Wrongfully concealing or keeping in confinement, kidnapped or abducted person
Whoever, knowing that any person has been kidnapped or has been abducted, wrongfully conceals or confines such person, shall be punished in the same manner as if he had kidnapped or abducted such person with the same intention or knowledge, or for the same purpose as that with or for which he conceals or detains such person in confinement.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Punishment for kidnapping or abduction—Cognizance—Non-bailable—Triable by court by which the kidnapping or abduction is triable—Non-compoundable.
Section 369. Kidnapping or abducting child under ten years with intent to steal from its person
Whoever kidnaps or abducts any child under the age of ten years with the intention of taking dishonestly any movable property from the person of such child, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 370. Substitution of new sections 370 and 370A for section 370.
1[370. (1) Whoever, for the purpose of exploitation, (a) recruits, (b) transports,
(c) harbours, (d) transfers, or (e) receives, a person or persons, by
First.— using threats, or
- — using force, or any other form of coercion, or
- — by abduction, or
- — by practising fraud, or deception, or
- — by abuse of power, or
Sixthly.— by inducement, including the giving or receiving of payments or benefits, in order to achieve the consent of any person having control over the person recruited, transported, harboured, transferred or received, commits the offence of trafficking.
Explanation 1.— The expression “exploitation” shall include any act of physical exploitation or any form of sexual exploitation, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude, or the forced removal of organs
Explanation 2.— The consent of the victim is immaterial in determination of the offence of trafficking.
(2) Whoever commits the offence of trafficking shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than seven years, but which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
(3) Where the offence involves the trafficking of more than one person, it shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than ten years but which may extend to imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine.
(4) Where the offence involves the trafficking of a minor, it shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than ten years, but which may extend to imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine.
(5) Where the offence involves the trafficking of more than one minor, it shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than fourteen years, but which may extend to imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine.
(6) If a person is convicted of the offence of trafficking of minor on more than one occasion, then such person shall be punished with imprisonment for life, which shall mean imprisonment for the remainder of that person’s natural life, and shall also be liable to fine.
(7) When a public servant or a police officer is involved in the trafficking of any person then, such public servant or police officer shall be punished with imprisonment for life, which shall mean imprisonment for the remainder of that person’s natural life, and shall also be liable to fine.
370A. (1) Whoever, knowingly or having reason to believe that a minor has been trafficked, engages such minor for sexual exploitation in any manner, shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than five years, but which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
(2) Whoever, knowingly by or having reason to believe that a person has been trafficked, engages such person for sexual exploitation in any manner, shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three years, but which may extend to five years, and shall also be liable to fine.]
1. Inserted by Section 8 of ‘The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013′
Section 371. Habitual dealing in slaves
Whoever habitually imports, exports, removes, buys, sells, traffics or deals in slaves, shall be punished with 1[imprisonment for life] or with imprisonment of either description for a term not exceeding the years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 10 years, and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 372. Selling minor for purposes of prostitution, etc.
Whoever sells, lets to hire, or otherwise disposes of any 1[person under the age of eighteen years with intent that such person shall at any age be employed or used for the purpose of prostitution or illicit intercourse with any person or for any unlawful and immoral purpose, or knowing it to be likely that such person will at any age be] employed or used for any such purpose, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall be liable to fine.
2[Explanation I
When a female under the age of eighteen years sold, let for hire, or otherwise disposed of to a prostitute or to any person who keeps or manages a brothel, the person so disposing of such female shall, until the contrary is proved, be presumed to have disposed of her with the intent that she shall be used for the purpose of prostitution.
Explanation II
For the purposes of this section “illicit intercourse” means sexual intercourse between persons not united by marriage or by any union or tie which, though not amounting to a marriage, is recognised by the personal law or custom of the community to which they belong or, where they belong to different communities, of both such communities, as constituting between them a quasi -marital relation].
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by Act 18 of 1924, sec. 2, for certain words.
2. Ins. by Act 18 of 1924, sec. 3.
Section 373. Buying minor for purposes of prostitution, etc.
Whoever buys, hires or otherwise obtains possession of any 1[person under the age of eighteen years with intent that such person shall at any age be employed or used for the purpose of prostitution or illicit intercourse with any person or for any unlawful and immoral purpose, of knowing it to be likely that such person will at any age be] employed or used for any purpose, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
2[Explanation I
Any prostitute or any person keeping or managing a brothel, who buys, hires or otherwise obtains possession of a female under the age of eighteen years shall, until the contrary is proved, be presumed to have obtained possession of such female with the intent that she shall be used for the purpose of prostitution.
Explanation II
“Illicit intercourse” has the same meaning as in section 372.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
–
1. Subs. by Act 18 of 1924, sec. 2, for certain words.
2. Ins. by Act 18 of 1924, sec. 4.
Section 374. Unlawful compulsory labour
Whoever unlawfully compels any person to labour against the will of that person, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 1 year, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 375. Rape
1[375. A man is said to commit “rape” if he
(a) penetrates his penis, to any extent, into the vagina, mouth, urethra or anus of a woman or makes her to do so with him or any other person; or
(b) inserts, to any extent, any object or a part of the body, not being the penis, into the vagina, the urethra or anus of a woman or makes her to do so with him or any other person; or
(c) manipulates any part of the body of a woman so as to cause penetration into the vagina, urethra, anus or any part of body of such woman or makes her to do so with him or any other person; or
(d) applies his mouth to the vagina, anus, urethra of a woman or makes her to do so with him or any other person, under the circumstances falling under any of the following seven descriptions:
- —Against her will.
- —Without her consent.
- —With her consent, when her consent has been obtained by putting her or any person in whom she is interested, in fear of death or of hurt.
- —With her consent, when the man knows that he is not her husband and that her consent is given because she believes that he is another man to whom she is or believes herself to be lawfully married.
- —With her consent when, at the time of giving such consent, by reason of unsoundness of mind or intoxication or the administration by him personally or through another of any stupefying or unwholesome substance, she is unable to understand the nature and consequences of that to which she gives consent.
- —With or without her consent, when she is under eighteen years of age.
Seventhly.—When she is unable to communicate consent.
Explanation 1.—For the purposes of this section, “vagina” shall also include labia majora.
Explanation 2.—Consent means an unequivocal voluntary agreement when the woman by words, gestures or any form of verbal or non-verbal communication, communicates willingness to participate in the specific sexual act:
Provided that a woman who does not physically resist to the act of penetration shall not by the reason only of that fact, be regarded as consenting to the sexual activity.
Exception 1.—A medical procedure or intervention shall not constitute rape.
Exception 2.—Sexual intercourse or sexual acts by a man with his own wife, the wife not being under fifteen years of age, is not rape.]
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1. Inserted by Section 9 of ‘The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013′
Section 376. Punishment for rape
1[376. (1) Whoever, except in the cases provided for in sub-section (2), commits rape, shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than seven years, but which may extend to imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine.
(2) Whoever,
(a) being a police officer, commits rape
(i) within the limits of the police station to which such police officer is appointed; or
(ii) in the premises of any station house; or
(iii) on a woman in such police officer’s custody or in the custody of a police officer subordinate to such police officer; or
(b) being a public servant, commits rape on a woman in such public servant’s custody or in the custody of a public servant subordinate to such public servant; or
(c) being a member of the armed forces deployed in an area by the Central or a State Government commits rape in such area; or
(d) being on the management or on the staff of a jail, remand home or other place of custody established by or under any law for the time being in force or of a women’s or children’s institution, commits rape on any inmate of such jail, remand home, place or institution; or
(e) being on the management or on the staff of a hospital, commits rape on a woman in that hospital; or
(f) being a relative, guardian or teacher of, or a person in a position of trust or authority towards the woman, commits rape on such woman; or
(g) commits rape during communal or sectarian violence; or
(h) commits rape on a woman knowing her to be pregnant; or
(i) commits rape on a woman when she is under sixteen years of age;
Or
(j) commits rape, on a woman incapable of giving consent; or
(k) being in a position of control or dominance over a woman, commits rape on such woman; or
(l) commits rape on a woman suffering from mental or physical disability; or
(m) while committing rape causes grievous bodily harm or maims or disfigures or endangers the life of a woman; or
(n) commits rape repeatedly on the same woman, shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than ten years, but which may extend to imprisonment for life, which shall mean imprisonment for the remainder of that person’s natural life, and shall also be liable to fine.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-section,
(a) “armed forces” means the naval, military and air forces and includes any member of the Armed Forces constituted under any law for the time being in force, including the paramilitary forces and any auxiliary forces that are under the control of the Central Government or the State Government;
(b) “hospital” means the precincts of the hospital and includes the precincts of any institution for the reception and treatment of persons during convalescence or of persons requiring medical attention or rehabilitation;
(c) “police officer” shall have the same meaning as assigned to the expression “police” under the Police Act, 1861;
(d) “women’s or children’s institution” means an institution, whether called an orphanage or a home for neglected women or children or a widow’s home or an institution called by any other name, which is established and maintained for the reception and care of women or children.]
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1. Inserted by Section 9 of ‘The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013′.
Section 376A. Intercourse by a man with his wife during separation
1[376A. Whoever, commits an offence punishable under sub-section (1) or subsection
(2) of section 376 and in the course of such commission inflicts an injury which causes the death of the woman or causes the woman to be in a persistent vegetative state, shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than twenty years, but which may extend to imprisonment for life, which shall mean imprisonment for the remainder of that person’s natural life, or with death.]
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1.Inserted by Section 376A of ‘The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013′.
Section 376B. Intercourse by public servant with woman is his custody
1[376B. Whoever has sexual intercourse with his own wife, who is living separately, whether under a decree of separation or otherwise, without her consent, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than two years but which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
- —In this section, “sexual intercourse” shall mean any of the acts mentioned in clauses (a) to (d) of section 375.]
—–
1. Inserted by Section 9 of ‘The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013′.
Section 376C. Intercourse by superintendent of jail, remand home, etc.
1[376C. Whoever, being
(a) in a position of authority or in a fiduciary relationship; or
(b) a public servant; or
(c) superintendent or manager of a jail, remand home or other place of custody established by or under any law for the time being in force, or a women’s
or children’s institution; or
(d) on the management of a hospital or being on the staff of a hospital, abuses such position or fiduciary relationship to induce or seduce any woman either in his custody or under his charge or present in the premises to have sexual intercourse with him, such sexual intercourse not amounting to the offence of rape, shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than five years, but which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Explanation 1.—In this section, “sexual intercourse” shall mean any of the acts mentioned in clauses (a) to (d) of section 375.
Explanation 2. —For the purposes of this section, Explanation 1 to section 375 shall also be applicable.
Explanation 3.—”Superintendent”, in relation to a jail, remand home or other place of custody or a women’s or children’s institution, includes a person holding any other office in such jail, remand home, place or institution by virtue of which such person can exercise any authority or control over its inmates.
Explanation 4.—The expressions “hospital” and “women’s or children’s institution” shall respectively have the same meaning as in Explanation to sub-section (2) of section 376.]
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1. Inserted by Section 9 of ‘The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013′.
Section 376D. Intercourse by any member of the management or staff of a hospital with any woman in that hospital
1[376D. Where a woman is raped by one or more persons constituting a group or acting in furtherance of a common intention, each of those persons shall be deemed to have committed the offence of rape and shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than twenty years, but which may extend to life which shall mean imprisonment for the remainder of that person’s natural life, and with
fine:
Provided that such fine shall be just and reasonable to meet the medical expenses and rehabilitation of the victim:
Provided further that any fine imposed under this section shall be paid to the victim.]
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1. Inserted by Section 9 of ‘The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013′.
1[376E. Whoever has been previously convicted of an offence punishable under section 376 or section 376A or section 376D and is subsequently convicted of an offence punishable under any of the said sections shall be punished with imprisonment for life which shall mean imprisonment for the remainder of that person’s natural life, or with death.’]
1. Inserted by Section 9 of ‘The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013′.
Section 377. Unnatural offences
Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal, shall be punished with 1[imprisonment for life], or with imprisonment of either description for term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Explanation
Penetration is sufficient to constitute the carnal intercourse necessary to the offence described in this section.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 378. Theft
Whoever, intending to take dishonestly any moveable property out of the possession of any person without that person’s consent, moves that property in order to such taking, is said to commit theft.
Explanation 1
A thing so long as it is attached to the earth, not being movable property, is not the subject of theft; but it becomes capable of being the subject of theft as soon as it is severed from the earth.
Explanation 2
A moving effected by the same act which affects the severance may be a theft.
Explanation 3
A person is said to cause a thing to move by removing an obstacle which prevented it from moving or by separating it from any other thing, as well as by actually moving it.
Explanation 4
A person, who by any means causes an animal to move, is said to move that animal, and to move everything which, in consequence of the motion so caused, is moved by that animal.
Explanation 5
The consent mentioned in the definition may be express or implied, and may be given either by the person in possession, or by any person having for that purpose authority either express or implied.
Illustrations
(a) A cuts down a tree on Z’s ground, with the intention of dishonestly taking the tree out of Z’s possession without Z’s consent. Here, as soon as A has severed the tree in order to such taking, he has committed theft.
(b) A puts a bait for dogs in his pocket, and thus induces Z’s dog to follow it. Here, if A’s intention be dishonestly to take the dog out of Z’s possession without Z’s consent. A has committed theft as soon as Z’s dog has begun to follow A.
(c) A meets a bullock carrying a box of treasure. He drives the bullock in a certain direction, in order that he may dishonestly take the treasure. As soon as the bullock begins to move, A has committed theft of the treasure.
(d) A, being Z’s servant, and entrusted by Z with the care of Z’s plate, dishonestly runs away with the plate, without Z’s consent. A has committed theft.
(e) Z, going on a journey, entrusts his plate to A, the keeper of the warehouse, till Z shall return. A carries the plate to a goldsmith and sells it. Here the plate was not in Z’s possession. It could not therefore be taken out of Z’s possession, and A has not committed theft, though he may have committed criminal breach of trust.
(f) A finds a ring belonging to Z on a table in the house which Z occupies. Here the ring is in Z’s possession, and if A dishonestly removes it, A commits theft.
(g) A finds a ring lying on the highroad, not in the possession of any person. A by taking it, commits no theft, though he may commit criminal misappropriation of property.
(h) A sees a ring belonging to Z lying on a table in Z’s house. Not venturing to misappropriate the ring immediately for fear of search and detection, A hides the ring in a place where it is highly improbable that it will ever be found by Z, with the intention of taking the ring from the hiding place and selling it when the loss is forgotten. Here A, at the time of first moving the ring, commits theft.
(i) A delivers his watch to Z, a jeweller, to be regulated. Z carries it to his shop. A, not owing to the jeweller any debt for which the jeweller might lawfully detain the watch as a security, enters the shop openly, takes his watch by force out of Z’s hand, and carries it away. Here A, though he may have committed criminal trespass and assault, has not committed theft, in as much as what he did was not done dishonestly.
(j) If A owes money to Z for repairing the watch, and if Z retains the watch lawfully as a security for the debt, and A takes the watch out of Z’s possession, with the intention of depriving Z of the property as a security for his debt, he commits theft, in as much as he takes it dishonestly.
(k) Again, if A, having pawned his watch to Z, takes it out of Z’s possession without Z’s consent, not having paid what he borrowed on the watch, he commits theft, though the watch is his own property in as much as he takes it dishonestly.
(l) A takes an article belonging to Z out of Z’s possession, without Z’s consent, with the intention of keeping it until he obtains money from Z as a reward for its restoration. Here A takes dishonestly; A has therefore committed theft.
(m) A, being on friendly terms with Z, goes into Z’s library in Z’s absence, and takes away a book without Z’s express consent for the purpose merely of reading it, and with the intention of returning it. Here, it is probable that A may have conceived that he had Z’s implied consent to use Z’s book. If this was A’s impression, A has not committed theft.
(n) A asks charity from Z’s wife. She gives A money, food and clothes, which A knows to belong to Z her husband. Here it is probable that A may conceive that Z’s wife is authorised to give away alms. If this was A’s impression, A has not committed theft.
(o) A is the paramour of Z’s wife. She gives a valuable property, which A knows to belong to her husband Z, and to be such property as she has no authority from Z to give. If A takes the property dishonestly, he commits theft.
(p) A, in good faith, believing property belonging to Z to be A’s own property, takes that property out of B’s possession. Here, as A does not take dishonestly, he does not commit theft.
Section 379. Punishment for theft
Whoever commits theft shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Compoundable by the owner of the property stolen with the permission of the court.
Section 380. Theft in dwelling house, etc
Whoever commits theft in any building, tent or vessel, which building, tent or vessel is used as a human dwelling, or used for the custody of property, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
STATE AMENDMENT
Tamil Nadu
Section 380 shall be renumbered as sub-section (1) of that section and after sub-section (1) as so renumbered, the following sub-section shall be added, namely:
“(2) Whoever commits theft in respect of any idol or icon in any building used as a place of worship shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than two years but which may extend to three years and with fine which shall not be less than two thousand rupees:
Provided that the court may, for adequate and special reasons to be mentioned in the judgment impose a sentence of imprisonment for a term of less than two years.”
[Vide Tamil Nadu Act 28 of 1993, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 13-7-1993)].Section 381. Theft by clerk or servant of property in possession of master
Whoever, being a clerk or servant, or being employed in the capacity of a clerk or servant, commits theft in respect of any property in the possession of his master or employer, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Compounded by the owner of the property stolen with the permission of the court.
Section 382. Theft after preparation made for causing death, hurt or restraint in order to the committing of the theft
Whoever commits theft, having made preparation for causing death, or hurt, or restrain, or fear of death, or of hurt, or of restraint, to any person, in order to the committing of such theft, or in order to the effecting of his escape after the committing of such theft, or in order to the retaining of property taken by such theft, shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Illustrations
(a) A commits theft on property in Z’s possession; and, while committing this theft, he has a loaded pistol under his garment, having provided this pistol for the purpose of hurting Z in case Z should resist. A has committed the offence defined in this section.
(b) A picks Z’s pocket, having posted several of his companions near him, in order that they may restrain Z, if Z should perceive what is passing and should resist, or should attempt to apprehend A. A has committed the offence defined in this section
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Rigorous imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 383. Extortion
Whoever intentionally puts any person in fear of any injury to that person, or to any other, and thereby dishonestly induces the person so put in fear to deliver to any property or valuable security, or anything signed or sealed which may be converted into a valuable security, commits “extortion”.
Illustrations
(a) A threatens to publish a defamatory libel concerning Z unless Z give him money. He thus induces Z to give him money. A has committed extortion.
(b) A threatens Z that he will keep Z’s child in wrongful confinement, unless Z will sign and deliver to A promissory note binding Z to pay certain monies to A. Z signs and delivers the note. A has committed extortion.
(c) A threatens to send club-men to plough up Z’s field unless Z will sign and deliver to B bond binding Z under a penalty to deliver certain produce to B, and thereby induces Z to sing and deliver the bond. A has committed extortion.
(d) A, by putting Z in fear of grievous hurt, dishonestly induces Z to sign or affix his seal to a blank paper and deliver it to A. Z signs and delivers the paper to A. Here, as the paper so signed may be converted into a valuable security. A has committed extortion.
Section 384. Punishment for extortion
Whoever commits extortion shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 385. Putting person in fear of injury in order to commit extortion
Whoever, in order to the committing of extortion, puts any person in fear, or attempts to put any person in fear, of any injury, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 386. Extortion by putting a person in fear of death or grievous hurt
Whoever commits extortion by putting any person in fear of death or of grievous hurt o that person or to any other, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 387. Putting person in fear of death or of grievous hurt, in order to commit extortion
Whoever, in order to the committing of extortion, puts or attempts to put any person in fear of death or of grievous hurt to that person or to any other, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 388. Extortion by threat of accusation of an offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life, etc.
Whoever commits extortion by putting any person in fear of an accusation against that person or any other, of having committed or attempted to commit any offence punishable with death, or with 1[imprisonment for life], or with imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years or of having attempted to induce any other person to commit such offence, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine; and, if the offence be one punishable under section 377 of this Code, may be punished with 1[imprisonment for life].
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 389. Putting person in fear of accusation of offence, in order to commit extortion
Whoever, in order to the committing of extortion, puts or attempts to put any person in fear of an accusation, against that person or any other, of having committed, or attempted to commit an offence punished with death or with 1[imprisonment for life], or with imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine; and, if the offence be punished under section 377 of this Code, may be punished with 1[imprisonment for life].
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Imprisonment for life—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 390. Robbery
In all robbery there is either theft or extortion.
When theft is robbery.—Theft is “robbery” if, in order to the committing of the theft, or in committing the theft, or in carrying away or attempting to carry away property obtained by the theft, the offender, for that end, voluntarily causes or attempts to cause to any person death or hurt or wrongful restraint, or fear of instant death or of instant hurt, or of instant wrongful restraint.
When extortion is robbery.—Extortion is “robbery” if the offender, at the time of committing the extortion, is in the presence of the person put in fear, and commits the extortion by putting that person in fear of instant death, of instant hurt, or of instant wrongful restraint to that person or to some other person, and, by so putting in fear, induces the person so put in fear then and there to deliver up the thing extorted.
Explanation
The offender is said to be present if he is sufficiently near to put the other person in fear of instant death, of instant hurt, or of instant wrongful restraint.
Illustrations
(a) A holds Z down and fraudulently takes Z’s money and jewels from Z’s clothes without Z’s consent. Here A has committed theft, and in order to the committing of that theft, has voluntarily caused wrongful restraint to Z. A has therefore committed robbery.
(b) A meets Z on the high roads, shows a pistol, and demands Z’s purse. Z in consequence, surrenders his purse. Here A has extorted the purse from Z by putting him in fear of instant hurt, and being at the time of committing the extortion in his presence. A has therefore committed robbery.
(c) A meets Z and Z’s child on the high road. A takes the child and threatens to fling it down a precipice, unless Z delivers his purse. Z, in consequence delivers his purse. Here A has extorted the purse from Z, by causing Z to be in fear of instant hurt to the child who is there present. A has therefore committed robbery on Z.
(d) A obtains property from Z by saying—“Your child is in the hands of my gang, and will be put to death unless you send us ten thousand rupees”. This is extortion, and punishable as such; but it is not robbery, unless Z is put in fear of the instant death of his child.
Section 391. Dacoity
When five or more persons conjointly commit or attempt to commit a robbery, or where the whole number of persons conjointly committing or attempting to commit a robbery, and persons present and aiding such commission or attempt, amount to five or more, every person so committing, attempting or aiding, is said to commit “dacoity”.
Section 392. Punishment for robbery
Whoever commits robbery shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine; and, if the robbery be committed on the highway between sunset and sunrise, the imprisonment may be extended to fourteen years.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Rigorous imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Rigorous imprisonment for 14 years, and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 393. Attempt to commit robbery
Whoever attempts to commit robbery shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Rigorous imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 394. Voluntarily causing hurt in committing robbery
If any person, in committing or in attempting to commit robbery, voluntarily causes hurt, such person, and any other person jointly concerned in committing or attempting to commit such robbery, shall be punished with 1[imprisonment for life], or with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for life, or rigorous imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 395. Punishment for dacoity
Whoever commits dacoity shall be punished with 1[imprisonment for life], or with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for life, or rigorous imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
-
1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec.117 and sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f.1-1-1956).
Section 396. Dacoity with murder
If any one of five or more persons, who are conjointly committing dacoity, commits murder in so committing dacoity, every one of those persons shall be punished with death, or 1[imprisonment for life], or rigorous imprisonment for term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Death, imprisonment for life, or rigorous imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 397. Robbery, or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt
If, at the time of committing robbery or dacoity, the offender uses any deadly weapon, or causes grievous hurt to any person, or attempts to cause death or grievous hurt to any person, the imprisonment with which such offender shall be punished shall not be less than seven years.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Rigorous imprisonment for not less than 7 years—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
Section 398. Attempt to commit robbery or dacoity when armed with deadly weapon
If, at the time of attempting to commit robbery or dacoity, the offender armed with any deadly weapon, the imprisonment with which such offender shall be punished shall not be less than seven years.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Rigorous imprisonment for not less than 7 years—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
Section 399. Making preparation to commit dacoity
Whoever makes, any preparation for committing dacoity, shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Rigorous imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
Section 400. Punishment for belonging to gang of dacoits
Whoever, at any time after the passing of this Act, shall belong to a gang of persons associated for the purpose of habitually committing dacoity, shall be punished with 1[imprisonment for life], or with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for life, or rigorous imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
-
1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 401. Punishment for belonging to gang of thieves
Whoever, at any time after the passing of this Act, shall belong to any wandering or other gang of persons associated for the purpose of habitually committing theft or robbery, and not being a gang of thugs or dacoits, shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Rigorous imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 402. Assembling for purpose of committing dacoity
Whoever, at any time after the passing of this Act, shall be one of five or more persons assembled for the purpose of committing dacoity, shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Rigorous imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
Section 403. Dishonest misappropriation of property
Whoever dishonestly mis-appropriates or converts to his own use any movable property, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
Illustrations
(a) A takes property belonging to Z out of Z’s possession, in good faith, believing, at any time when he takes it, that the property belongs to himself. A is not guilty of theft; but if A, after discovering his mistake, dishonestly appropriates the property to his own use, he is guilty of an offence under this section.
(b) A, being on friendly terms with Z, goes into Z’s library in Z’s absence, and takes away a book without Z’s express consent. Here, if A was under the impression that he had Z’s implied consent to take the book for the purpose of reading it, A has not committed theft. But, if A afterwards sells the book for his own benefit, he is guilty of an offence under this section.
(c) A and B, being joint owners of a horse, A takes the horse out of B’s possession, intending to use it. Here, as A has a right to use the horse, he does not dishonestly misappropriate it. But, if A sells the horse and appropriates the whole proceeds to his own use, he is guilty of an offence under this section.
Explanation I
A dishonest misappropriation for a time only is a misappropriation with the meaning of this section.
Illustration
A finds a Government promissory note belonging to Z, bearing a blank endorsement. A, knowing that the note belongs to Z, pledges it with a banker as a security for a loan, intending at a future time to restore it to Z. A has committed an offence under this section.
Explanation 2
A person who finds property not in the possession of any other person, and takes such property for the purpose of protecting if for, or of restoring it to, the owner does not take or misappropriate it dishonestly, and is not guilty of an offence; but he is guilty of the offence above defined, if he appropriates it to his own use, when he knows or has the means of discovering the owner, or before he has used reasonable means to discover and give notice to the owner and has kept the property a reasonable time to enable the owner to claim it.
What are reasonable means or what is a reasonable time in such a case, is a question of fact.
It is not necessary that the finder should know who is the owner of the property, or that any particular person is the owner of it; it is sufficient if, at the time of appropriating it, he does not believe it to be his own property, or in good faith believe that the real owner cannot be found.
Illustrations
(a) A finds a rupee on the high road, not knowing to whom the rupee belongs. A picks up the rupee. Here A has not committed the offence defined in this section.
(b) A finds a letter on the road, containing a bank note. From the direction and contents of the letter he learns to whom the note belongs. He appropriates the note. He is guilty of an offence under this section.
(c) A finds a cheque payable to bearer. He can form no conjecture as to the person who has lost the cheque. But the name of the person, who has drawn the cheque, appears. A knows that this person can direct him to the person in whose favour the cheque was drawn. A appropriates the cheque without attempting to discover the owner. He is guilty of an offence under this section.
(d) A sees Z drop his purse with money in it. A picks up the purse with the intention of restoring it to Z, but afterwards appropriates it to his own use. A has committed an offence under this section.
(e) A finds a purse with money, not knowing to whom it belongs; he afterwards discovers that it belongs to Z, and appropriates it to his own use. A is guilty of an offence under this section.
(f) A finds a valuable ring, not knowing to whom it belongs. A sells it immediately without attempting to discover the owner. A is guilty of an offence under this section.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Compoundable by the owner of the property misappropriated with the permission of the court.
Section 404. Dishonest misappropriation of property possessed by deceased person at the time of his death
Whoever dishonestly misappropriates or converts to his own use property, knowing that such property was in the possession of a deceased person at the time of that person’s decease, and has not since been in the possession of any person legally entitled to such possession, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine; and if the offender at the time of such person’s decease was employed by him as a clerk or servant, the imprisonment may extend to seven years.
Illustration
Z dies in possession of furniture and money. His servant A, before the money comes into the possession of any person entitled to such possession, dishonestly misappropriates it. A has committed the offence defined in this section.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years and fine—Non-Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
If by clerk or person employed by deceased:
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Non-Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 405. Criminal breach of trust
Whoever, being in any manner entrusted with property, or with any dominion over property, dishonestly misappropriates or converts to his own use that property, or dishonestly uses or disposes of that property in violation of any direction of law prescribing the mode in which such trust is to be discharged, or of any legal contract, express or implied, which he has made touching the discharge of such trust, or willfully suffers any other person so to do, commits “criminal breach of trust”.
1[Explanation 2[1]
A person, being an employer 3[of an establishment whether exempted under section 17 of the Employees’ Provident funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 (19 of 1952), or not] who deducts the employee’s contribution from the wages payable to the employee for credit to a Provident Fund or Family Pension Fund established by any law for the time being in force, shall be deemed to have been entrusted with the amount of the contribution so deducted by him and if he makes default in the payment of such contribution to said Fund in violation of the said law, shall be deemed to have dishonestly used the amount of the said contribution in violation of a direction of law as aforesaid.]
4[Explanation 2
A person, being an employer, who deducts the employees’ contribution from the wages payable to the employee for credit to the Employees’ State Insurance Fund held and administered by the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation established under the Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948 (34 of 1948), shall be deemed to have been entrusted with the amount of the contribution so deducted by him and if he makes default in the payment of such contribution to the said Fund in violation of the said Act, shall be deemed to have dishonestly used the amount of the said contribution in violation of a direction of law as aforesaid.]
Illustrations
(a) A, being executor to the will of a deceased person, dishonestly disobeys the law which directs him to divide the effects according to the will, and appropriate them to his own use. A has committed criminal breach of trust.
(b) A is a warehouse-keeper. Z gong on a Journey, entrusts his furniture to A, under a contract that it shall be returned on payment of a stipulated sum for warehouse room. A dishonestly sells the goods. A has committed criminal breach of trust.
(c) A, residing in Calcutta, is agent for Z, residing at Delhi. There is an express or implied contract between A and Z, that all sums remitted by Z to A shall be invested by A, according to Z’s direction. Z remits a lakh of rupees to A, with directions to A to invest the same in Company’s paper. A dishonestly disobeys the direction and employs the money in his own business. A has committed criminal breach of trust.
(d) But if A, in the last illustration, not dishonestly but in good faith, believing that it will be more for Z’s advantage to hold shares in the Bank of Bengal, disobeys Z’s directions, and buys shares in the Bank of Bengal, for Z, instead of buying Company’s paper, here, though Z should suffer loss, and should be entitled to bring a civil action against A, on account of that loss, yet A, not having acted dishonestly, has not committed criminal breach of trust.
(e) A, a revenue-officer, is entrusted with public money and is either directed by law, or bound by a contract, express or implied, with the Government, to pay into a certain treasury all the public money which he holds. A dishonestly appropriates the money. A has committed criminal breach of trust.
(f) A, a carrier, is entrusted by Z with Property to be carried by land or by water. A dishonestly misappropriates the property. A has committed criminal breach of trust.
1. Ins. by Act 40 of 1973, sec. 9 (w.e.f. 1-11-1973).
2. Explanation renumbered as Explanation 1 by Act 38 of 1975, sec. 9 (w.e.f. 1-9-1975).
3. Ins. by Act 33 of 1988, sec. 27 (w.e.f. 1-8-1988).
4.Ins. by Act 38 of 1975, sec. 9 (w.e.f. 1-9-1975).
Section 406. Punishment for criminal breach of trust
Whoever commits criminal breach of trust shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years and fine, or both—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Compoundable by the owner of the property in respect of which breach of trust has been committed, with the permission of the court.
Section 407. Criminal breach of trust by carrier, etc.
Whoever, being entrusted with property as a carrier, wharfinger or warehouse-keeper, commits criminal breach of trust in respect of such property, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Compoundable by the owner of the property in respect of which the breach of trust has been committed with the permission of the court.
Section 408. Criminal breach of trust by clerk or servant
Whoever, being a clerk or servant or employed as a clerk or servant, and being in any manner entrusted in such capacity with property, or with any dominion over property, commits criminal breach of trust in respect of that property, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Compounded by the owner of the property in respect of which the breach of trust has been committed with the permission of the court.
Section 409. Criminal breach of trust by public servant, or by banker, merchant or agent
Whoever, being in any manner entrusted with property, or with any dominion over property in his capacity of a public servant or in the way of his business as a banker, merchant, factor, broker, attorney or agent, commits breach of trust in respect of that property, shall be punished with 1[imprisonment for life], or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 410. Stolen Property
Property, the possession whereof has been transferred by theft, or by extortion, or by robbery, and property which has been criminally misappropriated or in respect of which 1[***] criminal breach of trust has been committed, is designed as “stolen property”, 2[whether the transfer has been made, or the misappropriation or breach of trust has been committed, within or without 3[India]]. But, if such property subsequently comes into the possession of a person legally entitled to the possession thereof, it then ceases to be stolen property.
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1. The words “the” and “offence of” rep. by Act 12 of 1891, sec. 2 and Sch. I and Act 8 of 1882, sec. 9, respectively.
2. Ins. by Act 8 of 1882, sec. 9.
3. The words “British India” have successively been subs. by the A.O. 1948, the A.O. 1950 and Act 3 of 1951, sec. 3 and Sch., to read as above.
Section 411. Dishonestly receiving stolen property
Whoever dishonestly receives or retains any stolen property, knowing or having reason to believe the same to be stolen property, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Compoundable by the owner of the property stolen with the permission of the court.
STATE AMENDMENT
Tamil Nadu:
Section 411 shall be renumbered as sub-section (1) of that section and after sub-section (1) as so renumbered, the following sub-section shall be added, namely:
“(2) Whoever dishonestly receives or retains any idol or icon stolen from any building used as a place of worship knowing or having reason to believe the same to be stolen property shall, notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), be punished with rigorous imprisonment which shall not be less than two years but which shall not be less than two thousand rupees:
Provided that the court may, for adequate and special reasons to be mentioned in the judgment, impose a sentence of imprisonment for a term of less than two years.”.
[Vide Tamil Nadu Act 28 of 1993, sec. 3 (w.e.f. 13-7-1993)].
Section 412. Dishonestly receiving property stolen in the commission of a dacoity
Whoever dishonestly receives or retains any stolen property, the possession whereof he knows or has reason to believe to have been transferred by the commission of dacoity, or dishonestly receives from a person, whom he knows or has reason to believe to belong or to have belonged to a gang of dacoity, property which he knows or has reason to believe to have been stolen, shall be punished with 1[imprisonment for life], or with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for life, or rigorous imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 413. Habitually dealing in stolen property
Whoever habitually receives or deals in property which he knows or has reason to believe to be stolen property, shall be punished with 1[imprisonment for life], or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 414. Assisting in concealment of stolen property
Whoever voluntarily assists in concealing or disposing of or making away with property which he knows or has reason to believe to be stolen property, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Compounded by the owner of the property stolen with the permission of the court.
Section 415. Cheating
Whoever, by deceiving any person, fraudulently or dishonestly induces the person so deceived to deliver any property to any person, or to consent that any person shall retain any property, or intentionally induces the person so deceived to do or omit to do anything which he would not do or omit if he were not so deceived, and which act or omission causes or is likely to cause damage or harm to that person in body, mind, reputation or property, is said to “cheat”.
Explanation
A dishonest concealment of facts is deception within the meaning of this section.
Illustrations
(a) A, by falsely pretending to be in the Civil Service, intentionally deceives Z, and thus dishonestly induces Z to let him have on credit goods for which he does not mean to pay. A cheats.
(b) A, by putting a counterfeit make on an article, intentionally deceives Z into a belief that this article was made by a certain celebrated manufacturer, and thus dishonestly induces Z to buy and pay for the article. A cheats.
(c) A, by exhibiting to Z a false sample of an article, intentionally deceives Z into believer that the article corresponds with the sample, and thereby, dishonestly induces Z to buy and pay for the article. A cheats.
(d) A, by tendering in payment for an article a bill on a house with which A keeps on money, and by which A expects that the will be dishonored, intentionally deceives Z, and thereby dishonestly induces Z to deliver the article, intending not to pay for it. A cheats.
(e) A, by pledging as diamonds article which he knows are not diamonds, intentionally deceives Z, and thereby dishonestly induces Z to lend money. A cheats.
(f) A intentionally deceives Z into a belief that A means to repay any money that Z may led to him and thereby dishonestly induces Z to lend him money. A not intending to repay it A cheats.
(g) A intentionally deceives Z into a belief that A means to deliver to Z a certain quantity of indigo plant which he does not intend to deliver and thereby dishonestly induces Z to advance money upon the faith of such deliver. A cheats; but if A, at the of obtaining the money, intends to deliver the indigo plant, and afterwards breaks his contract and does not deliver it, he does not cheat, but is liable only to a civil action for breach of contract.
(h) A intentionally deceives Z into a belief that A has performed A’s part of a contract made with Z, which he has not performed, and thereby dishonestly induces Z to pay money. A cheats.
(i) A sells and coveys an estate to B.A, knowing that in consequence of such sale he has no right to the property, sells or mortgages the same to Z, without disclosing the fact of the previous sale and conveyance to B, and receives the purchase or mortgage money for Z. A cheats.
Section 416. Cheating by personation
A person is said to “cheat by personation” if he cheats by pretending to be some other person, or by knowingly substituting one person for another, or representing that he or any other person is a person other than he or such other person really is.
Explanation
The offence is committed whether the individual personated is a real or imaginary person.
Illustration
(a) A cheats by pretending to be a certain rich banker of the same name. A cheats by personation.
(b) A cheats by pretending to be B, a person who is deceased. A cheats by personation.
Section 417. Punishment for cheating
Whoever cheats shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 1 year, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Compoundable by the person cheated with the permission of the court.
Section 418. Cheating with knowledge that wrongful loss may ensue to person whose interest offender is bound to protect
Whoever cheats with the knowledge that he is likely thereby to cause wrongful loss to a person whose interest in the transaction to which the cheating relates, he was bound, either by law, or by a legal contract, to protect, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Compoundable by the person cheated with the permission of the court.
Section 419. Punishment for cheating by personation
Whoever cheats by personation shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Compoundable by the person cheated with the permission of the court.
Section 420. Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property
Whoever cheats and thereby dishonestly induces the person deceived any property to any person, or to make, alter or destroy the whole or any part of a valuable security, or anything which is signed or sealed, and which is capable of being converted into a valuable security, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Compoundable by the person cheated with the permission of the court.
Section 421. Dishonest or fraudulent removal or concealment of property to prevent distribution among creditors
Whoever dishonestly or fraudulently removes, conceals or delivers to any person, or transfer or causes to be transferred to any person, without adequate consideration, any property, intending thereby to prevent, or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby prevent, the distribution of that property according to law among his creditors or the creditors of any other person, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Compoundable by the creditor who are affected thereby with the permission of the court.
Section 422. Dishonestly or fraudulently preventing debt being available for creditors
Whoever dishonestly or fraudulently prevents any debt or demand due to himself or to any other person from being made available according to law for payment of his debts or the debts of such other person, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Compoundable by the creditors who are affected thereby with the permission of the court.
Section 423. Dishonest or fraudulent execution of deed of transfer containing false statement of consideration
Whoever dishonestly or fraudulently signs, executes or becomes a party to any deed or instrument which purports to transfer or subjects to any charge any property , or any interest therein, and which contains any false statement relating to the consideration for such transfer or charge, or relating to the person or persons for whose use or benefit it is really intended to operate, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine , or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Compoundable by the person affected thereby with the permission of the court.
Section 424. Dishonest or fraudulent removal or concealment of property
Whoever dishonestly or fraudulently conceals or removes any property of himself or any other person, or dishonestly or fraudulently assists in the concealment or removal thereof, or dishonestly releases any demand or claim to which he is entitled, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Compoundable by the person affected thereby with the permission of the court.
Section 425. Mischief
Whoever with intent to cause, or knowing that he is likely to cause, wrongful loss or damage to the public or to any person, cause the destruction of any property, or any such change in any property or in the situation thereof as destroys or diminishes its value or utility, or affects it injuriously, commits “mischief”.
Explanation 1
It is not essential to the offence of mischief that the offender should intend to cause loss or damage to the owner of the property injured or destroyed. It is sufficient if he intends to cause, or knows that he is likely to cause, wrongful loss or damage to any person by injuring any property, whether it belongs to that person or not.
Explanation 2
Mischief may be committed by an act affecting property belonging to the person who commits the act, or to that person and others jointly.
Illustrations
(a) A voluntarily burns a valuable security belonging to Z intending to cause wrongful loss to Z. A has committed mischief.
(b) A introduces water into an ice-house belonging to Z and thus causes the ice to melt, intending wrongful loss to Z. A has committed mischief.
(c) A voluntarily throws into a river a ring belonging to Z, with the intention of thereby causing wrongful loss to Z. A has committed mischief.
(d) A, knowing that his effects are about to be taken in execution in order to satisfy a debt due from him to Z, destroys those effects, with the intention of thereby preventing Z from obtaining satisfaction of the debt, and of thus causing damage to Z. A has committed mischief.
(e) A, having insured a ship, voluntarily causes the same to be cast away, with the intention of causing damage to the under-writers. A has committed mischief.
(f) A causes a ship to be cast away, intending thereby to cause damage to Z who has lent money on bottomry on the ship. A has committed mischief.
(g) A, having joint property with Z in a horse, shoots the horse, intending thereby to cause wrongful loss to Z. A has committed mischief.
(h) A causes cattle to enter upon a field belonging to Z, intending to cause and knowing that he is likely to cause damage to Z’s crop. A has committed mischief.
Section 426. Punished for mischief
Whoever commits mischief shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 months, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Compoundable by the person to whom the loss or damage is caused.
Section 427. Mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees
Whoever commits mischief and thereby causes loss or damage to the amount of fifty rupees or upwards, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Compoundable by the person to whom the loss or damage is caused.
Section 428. Mischief by killing or maiming animal of the value of ten rupees
Whoever commits mischief by killing, poisoning, maiming or rendering useless any animal or animals of the value of ten rupees or upwards, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Compoundable by the owner of the animal with the permission of the court.
Section 429. Mischief by killing or maiming cattle, etc., of any value or any animal of the value of fifty rupees
Whoever commits mischief by killing, poisoning, maiming or rendering useless, any elephant, camel, horse, mule, buffalo, bull, cow or ox, whatever may be the value thereof, or any other animal of the value of fifty rupees or upwards, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 5 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate of the first class—Compoundable by the owner of the cattle or animal with the permission of the court.
Section 430. Mischief by injury to works of irrigation or by wrongfully diverting water
Whoever commits mischief by doing any act which causes, or which he knows to be likely to cause, a diminution of the supply of the water for agricultural purposes, or for food or drink for human beings or for animals which are property, or for cleanliness or for carrying on any manufacture, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description far a term which may extend to five years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 5 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Compoundable by the person to whom the loss or damage is caused with the permission of the court.
Section 431. Mischief by injury to public road, bridge, river or channel
Whoever commits mischief by doing any act which renders or which he knows to be likely to render any public road, bridge, navigable river or navigable channel, natural or artificial, impassable or less safe for traveling or conveying property, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 5 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 432. Mischief by causing inundation or obstruction to public drainage attended with damage
Whoever commits mischief by doing any act which causes or which he knows to be likely to cause an inundation or an obstruction to any public drainage attended with injury or damage, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for term which may extend to five years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 5 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 433. Mischief by destroying, moving or rendering less useful a light-house or sea-mark
Whoever commits mischief by destroying or moving any light-house or other light used as a sea-mark or any sea-mark or buoy or other thing placed as a guide for navigators, or by any act which renders any such light-house, sea-mark, buoy or other such thing as aforesaid less useful as a guide for navigators, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 434. Mischief by destroying or moving, etc., a land- mark fixed by public authority
Whoever commits mischief by destroying or moving any land-mark fixed by the authority of a public servant, or by any act which renders such land-mark less useful as such, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 1 year, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 435. Mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to cause damage to amount of one hundred or (in case of agricultural produce) ten rupees
Whoever commits mischief by fire or any explosive substance intending to cause, or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby cause, damage to any property to the amount of one hundred rupees or upwards 1[or(where the property is agricultural produce) ten rupees or upwards], shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
–
1. Ins. by Act 8 of 1882, sec. 10.
Section 436. Mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house, etc.
Whoever commits mischief by fire or any explosive substance, intending to cause, or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby cause, the destruction of any building which is ordinarily used as a place of worship or as a human dwelling or as a place for the custody of property, shall be punished with 1[imprisonment for life], or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
–
1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 437. Mischief with intent to destroy or make unsafe a decked vessel or one of twenty tons burden
Whoever commits mischief to any decked vessel or any vessel of a burden of twenty tons or upwards, intending to destroy or render unsafe, or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby destroy or render unsafe, that vessel, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
Section 438. Punishment for the mischief described in section 437 committed by fire or explosive substance
Whoever commits, or attempts to commit, by fire or any explosive substance, such mischief as is described in the last preceding section, shall be punished with 1[imprisonment for life], or with imprisonment or either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 439. Punishment for intentionally running vessel aground or ashore with intent to commit theft, etc
Whoever intentionally runs any vessel aground or ashore, intending to commit theft of any property contained therein or to dishonestly misappropriate any such property, or with intent that such theft or misappropriation of property may be committed, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
Section 440. Mischief committed after preparation made for causing death or hurt
Whoever commits mischief having made preparation for causing to any person death, or hurt, or wrongful restraint, or fear of death or of hurt, or of wrongful restraint, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 5 years and fine—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 441. Criminal trespass
Whoever enters into or upon property in the possession of another with intent to commit an offence or to intimidate, insult or annoy any person in possession of such property,
or having lawfully entered into or upon such property, unlawfully remains there with intent thereby to intimidate, insult or annoy any such person, or with intent to commit an offence, is said to commit “criminal trespass”.
STATE AMENDMENT
Orissa
For section 441, the following section shall be substituted, namely:
“441. Criminal Trespass.—Whoever enters into or upon property in possession of another with intent to commit an offence or to intimidate, insult or annoy any person in possession of such property,
or, having lawfully entered into or upon such property, unlawfully remains there with intent thereby to intimidate, insult or annoy any such person or with intent to commit an offence,
or having lawfully entered into or upon such property, remains there with the intention of taking unauthorised possession or making unauthorised use of such property and fails to withdraw such property or its possession or use, when called upon to do so by that another person by notice in writing, duly served on him, is said to have commit “criminal trespass.“
[Vide Orissa Act 22 of 1986, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 6-12-1986)].
Uttar Pradesh
For section 441, substitute the following:
“441. Criminal Trespass.—Whoever enters into or upon property in possession of another with intent to commit an offence or to intimidate, insult or annoy and person in possession of such property, or having lawfully entered into or upon such property, unlawfully remains therewith intent thereby to intimidate, insult or annoy any such person, or with intent to commit an offence,
or, having entered into or upon such property, whether before or after the coming into force of the Criminal Law (U.P. Amendment) Act, 1961, with the intention of taking unauthorised possession or making unauthorised use of such property fails to withdraw from such property or its possession or use, when called upon to do so by that another person by notice in writing, duly served upon him, by the date specified in the notice,
is said to commit “criminal trespass”.
[Vide Uttar Pradesh Act 31 of 1961, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 13-11-1961)].
Section 442. House trespass
Whoever commits criminal trespass by entering into or remaining in any building, tent or vessel used as a human dwelling or any building used as a place for worship, or as a place for the custody of property, is said to commit “house-trespass”.
Explanation
The introduction of any part of the criminal trespasser’s body is entering sufficient to constitute house-trespass.
Section 443. Lurking house-trespass
Whoever commits house-trespass having taken precautions to conceal such house-trespass from some person who has a right to exclude or eject the trespasser from the building, tent or vessel which is the subject of the trespass, is said to commit “lurking house-trespass”.
Section 444. Lurking house-trespass by night
Whoever commits lurking house-trespass after sunset and before sunrise, is said to commit “lurking house-trespass by night”.
Section 445. Housing breaking
A person is said to commit “house-breaking” who commits house-trespass if he effects his entrance into the house or any part of it in any of the six ways hereinafter described; or if, being in the house or any part of it for the purpose of committing an offence, or, having committed an offence therein, he quits the house or any part of it in any of such six ways, that is to say
First.—If he enters or quits through a passage by himself, or by any abettor of the house-trespass, in order to the committing of the house-trespass.
Secondly.—If he enters or quits through any passage not intended by any person, other than himself or an abettor of the offence, for human entrance; or through any passage to which he has obtained access by scaling or climbing over any wall or building.
Thirdly.—If he enters or quits through any passage which he or any abettor of the house-trespass has opened, in order to the committing of the house-trespass by any means by which that passage was not intended by the occupier of the house to be opened.
Fourthly.—If he enters or quits by opening any lock in order to the committing of the house-trespass, or in order to the quitting of the house after a house-trespass.
Fifthly.—If he effects his entrance or departure by using criminal force or committing an assault or by threatening any person with assault.
Sixthly.—If he enters or quits by any passage which he knows to have been fastened against such entrance or departure, and to have been unfastened by himself or by an abettor of the house-trespass.
Explanation
Any out-house or building occupied with a house, and between which and such house there is an immediate internal communication, is part of the house within the meaning of this section.
Illustrations
(a) A commits house-trespass by making a hole through the wall of Z’s house, and putting his hand through the aperture. This is house-breaking.
(b) A commits house-trespass by creeping into a ship at a port-hole between decks. This is house-breaking.
(c) A commits house-trespass by entering Z’s house through a window. This is house-breaking.
(d) A commits house-trespass by entering Z’s house through the door, having opened a door which was fastened. This is house-breaking.
(e) A commits house-trespass by entering Z’s house through the door, having lifted a latch by putting a wire through a hole in the door. This is house-breaking.
(f) A finds the key of Z’s house door, which Z had lost, and commits house-trespass by entering Z’s house, having opened the door with that key. This is house-breaking.
(g) Z is standing in his doorway. A forces a passage by knocking Z down, and commits house-trespass by entering the house. This is house-breaking.
(h) Z, the door-keeper of Y, is standing in Y’s doorway. A commits house-trespass by entering the house, having deterred Z from opposing him by threatening to beat him. This is house-breaking.
Section 446. House-breaking by night
Whoever commits house-breaking after sunset and before sunrise, is said to commit “house-breaking by night”.
Section 447. Punishment for criminal trespass
Whoever commits criminal trespass shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three months, with fine or which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 months, or fine of 500 rupees, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Compoundable by the person in possession of the property trespassed upon.
Section 448. Punishment for house-trespass
Whoever commits house-trespass shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine or which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for one year, or fine of 1,000 rupees, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Compoundable by the person in possession of the property trespassed upon.
Section 449. House-trespass in order to commit offence punishable with death
Whoever commits house-trespass in order to the committing of any offence punishable with death, shall be punishable with 1[imprisonment for life], or with rigorous imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for life, or rigorous imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 450. House-trespass in order to commit offence punishable with imprisonment for life
Whoever commits house-trespass in order to the committing of any offence punishable with 1[imprisonment for life], shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term not exceeding ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 451. House-trespass in order to commit offence punishable with imprisonment
Whoever commits house-trespass in order to the committing of any offence punishable with imprisonment, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, and shall also be liable to fine; and if the offence intended to be committed is theft, the term of the imprisonment may be extended to seven years.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years and fine—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate.
Para II
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Compoundable by the person in possession of the house trespassed upon with the permission of the court.
Section 452. House-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint
Whoever commits house-trespass, having made preparation for causing hurt to any person or for assaulting any person, or for wrongfully restraining any person, or for putting any person in fear of hurt, or of assault, or of wrongful restraint, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 453. Punishment for lurking house-trespass or house-breaking
Whoever commits lurking house-trespass or house-breaking, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 454. Lurking house-trespass or house-breaking in order to commit offence punishable with imprisonment
Whoever commits lurking house-trespass or house-breaking, in order to the committing of any offence punishable with imprisonment, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine ; and if the offence intended to be committed is theft, the term of the imprisonment may be extended to ten years.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compounded.
STATE AMENDMENT
Tamil Nadu
Section 454 shall be renumbered as sub-section (1) of that section and after sub-section (1) as so renumbered, the following sub-section shall be added, namely:
“(2) Whoever commits lurking house-trespass or house-breaking in any building used as a place of worship, in order to the committing of the offence of theft of any idol or icon from such building, shall notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), be punished with rigorous imprisonment which shall not be less than three years but which may extend to ten years and with fine which shall not be less than five thousand rupees:
Provided that the court may, for adequate and special reasons to be mentioned in the judgment, impose a sentence of imprisonment for a term of less than three years.”
[Vide Tamil Nadu Act 28 of 1993, sec. 4 (w.e.f. 13-7-1993)].
Section 455. Lurking house-trespass or house-breaking after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint
Whoever commits lurking house-trespass, or house-breaking, having made preparation for causing hurt to any person, or for assaulting any person, or for wrongfully restraining any person, or for putting any person in fear of hurt or of assault or of wrongful restraint, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 456. Punishment for lurking house-trespass or house-breaking by night
Whoever commits lurking house-trespass by night, or house-breaking by night, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 457. Lurking house trespass or house-breaking by night in order to commit offence punishable with imprisonment
Whoever commits lurking house-trespass by night, or house-breaking by night, in order to the committing of any offence punishable with imprisonment, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years, and shall also be liable to fine; and, if the offence intended to be committed is theft, the term of the imprisonment may be extended to fourteen years.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Imprisonment for 5 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Imprisonment for 14 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class.
STATE AMENDMENT
Tamil Nadu
Section 457 shall be renumbered as sub-section (1) of that section and after sub-section (1) as so renumbered, the following sub-section shall be added, namely:
“(2) Whoever commits lurking house-trespass by night or house-breaking by night in any building used as a place of worship, in order to the committing of the offence of theft of any idol or icon from such building, shall, notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), be punished with rigorous imprisonment which shall not be less than three years but which may extend to fourteen years and with fine which shall not be less than five thousand rupees:
Provided that the court may, for adequate and special reasons to be mentioned in the judgment, impose a sentence of imprisonment for a term of less than three years.”
[Vide Tamil Nadu Act 28 of 1993, sec. 5 (w.e.f. 13-7-1993)].
Uttar Pradesh
Section 457 shall be renumbered as sub-section (1) of that section and after sub section (1) as so renumbered, the following sub-section shall be added namely
“(2) Whoever commits lurking house trespass by night or house breaking by night in any building used as a place of worship in order to the committing of the offence of theft of any idol or icon from such buildings shall notwithstanding any thing contained in sub-section (1) be punished with rigorous imprisonment which shall not be less than three years but which may extend to fourteen years and with fine which shall not be less than five thousand rupees:
Provided that the court may, for adequate and special reasons to be mentioned in the judgment, impose a sentence of imprisonment for a term of less than three years.”
[Vide Uttar Pradesh Act 24 of 1995, sec. 11].
Section 458. Lurking house-trespass or house-breaking by night after preparation for hurt, assault, or wrongful restraint
Whoever commits lurking house-trespass by night, or house-breaking by night, having made preparation for causing hurt to any person or for assaulting any person, or for wrongfully restraining any person, or for putting any person in fear of hurt, or of assault, or of wrongful restraint, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to fourteen years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 14 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 459. Grievous hurt caused whilst committing lurking house trespass or house-breaking
Whoever, whilst committing lurking house-trespass or house-breaking, causes grievous hurt to any person or attempts to cause death or grievous hurt to any person, shall be punished with 1[imprisonment for life], or imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
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1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 460. All persons jointly concerned in lurking house-trespass or house-breaking by night punishable where death or grievous hurt caused by one of them
If, at the time of the committing of lurking house-trespass by night or house-breaking by night, any person guilty of such offence shall voluntarily cause or attempt to cause death or grievous hurt to any person, every person jointly concerned in committing such lurking house-trespass by night or house-breaking by night, shall be punished with 1[imprisonment for life], or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
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1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 461. Dishonestly breaking open receptacle containing property
Whoever dishonestly or with intent to commit mischief, breaks open or unfastens any closed receptacle which contains or which be believes to contain property, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 462. Punishment for same offence when committed by person entrusted with custody
Whoever, being entrusted with any closed receptacle which contains or which he believes to contain property, without having authority to open the same, dishonestly, or with intent to commit mischief, breaks open or unfastens that receptacle, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 463. Forgery
1[Whoever makes any false documents or false electronic record or part of a document or electronic record, with intent to cause damage or injury], to the public or to any person, or to support any claim or title, or to cause any person to part with property, or to enter into any express or implied contract, or with intent to commit fraud or that fraud may be committed, commits forgery.
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1. Subs. by Act 21 of 2000, sec. 91 and Sch. I, for certain words (w.e.f. 17-10-2000).
Section 464. Making a false document
1[A person is said to make a false document or false electronic record
First—Who dishonestly or fradulently
(a) makes, signs, seals or executes a document or part of a document;
(b) makes or transmits any electronic record or part of any electronic record;
(c) affixes any 3electronic signature on any electronic record;
(d) makes any mark denoting the execution of a document or the authenticity of the 3electronic signature,
with the intention of causing it to be believed that such document or part of document, electronic record or electronic signature was made, signed, sealed, executed, transmitted or affixed by or by the authority of a person by whom or by whose authority he knows that it was not made, signed, sealed, executed or affixed; or
Secondly—Who, without lawful authority, dishonestly or fraudulently, by cancellation or otherwise, alters a document or an electronic record in any material part thereof, after it has been made, executed or affixed with 3electronic signature either by himself or by any other person, whether such person be living or dead at the time of such alteration; or
Thirdly—Who dishonestly or fraudulently causes any person to sign, seal, execute or alter a document or an electronic record or to affix his 3electronic signature on any electronic record knowing that such person by reason of unsoundness of mind or intoxication cannot, or that by reason of deception practised upon him, he does not know the contents of the document or electronic record or the nature of the alteration.]
Illustrations
(a) A has a letter of credit upon B for rupees 10,000 written by Z. A, in order to defraud B, adds a cipher to the 10,000, and makes the sum 1,00,000 intending that it may be believed by B that Z so wrote the letter. A has committed forgery.
(b) A, without Z’s authority, affixes Z’s seal to a document purporting to be a conveyance of an estate from Z to A, with the intention of selling the estate to B, and thereby of obtaining from B the purchase-money. A has committed forgery.
(c) A picks up a cheque on a banker signed by B, payable to bearer, but without any sum having been inserted in the cheque. A fraudulently fills up the cheque by inserting the sum of ten thousand rupees. A commits forgery.
(d) A leaves with B, his agent, a cheque on a banker, signed by A, without inserting the sum payable and authorizes B to fill up the cheque by inserting a sum not exceeding ten thousand rupees for the purpose of making certain payment. B fraudulently fills up the cheque by inserting the sum of twenty thousand rupees. B commits forgery.
(e) A draws a bill of exchange on himself in the name of B without B’s authority, intending to discount it as a genuine bill with a banker and intending to take up the bill on its maturity. Here, as A draws the bill with intent to deceive the banker by leading him to suppose that he had the security of B, and thereby to discount the bill, A is guilty of forgery.
(f) Z’s will contains the these words—“I direct that all my remaining property be equally divided between A, B and C.” A dishonestly scratches out B’s name, intending that it may be believed that the whole was left to himself and C. A has committed forgery.
(g) A endorses a Government promissory note and makes it payable to Z or his order by writing on the bill the words “Pay to Z or his order” and signing the endorsement. B dishonestly erases the words “Pay to Z or his order”, and thereby converts the special endorsement into a blank endorsement. B commits forgery.
(h) A sells and conveys an estate to Z. A afterwards, in order to defraud Z of his estate, executes a conveyance of the same estate to B, dated six months earlier than the date of the conveyance to Z, intending it to be believed that he had conveyed the estate to B before he conveyed it to Z. A has committed forgery.
(i) Z dictates his will to A. A intentionally writes down a different legatee from the legatee named by Z, and by representing to Z that he has prepared the will according to his instructions, induces Z to sign the will. A has committed forgery.
(j) A writes a letter and signs it with B’s name without B’s authority, certifying that A is a man of good character and in distressed circumstances from unforeseen misfortune, intending by means of such letter to obtain alms from Z and other persons. Here, as A made a false document in order to induce Z to part with property. A has committed forgery.
(k) A without B’s authority writes a letter and signs it in B’s name certifying to A’s character, intending thereby to obtain employment under Z. A has committed forgery in as much as he intended to deceive Z by the forged certificate, and thereby to induce Z to enter into an express or implied contract for service.
Explanation 1
A man’s signature of his own name may amount to forgery.
Illustrations
(a) A signs his own name to a bill of exchange, intending that it may be believed that the bill was drawn by another person of the same name. A has committed forgery.
(b) A writes the word “accepted” on a piece of paper and signs it with Z’s name, in order that B may afterwards write on the paper a bill of exchange drawn by B upon Z, and negotiate the bill as though it had been accepted by Z. A is guilty of forgery; and if B, knowing the fact, draws the bill upon the paper pursuant to A’s intention, B is also guilty of forgery.
(c) A picks up a bill of exchange payable to the order of a different person of the same name. A endorses the bill in his own name, intending to cause it to be believed that it was endorsed by the person whose order it was payable; here A has committed forgery.
(d) A purchases an estate sold under execution of a decree against B. B, after the seizure of the estate, in collusion with Z, executes a lease of the estate of Z at a nominal rent and for a long period and dates the lease six months prior to the seizure, with intent to defraud A, and to cause it to be believed that the lease was granted before the seizure. B, though he executes the lease in his own name, commits forgery by antedating it.
(e) A, a trader, in anticipation of insolvency, lodges effects with B for A’s benefit, and with intent to defraud his creditors; and in order to give a colour to the transaction, writes a promissory note binding himself to pay to B a sum for value received, and antedates the note, intending that it may be believed to have been made before. A was on the point of insolvency. A has committed forgery under the first head of the definition.
Explanation 2
The making of a false document in the name of a fictitious person, intending it to be believed that the document was made by a real person, or in the name of a deceased person, intending it to be believed that the document was made by the person in his lifetime, may amount to forgery.
Illustration
A draws a bill of exchange upon a fictitious person, and fraudulently accepts the bill in the name of such fictitious person with intent to negotiate it. A commits forgery.
2[Explanation 3
For the purposes of this section, the expression “affixing 3electronic signature” shall have the meaning assigned to it in clause (d) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Information Technology Act, 2000.]
1. Subs. by Act 21 of 2000, sec. 91 and Sch. I, for certain words (w.e.f. 17-10-2000).
2. Ins. by Act 21 of 2000, sec. 91 and Sch. I (w.e.f. 17-10-2000).
3. Subs by Act 10 of 2009, sec. 51(e), for “digital signature”.
Section 465. Punishment for forgery
Whoever commits forgery shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 466. Forgery of record of court or of public register, etc.
1[Whoever forges a document or an electronic record], purporting to be a record or proceeding of or in a Court of Justice, or a register of birth, baptism, marriage or burial, or a register kept by a public servant as such, or a certificate or document purporting to be made by a public servant in his official capacity, or an authority to institute or defend a suit, or to take any proceedings therein, or to confess judgment, or a power of attorney, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
1[Explanation
For the purposes of this section, “register” includes any list, data or record of any entries maintained in the electronic form as defined in clause (r) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Information Technology Act, 2000.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Non-cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
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1. Subs. by Act 21 of 2000, sec. 91 and Sch. I, for “Whoever forges a document” (w.e.f. 17-10-2000).
Section 467. Forgery of valuable security, will, etc.
Whoever forges a document which purports to be a valuable security or a will, or an authority to adopt a son, or which purports to give authority to any person to make or transfer any valuable security, or to receive the principal, interest or dividends thereon, or to receive or deliver any money, moveable property, or valuable security, or any document purporting to be an acquittance or receipt acknowledging the payment of money, or an acquittance or receipt for the delivery of any moveable property or valuable security, shall be punished with 1[imprisonment for life], or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Non-cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 468. Forgery for purpose of cheating
Whoever commits forgery, intending that the 1[document or Electronic Record forged] shall be used for the purpose of cheating, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—-Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
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1. Subs. by Act 21 of 2000, sec. 91 and Sch. I, for “document forged” (w.e.f. 17-10-2000).
Section 469. Forgery for purpose of harming reputation
Whoever commits forgery, 1[intending that the document or Electronic Record forged] shall harm the reputation of any party, or knowing that it is likely to used for that purpose, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years and fine—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by Act 21 of 2000, sec. 91 and Sch. I, for “intending that the document forged” (w.e.f. 17-10-2000).
Section 470. Forged document or electronic record
Forged 1[document or electronic record].—A false 1[document or electronic record] made wholly or in part by forgery is designated “a forged 1[document or electronic record]”.
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1. Subs. by Act 21 of 2000, sec. 91 and Sch. I, for “document” (w.e.f. 17-10-2000).
Section 471. Using as genuine a forged document or electronic record
Using as genuine a forged 1[document or electronic record].—Whoever fraudulently or dishonestly uses as genuine any 1[document or electronic record] which he knows or has reason to believe to be a forged 1[document or electronic record], shall be punished in the same manner as if he had forged such 1[document or electronic record].
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Punishment for forgery of such document—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
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1. Subs. by Act 21 of 2000, sec. 91 and Sch. I, for “document” (w.e.f. 17-10-2000).
Section 472. Making or possessing counterfeit seal, etc., with intent to commit forgery punishable under section 467
Whoever makes or counterfeits any seal, plate or other instrument for making an impression, intending that the same shall be used for the purpose of committing any forgery which would be punishable under Section 467 of this Code, or, with such intent, has in his possession any such seal, plate or other instrument, knowing the same to be counterfeit, shall be punished with 1[imprisonment for life], or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 473. Making or possessing counterfeit seal, etc., with intent to commit forgery punishable otherwise
Whoever makes or counterfeit any seal, plate or other instrument for making an impression, intending that the same shall be used for the purpose of committing any forgery which would be punishable under any section of this Chapter other than Section 467, or, with such intent, has in his possession any such seal, plate or other instrument, knowing the same to be counterfeit, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 474. Having possession of document described in Section 466 or 467, knowing it to be forged and intending to use it as genuine
1[Whoever has in his possession any document or electronic record, knowing the same to be forged, and intending that the same shall fraudulently or dishonestly be used as genuine, shall, if the document or electronic record, is one of the description mentioned in section 466 of this Code], be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine; and if the document is one of the description mentioned in section 467, shall be punished with 2[imprisonment for life], or with imprisonment of either description, for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by Act 21 of 2000, sec. 91 and Sch. I, for certain words (w.e.f. 17-10-2000).
2. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 475. Counterfeiting device or mark used for authenticating documents described in Section 467, or possessing counterfeit marked material
Whoever counterfeits upon, or in the substance of, any material, any device or mark used for the purpose of authenticating any document described in Section 467 of this Code, intending that such device or mark shall be used for the purpose of giving the appearance of authenticity to any document then forged or thereafter to be forged on such material, or who, with such intent, has in his possession any material upon or in the substance of which any such device or mark has been counterfeited, shall be punished with 1[imprisonment for life], or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
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1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 476. Counterfeiting device or mark used for authenticating documents other than those described in section 467, or possessing counterfeit marked material
Whoever counterfeits upon, or in the substance of, any material, any device or mark used for the purpose of authenticating 1[any document or electronic record] other than the documents described in section 467 of this Code, intending that such device or mark shall be used for the purpose of giving the appearance of authenticity to any document then forged or thereafter to be forged on such material, or who, with such intent, has in his possession any material upon or in the substance of which any such device or mark has been counterfeited, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Non-cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
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1. Subs. by Act 21 of 2000, sec. 91 and Sch. I, for “any document” (w.e.f. 17-10-2000).
Section 477. Fraudulent cancellation, destruction, etc., of will, authority to adopt, or valuable security
Whoever fraudulently or dishonestly, or with intent to cause damage or injury to the public or to any person, cancels, destroys or defaces, or attempts to cancel, destroy or deface, or secretes or attempts to secrete any document which is or purports to be a will, or an authority to adopt a son, or any valuable security, or commits mischief in respect of such document, shall be punished with 1[imprisonment for life], or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Non-cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 477A. Falsification of accounts
1[477A. Falsification of accounts.—Whoever, being a clerk, officer or servant, or employed or acting in the capacity of a clerk, officer or servant, wilfully, and with intent to defraud, destroys, alters, mutilates or falsifies any 2[book, electronic record, paper, writing], valuable security or account which belongs to or is in the possession of his employer, or has been received by him for or on behalf of his employer, or wilfully, and with intent to defraud, makes or abets the making of any false entry in, or omits or alters or abets the omission or alteration of any material particular from or in, any such 2[book, electronic record, paper, writing], valuable security or account, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, or with fine, or with both.
Explanation
It shall be sufficient in any charge under this section to allege a general intent to defraud without naming any particular person intended to be defrauded or specifying any particular sum of money intended to be the subject of the fraud, or any particular day on which the offence was committed.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
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1. Added by Act 3 of 1895, sec. 4.
2. Subs. by Act 21 of 2000, sec. 91 and Sch. I, for “book, paper, writing” (w.e.f. 17-10-2000).
Section 478. Trade marks
[Rep. by the Trade and Merchandise Marks Act, 1958 (43 of 1958, sec. 135 and Sch. (w.e.f. 25-11-1959).]
Section 479. Property mark
A mark used for denoting that moveable property belongs to a particular person is called a property mark.
Section 480. Using a false trade mark
[Rep. by the Trade and Merchandise Marks Act, 1958 (43 of 1958), s. 135 and Sch., (w.e.f. 25-11-1959).]
Section 481. Using a false property mark
Whoever marks any moveable property or goods or any case, package or other receptacle containing moveable property or goods, or uses any case, package or other receptacle having any mark thereon, in a manner reasonably calculated to cause it to be believed that the property or goods so marked, or any property or goods contained in any such receptacle so marked, belong to a person to whom they do not belong, is said to use a false property mark.
Section 482. Punishment for using a false property mark
Whoever uses 1[* * *] any false property mark shall, unless he proves that he acted without intent to defraud, be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 1 year, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Compoundable by the person to whom loss or injury is caused by such use with the permission of the court.
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1. The words “any false trade mark or” omitted by Act 43 of 1958, sec. 135 and Sch. (w.e.f. 25-11-1959).
Section 483. Counterfeiting a property mark used by another
Whoever counterfeits any 1[* * *] property mark used by any other person shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Compoundable by the person whose trade or property mark is counterfeited with the permission of the court.
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1. The words “trade mark or” omitted by Act 43 of 1958, sec. 135 and Sch. (w.e.f. 25-11-1959).
Section 484. Counterfeiting a mark used by a public servant
1[484. Counterfeiting a mark used by a public servant.—Whoever counterfeits any property mark used by a public servant, or any mark used by a public servant to denote that any property has been manufactured by a particular person or at a particular time or place, or that the property is of a particular quality or has passed through a particular office, or that it is entitled to any exemption, or uses as genuine any such mark knowing the same to be counterfeit, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years and fine—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by Act 4 of 1889, sec. 3, for the original section 484.
Section 485. Making or possession of any instrument for counterfeiting a property mark
1[485. Making or possession of any instrument for counterfeiting a property mark.—Whoever makes or has in his possession any die, plate or other instrument for the purpose of counterfeiting a property mark, or has in his possession a property mark for the purpose of denoting that any goods belong to a person to whom they do not belong, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years or with fine, or with both.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
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1. Subs. by Act 43 of 1958, sec. 135 and Sch., for the original section 485 (w.e.f. 25-11-1959).
Section 486. Selling goods marked with a counterfeit property mark
1[486. Selling goods marked with a counterfeit property mark.—2[Whoever sells, or exposes, or has in possession for sale, any goods or things with a counterfeit property mark] affixed to or impressed upon the same or to or upon any case, package or other receptacle in which such goods are contained, shall, unless he proves
(a) that, having taken all reasonable precautions against committing an offence against this section, he had at the time of the commission of the alleged offence no reason to suspect the genuineness of the mark, and
(b) that, on demand made by or on behalf of the prosecutor, he gave all the information in his power with respect to the persons from whom he obtained such goods or things, or
(c) that otherwise he had acted innocently,
be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 1 year, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Compoundable by the person whose trade or property mark is counterfeited with the permission of the court.
1. Subs. by Act 4 of 1889, sec. 3, for the original section 486.
2. Subs. by Act 43 of 1958, sec. 135 and Sch., for certain words (w.e.f. 25-11-1959).
Section 487. Making a false mark upon any receptacle containing goods
1[487. Making a false mark upon any receptacle containing goods.—Whoever makes any false mark upon any case, package or other receptacle containing goods, in a manner reasonably calculated to cause any public servant or any other person to believe that such receptacle contains goods which it does not contain or that it does not contain goods which it does contain, or that the goods contained in such receptacle are of a nature or quality different from the real nature or quality thereof, shall, unless he proves that he acted without intent to defraud, be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by Act 4 of 1889, sec. 3, for the original section 487.
Section 488. Punishment for making use of any such false mark
1[488. Punishment for making use of any such false mark.—Whoever makes use of any such false mark in any manner prohibited by the last foregoing section shall, unless he proves that he acted without intent to defraud, be punished as if he had committed an offence against that section.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
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1. Subs. by Act 4 of 1889, sec. 3, for the original section 488.
Section 489. Tampering with property mark with intent to cause injury
1[489. Tampering with property mark with intent to cause injury.—Whoever removes, destroys, defaces or adds to any property mark, intending or knowing it to be likely that he may thereby cause injury to any person, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 1 year, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
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1. Subs. by Act 4 of 1889, sec. 3, for the original section 489.
Section 489A. Counterfeiting currency-notes or bank-notes
1[489A. Counterfeiting currency-notes or bank-notes.—Whoever counter-feits, or knowingly performs any part of the process of counterfeiting, any currency-note or bank-note, shall be punished with 2[imprisonment for life], or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Explanation
For the purposes of this section and of sections 489B, 3[489C, 489D and 489E], the expression “bank-note” means a promissory note or engagement for the payment of money to bearer on demand issued by any person carrying on the business of banking in any part of the world, or issued by or under the authority of any State or Sovereign Power, and intended to be used as equivalent to, or as a substitute for money.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
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1. Added by Act 12 of 1899, sec. 2.
2. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
3. Subs. by Act 35 of 1950, sec. 3 and Sch. II, for “489C and 489D”.
Section 489B. Using as genuine, forged or counterfeit currency-notes or bank-notes
1[489B. Using as genuine, forged or counterfeit currency-notes or bank-notes.—Whoever sells to, or buys or receives from, any other person, or otherwise traffics in or uses as genuine, any forged or counterfeit currency-note or bank-note, knowing or having reason to believe the same to be forged or counterfeit, shall be punished with 2[imprisonment for life], or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
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1. Added by Act 12 of 1899, sec. 2.
2. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 489C. Possession of forged or counterfeit currency-notes or bank-notes
1[489C. Possession of forged or counterfeit currency-notes or bank-notes.—Whoever has in his possession any forged or counterfeit currency-note or bank-note, knowing or having reason to believe the same to be forged or counterfeit and intending to use the same as genuine or that it may be used as genuine, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, or with fine, or with both.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
1. Added by Act 12 of 1899, sec. 2.
Section 489D. Making or possessing instruments or materials for forgoing or counterfeiting currency-notes or bank-notes
1[489D. Making or possessing instruments or materials for forging or counterfeiting currency-notes or bank-notes.—Whoever makes, or performs, any part of the process of making, or buys or sells or disposes of, or has in his possession, any machinery, instrument or material for the purpose of being used, or knowing or having reason to believe that it is intended to be used, for forging or counterfeiting any currency-note or bank-note, shall be punished with 2[imprisonment for life], or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Non-compoundable.
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1. Added by Act 12 of 1899, sec. 2.
2. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 489E. Making or using documents resembling currency-notes or bank-notes
1[489E. Making or using documents resembling currency-notes or bank-notes.—(1) Whoever makes, or causes to be made, or uses for any purpose whatsoever, or delivers to any person, any document purporting to be, or in any way resembling, or so nearly resembling as to be calculated to deceive, any currency-note or bank-note shall be punished with fine which may extend to one hundred rupees.
(2) If any person, whose name appears on a document the making of which is an offence under sub-section (1), refuses, without lawful excuse, to disclose to a police-officer on being so required the name and address of the person by whom it was printed or otherwise made, he shall be punished with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees.
(3) Where the name of any person appears on any document in respect of which any person is charged with an offence under sub-section (1) or on any other document used or distributed in connection with that document it may, until the contrary is proved, be presumed that person caused the document to be made.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Fine of 100 rupees—Non-Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
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1. Ins. by Act 6 of 1943, sec. 2.
Section 490. Breach of contract of service during voyage or journey
[Rep. by the Workmen’s Breach of Contract (Repealing) Act, 1925 (3 of 1925), sec. 2 and Sch.]
Section 491. Breach of contract to attend on and supply wants of helpless person
Whoever, being bound by a lawful contract to attend on or to supply the wants of any person who, by reason of youth, or of unsoundness of mind, or of a disease or bodily weakness, is helpless or incapable of providing for his own safety or of supplying his own wants, voluntarily omits so to do, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 months, or fine of 200 rupees, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Compoundable by the person with whom the offender has contracted.
Section 492. Breach of contract to serve at distant place to which servant is conveyed at master’s expense
[Rep. by the workmen’s Breach of Contract (Repealing) Act, 1925 (3 of 1925), sec. 2 and Sch.]
Section 493. Cohabitation caused by a man deceitfully inducing a belief of lawful marriage
Every man who by deceit causes any woman who is not lawfully married to him to believe that she is lawfully married to him and to cohabit or have sexual intercourse with him in that belief, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Non-cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 494. Marrying again during lifetime of husband or wife
Whoever, having a husband or wife living, marries in any case in which such marriage is void by reason of its taking place during the life of such husband or wife, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Exception.—This section does not extend to any person whose marriage with such husband or wife has been declared void by a Court of competent jurisdiction,
nor to any person who contracts a marriage during the life of a former husband or wife, if such husband or wife, at the time of the subsequent marriage, shall have been continually absent from such person for the space of seven years, and shall not have been heard of by such person as being alive within that time provided the person contracting such subsequent marriage shall, before such marriage takes place, inform the person with whom such marriage is contracted of the real state of facts so far as the same are within his or her knowledge.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Compoundable by the husband or wife of the person so marrying with the permission of the court.
State Amendment
Andhra Pradesh
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
[Vide Andhra Pradesh Act 3 of 1992, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 15-2-1992)].
Section 495. Same offence with concealment of former marriage from person with whom subsequent marriage is contracted
Whoever commits the offence defined in the last preceding section having concealed from the person with whom the subsequent marriage is contracted, the fact of the former marriage, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
STATE AMENDMENT
Andhra Pradesh
Punishment—Imprisonment for 10 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
[Vide Andhra Pradesh Act 3 of 1992, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 15-2-1992)]
Section 496. Marriage ceremony fraudulently gone through without lawful marriage
Whoever, dishonestly or with a fraudulent intention, goes through the ceremony of being married, knowing that he is not thereby lawfully married, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
State Amendment
Andhra Pradesh
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
[Vide Andhra Pradesh Act 3 of 1992, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 15-2-1992)].
Section 497. Adultery
Whoever has sexual intercourse with a person who is and whom he knows or has reason to believe to be the wife of another man, without the consent or connivance of that man, such sexual intercourse not amounting to the offence of rape, is guilty of the offence of adultery, and shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years, or with fine, or with both. In such case the wife shall not be punishable as an abettor.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 5 years, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
STATE AMENDMENT
Andhra Pradesh
Punishment—Imprisonment for 5 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
[Vide Andhra Pradesh Act 3 of 1992, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 15-2-1992)].
Section 498. Enticing or taking away or detaining with criminal intent a married woman
Whoever takes or entices away any woman who is and whom he knows or has reason to believe to be the wife of any other man, from that man, or from any person having the care of her on behalf of that man, with intent that she may have illicit intercourse with any person, or conceals or detains with that intent any such woman, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Compoundable by the person with whom the offender has contracted.
Section 498A. Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty
1[498A. Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty.—Whoever, being the husband or the relative of the husband of a woman, subjects such woman to cruelty shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine.
Explanation
For the purpose of this section, “cruelty” means
(a) any wilful conduct which is of such a nature as is likely to drive the woman to commit suicide or to cause grave injury or danger to life, limb or health (whether mental or physical) of the woman; or
(b) harassment of the woman where such harassment is with a view to coercing her or any person related to her to meet any unlawful demand for any property or valuable security or is on account of failure by her or any person related to her to meet such demand.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years and fine‑Cognizable if information relating to the commission of the offence is given to an officer in charge of a police station by the person aggrieved by the offence or by any person related to her by blood, marriage or adoption or if there is no such relative, by any public servant belonging to such class or category as may be notified by the State Government in this behalf—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 498A vis-a-vis section 113 of Evidence Act
Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code or section 113A of the Indian Evidence Act has not introduced invidious classification qua the treatment of a married woman by her husband or relatives of her husband vis-a-vis the other offenders. On the other hand, such women form a class apart whom from those who are married more than seven years earlier to the commission of such offence, because, with the passage of time after marriage and birth of children, there are remote chances of treating a married woman with cruelty by her husband or his relatives. Thus, the classification is reasonable and has close nexus with the object sought to be achieved, i.e., eradication of the evil of dowry in the Indian social set-up and to ensure that the married women live with dignity at their matrimonial homes; Krishan Lal v. Union of India, 1994 Cr LJ 3472.
Unhappiness between husband and wife
Where the prosecution relied only on incident of unhappiness of deceased with her husband and the allegation was only in form of suggestion, it does not establish criminal offence under either or both of the charges, hence conviction under section 498A is improper; State v. K. Sridhar, 2000 Cr LJ 328 (Kant).
Wilful Conduct
The allegations against the husband were that he abused and beat his wife, forced her to have a common kitchen with a harijan family, accused her of adultery and of carrying in her womb someone else’s child, pressurizing her to agree for an abortion, and such other acts. This amounted to a wilful conduct of cruelty towards wife; Rishi Kumar v. State of Haryana, Criminal Appeal No. 335-B of 1985.
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1. Ins. by Act 46 of 1983, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 25-12-1983).
Section 499. Defamation
Whoever, by words either spoken or intended to be read, or by signs or by visible representations, makes or publishes any imputation concerning any person intending to harm, or knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation will harm, the reputation of such person, is said, except in the cases hereinafter expected, to defame that person.
Explanation 1
It may amount to defamation to impute anything to a deceased person, if the imputation would harm the reputation of that person if living, and is intended to be hurtful to the feelings of his family or other near relatives.
Explanation 2
It may amount to defamation to make an imputation concerning a company or an association or collection of persons as such.
Explanation 3
An imputation in the form of an alternative or expressed ironically, may amount to defamation.
Explanation 4
No imputation is said to harm a person’s reputation, unless that imputation directly or indirectly, in the estimation of others, lowers the moral or intellectual character of that person, or lowers the character of that person in respect of his caste or of his calling, or lowers the credit of that person, or causes it to be believed that the body of that person is in a loathsome state, or in a state generally considered as disgraceful.
Illustrations
(a) A says—“Z is an honest man; he never stole B’s watch”; intending to cause it to be believed that Z did steal B’s watch. This is defamation, unless it fall within one of the exceptions.
(b) A is asked who stole B’s watch. A points to Z, intending to cause it to be believed that Z stole B’s watch. This is defamation unless it fall within one of the exceptions.
(c) A draws a picture of Z running away with B’s watch, intending it to be believed that Z stole B’s watch. This is defamation, unless it fall within one of the exceptions.
First Exception.—Imputation of truth which public good requires to be made or published.—It is not defamation to impute anything which is true concerning any person, if it be for the public good that the imputation should be made or published. Whether or not it is for the public good is a question of fact.
Second Exception.—Public conduct of public servants.—It is not defamation to express in a good faith any opinion whatever respecting the conduct of a public servant in the discharge of his public functions, or respecting his character, so far as his character appears in that conduct, and no further.
Third Exception.—Conduct of any person touching any public question.—It is not defamation to express in good faith any opinion whatever respecting the conduct of any person touching any public question, and respecting his character, so far as his character appears in that conduct, and no further.
Illustration
It is not defamation in A to express in good faith any opinion whatever respecting Z’s conduct in petitioning Government on a public question, in signing a requisition for a meeting on a public question, in presiding or attending a such meeting, in forming or joining any society which invites the public support, in voting or canvassing for a particular candidate for any situation in the efficient discharges of the duties of which the public is interested.
Fourth Exception.—Publication of reports of proceedings of Courts.—It is not defamation to publish substantially true report of the proceedings of a Court of Justice, or of the result of any such proceedings.
Explanation
A Justice of the Peace or other officer holding an inquiry in open Court preliminary to a trial in a Court of Justice, is a Court within the meaning of the above section.
Fifth Exception.—Merits of case decided in Court or conduct of witnesses and others concerned.—It is not defamation to express in good faith any opinion whatever respecting the merits of any case, civil or criminal, which has been decided by a Court of Justice, or respecting the conduct of any person as a party, witness or agent, in any such case, or respecting the character of such person, as far as his character appears in that conduct, and no further.
Illustrations
(a) A says—“I think Z’s evidence on that trial is so contradictory that he must be stupid or dishonest”. A is within this exception if he says this is in good faith, in as much as the opinion which he expresses respects Z’s character as it appears in Z’s conduct as a witness, and no further.
(b) But if A says—“I do not believe what Z asserted at that trial because I know him to be a man without veracity”; A is not within this exception, in as much as the opinion which he express of Z’s character, is an opinion not founded on Z’s conduct as a witness.
Sixth Exception.—Merits of public performance.—It is not defamation to express in good faith any opinion respecting the merits of any performance which its author has submitted to the judgment of the public, or respecting the character of the author so far as his character appears in such performance, and no further.
Explanation
A performance may be submitted to the judgment of the public expressly or by acts on the part of the author which imply such submission to the judgment of the public.
Illustrations
(a) A person who publishes a book, submits that book to the judgment of the public.
(b) A person who makes a speech in public, submits that speech to the judgment of the public.
(c) An actor or singer who appears on a public stage, submits his acting or signing in the judgment of the public.
(d) A says of a book published by Z—“Z’s book is foolish; Z must be a weak man. Z’s book is indecent; Z must be a man of impure mind”. A is within the exception, if he says this in good faith, in as much as the opinion which he expresses of Z respects Z’s character only so far as it appears in Z’s book, and no further.
(e) But if A says—“I am not surprised that Z’s book is foolish and indecent, for he is a weak man and a libertine”. A is not within this exception, in as much as the opinion which he expresses of Z’s character is an opinion not founded on Z’s book.
Seventh Exception.—Censure passed in good faith by person having lawful authority over another.—It is not defamation in a person having over another any authority, either conferred by law or arising out of a lawful contract made with that other, to pass in good faith any censure on the conduct of that other in matters to which such lawful authority relates.
Illustration
A Judge censuring in good faith the conduct of a witness, or of an officer of the Court; a head of a department censuring in good faith those who are under his orders; a parent censuring in good faith a child in the presence of other children; a school-master, whose authority is derived from a parent, censuring in good faith a pupil in the presence of other pupils; a master censuring a servant in good faith for remissness in service; a banker censuring in good faith the cashier of his bank for the conduct of such cashier as such cashier—are within this exception.
Eighth Exception.—Accusation preferred in good faith to authorised person.—It is not defamation to prefer in good faith an accusation against any person to any of those who have lawful authority over that person with respect to the subject-matter of accusation.
Illustration
If A in good faith accuse Z before a Magistrate; if A in good faith complains of the conduct of Z, a servant, to Z’s master; if A in good faith complains of the conduct of Z, and child, to Z’s father—A is within this exception.
Ninth Exception.—Imputation made in good faith by person for protection of his or other’s interests.—It is not defamation to make an imputation on the character of another provided that the imputation be made in good faith for the protection of the interests of the person making it, or of any other person, or for the public good.
Illustrations
(a) A, a shopkeeper, says to B, who manages his business—“Sell nothing to Z unless he pays you ready money, for I have no opinion of his honesty”. A is within the exception, if he has made this imputation on Z in good faith for the protection of his own interests.
(b) A, a Magistrate, in making a report of his own superior officer, casts an imputation on the character of Z. Here, if the imputation is made in good faith, and for the public good, A is within the exception.
Tenth Exception.—Caution intended for good of person to whom conveyed or for public good.—It is not defamation to convey a caution, in good faith, to one person against another, provided that such caution be intended for the good of the person to whom it is conveyed, or of some person in whom that person is interested, or for the public good.
Section 500. Punishment for defamation
Whoever defames another shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Simple imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Compoundable by the person defamed.
Para II
Punishment—Simple imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Compoundable by the person defamed with the permission of the court.
Section 501. Printing or engraving matter known to be defamatory
Whoever prints or engraves any matter, knowing or having good reason to believe that such matter is defamatory of any person, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Simple imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Compoundable by the person defamed.
Para II
Punishment—Simple imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 502. Sale of printed or engraved substance containing defamatory matter
Whoever sells or offers for sale any printed or engraved substance containing defamatory matter, knowing that it contains such matter, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Simple imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Compoundable by the person defamed.
Para II
Punishment—Simple imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 503. Criminal intimidation
Whoever threatens another with any injury to his person, reputation or property, or to the person or reputation of any one in whom that person is interested, with intent to cause alarm to that person, or to cause that person to do any act which he is not legally bound to do, or to omit to do any act which that person is legally entitled to do, as the means of avoiding the execution of such threat, commits criminal intimidation.
Explanation
A threat to injure the reputation of any deceased person in whom the person threatened is interested, is within this section.
Illustration
A, for the purpose of inducing B to desist from prosecuting a civil suit, threatens to burn B’s house. A is guilty of criminal intimidation.
Section 504. Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace
Whoever intentionally insults, and thereby gives provocation to any person, intending or knowing it to be likely that such provocation will cause him to break the public peace, or to commit any other offence, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Compoundable by the person insulted.
Section 505. Statements conducing to public mischief
1[505. Statements conducing to public mischief.—2[(1)] Whoever makes, publishes or circulates any statement, rumour or report,
(a) with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, any officer, soldier, 3[sailor or airman] in the Army, 4[Navy or Air Force] 5[of India] to mutiny or otherwise disregard or fail in his duty as such; or
(b) with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public, or to any section of the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against the State or against the public tranquility; or
(c) with intent to incite, or which is likely to incite, any class or community of persons to commit any offence against any other class or community,
shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to 6[three years], or with fine, or with both.
7[(2) Statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes.—Whoever makes, publishes or circulates any statement or report containing rumour or alarming news with intent to create or promote, or which is likely to create or promote, on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, caste or community or any other ground whatsoever, feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will between different religious, racial, language or regional groups or castes or communities, shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
(3) Offence under sub-section (2) committed in place of worship, etc.—Whoever commits an offence specified in sub-section (2) in any place of worship or in an assembly engaged in the performance of religious worship or religious ceremonies, shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to five years and shall also be liable to fine.]
Exception.—It does not amount to an offence, within the meaning of this section when the person making, publishing or circulating any such statement, rumour or report, has reasonable grounds for believing that such statement, rumour or report is true and makes, publishes or circulates it 8[in good faith and] without any such intent as aforesaid.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Para II
Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Para III
Punishment—Imprisonment for 5 years and fine—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
1. Subs. by Act 4 of 1898, sec. 6, for the original section 505.
2. Section 505 renumbered as sub-section (1) of that section by Act 35 of 1969, sec. 3.
3. Subs. by Act 10 of 1927, sec. 2 and Sch. I, for “or sailor”.
4. Subs. by Act 10 of 1927, sec. 2 and Sch. I, for “or Navy”.
5. Subs. by A.O. 1950 for “of Her Majesty or in the Imperial Service Troops”. The words “or in the Royal Indian Marine” occurring after the words “Majesty” were omitted by Act 35 of 1934, sec. 2 and Sch.
6. Subs. by Act 41 of 1961, sec. 4, for “two years” (w.e.f. 12-9-1961).
7. Ins. by Act 35 of 1969, sec. 3 (w.e.f. 4-6-1969).
8. Subs. by A.O. 1950 for “of Her Majesty or in the Imperial Service Troops”. The words “or in the Royal Indian Marine” occurring after the words “Majesty” were omitted by Act 35 of 1934, sec. 2 and Sch.
Section 506. Punishment for criminal intimidation
Whoever commits, the offence of criminal intimidation shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both;
If threat be to cause death or grievous hurt, etc.—And if the threat be to cause death or grievous hurt, or to cause the destruction of any property by fire, or to cause an offence punishable with death or 1[imprisonment for life], or with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years, or to impute, unchastity to a woman, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable-Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Compoundable by the person intimidated.
Para II
Punishment—Imprisonment for 7 years, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
State Amendment
Uttar Pradesh
Imprisonment of 7 years, or fine or both—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Vide Notification No. 777/VIII 9-4(2)—87, dated 31st July, 1989, published in U.P. Gazette, Extra., Pt. A, Sec. (kha), dated 2nd August, 1989.
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1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
Section 507. Criminal intimidation by an anonymous communication
Whoever commits the offence of criminal intimidation by an anonymous communication, or having taken precaution to conceal the name or abode of the person from whom the threat comes, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, in addition to the punishment provided for the offence by the last preceding section.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 2 years, in addition to the punishment under above section—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Non-compoundable.
Section 508. Act caused by inducing person to believe that he will be rendered an object of the Divine displeasure
Whoever voluntarily causes or attempts to cause any person to do anything which that person is not legally bound to do, or to omit to do anything which he is legally entitled to do, by inducing or attempting to induce that person to believe that he or any person in whom he is interested will become or will be rendered by some act of the offender an object of Divine displeasure if he does not do the thing which it is the object of the offender to cause him to do, or if he does the thing which it is the object of the offender to cause him to omit, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a tem which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.
Illustrations
(a) A sits dharna at Z’s door with the intention of causing it to be believed that, by so sitting, he renders Z an object of Divine displeasure. A has committed the offence defined in this section.
(b) A threatens Z that, unless Z performs a certain act, A will kill one of A’s own children, under such circumstances that the killing would be believed to render Z an object of Divine displeasure. A has committed the offence defined in this section.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for 1 year, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Compoundable by the person against whom the offence was committed.
Section 509. Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman
Whoever, intending to insult the modesty of any woman, utters any word, makes any sound or gesture, or exhibits any object, intending that such word or sound shall be heard, of that such gesture or object shall be seen, by such woman, or intrudes upon the privacy of such woman, 1[shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, and also with fine.]
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Simple imprisonment for 1 year, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Compoundable by the woman whom it was intended to insult or whose privacy was intruded upon with the permission of the court.
1. Inserted by Section 509 of ‘The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013′
Section 510. Misconduct in public by a drunken person
Whoever, in a state of intoxication, appears in any public place, or in any place, or in any place which it is a trespass in him to enter, and there conducts himself in such a manner as to cause annoyance to any person, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to twenty-four hours, or with fine which may extend to ten rupees, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Simple imprisonment for 24 hours, or fine of 10 rupees, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.
Section 511. Punishment for attempting to commit offences punishable with imprisonment for life or other imprisonment
Whoever attempts to commit an offence punishable by this Code with 1[imprisonment for life] or imprisonment, or to cause such an offence to be committed, and in such attempts does any act towards the commission of the offence, shall, where no express provision is made by this Code for the punishment of such attempt, be punished with 2[imprisonment of any description provided for the offence, for a term which may extend to one-half of the imprisonment for life or, as the case may be, one-half of the longest term of imprisonment provided for that offence], or with such fine as is provided for the offence, or with both.
Illustrations
(a) A makes an attempt to steal some jewels by breaking open a box, and finds after so opening the box, that there is no jewel in it. He has done an act towards the commission of theft, and therefore is guilty under this section.
(b) A makes an attempt to pick the pocket of Z by thrusting his hand into Z’s pocket. A fails in the attempt in consequence of Z’s having nothing in his pocket. A is guilty under this section.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment—Imprisonment for life or imprisonment not exceeding half of the longest term provided for the offence, or fine, or both—According as the offence is cognizable or non-cognizable—According as the offence attempted by the offender is bailable or not—Triable by the court by which the offence attempted is triable—Non-compoundable.
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1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
2. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for certain original words (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
326A. Whoever causes permanent or partial damage or deformity to, or burns or maims or disfigures or disables, any part or parts of the body of a person or causes grievous hurt by throwing acid on or by administering acid to that person, or by using any other means with the intention of causing or with the knowledge that he is likely to cause such injury or hurt, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than ten years but which may extend to imprisonment for life, and with fine:
Provided that such fine shall be just and reasonable to meet the medical expenses of the treatment of the victim:
Provided further that any fine imposed under this section shall be paid to the victim.
326B. Whoever throws or attempts to throw acid on any person or attempts to administer acid to any person, or attempts to use any other means, with the intention of causing permanent or partial damage or deformity or burns or maiming or disfigurement or disability or grievous hurt to that person, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than five years but which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Explanation 1.—For the purposes of section 326A and this section, “acid” includes any substance which has acidic or corrosive character or burning nature, that is capable of causing bodily injury leading to scars or disfigurement or temporary or permanent disability.
Explanation 2.— For the purposes of section 326A and this section, permanent or partial damage or deformity shall not be required to be irreversible.
1. Added by Act 12 of 1899, sec. 2.