THE I NLAND VESSELS ( AMENDMENT) ACT, 2007

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NO. 35 OF 2007
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[ 17t h Sept ember , 2007]
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An Act f ur t her t o amend t he I nl and Vessel s Act , 1917.
BE i t enact ed by Par l i ament i n t he Fi f t y- ei ght h Year of t he Republ i c
of I ndi a as f ol l ows: -

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Shor t t i t l e and commencement .
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1. Shor t t i t l e and commencement . - ( 1) Thi s Act may be cal l ed t he
I nl and Vessel s ( Amendment ) Act , 2007.
( 2) I t shal l come i nt o f or ce on such dat e as t he Cent r al Gover nment
may, by not i f i cat i on i n t he Of f i ci al Gazet t e, appoi nt .

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Amendment of sect i on 1.
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2. Amendment of sect i on 1. - I n sect i on 1 of t he I nl and Vessel s Act ,
1917 ( her ei naf t er r ef er r ed t o as t he pr i nci pal Act ) , i n sub- sect i on
( 2) , t he pr ovi so shal l be omi t t ed.

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Amendment of sect i on 2.
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3. Amendment of sect i on 2. - I n sect i on 2 of t he pr i nci pal Act , i n
sub- sect i on ( 1) , -
( i ) f or cl auses ( a) , ( b) and ( c) , t he f ol l owi ng cl auses shal l ,
r espect i vel y, be subst i t ut ed, namel y: -
' ( a) " i nl and vessel " or " i nl and mechani cal l y pr opel l ed vessel " means a
mechani cal l y pr opel l ed vessel , whi ch or di nar i l y pl i es on i nl and wat er ,
but does not i ncl ude f i shi ng vessel and a shi p r egi st er ed under t he
Mer chant Shi ppi ng Act , 1958;
( b) " i nl and wat er " means-
( i ) any canal , r i ver , l ake or ot her navi gabl e wat er wi t hi n a St at e,
( i i ) any ar ea of any t i dal wat er deemed t o be t he i nl and wat er as
def i ned by t he Cent r al Gover nment under sect i on 70,
( i i i ) wat er s decl ar ed by t he Cent r al Gover nment t o be smoot h and
par t i al l y smoot h wat er s under cl ause ( 41) of sect i on 3 of t he Mer chant
Shi ppi ng Act , 1958;
( c) " mechani cal l y pr opel l ed vessel " means ever y descr i pt i on of vessel
pr opel l ed whol l y or i n par t by el ect r i ci t y, st eamor ot her mechani cal
power i ncl udi ng dumb vessel t owed by t he mechani cal l y pr opel l ed vessel
and vessel pr opel l ed by out boar d mot or ; ' ;
( i i ) af t er cl ause ( g) , t he f ol l owi ng cl ause shal l be i nser t ed, namel y: -
' ( ga) " t i dal wat er " has t he meani ng assi gned t o i t i n cl ause ( 49) of
sect i on 3 of t he Mer chant Shi ppi ng Act , 1958; ' .
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Amendment of sect i on 3.
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4. Amendment of sect i on 3. - I n sect i on 3 of t he pr i nci pal Act , i n sub-
sect i on ( 1) , -
( i ) f or t he wor ds " and appl i cabl e t o such voyage or ser vi ce" , t he wor ds
" i n t he zone i nt ended f or oper at i on and appl i cabl e t o such voyage or
ser vi ce i n such zone" shal l be subst i t ut ed;
( i i ) t he f ol l owi ng Expl anat i on shal l be i nser t ed at t he end, namel y: -
' Expl anat i on. - For t he pur poses of t hi s sub- sect i on, " zone" means any
such i nl and wat er ar ea as t he St at e Gover nment may, dependi ng on t he
maxi mumsi gni f i cant wave hei ght cr i t er i a, by not i f i cat i on i n t he
Of f i ci al Gazet t e, speci f y f or t he pur poses of t hi s Act . ' .
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I nser t i on of new sect i on 9A.
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5. I nser t i on of new sect i on 9A. - Af t er sect i on 9 of t he pr i nci pal
Act , t he f ol l owi ng sect i on shal l be i nser t ed, namel y: -
" 9A. Tempor ar y per mi t . - The sur veyor who conduct ed t he sur vey may,
wi t hout f ol l owi ng t he pr ocedur e l ai d down i n sect i on 9, gr ant a per mi t
t o be ef f ect i ve f or a per i od whi ch shal l not i n any case exceed f or t y-
f i ve days, t o aut hor i se t he i nl and mechani cal l y pr opel l ed vessel t o
pr oceed on voyage or use i n ser vi ce t empor ar i l y pendi ng t he i ssue of
t he cer t i f i cat e of sur vey. " .

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Amendment of sect i on 19I .
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6. Amendment of sect i on 19I . - I n sect i on 19I of t he pr i nci pal Act , i n
sub- sect i on ( 3) , f or t he wor ds " t wel ve mont hs" , t he wor ds " t hi r t y- si x
mont hs" shal l be subst i t ut ed.

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Amendment of sect i on 22.
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7. Amendment of sect i on 22. - I n sect i on 22 of t he pr i nci pal Act , -
( i ) i n sub- sect i on ( 1) , f or t he wor ds and f i gur es " an i nl and
mechani cal l y pr opel l ed vessel f or a per i od of t hr ee year s bef or e t he
f i r st day of November , 1956" , t he wor ds " a vessel of t he Coast Guar d,
I ndi an Navy or r egul ar Ar my f or a per i od as may be pr escr i bed by t he
St at e Gover nment i n t hi s behal f " shal l be subst i t ut ed;
( i i ) af t er sub- sect i on ( 1) , t he f ol l owi ng Expl anat i on shal l be i nser t ed
at t he end, namel y: -
' Expl anat i on. - For t he pur poses of t hi s sect i on, -
( a) t he expr essi on " Coast Guar d" shal l have t he meani ng assi gned t o i t
i n cl ause ( d) of sect i on 2 of t he Coast Guar d Act , 1978;
( b) t he expr essi on " I ndi an Navy" shal l have t he meani ng assi gned t o i t
i n cl ause ( 10) of sect i on 3 of t he Navy Act , 1957;
( c) t he expr essi on " r egul ar Ar my" shal l have t he meani ng assi gned t o i t
i n cl ause ( xxi ) of sect i on 3 of t he Ar my Act , 1950. ' .
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Amendment of sect i on 30.
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8. Amendment of sect i on 30. - I n sect i on 30 of t he pr i nci pal Act ,
cl ause ( a) shal l be r e- l et t er ed as cl ause ( aa) , and bef or e cl ause ( aa)
as so r e- l et t er ed, t he f ol l owi ng cl ause shal l be i nser t ed, namel y: -
" ( a) t he per i od of ser vi ce i n t he Coast Guar d, I ndi an Navy or r egul ar
Ar my whi ch i s r equi r ed f or a per son t o be gr ant ed a cer t i f i cat e wi t hout
exami nat i on under
sect i on 22, " .

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Subst i t ut i on of new sect i on f or sect i on 31.
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9. Subst i t ut i on of new sect i on f or sect i on 31. - For sect i on 31 of t he
pr i nci pal Act , t he f ol l owi ng sect i on shal l be subst i t ut ed, namel y: -
" 31. Ef f ect of cer t i f i cat es of compet ency or ser vi ce and
l i cences. - A cer t i f i cat e of compet ency or ser vi ce and l i cence gr ant ed
under t hi s Chapt er shal l have ef f ect t hr oughout I ndi a. " .

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Amendment of sect i on 52.
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10. Amendment of sect i on 52. - I n sect i on 52 of t he pr i nci pal Act , i n
sub- sect i on ( 2) , -
( a) i n cl ause ( i ) , t he wor d " and" occur r i ng at t he end shal l be
omi t t ed;
( b) af t er cl ause ( j ) , t he f ol l owi ng cl auses shal l be i nser t ed, namel y: -
" ( k) pr escr i be t he r equi r ement s t hat t he hul l , equi pment and machi ner y
of i nl and mechani cal l y pr opel l ed vessel shal l compl y wi t h;
( l ) pr escr i be t he r equi r ement of l i f e savi ng appl i ances; and
( m) pr escr i be t he appar at us r equi r ed f or communi cat i on and
navi gat i on. " .
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Subst i t ut i on of new sect i on f or sect i on 54C.
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11. Subst i t ut i on of new sect i on f or sect i on 54C. - For sect i on 54C of
t he pr i nci pal Act , t he f ol l owi ng sect i on shal l be subst i t ut ed, namel y: -

' 54C. Appl i cat i on of sect i on 134, Chapt er s X, XI and XI I of t he Mot or
Vehi cl es Act , 1988 i n r el at i on t o t he mechani cal l y pr opel l ed
vessel s - . The pr ovi si ons of sect i on 134, Chapt er s X, XI and XI I of t he
Mot or Vehi cl es Act , 1988 shal l , as f ar as may be appl y, i n r el at i on t o
t he mechani cal l y pr opel l ed vessel s as t hey appl y i n r el at i on t o mot or
vehi cl es, subj ect t o t he f ol l owi ng modi f i cat i ons, namel y: -
( a) i n sect i on 134 and t hr oughout i n Chapt er s X, XI and XI I , -
( i ) r ef er ences t o " mot or " or " mot or vehi cl e" or " vehi cl e" shal l be
const r ued as r ef er ences t o " mechani cal l y pr opel l ed vessel " ;
( i i ) r ef er ences t o " publ i c pl ace" shal l be const r ued as r ef er ences t o
" i nl and wat er " ;
( i i i ) r ef er ences t o " publ i c ser vi ce vehi cl e" shal l be const r ued as
r ef er ences t o " publ i c ser vi ce vessel " ;
( i v) r ef er ences t o " goods vehi cl e" shal l be const r ued as r ef er ences t o
" goods ser vi ce vessel " ;
( v) r ef er ences t o " St at e Tr anspor t " shal l be const r ued as r ef er ences
t o " St at e Wat er Tr anspor t " ;
( vi ) r ef er ences t o " dr i ver " or " dr i ver of a vehi cl e" shal l be
const r ued as r ef er ences t o " mast er of a vessel " ;
( vi i ) r ef er ences t o " dr i vi ng l i cence" shal l be const r ued as r ef er ences
t o " a cer t i f i cat e gr ant ed under Chapt er I I I of t he I nl and Vessel s Act ,
1917" ;
( vi i i ) r ef er ences t o " per mi t " shal l be const r ued as r ef er ences t o " a
cer t i f i cat e of r egi st r at i on gr ant ed under sect i on 19F of t he I nl and
Vessel s Act , 1917" ,
and such ot her consequent i al amendment s as t he r ul es of gr ammar may
r equi r e, shal l al so be made;
( b) i n sect i on 145, -
( i ) af t er cl ause ( a) , t he f ol l owi ng cl ause shal l be i nser t ed, namel y: -
' ( aa) " goods ser vi ce vessel " means any mechani cal l y pr opel l ed vessel
used or adapt ed t o be used f or car r i age of car go f or hi r e or r ewar d; ' ;
( i i ) af t er cl ause ( d) , t he f ol l owi ng cl ause shal l be i nser t ed, namel y: -
' ( da) " publ i c ser vi ce vessel " means any mechani cal l y pr opel l ed vessel
used or adapt ed t o be used f or t he car r i age of passenger s f or hi r e or
r ewar d; ' ;
( i i i ) f or cl ause ( e) , t he f ol l owi ng cl ause shal l be subst i t ut ed,
namel y: -
' ( e) " pr oper t y" i ncl udes goods car r i ed i n t he i nl and vessel , br i dges,
l andi ng f aci l i t i es, navi gat i on mar ks and i nf r ast r uct ur e; ' ;
( i v) af t er cl ause ( f ) , t he f ol l owi ng cl ause shal l be i nser t ed, namel y: -
' ( f a) " r out e" means a l i ne of t r avel whi ch speci f i es t he wat er way whi ch
may be t r aver sed by a mechani cal l y pr opel l ed vessel bet ween one
t er mi nal and anot her ; ' ;
( c) i n sect i on 149, i n sub- sect i on ( 2) , i n cl ause ( a) , -
( i ) i n sub- cl ause ( i ) , -
( A) i n i t em( c) , f or t he wor ds " t r anspor t vehi cl e" , t he wor ds " publ i c
ser vi ce vessel or goods ser vi ce vessel " shal l be subst i t ut ed;
( B) i t em( d) shal l be omi t t ed;
( i i ) i n sub- cl ause ( i i ) , f or t he wor ds " not dul y l i censed" , t he wor ds
and f i gur es " not hol di ng a cer t i f i cat e gr ant ed under Chapt er I I I of t he
I nl and Vessel s Act , 1917" shal l be subst i t ut ed;
( d) i n sect i on 158, -
( i ) f or t he wor ds " t r anspor t vehi cl e" , wher ever t hey occur , t he wor ds
" publ i c ser vi ce vessel or goods ser vi ce vessel " shal l be subst i t ut ed,
and such ot her consequent i al amendment s as t he r ul es of gr ammar may
r equi r e shal l al so be made;
( i i ) i n sub- sect i on ( 1) , f or cl ause ( d) , t he f ol l owi ng cl ause shal l be
subst i t ut ed, namel y: -
" ( d) t he cer t i f i cat e of sur vey gr ant ed under sect i on 9 of t he I nl and
Vessel s Act , 1917, " ;
( e) i n sect i on 161, i n sub- sect i on ( 3) , -
( i ) i n cl ause ( a) , f or t he wor ds " t went y- f i ve t housand r upees" , t he
wor ds " f i f t y t housand r upees" shal l be subst i t ut ed;
( i i ) i n cl ause ( b) , f or t he wor ds " t wel ve t housand and f i ve hundr ed
r upees" , t he wor ds " t went y- f i ve t housand r upees" shal l be subst i t ut ed;
( f ) i n sect i on 165, i n sub- sect i on ( 1) , f or t he wor ds " Mot or Acci dent s
Cl ai ms Tr i bunal s" , t he wor ds " I nl and Vessel Acci dent s Cl ai ms Tr i bunal s"
shal l be subst i t ut ed. ' .
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I nser t i on of new Chapt er VI AB.
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12. I nser t i on of new Chapt er VI AB. - Af t er Chapt er VI A of t he
pr i nci pal Act , t he f ol l owi ng Chapt er shal l be i nser t ed, namel y: -
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' CHAPTER VI AB
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PREVENTI ON AND CONTROL OF POLLUTI ON AND PROTECTI ON OF I NLAND
WATER

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' CHAPTER VI AB
PREVENTI ON AND CONTROL OF POLLUTI ON AND PROTECTI ON

54D. Def i ni t i ons. - I n t hi s Chapt er , unl ess t he cont ext ot her wi se
r equi r es, -
( a) " hazar dous chemi cal " or " obnoxi ous subst ance" means any chemi cal or
subst ance, as t he case may be, whi ch has been desi gnat ed as such by
r ul es made under t hi s Chapt er ;
( b) " oi l " means any per si st ent oi l such as cr ude oi l , heavy di esel oi l ,
l ubr i cat i ng oi l and whi t e oi l , whet her car r i ed on boar d a t anker as
car go or f uel ;
( c) " oi l y mi xt ur e" means a mi xt ur e wi t h any oi l cont ent .
54E. Pr ohi bi t i on as t o di schar ge of oi l , oi l y mi x- t ur e, et c. , i n t he
i nl and wat er . - No oi l or oi l y mi xt ur e, hazar dous chemi cal or obnoxi ous
subst ance f r oma mechani cal l y pr opel l ed vessel shal l be di schar ged i n
i nl and wat er :
Pr ovi ded t hat not hi ng i n t hi s sect i on shal l appl y t o t he di schar ge of
such oi l or oi l y mi xt ur e, hazar dous chemi cal or obnoxi ous subst ance
f r oma mechani cal l y pr opel l ed vessel f or t he pur pose of secur i ng t he
saf et y of a mechani cal l y pr opel l ed vessel , pr event i ng damage t o a
mechani cal l y pr opel l ed vessel , car go or savi ng of l i f e at i nl and
wat er .

54F. Recept i on f aci l i t i es at i nl and por t , et c. - ( 1) The owner or
oper at or of an i nl and por t , at car go or passenger t er mi nal , as t he case
may be, shal l pr ovi de r ecept i on f aci l i t i es t o di schar ge oi l , oi l y
mi xt ur e, hazar dous chemi cal or obnoxi ous subst ance at such i nl and por t ,
car go or passenger t er mi nal .
( 2) The owner or oper at or of an i nl and por t , at car go or passenger
t er mi nal , as t he case may be, pr ovi di ng r ecept i on f aci l i t i es at any
i nl and por t , a car go or passenger t er mi nal may make char ges f or t he use
of t he f aci l i t i es at such r at es and may i mpose such condi t i ons i n
r espect of use t her eof as may be appr oved by not i f i cat i on i n t he
Of f i ci al Gazet t e, by t he St at e Gover nment i n r espect of t he i nl and
por t , car go or passenger t er mi nal .
( 3) For t he pur poses of mi ni mi zi ng t he pol l ut i on al r eady caused, or f or
pr event i ng t he pol l ut i on t hr eat ened t o be caused, t he St at e Gover nment
may di r ect , by or der i n wr i t i ng, t he owner or oper at or of an i nl and
por t , at car go or passenger t er mi nal t o pr ovi de or ar r ange f or t he
pr ovi si on of such pol l ut i on cont ai nment equi pment s and pol l ut ant
r emovi ng mat er i al s at such i nl and por t , car go and passenger t er mi nal as
may be speci f i ed i n t he or der .

54G. Power of ent r y, i nspect i on, et c. - ( 1) Any sur veyor or any per son
aut hor i sed under t hi s Act i n t hi s behal f
may, at any r easonabl e t i me, ent er and i nspect any i nl and por t , at
car go or passenger t er mi nal f or t he pur poses of -
( a) ensur i ng t hat t he pr ovi si ons of t hi s Chapt er ar e compl i ed wi t h;
( b) ver i f yi ng whet her such i nl and por t , at car go or passenger t er mi nal
i s pr ovi ded wi t h t he pol l ut i on cont ai nment equi pment and pol l ut ant
r emovi ngmat er i al s i n conf or mi t y wi t h t he or der of t he St at e Gover nment
or t he r ul es made under t hi s Chapt er ; and
( c) sat i sf yi ng hi msel f about t he adequacy of t he measur es t aken t o
pr event pol l ut i on.
( 2) I f t he sur veyor f i nds t hat t he i nl and por t , at car go or passenger
t er mi nal i s not pr ovi ded wi t h t he af or esai d equi pment and mat er i al s, he
shal l gi ve not i ce t o t he owner or oper at or of such i nl and por t , car go
or passenger t er mi nal , as t he case may be, a not i ce i n wr i t i ng poi nt i ng
out t he def i ci ency and al so what i n hi s opi ni on i s r equi si t e t o r emedy
t he sai d def i ci ency.
( 3) No owner or oper at or of such i nl and por t , at car go or passenger
t er mi nal , as t he case may be, ser ved wi t h t he not i ce under sub- sect i on
( 2) , shal l pr oceed wi t h any wor k at such i nl and por t , car go or
passenger t er mi nal , as t he case may be, unt i l he obt ai ns a cer t i f i cat e
si gned by t he sur veyor t o t he ef f ect t hat t he i nl and por t , car go or
passenger t er mi nal , as t he case may be, i s pr oper l y pr ovi ded wi t h t he
af or esai d equi pment and mat er i al s i n conf or mi t y wi t h t he r ul es made
under t hi s Chapt er .

54H. Power s of Cent r al Gover nment t o make r ul es f or pr event i on and
cont r ol of pol l ut i on. ( 1) The Cent r al Gover nment may make r ul es f or t he
pur poses of t hi s Chapt er . - ( 2) I n par t i cul ar , and wi t hout pr ej udi ce
t o t he gener al i t y of t he f or egoi ng power , such r ul es may-
( a) pr escr i be t he desi gnat ed hazar dous chemi cal and obnoxi ous subst ance
under cl ause ( a) of sect i on 54D;
( b) pr escr i be f i t ment of oi l y mi xt ur e t r eat ment equi pment on shor e and
on boar d i n cer t ai n cases;
( c) pr escr i be det ai l s of r ecept i on f aci l i t i es at i nl and por t , car go or
passenger t er mi nal ;
( d) pr escr i be t he f or ms and r ecor d books f or i nl and por t , car go or
passenger t er mi nal and t he manner i n whi ch such books shal l be
mai nt ai ned, t he nat ur e of ent r i es t o be made t her ei n, t he t i me and
ci r cumst ances i n whi ch such ent r i es shal l be made, t he cust ody and
di sposal t her eof and al l ot her mat t er s r el at i ng t her et o;
( e) any ot her mat t er whi ch i s t o be, or may be, pr escr i bed. ' .

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I nser t i on of new sect i ons 62D and 62E.

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13. I nser t i on of new sect i ons 62D and 62E - Af t er sect i on 62C of t he
pr i nci pal Act , t he f ol l owi ng sect i ons shal l be i nser t ed, namel y: -

' 62D. Puni shment f or of f ences r el at i ng t o pol l ut i on. - Whoever
cont r avenes any pr ovi si on of Chapt er VI AB or of any r ul e made
t her eunder , shal l be puni shabl e wi t h i mpr i sonment whi ch may ext end t o
one year , or wi t h f i ne whi ch may ext end t o f i f t y t housand r upees, or
wi t h bot h.

62E. Of f ences by compani es. - ( 1) Wher e an of f ence under Chapt er VI AB
has been commi t t ed by a company, ever y per son who, at t he t i me t he
of f ence was commi t t ed, was i n char ge of , and was r esponsi bl e t o, t he
company f or t he conduct of t he busi ness of t he company, as wel l as t he
company shal l be deemed t o be gui l t y of t he cont r avent i on and shal l be
l i abl e t o be pr oceeded agai nst and puni shed accor di ngl y:
Pr ovi ded t hat not hi ng i n t hi s sub- sect i on shal l r ender any such per son
l i abl e t o any puni shment pr ovi ded i n t hi s Act , i f he pr oves t hat t he
of f ence was commi t t ed wi t hout hi s knowl edge or t hat he exer ci sed al l
due di l i gence t o pr event t he commi ssi on of such of f ence.
( 2) Not wi t hst andi ng anyt hi ng cont ai ned i n sub- sect i on ( 1) , wher e an
of f ence under Chapt er VI AB has been commi t t ed by a company, and i t i s
pr oved t hat t heof f ence was commi t t ed wi t h t he consent or conni vance of ,
or i s at t r i but abl e t o any negl ect on t he par t of , any di r ect or ,
manager , secr et ar y or ot her of f i cer of t he company, such di r ect or ,
manager , secr et ar y or ot her of f i cer shal l al so be deemed t o be gui l t y
of t hat of f ence and shal l be l i abl e t o be pr oceeded agai nst and
puni shed accor di ngl y.
Expl anat i on. - For t he pur poses of t hi s sect i on, -
( a) " company" means any body cor por at e and i ncl udes a f i r mor ot her
associ at i on of i ndi vi dual s; and
( b) " di r ect or " , i n r el at i on t o a f i r m, means a par t ner i n t he f i r m. ' .
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Power t o r emove di f f i cul t i es.
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14. Power t o r emove di f f i cul t i es. - ( 1) I f any di f f i cul t y ar i ses i n
gi vi ng ef f ect t o t he pr ovi si ons of t hi s Act , t he Cent r al Gover nment
may, by or der , publ i shed i n t he Of f i ci al Gazet t e, make such pr ovi si ons,
not i nconsi st ent wi t h t he pr ovi si ons of t he pr i nci pal Act as amended by
t hi s Act or t hi s Act as may appear t o be necessar y or expedi ent f or t he
pur pose of r emovi ng t he di f f i cul t y:
Pr ovi ded t hat no or der shal l be made under t hi s sect i on af t er t he
expi r y of t wo year s f r omt he dat e on whi ch t hi s Act comes i nt o f or ce.
( 2) Ever y or der made under t hi s sect i on shal l , as soon as may be af t er
i t i s made, be l ai d bef or e each House of Par l i ament .
- - - - - -

BRAHM AVTAR AGRAWAL,
Addi t i onal Secr et ar y t o t he Govt . of I ndi a.

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