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RUBBER (AMENDMENT) ACT 2009

[21st January, 2010.]

% Short title and commencement. !

1. Short title and commencement.- (1) This Act may be called the Rubber (Amendment) Act, 2009.

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

% Amendment of section 3. ! 2. Amendment of section 3. - In section 3 of the Rubber Act,1947 (hereinafter referred to as the principal Act),- (a) after clause (g), the following clause shall be inserted, namely:- '(ga) "processor" means a person who undertakes the processing of rubber;' ; (b) in clause (k), for the words "fifty acres", the words "ten hectares" shall be substituted. @

% Amendment of section 4. !

3. Amendment of section 4. - In the principal Act, in section 4 , in sub-section (3), after clause (d) , the following clause shall be inserted, namely:- "(da) three members to be nominated by the Central Government of whom two shall be from the Department of Commerce and one from the Department of Agriculture and Co-operation;". @

% Amendment of section 8. ! 4. Amendment of section 8. - In the principal Act, in section 8,-

(i) in sub-section (2),- (a) after clause (d), the following clause shall be inserted, namely:- "(da) improving the quality of rubber and implementing the standards for quality, marking, labelling and packing for the rubber produced or processed in, imported into or exported from, India;"; (b) in clause (e), for the words "and manufactures", the words "manufacturers and processors" shall be substituted;

(ii) in sub-section (3), in clause (c), for the words "half-yearly reports", the words "annual report" shall be substituted. @

% Substitution of new section for sections 9, 9A and 9B. ! 5. Substitution of new section for sections 9, 9A and 9B. - In the principal Act, for sections 9, 9A and 9B, the following section shall be substituted, namely:-

Rubber Development Fund. "9.(1) There shall be a fund to be called the Rubber Development Fund and there shall be credited,- (a) all sums forming the funds of the Board immediately before the commencement of the Rubber (Amendment) Act, 2009;

(b) the proceeds of cess paid to the Board by the Central Government under sub-section (7) of section 12; (c) any sum of money that may be paid to the Board by way of grants or loans by the Central Government; (d) internal and extra budgetary resources of the Board; (e) all moneys received and collected under section 26A; and (f) any other sum that may be levied and collected under this Act and the rules made thereunder.

(2) The Rubber Development Fund shall be applied- (a) to meet the expenses of the Board; (b) to meet the cost of the measures referred to in section 8; (c) to meet the expenditure incurred in the performance of its functions under this Act or the rules made thereunder; (d) to meet the expenditure for rehabilitation of small growers; and (e) for making such grants to rubber estates or for meeting the cost of such other assistance to rubber estates as the Board may think necessary for the development of such estates.". @

% Omission of section 10. ! 6. Omission of section 10. - Section 10 of the principal Act shall be omitted. @

% Amendment of section 12. ! 7. Amendment of section 12. - In the principal Act, in section 12,-

(i) in sub-section (2),- (a) for the words "such rubber is used.", the words "such rubber is used or from the exporter by whom such rubber is exported:" shall be substituted; (b) the following provisos shall be inserted, namely:- "Provided that the Central Government may, if considered necessary in the public interest, by order for reasons to be recorded in writing, exempt or reduce the duty of excise on rubber exported on such terms and conditions as it deems fit: Provided further that the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify zero paisa per kilogram as the rate of duty of excise on natural rubber produced in India and procured for export by the exporters of natural rubber for the period from the 1st April, 1961 to the 31st August, 2003.";

(ii) for sub-section (3), the following sub-section shall be substituted, namely:-

"(3) Subject to the provisions of this Act, every owner, exporter or the manufacturer, as the case may be, shall pay the duty of excise to the Board in the manner and for the period referred to in sub-section (4) and, if he fails to do so, the duty may be recovered with the cost of collection and interest at such rates, as may be prescribed, from the owner, exporter or the manufacturer, as the case may be, as an arrear of the land revenue.";

(iii) in sub-section (4) in clause (b), - (a) for the words "fifteen days", the words "thirty days" shall be substituted; (b) in sub-clause (ii), for the words "rubber used", the words "rubber acquired" shall be substituted;

(iv) in sub-section (5),- (a) for the words "owner or manufacturer", the words "owner, exporter or manufacturer" shall be substituted; (b) after the words "as may be prescribed", the following shall be inserted, namely:- "and collect the cess from the owner, exporter or the manufacturer, as the case may be, after issuing a notice and after making such enquiry as it considers necessary, with such rate of interest as fixed under sub-

section (3): Provided that where for any reason, the Board finds that an owner, exporter or manufacturer, as the case may be, has paid cess in excess of what is due from him, it shall be adjusted against the future payment, if any, from him or shall be refunded to him.". @

% Amendment of section 13. !

8. Amendment of section 13. - In the principal Act, in section 13, in sub-section (1), after the words "The Central Government may", the words " , if it deems necessary," shall be inserted. @

% Substitution of new section for section 17. ! 9. Substitution of new section for section 17.- In the principal Act, for section 17, the following section shall be substituted, namely:-

Implementation of standards for quality, marking, etc., for rubber. "17. (1) The Board shall implement the standards for quality, marking, labelling and packing for various marketable forms of rubber, for the rubber produced or processed in, imported into or exported from, India.

(2) Any officer of the Board authorised by the Chairman may at any reasonable time inspect the rubber sold or purchased by any dealer or processor at any factory or other premises of a dealer, processor or manufacturer or exporter for the purpose of ensuring the compliance of the standards under sub-section (1).". @

% Omission of section 18. ! 10. Omission of section 18. - Section 18 of the principal Act shall be omitted. @

% Amendment of section 19. ! 11. Amendment of section 19.- In the principal Act, in section 19, for the words and figures "section 15 or section 17", the words and figures "or section 15" shall be substituted. @

% Amendment of section 21. ! 12. Amendment of section 21. - In the principal Act, in section 21,- (a) for the words "any officer of the Board may", the words "any officer of the Board authorised by the Chairman may" shall be substituted; (b) for the words "manufacturer, for", the words "manufacturer or processor, for" shall be substituted. @

% Insertion of new section 22A. ! 13. Insertion of new section 22A.- In the principal Act, after section 22, the following section shall be inserted, namely:-

Power of Central Government to issue directions to Board. "22 A. (1) Without prejudice to the foregoing provisions of this Act, the Board shall, in the discharge of its functions and duties under this Act, be bound by such directions on questions of policy as the Central Government may give in writing to it from time to time: Provided that the Board shall, as far as practicable, be given opportunity to express its views before any direction is given under this sub-section.

(2) The decision of the Central Government whether a question is one of the policy or not shall be final." . @

% Insertion of new section 24A. ! 14. Insertion of new section 24A. -In the principal Act, after section 24, the following section shall be inserted, namely:- Power to delegate. "24 A. The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, direct that any power exercisable and functions performed by it under this Act may be exercised and performed in such cases and subject to such conditions, if any, as may be specified in the notification by such officer or authority as may be specified therein.". @

% Amendment of section 25. !

15. Amendment of section 25. - In the principal Act, in section 25, in sub-section (2),- (a) clause (xx) shall be omitted; (b) after clause (xxa), the following clause shall be inserted, namely:-

"(xxb) the cost of collection and the rate of interest to be recovered in case of delayed payment of duty under sub-section (3) of section 12;"; (c) in clause (xxi), the words and figures "or section 17" shall be omitted. @

% Insertion of new section 25A. ! 16. Insertion of new section 25A. - In the principal Act, after section 25, the following section shall be inserted, namely:-

Power to make regulations. "25A. (1) The Board may, with the previous approval of the Central Government, by notification make regulations, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder, to carry out its functions.

(2) Every regulation made under sub-section (1) shall be laid before each House of Parliament.". @

% Amendment of section 26. !

17. Amendment of section 26. - In the principal Act, in section 26, in sub-section (1), for the words "one thousand rupees", the words "five thousand rupees" shall be substituted. @

% Insertion of new section 26A. ! 18. Insertion of new section 26A. - In the principal Act, after section 26, the following section shall be inserted, namely:- Compounding of offences. "26A. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, any offence punishable under this Act may, either before the institution of prosecution or with the permission of the Court after the institution of the prosecution, be compounded by the Board on payment to the Board such sum of money as does not exceed the value of the goods in respect of which contravention has been committed.". ------------------------- V. K. BHASIN, Secy. to the Govt. of India. {}