This Act may be called the Bengal Local Self-Government Associations (Recognition) Act, 1936.

The 2[State Government] may, if it thinks fit, by notification in the 3[Official Gazette], recognize any association, which, in the opinion of the 2[State Government], has been established in 4[West Bengal] with the sole object of encouraging the discussion or matters of importance relating to the administration of local self-government in 4[West Bengal], or otherwise generally promoting the interests of local self-government therein, and the 2[State Government] may also, if it thinks lit, at any time, in like manner, withdraw such recognition.

Notwithstanding anything contained in any other Act, the Corporation of Calcutta, the Commissioners of any municipality at a meeting, a district board or a union board may, subject to the provisions of any rules made under section 5, pay a contribution, annually or otherwise, from the municipal, district, are union fund, as the case may be, to the funds of any association which is, for the time being, recognized by the 5[State Government] under section 2.

Notwithstanding anything contained in any other Act, any member of a local authority which contributes is the funds of an association recognized under section 2 who attends, as a representative or such local authority, a general meeting 6[or a meeting of an executive committee] of the association held in 7[West Bengal] may, subject to the provisions of any rules made under section 5, be paid from the fund of such local authority the travelling expenses incurred by him in attending 8[such a meeting:]

9Provided that the number of meetings of an executive committee for attending which a member of a local authority may be paid travelling expenses under this section, shall not exceed four in one year.

(1) The 10[State Government] may make 11rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act.

(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power the 10[State Government] may make rules to provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:

(a) the maximum rates at which, and the conditions subject to which contributions may be paid under section 3;

(b) the rates at which, the conditions subject to which, and the maximum number of representatives to whom, travelling expenses may be paid under section 4;

1 For Statement of Objects and Reasons, see the Calcutta Gazette of 1936. Pt. IV, page 89; and for Proceedings of the Bengal Legislative Council, see the Proceedings of the Bengal Legislative Council, Vol. XLIX, page 107.

2 The words Provincial Government were originally substituted foe the words Local Government by para. 4(1) of the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937, and thereafter the word State was substituted for the word Provincial by para. 4(1) of the Adaptation of Laws Order, 1950.

3 The words within square brackets were substituted for the words Calcutta Gazette by para 4(1) of the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937.

4 The words within square brackets were substituted fix the word Bengal by para. (2) of Art. 3 of the Indian Independence (Adaptation of Bengal and Punjab Acts, Order, 1948).

5 See foot-note 2 on page 462. ante.

6 The words within square brackets were inserted by s. 2(a) of the Bengal Local Self-Government Associations (Recognition) Amendment Act, 1947 (Ben. Act VI of 1947).

7 See foot-note 4 on page 467. ante.

8 The words within square brackets were substituted for the words this meeting by s. 2 the Bengal Local Self-Government Associations (Recognition) Amendment Act, 1947 (Ben. Act VI of 1947).

9 This proviso was added by s. 2(b), ibid.

10 See foot-note 2 on page 462. ante.

11 for the West Bengal Local Self-Government Associations Recognition Rules, 1957. see notification No. 8837/M-4A-8/58, dated 19.10.59. Published in the Calcutta Gazette of 1959, Part I, pages 3701-3708, as subsequently amended.